Optimus Prime Smash and Change! Transformers Age of Extinction Flip and Change Item No.: Asst. A6143 No. A6144 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Sword Action Feature: Transforms from truck to robot in 3 seconds Retail: $19.99 Availability: May 2014 Other: Same size as Leader-class robot, less than half the price
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There's a never-ending struggle within Hasbro in movie years - do you just make one line and hope everybody likes it, or do you diversify? Anyone looking for a new Optimus Prime toy in May of 2014 could choose between no fewer than a dozen when you factor in all the exclusives. This "Smash and Change!" version is huge - roughly 10-inches tall, exactly the same height as Leader Optimus Prime but it comes in at about a third the price with less deco and articulation. With a tiny bit more work, this smash and change release would probably be a superior replacement to the annoying, fiddly panels of the $45 toy - it changes just by pushing his feet down. It's wonderfully fun.

Packaged in robot mode, Hasbro has deemed this figure so simple that it doesn't need a manual. There's just a diagram on the box. With a couple of ties, you can release this figure from its box and have it transformed - easily - in under a minute. For kids I assume this is the greatest thing ever, while adults whine about the "shellformer".shtmlect of the toy. Considering it has bend-and-swivel elbows, it's better than some toys - but basically a statue by the standards of adult fans.

If you are unable to convert this toy, I question your dexterity and fine motor skills. The robot has a big handle on the back - grab it, put Optimus' arms down, and push down until it "clicks." The arms, shoulder armor, and head tuck in to the body and you've got a truck with nicely rolling wheels. They're not super spinny, but I've seen worse and for a toy it rolls on the floor about as nicely as I might hope. The red paint applied to the metallic blue plastic is bright and evenly applied, the flames actually looks better than the Leader class toy A tiny bit of silver and grey break up the sea of blue on truck mode but it's obvious that this is a cheaper toy for younger fans. I still think it's cool.

If Hasbro included jointed shoulders, a jointed neck, and eyes painted any color but silver I think this would be a suitable replacement for the Leader toy. It's a stiff guy, but I could see it quickly replacing some of the other price points because it actually is really fun. I doubt kids will clamor for the "baby" version, just remembering how my peers were during the first generation of these toys, but hey - what do I know? Maybe they'll be happy with whatever shows up. The engineering is good and it's fun to play with, but collectors seem to want only the best version available - which this probably isn't. His sword hilt is too big for 5mm hands, and the 5mm peg on the side plugs in the side of the truck mode - so it's like a jousting thing. There are other cosmetic holes on the toy which resemble a 5mm socket, but they're a little too big to actually fit this or other weapons. Otherwise? I dig it. It's a nice one.

Sample courtesy Hasbro.

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