Transformers 2007 Premium Series Optimus Prime review

Before time began...there was...a blocker version of Movie Optimus Prime. We know indeed where it came from. Only that it showed the first-time experience of making Bayverse toys. For a time, we played with it in harmony. But like all subsequent toy lines, some replaced it with the ROTF version, others still kept the original. And so began a debate. A debate that had us discuss if keeping outdated movie toys is worth doing. And the Premium Series became much harder to find. We scattered across the aftermarket, hoping to find it and give the figures new homes. Searching every site. Every con. And just when all hope seemed lost. Message of a new discovery drove us to the common bays of E. And we were thankfully not too late. In other words, today's review will be on the Premium Series version of Optimus Prime.

Here we have Optimus Prime in his truck mode. For an early toy, the design is already accurate for this mode at least. The flame decals are there (apart from the ones on the sides of the nose, the shades of red and blue are correct, and the sculpted details are comparable to an Alternators figure. The proportions may not match the truck as well as the ROTF Leader did, but this still works better than the old Voyager. The benefits of the Premium Series version is the addition of silver paint applied on the grille, rims, and fuel tanks. I wish the Autobot insignia was picked out in red, though. The ears do poke out slightly form the roof, which is why the panel had to be retooled 

The side of the altmode also looks clean, and other than the blaster near the fifth wheel, there is no major kibble discrepancies with the truck. In fact, we have rubber tires included for this figure, a rarity for modern figures at the time; it also reminds me how neither ROTF nor MPM have the same treatment we have here because this rolls even better.

The windows in the cab light up with associated truck horn noises. Though the windows themselves have tech details, they at least blend in better than the Mech Alive gears for ROTF Prime.

Transformation is somewhat inaccurate due to where the arms are made from and what parts make up the back kibble. Keep in mind that 2007 Transformers designers haven't been accustomed to designing the more alien Bayverse designs compared to later movie lines (apart from AOE because just look at First Edition Prime). Coming off of the Cybertron line, this definitely felt like a huge contrast to what Hasbro was used to like with Beast Wars. That being said, the robot mode does attempt to mimic the CGI model better than most other toys at the time did. The proportions are blockier, and the wheels are much chunkier than they should be, but the design has the chest windows, the knee pads, the forearm details, and the shoulder pieces where they would be. The Premium Series version aims to be a little more accurate with the silver paint, though the red on the shoulders, the blue on the hips, and the gold near the knees are absent.

The new head is one of the other selling points of the Premium Series version, giving Optimus a more accurate design with longer ears and a less round or square shape overall. Though it clashes the blocky body somewhat and the angle of the ears makes him look like he's looking down somewhat, at least the sculpt work is good. The articulation is already great for a 2007 Leader, with swivels for the neck, biceps, and above the knees, ratchets for the shoulders, double elbows, hips, and knees, ball joints at the thumbs and ankles, and hinges at the fingers. Each finger is individually articulated, unlike the lack of finger articulation on almost every version of the ROTF Leader. As for the weapon on his right arm, it normally stays on the right arm but can be detached; more importantly, that is the wrong weapon the whole time since it was normally associated with the original version of the Leader Prime mold.

The light and sound gimmick on this toy comes from one of the Automorph gimmicks: like the grille feet and the weapon, the chest transforms via gears that simulate the realism of the robots in the movie, and Prime's head rises up while the chest windows separate, and this causes the eyes and specs to light up with accompanying transformation noises. The eyes being yellow makes me think of G1 Optimus Prime. Originally, the noise consisted of a power up noise that did sound cool, though the traditional transformation noise makes more sense since it was featured at least once in the film (contrary to what Celph Titled thinks sorry dawg I love your music but that is a rare L for you).

As far as other versions are concerned, this is the original, mostly consisting of the original head sculpt and no silver paint in the same areas of the Premium version, but the paint apps are more plentiful for color break up. This was definitely the more common version of the mold, even if the toy drought was a thing because of demand. It was re-release for Costco stores with Legends Bumblebee and Jazz as well as an Asian 2-pack with Megatron.

Nightwatch Optimus Prime is a cult classic with how cool he looks in Powered Convoy-esque colors via the metallic blue and black combo. On the top is the Japanese and UK version, and the bottom version is for the Allspark Power subline. I have the latter version in beat up condition from playing with it in my childhood, and I want to get another copy in far better condition. 

This is the Takara version of Premium Optimus Prime, showcasing the actual weapon he is supposed to come with as well as the more complete deco with including the removed paint apps found on the original version. The chrome adds to the figure even before Buster Prime existed, and it is a testament to Takara's obsession with pimping out the leader of the Autobots.

The Tribute version of the mold adds chrome onto the figure, but it comes at the cost of removing the orange fade and making the reds and blues more saturated. Even still, a Megatron to go with this Prime would be nice.

There were three trophies available in the last, two in 2008 and one in 2014. The first is a G1-accurate redeco in chrome s throughout, and it was part of a video edit contest that only one lucky fan could win. The latter two were only won via Lucky Draw contests. The gold saturation and balance with gold plastic is different between the two.

Here he is with Megatron, showcasing the scale between the two where they have an equal height of sorts; it contrasts how Megs towered over Prime in the movie but that was something fixed for the Studio Series and MPM versions. Still, even with more accurate versions of the two leaders out there, I still recommend the 07 Leader Prime mold since it holds up decently well for an older toy. He certainly holds up better nearly 20 years later than either Leader scale AOE Prime has in a decade since they were made. If you can get this, the original, or Tribute at a good price, I recommend it without an issue.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