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Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 2:01 pmby Amelie
Idea stolen from a thread now locked. I'll post up a toy I think is awesome, for discussion (I hope) and I'd love it if someone else did the same tomorrow. Note - I am not the wordsmith that Diem or Counterpunch is. 
I love Power Master Optimus Prime. I got one when I was 5 for my Birthday and was hooked. In my time I've owned it three times.
First off - the truck mode.
Sure, he's not as realistic as the original G1 Optimus Prime, but its riddled with play value. The trailer itself has a fun battle mode and transforms into a pretty wicked battle station. 
I loved playing with my Micromasters\X-Master Companions and other smaller figures on this, and unlike other bases I'd played with, it didn't look like a brick with a ramp - for some reason I never fell in love with Metroplex, Trypticon or Scorponok. It all paled in comparison though, to the two robot modes, which with subsequent releases of Optimus Primes would be a primary feature - the smaller robot and the big, combined guy.
The smaller bot sported a more cartoon accurate head and chest. To me it didn't matter that his arms were even less articulated than his older cousin - he looked cool and had two huge guns. My imagination made up the rest.
The false chest idea was clever and would be repeated in various forms down the lines, from G2 Laser Optimus Prime right up to modern figures like Classics Prime, with the double grill (and no, that doesn't mean he's good at a Barbecue). He was also a Power Master, and required his little dude (Hi-Q) to actually transform (provided you didn't do what I did and snap the clip), which is a gimmick that was going to come into full-bloom during Armada.
I can't tell you how awesome I thought the super-mode was as a kid. It was big, beefy, imposing and really looked like something straight from a cartoon. Finally Galvatron had a leader to face off against that really looked the part - he was armed to the teeth, and felt like it weighed a metric ton. Ultra Magnus who was similar had come out before this, but he wasn't Optimus Prime, and as a kid, that is basically a by-word for "failure".
There you have it, one of my favorite Transformers. What are you memories and opinions of this figure?
Also, don't forget the Super Mode Gallery and the Normal Mode Gallery on the site!
Thanks for reading guys!
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 5:10 pmby TulioDude
Nice,but you will do all the reviews or anyone can make one?
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 5:44 pmby Optimus1138
Amelie wrote:Idea stolen from a thread now locked. I'll post up a toy I think is awesome, for discussion (I hope) and I'd love it if someone else did the same tomorrow.
Judging by this, I assume anyone can post reviews.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 5:55 pmby Flux Convoy
One of my all-time favorites. Power Master Optimus Prime was the only Prime I owned as a kid and adored this toy. I jumped at the reissue for everything that the US release never got as well as the far superior deco, plastic and die cast. I freaking love the mold. I also own the Fire Guts God Ginrai and Nucleon Quest Convoy as well. They're all superb.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 7:36 pmby Optimum Supreme
I never found Hi-Q particularly necessary to achieve Op's small robot transformation. The part the engine depresses to allow transformation is pretty easy to push on your own, at least on mine (vintage, bought new back when it was first out, not a reissue).
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 8:43 pmby grimdragon2001
i got the original version myself, odd thing is on the vintage figure the windows are not transparent. nice little update on the reissue
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 10:59 pmby adamassc
I still have some of my Powermaster Prime, too. The fists for the bigger bot don't retract on mine. That little detail makes yours seem so much cooler.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 11:06 pmby Valandar
Sad to say, the very first Prime I ever had (of any personal name) was 20th OP. Powermaster Prime came out at about the time I was "growing up" finally, and putting aside my Transformers, Go-Bots, and Convertors, among many others, for the sake of "becoming an adult" (boy, do I feel foolish now for doing so).
Thus, I happened to be working at a toy store named Children's Palace when PMP came out - and looked at it and thought, "Pass. I mean, come on, lose the little guy and he's a hunk of junk!".
Once again... I used to be pretty durn foolish, eh?
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 11:07 pmby Hip-Hoptimus Rime
This is one of my favorites. I have the God Ginrai re-issue, w/ the Apex bomber trailer/robot/armor. He's large and in-charge! All that chrome! I love the battle station mode, I wish I had more Powermasters to put in there. Nice choice to start with.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sat May 28, 2011 11:26 pmby Burn
This is really one of the best molds out there. Sure, articulation may be virtually non-existant, but it's Prime, combining with his trailer! And the best part is, if you lose the cab, just use an original G1 Prime cab as a replacement!
