Well, almost a week after my Wal-Mart got the cases in, for some reason tonight...they released these on the shelves. Sitting in a cardboard display that sits directly on a shelf, one side Optimus, one side Starscream. In the center it said something to the effect of "Check Back June 2nd For All The New Movie Toys!" (Yay!)
Anywho...as soon as I saw them, my greed took over. I just had to have something movie related and I needed it now.
You know what? I don't regret it one damn bit.
...I was so very wrong, and these are so, so very cool.
I'll start with Optimus first.
Preview Figure Protoform Optimus Prime:
I'm not quite sure where to start with him, seeing as I really like both modes of transformation. Well, since he's packaged in robot mode, let's go with that.
First thing you notice, is that he's heavily detailed for a Deluxe figure, the lesser amount of paint apps actually add to his overall alien look.
His windshield/wheel motif is a nice prelude of what's to come. (Of course we already know, but it's still a neat feature.)
His weapon does not have projectile launching capability, but even with that lacking, it looks damn cool. (Although it looks terribly dorky with the "flame" sticking out of the barrel.)
His pose ability is top notch. He seems to have nearly full range of his joints, or what you'd expect those joints to be capable of. (Remember Bendy Prime? Screw him. Proto Prime will out pose him and make him his bitch, and Bendy will enjoy it. Hells yeah.)
The transformation is extremely simple and straightforward. Push head down, push arms back, spin legs around, push them up under the "cape", lock in the flame and you're done. Would it be fair to say he's overly simple? Yes. Would it be fair to say he's still fun no matter how simple he might be? OH YES.
3 *** out of 5 ***** stars, due to lacking the one selling point all of these figures are supposed to have...Automorph Technology. He hasn't a damned bit of him that's Auto anything.
And now onto...
Preview Figure Protoform Starscream:
Starscream is definitely the better of the two, I must say.
He keeps with his original aesthetic (pectoral vents, etc) but he also embraces the new path the designers have lead him to, and this is a good thing. (:D)
He looks fantastic in both modes, but downright deadly in "Entry Mode" (I kid you not, they actually call the vehicular mode just that. Stupid and a bad choice of wording, but I won't complain. lol) All of his wings, and jagged edges, make him look like the bad ass missile from Hell.
His robot mode is also super poseable, like Prime's but I'd say Prime beats him on that a bit. His weapon is cooler than Prime's due to the fact it has a missile that actually fires. (WHEE!)
Like Prime, his transformation is simple, except for one thing. He suffers from Alternator Syndrome. (That is, you have to have him lined up just right, or this panel won't go there, and vice versa.) Irritating, but certainly not enough to be a detracting point. His transformation is pretty much the same as Prime's, although Starscream does have an Automorph Technology feature: When you pull his arms forward for robot mode, his head automatically pops up. Nothing glorious, but it sure is neat. lol
His details are definitely more than the average Deluxe Class figure is used to, both he and Prime have it in spades. Panel lines, vents, etc...you'll find them on 'Screamer for sure.
Even with his Alternator Syndrome, and perhaps being maybe just a slight less poseable than Prime...he's still the clear winner of these two. That's not to say Prime's a bad figure by any means, it just goes to show that Starscream is eat your face off cool. (F**kin'-A!)
4 **** out of 5 ***** Stars. (He wasn't perfect, so 5 out of 5 just isn't possible.)
They're not perfect TransFormers, and they're certainly not what we're used to. ...and believe me, that's a good thing. This gives you a hint of what's coming and as we've seen, they've easily topped the coolness factor of these two with the June 2nd guys. The movie line will definitely wow a lot of people that said they wouldn't be, all they have to do is give the toys a real chance, and be completely unbiased. I will admit, I jumped on the "HAHA! Robotic sperm figures! Haha!" bandwagon, and I was wrong. Internet pictures just don't do them justice, because they are most certainly cooler by far, than what you've seen of them online. Granted, since they're not the cream of the crop and so very different from what we're used to...well...I wouldn't recommend them as the icebreaker, or gateway into the movie line for collectors, fans, or new ones. They are definitely worth a purchase at some point, at least later on down the line when you have an extra bit of cash burning a hole in your pocket.
Both are highly recommended (4 **** out of 5 ***** Stars.)
NOTE: Start checking your Wal-Marts regularly, the street dates are apparently unimportant and it seems they want to push the product like now, now, now. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the Voyagers and other Deluxes sooner than June 2nd. Keep an eye out folks!
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.
[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
