Size: 6”
MSRP: $16.99
OUT NOW
Unbelievable, two TF reviews in the same year! What happened? Hell froze over or what? Whatever, I’d say.
Always do what you think. If it takes you LESS than 20 years, of course.
It’s sad that great lines like Alternator or Classic TFs are disappearing because of the movie. They gave us some of the best transformers ever. Luckily, not all hopes of “traditional” TFs are lost: Titanium TFs are still alive and kickin’. This toy line until now gave us great satisfactions: War Within Optimus Prime, G1 Scourge, The Fallen, G1 Ultra Magnus… all great toys, or even better, all excellent transformable TF statues. Several fans’ dreams came to life, and I hope it will go on like this for a long time.
Here we go reviewing one the best TF Titaniums so far: Rodimus Prime.
We’re gonna get killed.
Do you remember G1 Rodimus Prime? Do you remember how in 2006 WWE refused to give G1 Rodimus’ gimmick to the Boogeyman because it’d have been too scary for their adult audience? Fear no more. After only 20 years, Rodimus Prime finally got a toy own of his name. That means: cool toy, but not nearly as cool as most Optimus Prime toys. Hey, it’s the Chosen One, in the end. How do we know that THIS is the chosen one? Well, even as bad as its G1 toy was, it wasn’t an Optimus Prime repaint. Yeeeeeeah.
I always knew you had potential, lad.
Titanium Rodimus Prime will be reviewed considering this line’s limits: heavy and bulky TFs, with falling apart limbs and simple transformations. Even like that, Rodimus comes out as a very nice TF: first, its box is great.
If you have to keep one box in 2007, keep this one, Rodimus’ chest on its sides it’s icing on the cake. Just great. Taking the toy out of the box is less difficult than in other cases: I remember myself having lots of trouble with the Fallen, for example.
First thing I thought when I finally put my hands on this TF was: “Wow, so THIS is Rodimus Prime!”. And, my fellow readers, this indeed is Rodimus Prime. No cheap plastic bricks, no Playskool bulls*it, just the first, true Rodimus Prime toy to date.
*applause*
Throttlebots, transform!
In robot form we get a faithful representation of an Autobot leader: very good proportions, a nice gun and good articulation make Rikkomba a satisfied reviewer. A big plus over Classic Rodimus: here there’s an Autobot Symbol on the chest.
Was it for me, I’d give Classic Rodimus, which come without it, a 2 out of 10 just because of this issue. In this toy’s arms and legs there’s enough strength and presence to carry on Optimus Prime’s legacy… until the end of the season, of course.
All this presence comes with a major drawback: hollow chest and shoulders that are not in line with the rest. I’ve seen worse, but it’s a notable issue anyway.
Red, orange, black and silver are all used very well, with a balance of colors that turns out much better than the one used in the Classic line.
Last but not least, after all the Autobots we got in last years that paid homage to Rodimus with smokestacks used as “wrist-mounted” weapons, we get the homaged character to actually be the best representative of the genre. Kudos!
Elbows’ articulation got loose very soon on mine, mainly because of the toy’s heaviness. Considering this as a typical issue of the line, I don’t mind it too much.
I would have waited an eternity for this. It’s over, Prime.
Rodimus’ transformation scheme is quite simple, though effective: we finally got a good represantation of what G1 Rodimus Prime’s alt mode should have been.
Smokestacks are very evident and impressive, to say the least; the handgun is stored in the middle of the legs, reminding me of Powermaster Optimus Prime, whose head got storage space between Optimus’ lower extremities.
There’s a major drawback on this otherwise nice alternate mode: its cuteness. Yeah. I just think that Titanium Rodimus Prime’s alternate mode is the cutest thing ever happened in the TF universe after Pretender Hello Kitty or G2 Chibimoon Prime.
It’s “super deformed”, in a certain way. The back of the vehicle is ok, smokestacks too, but the front part, the one that should recall Hot Rod’s vehicle mode… it’s cute, just that. I consider this the worst part of this toy.
No one is innocent!
So, even after 20 years, there’s still work to do. I am confident that a Masterpiece Rodimus Prime will be delivered in the next couple of years by Takara: updating this mold with some corrections here and there could give us on of the greatest TFs ever. As for now, we got a badly executed idea made better, and that’s something.
On Elohim’s Energon scale, I give Rodimus Prime 7 out of 10 cubes.
Take care,
Rikkomba
The Bottom Line
Charles Emanuele- One thing that can be universally said about the Titanium line is this: “Good idea poor execution.” I have most of the 6″ Titaniums available now and there has always been at least one thing wrong with them. Rodimus Prime is no exception. His gun arm could not be lifted to a hight that would allow him to properly point the weapon. Another thing I’ve noticed with most Titaniums, wave 3 and on, is that the amount of Die-Cast is less and less. This is a good thing since plastic does not peg well into Die-Cast and vice versa. Arm issues aside Rodimus is a good figure, not a great one mind you as there is far to much open space on him, but for the limitations Hasbro set for themselves they succeeded in creating the best incarnation of Rodimus Prime, thus far. As to whether or not you should pick him up I would say yes, but he isn’t a must have figure.
