Suspsy's Review: RID OPTIMUS PRIME
Daniel Suh
Once Killed Myself Over A Video Game(???)" Prime! And this time around, he's
a fire truck--how cool is that? At one point in their lives, everyone wishes
he or she could drive a fire truck. Who wouldn't want to drive a vehicle
that can run red lights, rescue kitties from trees, and spray water with
enough pressure to knock someone out?
Vehicle Mode: As a fire truck, Optimus Prime measures 28 cm(11") long, is 8
cm(3.14") wide, and 13 cm(5") tall including his ladder. Main colours are
bright red, metallic silver, and flat gray, with chrome wheels, black rubber
tires, translucent red sirens, and translucent blue windows. The Autobot
logo is painted on either side of him in white outline. The name "Fire
Convoy" is on all six of his tires and the left side of the cab has
"Cybertron" printed on it, along with some Japanese lettering. Anyone care
to enlighten as to what it says? From the side or front, Optimus looks
great, but from above you can easily see part of his super robot chest. The
vehicle rolls quite nicely on bare floor and carpet and holds together
fairly well for a big toy comprised of eight components.
The most impressive feature on this toy is the ladder, which extends to a
length of 53 cm(21") and can rotate a full 360 degrees. Neat features
include a small step ladder and a control seat mounted on the sides of the
rotator platform. Pressing the red button near the tip of the ladder causes
two water cannons to flip out. Pressing the gray button at the other end of
the ladder causes four launchers to flip out in unison, with spring-loaded
missiles ready to fire! Annoyingly, the third launcher on mine has a very
itchy trigger, causing it to fire its missile every time I hit the flip-out
button. And no, changing the missiles around doesn't help any. Darn thing.
Depending on the angle of the ladder, the missiles have a range of up to a
meter.
Pressing the button on the roof of the truck activates the light-up sirens
and the voice box. Prior to his release, there was speculation that Hasbro
would cut costs by not having Optimus speak any English phrases. Well, it
turns out Optimus actually has one up over Super Fire Convoy. He has a grand
total of five sounds:
-A single siren sound
-The same siren sound repeated over three times
-"Autobots, transform!"
-"Optimus Prime, maximize!"
-"Fire!" followed by machine gun blasts
Transformation: The front section of the truck converts to a roughly
Ultra-sized robot, while the rear and mid section disassemble and reassemble
to form a combination radar station/gun platform. Neither is all that
difficult, though it can be frustrating trying to get him back into vehicle
mode. Some pieces require more force than others in order to snap on, and
they have to be attached to one another in a certain order.
Robot w/Base Mode: Optimus Prime's robot mode stands 20 cm(7.9") tall, as
tall as Megatron but smaller-looking. Like most Convoy-type robots, he's
mainly red with white and metallic blue. His head is blue and silver with
vac metal gold eyes. While it bears a striking resemblance to the original
Optimus Prime head, it's smoother and more rounded. His chest is vac metal
red with blue "windows" and a silver "grille," further signs of his Convoy
heritage. His forearms and thighs are very rounded, kinda like the Michelin
Man's limbs. Good strong tires for good strong robots, guaranteed not to
"pop a Firestone." He's also got massive shins and small feet.
Optimus is articulated at the head, antennae, shoulders, upper arms, elbows,
wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles. He comes with a small, but
powerful-looking laser gun topped with a red wheel. Go ahead Skir, take my
gun away. As for the base, it's small compared to Optimus, but
impressive-looking nonetheless, with pivoting laser cannons (including
finger guns) and a rotating armed radar tower. Now, will he actually be
*using* this contraption on the show, or does it simply disappear and
reappear at will whenever he transforms?
Mega Robot Mode: This mode simply involves attaching the super robot feet to
his shoulders as missile pads, and the forearm glove to whichever of his
arms isn't brandishing the gun. Each missile pad has six big blue missiles
sculpted into it, giving Optimus the necessary firepower to blow stuff up.
The forearm glove also has a pivoting double-barrelled laser cannon attached
to it. Looks pretty badass, but not nearly as badass as his next mode . . .
