Transformers figures that don't transform tend to get a pretty bad rep amongst the fandom (big shocker), but what many fail to realize is that Hasbro, owners of the brand, wouldn't want other companies to have their toys competing with whoever shares the license. It's weird when Hasbro has their non-transforming figures made in-house like R.E.D, and we all saw how that turned out. Thankfully, smaller companies can share the TF license and put their own spin on TF merch while Hasbro can still make some money back. They need to since their recent years mostly sucked. Blokees is a great example of how to do non-transforming Transformers figures, and with in sea of figures from Rise of the Beasts, G1, and One, what better time to take a look at some classic Bayverse all-stars with the iconic faction leaders themselves?
Here are both kits in their plastic bags, a way to keep the specific sprue trees separate from one another a la with the Flame Toys Windblade and Entry Grade Pac-Man I reviewed previously.
Here are Optimus's parts mostly in frame. Each sprue tree is labeled by a letter with either a 1 or 2 depending on the size or color type (red, blue, silver, and gunmetal gray) while more translucent parts are kept in a baggie along with the torso. We also have a stand separate from the others. Going back to the torso, it may look like the typical Lego minifigure or Kreon torso, but the figures have additional parts that include the shoulder spikes and smokestacks to widen the torso somewhat. As for the light in the middle, we'll get to it later on, but be sure to pull the tab.
The assembly for each figure took at least 15-20 minutes, though it mostly takes a little long from identifying what parts go where and what side they're supposed to be. Optimus Prime is easier thanks to his color break-up, the familiar truck parts, and the line-wide benefit of not having to apply stickers. The resulting figure looks amazing, with a plethora of sculpted details and an appreciative level of paint apps to make this as accurate to the movie as possible. Apart from the slightly oversized head (which is expected from the line), this may be one of the best representations of the OG trilogy design, and it managed to beat the MPM and Studio Series versions! I'd argue that is also looks better than the Revoltech version thanks to the more accurate proportions. The benefit of making this a model kit is that it ends up feeling more layered as a design than most normally sculpted figures would be. While some would acknowledge that there are a few details missing, he at least has more flame decals than the Studio Series versions! He also does the back kibble properly, including those blue parts near his butt that we never see in transforming versions of the character.
His head sculpt may have the eyes appear dead or missing in terms of sculpted details, but the rest of it looks great, with an appropriate shade of blue and some needed silver on the antennae and mouthplate. His articulation consists of ball joints at the neck, shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, while the elbows and knees use the swivel & hinge joint combo that does better range than most early Black Series & Hasbro Marvel Legends figures; he also has a waist swivel.
The eyes and chest light up if you tap or shake the figure, and combining the LED with the clear blue eyes makes them more accurate to the movie than the yellow eyes of the old Leader or the green eyes of the ROTF Leader. The chest glowing is an action figure staple, but it could reference either his spark or the Matrix (he doesn't come with one but he looked the same in ROTF so it works lol).
The accessories he comes with include his signature Ion Blaster and Dual Energon Blades. The former comes with the blue piece not commonly seen on any transforming version of the character made by HasTak, not even on Buster Prime's transforming gas tanks. While having one gun and two blades might have someone ask "where is the barrage cannon?", it would make sense that we'd have both swords present given how they're ingrained into many fans' minds, from the Forest Battle where he used them more than his guns to both ROTF Leader Prime, MPM, and Studio Series Prime's keeping these blades in pairs more than individually. Granted, Battle Blades Prime has two guns made from the gas tanks, but what was his prefix again? Anyways, to attach the blades, simply remove the outer forearm panels, attach the blades inside them, and reattach the panels back on the forearms. He also includes alternate hands where his fingers are splayed open, perfect for further display options and photography.
Megatron's sprue trees, meanwhile, are more monochrome by comparison, with the use of metallic grey/silver and bronze contrasting Prime's more colorful part layout. It might take up a little more time to assemble (20 minutes for me compared to Prime), but it's still approachable. And hey, the face unassembled looks like the TLK head in bronze!
Assembly duration and complexity aside, we once again get a better representation of the original Movie Megatron design than with the old toys and arguably the newer versions. The MPM just had a bulky backpack and the bronze peeking through while the Studio Series version's legs are slightly oversized while the chest was incorrectly reused from ROTF. Though he has fewer paint apps (or none at all) compared to Prime, the sculptwork put in this little model kit manages to be comparable, if not better, than Studio Series in spite of the price tag. I also like that he has the broad chest present in the movie along with the refined head design that the MPM may not have 100% nailed. The back is flat and clean, with the little wings attached on hinges if you want to add a little more expressiveness to your miniature Decepticon leader while posing him.
His head sculpt captures the movie design very well, and I greatly appreciate that the teeth are picked out from the rest of the face. Every little bit of paint goes a long way for a figure like him. His articulation is mostly the same as Prime's, only the shoulders rotate at the joints connected to the torso while the rest of the arms move outwards from another joint built within said shoulders. Instead of alternate hands, Megatron's claws are poseable.
The eyes glow, but more importantly, he has an alternate chest piece with a hole in it to display the Cube as it's shoved in his chest, a reminder of his iconic death at the hands of Sam Witwicky thanks to the Allspark's sacrifice.
His one accessory is the fusion cannon, which he may not hold with both hands, but it can at least be displayed with a shorter barrel simply by removing the extension. He briefly used the cannon in a more compact capacity.
Lastly, both figures come with display bases that can interlock with each other, and they also come with effect parts uniquely sculpted and colored from each other (Orange for Prime, Purple for Megatron). The effect parts don't light up but they add to the whole dynamic figure appeal. Prime's effect parts compliment his flame decals perfectly, while the purple for Megatron's effect parts do make sense for the Decepticon insignia normally being purple.
For a size comparison, here they are with Studio Series 86 Bumblebee. Measuring at 4.5 inches, they fit in with a more standard Deluxe height, and considering they cost $16 roughly while coming with plenty of accessories (or in Megatron's case, claw-ticulation), these could arguably have a bit more value for money than thr average Deluxe figure. I mean, remember when Deluxes used to cost $16?!
Both of these figures are awesome desk toys and impressive additions to the growing Optimus Prime & Megatron shrine. I would wish we got another gun and an unmasked head for Prime or a chain whip for Megatron, but I feel bad saying that since they're both inexpensive yet high quality and perfectly sculpted representations of these characters. I'm tempted to go back and get ROTB Arcee since she beats any Hasbro-made version of herself, though I was close to getting Scourge from a BOGO 50% OFF discount at a FYE store with Pavitr Prabhakar from Across the Spider-Verse (one of them didn't qualify which sucked because I ain't paying $40 for an ATSV Legends figure that just came out). I wouldn't mind getting the TFONE Cogless bots since them lacking the ability to transform makes sense for the in-universe context and the Blokees line. Either way, give the Bayverse some much-needed love and buy these instead of the generic Evergreen crap from Hasbro.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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