I've got an original PMOP, then the Japanese God-Ginrai re-issue plus Nucleon Quest Convoy. Really want a Fire Guts to round out that molds collection.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 1:01 amby RhA
Burn wrote:This is really one of the best molds out there. Sure, articulation may be virtually non-existant, but it's Prime, combining with his trailer! And the best part is, if you lose the cab, just use an original G1 Prime cab as a replacement!
I've got an original PMOP, then the Japanese God-Ginrai re-issue plus Nucleon Quest Convoy. Really want a Fire Guts to round out that molds collection.
Same here. I still want that Fire Guts dude. It's the perfect G1 toy. I've got ém all boxed and they look great together. Though I'll need a boxed Ginrai as well. Just for kicks.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 4:17 amby bvzxa
I had Powermaster Prime when I was a teenager back in 1989. Pretty nice figure. The reissue is based on the Japanese Godmaster God Ginrai.
God Ginrai had the retractable fists for the trailer, chrome parts for the grill and for Ginrai (Hi-Q).
ow the first time I saw God Ginrai and Godbomber was was back in 1996 when my friend had shown us his VHS collection of shows he taped when he lived in Japan. He showed use an episode of Masterforce and I was like WTF?!? I never seen the extra trailer. Then he went and showed us the toy for God Girai and Overlord.
He had the original issue form 1988 and the box was beat up. This was when I started learning about Japanese Transformers and the differences. he even had the catalog. I never bought any of the reissues because I like my Ne0-G1, so Hasbro, Takara make an update after your done with the movie mess.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 5:29 amby Motorthing
I never liked Powermaster Prime - he was of a type that foreshadowed the direction the Line was moving at the time - nowhere.
I was around for the Original Prime and this seemed an ugly and backward update that helped convince me I was growing up and didn't need TFs anymore. It's poseability was way less than the original, the design was beyond clunky and while the BAttle Station mode was nice it couldn't make up for the other shortcommings - for me.
I think only the Machine Wars (and possibly Fat-boy Energon) versions of Prime are worse, and considering how many there now are that's a long way down my personal list. I still own Two though so go figure.....
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 5:50 amby Mykltron
I wanted this SO DESPERATELY as a kid.
Now, I'm really not bothered! Good fun for it's day and if you're a kid.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 6:24 amby Burn
In his defense, you could consider him ahead of his time.
Let's face it, Armada Super Optimus Prime was just Powermaster Optimus Prime with an updated look. The cab could go it alone, or you could combine it with the trailer. Both had jack in the way of articulation. The only difference is they added the auto transform gimmick for Armada Prime.
And Machine Wars Prime ... well let's face it, that was never the original intention of the mold (well not that we knew of).
Just finished putting together the Kabaya Ginrai. Great little figure!
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 10:23 amby fenrir72
Simple review but straight to the point Amelie.
Btw, if I had any complaints, the head was too big. Other than that, an awesome fig indeed. Though from the looks of the USA catalog of him, he did undergo a lot of revisions before finally emerging in this form (and the final having a die-cast cab, transparent glass and shortened smoke stacks
..and that was the Japanese version)
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 11:07 amby DJLazer
Amelie wrote:Idea stolen from a thread now locked. I'll post up a toy I think is awesome, for discussion (I hope) and I'd love it if someone else did the same tomorrow. Note - I am not the wordsmith that Diem or Counterpunch is.
I love Power Master Optimus Prime. I got one when I was 5 for my Birthday and was hooked. In my time I've owned it three times.
First off - the truck mode.
Sure, he's not as realistic as the original G1 Optimus Prime, but its riddled with play value. The trailer itself has a fun battle mode and transforms into a pretty wicked battle station.
I loved playing with my Micromasters\X-Master Companions and other smaller figures on this, and unlike other bases I'd played with, it didn't look like a brick with a ramp - for some reason I never fell in love with Metroplex, Trypticon or Scorponok. It all paled in comparison though, to the two robot modes, which with subsequent releases of Optimus Primes would be a primary feature - the smaller robot and the big, combined guy.
