LEGACY EVOLUTION ARMADA UNIVERSE OPTIMUS PRIME
Review by GodSentinelOmega
Back in 2002, Optimus Prime was fighting to save the Mini-Cons. Now he’s back and better than ever as the Transformers Legacy Evolution Commander!
ALT MODE:
Rolling out in his beefy, armoured tractor trailer, this Prime is the undisputed King of the Road. Armada Optimus Primes design takes the original heavy duty design, smooths out the proportions and combines elements of the cartoon and toy design. The side pods are there, the tank treads are there. There’s even storage for his big gun. As a Commander Class, Primes alt mode gets the size, deco and molded detailing it needs to really shine! All the7 wheels (counted the two under his molded tank treads) roll freely. Combine this white a trailer hitch that allows the truck can to turn and he’s all set. Plus, his smoke stacks are blast effect compatible and he’s covered in 5mm peg holes so he can easily be given even more weapons.
CAB ROBOT MODE:
Primes transformation to Cab Robot mode is intuitive and faithful to the original, while added a few modern twists. Ending up in a powerful looking Optimus. The front grill chest plate, the smoke stack arm cannons and the golden crested Prime noggin. The rich reds, blues and silvers really bring out both the painted and molded detailing that covers Prime.
Articulation is pretty great too:
Balljointed head.
Hinge shoulders
Bicep Swivel.
Dounble-jointed Elbows with a lot of range thanks to the extra transformation joints.
Wrists Swivels. Though they are a little hard to access thanks to the mold.
Soft Ratcheted forward/backwards Hip joints and hinged outwards.
Heavy Ratchet knee joints, as these will be the Super Mode Elbows.
Ankle Tilts and Toe bend. Though that’s mostly because of the transformation joint.
All this allows Prime to get pretty dynamic when posing. Whether that’s using his arm cannons, his big gun, or showing off his (removable) Matrix. Which, because of his molded fists, he unfortunately can’t actually hold
BASE MODE
Much like the original, Primes trailer unfolds into a base mode when not combined. However, this base of less interactive self-transforming Mini-Con base and more weapons platform. It is also for more secure than any other Commander Class base because of a plentiful amount of locking tabs that hold it together very nicely.
Both of these changes, while a shame, are necessary because of how much more the trailer can do in super pants mode.
Speaking of…
SUPER MODE:
This is what it’s all been building to. Legacy Armada Prime, has functional legs!
After some transforming of the cab and trailer, plus a few more secure tabs, we are left with a very sturdy, very Big and very poseable super mode. His proportions, moulding and deco are (again) a great combination of the original toy design and animation accuracy
Prime has a waist swivel, ratchet and hinge hips, ratcheted knees and ankle tilts that give him, much like the cab robot, a very dynamic range of movement. His upper body also has wrist swivels and of shoulder and arm movement thanks to the cabs leg articulation and transformation joints. Prime also has two other extra bonuses. First, the Autobot symbol emblazoned on his chest is detachable and reveals a slot that could potentially hint at Hasbro considering a future Armada Jetfire figure. Second, it is possible to connect the original Armada Overload mold (or its repaints) to Legacy Prime in his giant cannon mode, creating a version Primes Magna Convoy mode. Now this connection is not secure, beyond friction. Nor is it the only way to attach Overload to be found online. It is simply one more fun extra you can do with this excellent figure!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Legacy Evolution Commander Class Armada Optimus Prime (say that three times fast) is a fantastic modern update of the original Armada Autobot leader. He gets all the modern detailing, painting and articulation you could want and, while it might not be able to do everything the old figure could., those sacrifices ultimately lead to a better overall figure. Especially in Super Mode!
Score:9/10 “Optimus Prime, Super Mode!”
So then, do you have Legacy Armada Prime, do you want Armada Prime. Whatever you thoughts, join the conversations on our Transformers forums, Discord server, Facebook group and Twitter!
Source: The AllSpark
