New Amazon Japan Age of Extinction Blu-Ray Exclusive Hound Image

Looks like this version of AoE Hound has a black beard now, just like all the Hasbro versions. I guess TakaraTomy decided that was the more screen accurate approach after all?

*sigh*

so pretty. but so expensive.

Wait..the price????

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our friend chuckdawg1999 brings us another review this week, and moving away from the simplified lines of Age of Extinction, treats us to a good look at the chromeful Takara Tomy Movie Advanced AD31 Armor Knight Optimus Prime! Check out the review and his thoughts below.

One of the last figures released in Japan for their Age of Extinction line Armor Knight Optimus Prime is fantastic retool/redeco of the Leader Class figure. The new parts, including a new head with face changing gimmick, sport a fantastic metallic paint job that just pops. If you've waited until now to buy an Optimus Prime figure this is the one to get.

Nice review, very detailed transformation explanation! I like this new Prime, the head sculpt and color apps are just right. I wish they could do something else with that backpack and get metallic weapons instead of those yellow ones, I am not 100% happy with it, besides seems to be the best AoE movie prime for now, I might go for it too.

I got my AD-31 today! The paint job is fantastic! But I'm surprised that they left the rear set of tankers blue. And I guess the bottom steps under the doors. What's up with that?



I like that the cab is kind of almost in scale with Galvatron.


And all the small details like tiny Autobot symbols on the hubcaps.


AD-31 has got some back kibble on him! I knew that, but still, when you actually hold it in hand..

Heh, wish it were possible to shrink it down and store inside his back like in the movie. Too bad, he actually has a nice back underneath all the truck kibble.



Btw, any one else find it amusing that you can sheath the sword on the truck backpack as if it were his actual back?



But otherwise it's a good looking robot mode.



And I think the AoE head design is a huge improvement over the first 3 movies. Somehow it looks closer to the cartoon now.
I like how it pops out during transformation.



The ability to hold the sword with two hands is one of my favourite features about this figure. Not sure about the orange but I ordered another set of weapons for cheap (of the pre retooled mold) to paint silver.

very nice pics!

thanks for review I fast forward past articulation parts those parts don't interst me no matter whos reviewing figure all transfromers move same to me some waist and ab crunch but past that they all move same depending on there class

Do you guys just not like any reviewer who isn't Chuck? Because whenever I submit a news post saying that another reviewer has reviewed a certain figure before him, you just seem to ignore it. What's the deal, huh?

KirbyForce1 wrote:Do you guys just not like any reviewer who isn't Chuck? Because whenever I submit a news post saying that another reviewer has reviewed a certain figure before him, you just seem to ignore it. What's the deal, huh?

dude take a pill. instead of routinely exploding in these threads about your news, why not email news@seibertron.com directly and ask them?

KirbyForce1 wrote:Do you guys just not like any reviewer who isn't Chuck? Because whenever I submit a news post saying that another reviewer has reviewed a certain figure before him, you just seem to ignore it. What's the deal, huh?

Maybe they're just not receiving your news submissions. Awhile back, there was an issue between my email address and the Seibertron news system that somehow prevented the news staff from receiving any of the news submissions that I was sending them, so you might be in a similar situation. Since they were able to fix the issue I had, maybe talk to the staff about it and see if your news submissions have been going through or not.

shajaki wrote:very nice pics!

Thank you!

That looks nice. Now if only Dr Wu would make a replacement backpack that folds up a bit better...with a sculpt and paintjob that nice it seems a waste not to upgrade it to be as good as possible.

Delta Magnus wrote:That looks nice. Now if only Dr Wu would make a replacement backpack that folds up a bit better...with a sculpt and paintjob that nice it seems a waste not to upgrade it to be as good as possible.

make a new backpack? thats the entire alt mode.

Well not the entire backpack, obviously (if you did the vehicle mode would be a horrible mess of cracks and hinges). I'm talking about that 1 really big piece with the wheels, gas tanks and the like on it- I feel a replacement that folded up better could be made without compromising alt mode stability.

shajaki wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:That looks nice. Now if only Dr Wu would make a replacement backpack that folds up a bit better...with a sculpt and paintjob that nice it seems a waste not to upgrade it to be as good as possible.

make a new backpack? thats the entire alt mode.

Isn't that more the First Edition OP? I've seen pics where they take the cab kibble off Optimus, and you get a complete Optimus and a complete cab. Now THAT'S crazy.

megatronus wrote:

shajaki wrote:

Delta Magnus wrote:That looks nice. Now if only Dr Wu would make a replacement backpack that folds up a bit better...with a sculpt and paintjob that nice it seems a waste not to upgrade it to be as good as possible.

make a new backpack? thats the entire alt mode.

Isn't that more the First Edition OP? I've seen pics where they take the cab kibble off Optimus, and you get a complete Optimus and a complete cab. Now THAT'S crazy.

true, but leader OP isnt that much of a step up. the only truck kibble not on his back is: wheel calves, skirt, and shoulders. so itd take more work than its worth to integrate that backpack better. you might as well make a whole new toy. which no 3P would do.

Cyberpath wrote:

shajaki wrote:very nice pics!

Thank you!

BTW, did you know you can UNHIDGE the sword holder from Optimus's backpack and set it diagonally to store the sword the proper way?



Also, I got my AD-31 for roughly 100$ shipped. No regret because that Prime is as premium as Takara's Buster OP (Jetfire 2pack version). Yeah, I kinda have my buyer remorse in the form of a 60$+ from TrU Hasbro leader AoE OP. Still, it's nice to have him just to show the huge differences between the regular version and the AD-31 one.

Here's the back underneath the truck kibble:

-Kanrabat- wrote:BTW, did you know you can UNHIDGE the sword holder from Optimus's backpack and set it diagonally to store the sword the proper way?

How do you do that?

-Kanrabat- wrote:Also, I got my AD-31 for roughly 100$ shipped. No regret because that Prime is as premium as Takara's Buster OP (Jetfire 2pack version). Yeah, I kinda have my buyer remorse in the form of a 60$+ from TrU Hasbro leader AoE OP. Still, it's nice to have him just to show the huge differences between the regular version and the AD-31 one.

I got AD31 for $65 shipped. I was able to snag one when HLJ updated their stock on the day before the release. Was checking the product page frequently for an opportunity, heh.

How does he look next to Voyager Galvatron in robot mode?