The smaller bot sported a more cartoon accurate head and chest. To me it didn't matter that his arms were even less articulated than his older cousin - he looked cool and had two huge guns. My imagination made up the rest.
The false chest idea was clever and would be repeated in various forms down the lines, from G2 Laser Optimus Prime right up to modern figures like Classics Prime, with the double grill (and no, that doesn't mean he's good at a Barbecue). He was also a Power Master, and required his little dude (Hi-Q) to actually transform (provided you didn't do what I did and snap the clip), which is a gimmick that was going to come into full-bloom during Armada.
I can't tell you how awesome I thought the super-mode was as a kid. It was big, beefy, imposing and really looked like something straight from a cartoon. Finally Galvatron had a leader to face off against that really looked the part - he was armed to the teeth, and felt like it weighed a metric ton. Ultra Magnus who was similar had come out before this, but he wasn't Optimus Prime, and as a kid, that is basically a by-word for "failure".
There you have it, one of my favorite Transformers. What are you memories and opinions of this figure?
Also, don't forget the Super Mode Gallery and the Normal Mode Gallery on the site!
Thanks for reading guys!
I can't find this because it's too rare
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 12:15 pmby Jelze Bunnycat
lazerwave217 wrote:I can't find this because it's too rare
Try looking for "God Ginrai", that's the name of the Japanese release. The reissue of that figure was notoriously overproduced and shouldn't go for more than $100 nowadays, that's the price I paid for mine
And didn't regret a single dime
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 5:10 pmby ShardFenix
i remember getting this as a kid in 1988 i think...i just remember being a stupid kid I told my mom that my dad had gotten her a necklace...bad idea. So they took this gift from me and didnt let me open it till at my grandparents house christmas night. BUt it was still fantastic. I loved this toy. Well this and Doubledealer...probably my favorite two of my childhood.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 5:38 pmby craggy
got this when it came out, my first Optimus. (got the Classic Hero re-release of the original a few years later)
The head was a little big, but the battle station mode was great, it was good that he could be a normal sized guy and interact with the big guys too. The re-release version with the transparent vehicle mode windows, retractable super-mode fists and the chrome looks pretty snazzy.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 6:14 pmby Optimum Supreme
Valandar wrote:Thus, I happened to be working at a toy store named Children's Palace when PMP came out
I remember Children's Palace. They were like TRU but a little more low rent (at least IMO). Still a great place to go, wish they hadn't gone under.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Sun May 29, 2011 6:47 pmby Amelie
TulioDude wrote:Nice,but you will do all the reviews or anyone can make one?
I'd love for other people to make a similar threads! It breaks up the "wishlist", "new release", "can't find" and "isn't x new figure great?". I love hearing about stuff thats already come out, sometimes I look back and think "I didn't notice that figure before, its awesome".
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Mon May 30, 2011 9:01 amby SJ21
Nice little review. PM Prime came out after I had moved on from playing with Tranrsformers. I would like to get one, if I can find him at a good price.
This is a great idea for a thread. It reminds me of the "Buried Treasure" thing that was going a while ago (what happened to that anyway?). I may have to dig back through my old stuff and do a review.
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Mon May 30, 2011 11:05 amby SentinelA
Totally agree. One of my top five favorite Prime along with the first one, masterpiece, robomaster, and Classic. Worthy opponents included Gavatron and G2 Megatron!
Re: Awesome Transformers #1 - Power Master Optimus Prime
Posted:
Mon May 30, 2011 5:58 pmby kirbenvost
Burn wrote:Just finished putting together the Kabaya Ginrai. Great little figure!
Me too! I got the full God Ginrai, and they look great. even a couple improvements over the original, such as the way the legs on God Bomber attach and such.
Anyways, I have infinite love for Powermaster Prime and thus God Ginrai. I still have my original PM Prime, the very first Prime toy I ever owned, all busted up and missing accessories. I could never bring myself to part with him, so he's kept safely in storage, while the Japanese God Ginrai reissue goes in my display.
I'm a fan of almost all the improvements (especially the retractable fists), although I actually like the shape of the plastic cab more. I guess it's just a nostalgia thing. But yeah, Powermaster Prime is up there on my list of all-time favorites.