Super Robot Mode: Attach on the ladder, feet, and all the rest of his parts,
and you get one bigass armoured robot that stands 25 cm(9.8") tall at the
head, with the ladder adding a few centimetres to that height. He's taller
than Optimal Optimus but far less bulky, with proportional arms and hands.
He has one spot of kibble, the ladder hanging off his back, reaching all the
way down to the ground. His laser gun attaches via holes on either shoulder
pad. Whereas his smaller robot mode had puny feet, he now has big ol'
stompers like a big robot should. He's mostly red with blue, silver, gray
and orange highlights. His head is red and metallic silver with pivoting
chrome antennae and vac metal gold eyes. Flipping up the orange panel on his
chest reveals his "Matrix Gun" as some fans call it, a silver rounded barrel
that likely shoots Matrix energy. A targeting screen is on the underside of
the panel and a chrome Autobot symbol is on top.
In addition to his Matrix Gun, Optimus Prime's arsenal includes dual laser
cannons on both forearms, his shoulder gun, his finger guns, and the water
cannons and missile launchers in his ladder, which can swing up over his
head to fire. The instructions say to position the ladder on the left side
of his body, but I find that this inhibits poseability in his arm, so I
leave it straight out behind him. Looks better that way too. In this mode,
Optimus has joints at the head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, thumbs, hips, and
knees. His massive feet allow for a wide range of action poses, more than
you'd expect for such a big toy. Right now I have him standing on just one
foot, delivering a crippling sidekick with the other, right to Megatron's
chest region. He won't be getting up from that one. Oh, and for frivolous
fun, you can flip out the wheels on his feet so that he can go roller
blading. Look out for that low bridge!
Overall, Suspsy Sez: It's no small surprise that this toy is flying off
shelves everywhere. His transformation is more along the lines of assembling
the pieces than converting the form, and the faulty missile launcher on mine
is annoying, but these are minor things at best. RID Optimus Prime delivers
everything you'd want in a TF: good colours, plenty of poseability, neat
gimmicks, multiple modes, and tons of play value. Plus light and sound. I
really can't see anyone except the most puritanical, tight-assed G1 fan
having a beef with this toy. Hell, this guy's waaaaaay more fun than the
original Optimus Prime. 10/10
Suspsy
"We will put out the fires of evil!" -Optimus Prime
Irrellius King of the Potato People
*using* this contraption on the show, or does it simply disappear and
reappear at will whenever he transforms? >>
It's in the Japanese show all the time, in the first episode it fires one of
the Super robot Gauntlets using the ladder as a ramp.
<< Flipping up the orange panel on his
chest reveals his "Matrix Gun" as some fans call it, a silver rounded barrel
that likely shoots Matrix energy. A targeting screen is on the underside of
the panel and a chrome Autobot symbol is on top. >>
I'm not sure, but I think in the Japanese series it was some sort of fuel port.
I think there's a likelihood that this series will not have the Matrix in it.
Al-
http://www.Angelfire.com/mi2/Ob1kenoby/
"I wish i had to defend the earth from the darkness."-TrypticonX
"I think hasbro was a fan character."-TrypticonX
"You tried your hardest, and falied miserably. The lesson is, never try"-Homer
Simpson
Matt Marshall
it.
>
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He uses the Matrix in the last episode to create the God Sword
Douglas W. Dlin
1. Fire Convoy has the exact same number of sounds as does RiD Prime.
Both have the single and triple sirens, plus the "Fire!" with laserfire
sounds. FC also says "Kyodai gattai! Super Fire Convoy!" and "I'm a
goldfish! Golf ball!"--uh, that is, "Cybertron senshi, transform!" :-)
2. From Zobovor's latest edition of the RiD FAQ, just posted yesterday:
6. What does the Japanese writing mean on the toys? Why did Hasbro
keep it?
The kanji on Prowl's doors translate to "Metropolitan Police HQ."
Optimus Prime's symbols mean "Fire Department." Finally, the symbol
on
W.A.R.S. is the kanji for "war."
