Transformer RED Series Optimus Primal and Reformatting Megatron Revealed

william-james88 wrote:Thanks to Nemesis Primal, we know that IGN just revealed RED Optimus Primal and Reformatting Megatron. Pulse & Walmart preorders go up on Friday: https://www.ign.com/articles/new-transf ... lector-con.

Both figures come in at 6-inches tall and are non-converting, as is the case with the R.E.D. line. By going R.E.D., Hasbro opted to "bring collectors the most screen-accurate versions of their favorite characters" for Primal and Megatron.

Where to Preorder the New Transformers R.E.D. Figures on July 23
Transformers R.E.D. Optimus Primal - 22,99 $US
Transformers R.E.D. Reformatting Megatron - 22,99 $US
Optimus Primal has 30 points of articulation and detailed paint, coming in at 74 deco ops. While not convertible, Primal does have a pair of blasters tucked away under his forearms, which is nice.

Megatron has 23 points of articulation and is modeled and decoed after the scene in the 1986 Transformers Movie "midway through his rebirth into the immensely powerful and menacing Galvatron." Megatron comes with Fusion cannon and includes 4 changeable hands holding Energon accessories.

Haven't bought any of those R.E.D figures but damn if Megs and Primal aren't tempting me. I like the reformatting translucent purple.
and Primal just looks awesome. Very close to Kingdom interestingly enough.

After seeing the mess they made of Cheetor, I had no intention of getting any R.E.D figures, but that Optimus Primal! Granted there's little point when the Kingdom figure exists, but this fella's going straight into my Optimus Primal shrine.

The Megatron's good, too. Better this than another Siege Voyager Megatron with some purple bits and a REALLY badly deco'd tank.

ooo... I legit like that Megatron. though honestly I wish he had some internal sculpting in the grid pattern area to replicate the internal bits from that scene. will probably have to get that one.

I'm familiar enough with the RED series by now to know that they way they're posed in those pictures is the limit of their poseability. All the RED figures to date have had very encumbered joints with soft, weak plastic that you can't manipulate properly without cracking and tearing.

I expected the RED figures to be MORE poseable without any transformation engineering to get in the way, but I've been sadly disappointed with all of them to date. I doubt I'll be getting either of these. The 'reformatting' Megatron looks interesting, but they couldn't even bother putting the reformatting lines all across the affected limbs, they're only on the front. Boo!

Anyone else notice that the inside of his arm is scanned on the back of the package but not in the actual photos?

Reformatting Megatron belongs to Hallmark's Christmas ornament line.

Reformating Megatron should've been part of a set with Thundercracker and Skywarp, I just don't see a point to it otherwise or doing anything else besides standing there.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Reformating Megatron should've been part of a set with Thundercracker and Skywarp, I just don't see a point to it otherwise or doing anything else besides standing there.

A set like this would’ve been awesome.
In general, this is the type of deco that would’ve been best suited for a statue.
“Reformatting Megatron” holding an energon cube? Pshhhh

Now, I’m still not against getting this one…
I could see putting him on a raised display stand to create the “floating” appearance & have him in a relatively static (& straight-facing) pose.

I'm passing on it because I still have nightmares over regular RED Megatron

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I'm passing on it because I still have nightmares over regular RED Megatron

Understandable. I've pretty much written this line off...
I will say of those I would've been interested in, Megatron still looks the best... The likeness is so good; the ideal mental image I have of this character and this figure are incredibly aligned.
I've never seen a converting figure have a better head/face sculpt then this.
Maybe MP-36's is better?? If so, not by much at all.
R.E.D.'s proportions are also on point. I've seen official animation where imo, his noggin is too large.
That's actually something I've noticed with illustrations of multiple characters.
Another huge plus for me is the fact that it's really reppin' the OG. May sound weird but I love seeing that gun barrel behind his right shoulder... Not to mention, no tank mode kibble of any kind, no greebling, no 5mm ports, fewer seams, no metal screws or pins, and no hollow bits anywhere.
That's not to say every joint is perfection (or that articulation shouldn't be better), however, out of all the offerings to date, imo this is about as close to perfect as you can get with a non-transforming, yet still articulated figure of this character. In fact, I don't have any recollection of seeing any sculpted, static statues of Megatron that match his likeness so well.

Now, wonky, warped, bent parts straight out of the box... Yeah, that sucks. But I've seen with my own eyes that this isn't a problem across the board with every figure.
For me, considering what this character is, can (and can't) do, and what's been done well, I don't see softer plastic being an issue.
Exactly like how I don't care if a transforming figure's head or waist can't turn 360, legs can't do the splits, shoulders can't be rotated to where the arms are facing straight backwards, etc.

Out of boredom as I wait for preorders to start showing up, I'm even more tempted by this figure.
Especially having a couple unopened Necca stands waiting to be used. There's still part of me that really wants to have this guy on a stand in a hovering/floating pose behind my desk at work.

Sowndwave76 wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I'm passing on it because I still have nightmares over regular RED Megatron

Understandable. I've pretty much written this line off...
I will say of those I would've been interested in, Megatron still looks the best... The likeness is so good; the ideal mental image I have of this character and this figure are incredibly aligned.
I've never seen a converting figure have a better head/face sculpt then this.
Maybe MP-36's is better?? If so, not by much at all.
R.E.D.'s proportions are also on point. I've seen official animation where imo, his noggin is too large.
That's actually something I've noticed with illustrations of multiple characters.
Another huge plus for me is the fact that it's really reppin' the OG. May sound weird but I love seeing that gun barrel behind his right shoulder... Not to mention, no tank mode kibble of any kind, no greebling, no 5mm ports, fewer seams, no metal screws or pins, and no hollow bits anywhere.
That's not to say every joint is perfection (or that articulation shouldn't be better), however, out of all the offerings to date, imo this is about as close to perfect as you can get with a non-transforming, yet still articulated figure of this character. In fact, I don't have any recollection of seeing any sculpted, static statues of Megatron that match his likeness so well.

Now, wonky, warped, bent parts straight out of the box... Yeah, that sucks. But I've seen with my own eyes that this isn't a problem across the board with every figure.
For me, considering what this character is, can (and can't) do, and what's been done well, I don't see softer plastic being an issue.
Exactly like how I don't care if a transforming figure's head or waist can't turn 360, legs can't do the splits, shoulders can't be rotated to where the arms are facing straight backwards, etc.

Out of boredom as I wait for preorders to start showing up, I'm even more tempted by this figure.
Especially having a couple unopened Necca stands waiting to be used. There's still part of me that really wants to have this guy on a stand in a hovering/floating pose behind my desk at work.

I think when I reviewed Megatron I said it was the best, but is being the best of the worst really good? I was thinking about getting a Starscream that was on eBay but I could clearly see the blast effects bent in packaging and lost all interest.