The Energon Pub

by **Alex Jones** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:15 pm

So out of all the movie Voyager Optimus Primes we have gotten on the market, which is the best?

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:15 pm

That would depend on what exactly you're looking for in a figure. I can only really give my views on two: the first Movie and Dark of the Moon ones:

2007 Movie Voyager
Admittedly, he cheats a lot in the transformation for the sake of the robot mode and truck driver gimmick, but I still like him. Robot mode is slender, no unnecessarily distracting vehicle parts, but he does have a large backpack and the legs are inaccurate to the movie model. His weapons integrate rather well, being made of the gas tanks and smokestacks, the missiles look like the kind from Crash Test Dummies. Hair triggers on mine. Truck mode is decent, again off-model with the back cabin, but on the flipside, no visible robot mode parts.
All in all, he's not a must-have but serves his role as an "alternate version" rather well.

Dark of the Moon Voyager
Compared to the first movie one, a better figure in some aspects. Robot Mode is way more accurate, no backpack, and better balanced. Arms are a problem due to the way they bend and the wheels just get in the way in forward movement. Transformation cheats less, is similar to Prime: First Edition, but the front of the truck is a bit of a mess. Have to give credit for the legs though.
If you can, look for the Japanese version with the trailer. Costs a bit more, but you get a "clean" version without all the distracting solar panels and armor parts.

I've heard good things about Evasion Mode Optimus Prime, and if you have RotF Leader Class, you pretty much have HftD Battle Blades nailed.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:41 pm

For a voyager movie Optimus Prime, the HFTD (Battle Blades) mold is unmatched. For a fun voyager toy that homages G1, Evasion Mode Optimus Prime will not disappoint you. The original voyager 2007 movie Optimus Prime was good for its time, but has been eclipsed in the years since. Really, none of the Optimus Prime voyager molds are awful, but in the argument for the "best" of the best, it's not really a contest. Treat yourself to Battle Blades Optimus Prime, any version. I like the original Takara release the best, but if you can nab the Hasbro release, the Takara Movie Advanced Release, or one of the other limited edition versions of that mold, go for it!

News Credits: 2 · by **Spider5800** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:36 am

I'd say either Battle Blades Prime from the HftD line (2nd one in pic) or Evasion Mode Prime from AoE (4th one in the pic). Original voyager movie Prime was a cool figure at the time that hasn't aged well, and DotM Prime is hot garbage IMO.

If you can get the Takara versions of BB Prime or EM Prime, even better. Takara actually has 2 versions of BB Prime, one with hooks instead of swords and one with chrome parts everywhere. Both look great. Takara's EM Prime has a better paint job than the Hasbro one, lots more gray and silver where it belongs, although I guess you could add that yourself if you really wanted it.

News Credits: 1 · by **MightyMagnus78** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:26 am

TF4 Evasion Mode and HFTD Battle Blades. Interesting both are currently available as part of Takara's TF4 Movie Advanced line.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:43 am

I like Evasion Mode AoE Prime the best. I like the combination of the Movie aesthetic with a G1-inspired design.

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:15 am

As far as I'm concerned there's only one. Battle Blades OP. Amazing in both modes. Not perfect, but amazing.

by **Alex Jones** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:17 pm

MightyMagnus78 wrote:TF4 Evasion Mode and HFTD Battle Blades. Interesting both are currently available as part of Takara's TF4 Movie Advanced line.

Yeah I noticed they got the better paint jobs.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:12 pm

If you can only get one, get Battle Blade Optimus Prime. He's like a mini leader!
(Check my sale thread, I got one for sale.)

However, I'd recommend Evasion mode Optimus as well. G1 cab turning into Movie Prime? Genius!

News Credits: 1 · by **dirk2243** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:45 am

MightyMagnus78 wrote:TF4 Evasion Mode and HFTD Battle Blades. Interesting both are currently available as part of Takara's TF4 Movie Advanced line.

This.

I own the first movie voyager (backpack prime) which is surprisingly very posable, but then Battleblades Prime came out and he is honestly unmatched. And AOE evasion mode prime is a great homage to G1.