3. The thing under SFC's flip-up chest panel is a "Cybertronia Engine,"
a type of universal fuel convertor, according to an early TV MAGAZINE spread.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com
Goldimus Prime
found this letter from Daniel Suh
<Vqdg7.71796$hO5.14...@news3.rdc1.on.home.com>
>
>Overall, Suspsy Sez: It's
no small surprise that this toy is flying off
>shelves everywhere.
Magnus
seems to be flying off around here. I bought the last one locally myself,
leaving at least 4 of Prime. Must be how much better he looks in vehicle mode
than Prime.
I hope Wal-Mart'll still have some good RiD pickings when I go back
in a couple weeks.
--
Goldimus Prime
http://goldimus.net
"Pieces of Daniel / Lying in a bloody mess / Do you see his eyeball?" - Walky,
in #WiiGii!
Daniel Suh
> 1. Fire Convoy has the exact same number of sounds as does RiD Prime.
> Both have the single and triple sirens, plus the "Fire!" with laserfire
> sounds. FC also says "Kyodai gattai! Super Fire Convoy!" and "I'm a
> goldfish! Golf ball!"--uh, that is, "Cybertron senshi, transform!" :-)
Really? From the information I got on Ben Yee's page, I was under the
impression that SFC had only four sounds. Huh.
> Optimus Prime's symbols mean "Fire Department." Finally, the
Ah. Should've guessed that one.
> 3. The thing under SFC's flip-up chest panel is a "Cybertronia Engine,"
> a type of universal fuel convertor, according to an early TV MAGAZINE
spread.
Yes, a couple of other people have already mentioned that to me. Makes sense
I guess, a universal fuel converter. Handy too.
Thanks Doug :)
Suspsy
"A good shot is worth more than a good intention." -Warpath
cmq
> seems to be flying off around here. I bought the last one locally myself,
> leaving at least 4 of Prime. Must be how much better he looks in vehicle mode
> than Prime.
it's the exact opposite here...magnus warms the shelves and optimus is nowhere to
be found!
Douglas W. Dlin
>
> "Douglas W. Dlin" <ap...@texas.net> wrote in message
>
>> 1. Fire Convoy has the exact same number of sounds as does RiD Prime.
>> Both have the single and triple sirens, plus the "Fire!" with laserfire
>> sounds. FC also says "Kyodai gattai! Super Fire Convoy!" and "I'm a
>> goldfish! Golf ball!"--uh, that is, "Cybertron senshi, transform!" :-)
>
> Really? From the information I got on Ben Yee's page, I was under the
> impression that SFC had only four sounds. Huh.
>
two siren sounds together...?
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com
Daniel Suh
> Hmm. Well, FC's definitely got five. Perhaps Ben initially lumped the
> two siren sounds together...?
Well, I just went and checked Ben's page again to see if I'd misread his
review, and here is what he had to say about SFC's sounds:
"Press a button in between Fire Convoy's siren lights and you will get one
of four sounds:
A fire engine alarm sounding off once.
A fire engine alarm sounding off four times in a row.
Fire Convoy ordering the Cybertron troops to "Fire!" followed by a weapons
sound.
Fire Convoy announcing his name and transformation. "
Does that mean that some SFCs only have four sounds and some others have
five? I kinda have trouble seeing Ben overlooking something like this, since
he's usually pretty good with such details.
Suspsy, maybe I oughta email him about it.
"If you've got nothing interesting to say, say it anyway." -Squawktalk
Douglas W. Dlin
>
> "Douglas W. Dlin" <ap...@texas.net> wrote in message
> news:3B832B42...@texas.net...
>
> > Hmm. Well, FC's definitely got five. Perhaps Ben initially lumped the
> > two siren sounds together...?
>
> Well, I just went and checked Ben's page again to see if I'd misread his
> review, and here is what he had to say about SFC's sounds:
>
> "Press a button in between Fire Convoy's siren lights and you will get one
> of four sounds:
>
> A fire engine alarm sounding off once.
> A fire engine alarm sounding off four times in a row.
Well, he sure didn't lump those two together. The longer alarm is only
three times, though.
> Fire Convoy ordering the Cybertron troops to "Fire!" followed by a weapons
> sound.
> Fire Convoy announcing his name and transformation. "
Well, for Super Fire Convoy.