News Credits: 3 · by **Giant Purple Griffin** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 2:00 pm

Battle Blades is probably the most accurate and most popular. For some reason, he never appealed to me. Maybe because I have the RotF Leader, and this one is a mini version of it with worse proportions (the legs seem long and skinny to me), I never saw the point. I did kind of like the starry repaint of it that was released with DotM for its weirdness (he came with Comettor) but never pulled the trigger.

I actually really like the one from the first movie. He's nice and hefty and solid, poses great, and has a real fun and smooth transformation (the way things swing into place, the leg auto morph, etc.). He's also been repainted a ton so the mold shouldn't be tough to find.

The Evasion Mode Prime is also a nice one with its old-school altmode and good looking bot mode.

The DotM voyager looks good, just excelled by at least one of the others in any element you may prefer (accuracy, transformation, etc.), although his Fireburst redeco looks cool.

by **MGrotusque** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:49 pm

Protoform Prime.
Very weird. Wonderfully detailed and ultra poseable.

Transformers (2007) Optimus Prime (Protoform) Gallery

Transformers (2007) Optimus Prime (Protoform) Gallery

I know he's totally not even on anybodies radar as a satisfactory OP but i love it and have offered up this odd ball Prime for your consideration. I even ordered the Movie Advanced one for the added paint apps.

by **MGrotusque** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:51 pm

OOOPS!! Sorry...i just re-read the headline and noticed the Voyager part. I totally only chose to see everything else but the voyager part.
What a dummy 8-}

by **Optimum Supreme** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 3:28 pm

Honestly I find things to like in all the movie Voyager OP's. I certainly like them better than the Leaders or whatever class that DOTM one that combined with the trailer was. Wow I'm glad I got that at a deep discount.

Even that DOTM one, in pics, it looks sorta wonky, but actually looking at it in person, I just really kinda "get it" and like what they were going for there, even if it's not the best of them.

If I had to pick one and only one, yeah, battle blades, though somewhat ironically I think the blades themselves are a bit of a pain and tend to get in the way.

News Credits: 65 · by **Wolfman Jake** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:18 pm

Optimum Supreme wrote:Honestly I find things to like in all the movie Voyager OP's. I certainly like them better than the Leaders or whatever class that DOTM one that combined with the trailer was. Wow I'm glad I got that at a deep discount.

Even that DOTM one, in pics, it looks sorta wonky, but actually looking at it in person, I just really kinda "get it" and like what they were going for there, even if it's not the best of them.

If I had to pick one and only one, yeah, battle blades, though somewhat ironically I think the blades themselves are a bit of a pain and tend to get in the way.

Which is why it's fantastic that the blades are so easily removed and reattached. Seriously, that mold is a masterpiece. I'm glad we're slowly climbing back to that level of inspired engineering with the likes of Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. It takes the sting out of the disappointment we faced with many of the DOTM and FoC offerings.

News Credits: 273 · by **Delicon** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:32 pm

Battle Blades Optimus Prime got a slight remold for a DOTM Walmart 2-pack with Commetor. He's nice as well.

by **Alex Jones** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:17 am

Delicon wrote:Battle Blades Optimus Prime got a slight remold for a DOTM Walmart 2-pack with Commetor. He's nice as well.

The stars on it is a bit of a turn off admittedly, but the darker parts are a nice touch.

by **Yotsuyasan** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:24 pm

If you don't care about trailers, I'll agree with the majority that seems to be suggesting the HFTD one from the second film. If you do want a trailer, however...

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Dark of the Moon Voyager

If you can, look for the Japanese version with the trailer. Costs a bit more, but you get a "clean" version without all the distracting solar panels and armor parts.

I must agree with this statement. The domestic version of the mold looked like crap, I thought. But the Takara one was remolded to look much nicer, without all of those crap solar panels, no ridiculously oversized gas tanks, and a better looking gun... Plus, trailer!

I gave up on the films by the time the fourth one came out, so I can't comment on any toys from that film... Except to say that I was tempted by the Evasion Mode mold, and may still give in someday.