So the missing one is where he tells his troops to transform.
> Does that mean that some SFCs only have four sounds and some others have
> five? I kinda have trouble seeing Ben overlooking something like this,
> since he's usually pretty good with such details.
True enough. It could be he just got a glitchy SFC, one whose sound
chip simply never (or only rarely) cycles through the "Cybertron senshi,
transform!" clip. Or maybe he just forgot. :-)
> Suspsy, maybe I oughta email him about it.
>
Might be worthwhile, at that.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com
M Sipher
> So the missing one is where he tells his troops to transform.
Mine says "Autobots, TRANSFORM!". Not OFTEN, but it does.
M "He's Still Inferior In Every Worthwhile Respect To Rescue Roy, Though"
Sipher
--
King Weasel Productions - home of the productions of King Weasel!
Transformers, RockMan, original art, the solutions to all life's problems
and other crap!
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Home of That Big Transformers Variations List and MegaMan/RockMan Toy &
Merchandise Archive!
Douglas W. Dlin
>
> Douglas W. Dlin <ap...@texas.net> wrote in message
> news:3B83E6AD...@texas.net...
>
>> So the missing one is where he tells his troops to transform.
>
> Mine says "Autobots, TRANSFORM!". Not OFTEN, but it does.
Uh, I was talking about Ben's list for Fire Convoy's sound clips, not
about what either toy actually says. Ben's corrected his list now, BTW. :-)
> M "He's Still Inferior In Every Worthwhile Respect To Rescue Roy, Though"
> Sipher
Well, yes, of course.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com
Have you noticed how well most of Rescue Roy's voice clips take the
Fortune Cookie Treatment?
Eric
"Ultra Magnus, transform!"
Laser cannon fire sound (when right button is pressed)
The "ratata" of machine gun fire (when left button is
pressed)
"Fire!" followed by the sound of gunfire.
"Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus - combine!" (when he is
combined
with Optimus Prime as Omega Prime).
but he also says "Omega Fire" followed by the sound of gunfire (when Blue Bolts
is
pushing both buttons when he is combined with
Optimus Prime as
Omega Prime)
I emailed him about it but never heard anything. Just goes to show that even the
great Benson Yee is not infallible. :)
-Shadowturtle-
Douglas W. Dlin
>
> On the Ultra Magnus review he says that he only says:
>
> "Ultra Magnus, transform!"
> Laser cannon fire sound (when right button is pressed)
> The "ratata" of machine gun fire (when left button is pressed)
> "Fire!" followed by the sound of gunfire.
> "Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus - combine!" (when he is combined with
> Optimus Prime as Omega Prime).
>
> but he also says "Omega Fire" followed by the sound of gunfire (when Blue
> Bolts is pushing both buttons when he is combined with Optimus Prime as
> Omega Prime)
Tsk...perhaps it simply hadn't occurred to Ben to try out the sounds
with the weapon attached in any form.
GM/UM actually has EIGHT sound clips:
As GM/UM
Transform command
Laserfire
Vulcan-cannonfire
Yell + both double gunfire
As GFC/OmP
Combine command
Different laserfire
Different vulcan-cannonfire
Different yell + different double gunfire
> I emailed him about it but never heard anything. Just goes to show that
> even the great Benson Yee is not infallible. :)
Certainly not. Hard as it may be for some to believe, he is only human,
after all. :-)
As for not answering your email, it could've been for a number of
reasons. For one thing, he's been extremely busy of late finding a new
job, moving to a new house, and just generally dealing with life. For
another, the change in employment's necessitated some changes in his
email address, so you may have been trying to contact him via one that
was no longer valid, or one that he simply doesn't check as often.
At any rate, I figure he'll find out about this soon enough.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com
ShadowWing
Douglas W. Dlin wrote
>
>As for not answering your email, it could've been for a number of
>reasons. For one thing, he's been extremely busy of late finding a new
>job, moving to a new house, and just generally dealing with life.
When I do email him, it takes about a month for a response. But that's
using the form on his website.
Douglas W. Dlin
Then it's probably a matter of how frequently he gets to check over his
whole site, including wherever those form-submitted letters go.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com