Legacy United G1 Optimus Prime

Series: Legacy United
Year: 2024
Allegiance: Autobots
Class: Deluxe

Prelude: Now this is just a theory of mine, but I think Hasbro saw the success Takara had with Missing Link Convoy and figured, hey, we can do that at retail price! The result of that thinking? The Legacy United G1 Optimus Prime figure, a modern toy patterned after the original G1 toy. So, this one or the Missing Link? Let’s find out and say go!

Robot Mode: Much like Missing Link Convoy, Legacy United G1 Optimus Prime follows a simple premise: use the iconic original G1 Optimus Prime toy as a base, add modern-day articulation, and then: profit! However, in Hasbro’s case the resulting toy figure is not the same size as the original toy, but rather a good deal smaller - the smaller end of the Deluxe scale, actually – and is entirely plastic, no die cast or chromed parts. The articulation is current standard, meaning very good (though not quite as good as ML Convoy), including nicely articulated feet, a twisting hip, and everything else you could ask for short of articulated fingers.

One thing that I noticed almost immediately upon taking this figure in hand is that the proportions seem a bit more stunted than it was on the original toy. Not much, but noticeable. That’s not necessarily a negative, mind you, just something you notice. The head is a very close match to that of the original toy (not the animation character) and the red is a bit brighter than the original, though there are so many versions of that toy, you’ll probably find one with that shade of red.

Optimus comes with several weapons and accessories. He carries two different versions of his trademark black rifle, both resembling variants of the rifle that came with the original G1 toy. So he can shoot two-handed now or store one of the rifles on his back when it’s not needed. He also comes with his familiar Energon Ax (which he used in all of one episode), which he can slide over one fist, left or right. Sadly there is nowhere to store the ax in robot mode. Finally, the smoke stacks on Optimus’ shoulders can rotate and also unplug to be used as handguns. Looks a bit silly, though, best to leave them on.

Like the original toy, this one, too, can open up its chest. Instead of seats for two Diaclone drivers, however, you see a place for a Matrix of Leadership. Optimus has a transparent-blue Matrix included (not sure why that particular color, to be honest), which can be removed. Without articulated hands, Optimus cannot really hold it, but with some careful posing you can jam it between his fists and do an approximation of the classic “Light our Darkest Hour” pose (and that’s still really Rodimus’ pose, not Optimus’).

So bottom line for the robot mode: pretty nice, but feels a bit cheap if you have Missing Link Convoy for comparison.

Alternate Mode: Of course Optimus Prime transforms into his familiar Freightliner semi-truck mode, nothing new here. The transformation is pretty much the same as it was in days of yore, just without having to remove the fists, they flip in instead. The resulting truck is a good deal smaller than the original (or Missing Link Convoy), but apart from that he very much looks the part. He’s the first Optimus Prime toy in a good long while with actual rubber tires, which feature a callback to the Alternators line with the “275/80 R22 Cybertron Radial” writing on it. Nice.

The truck has multiple 5mm pegs on its back, so all three weapons can be stored here. Alternatively the truck can attach both the original G1 trailer, as well as that of Earthrise Optimus Prime. Scale-wise he should work fine with Earthrise, but is a good deal too small for the G1 trailer.

Bottom line: it’s Optimus Prime in truck mode. Not that you can do much wrong here (though some figures have certainly managed). Nice and familiar.

Remarks: I don’t think I have to tell any reader of my site who Optimus Prime is, right? Or how iconic his look is, patterned after the original Diaclone Battle Convoy toy. So, as I wrote in the prelude, it’s unsurprising that Hasbro wants to hop onto the nostalgia money train and get their own version of Missing Link Convoy out there. That said, I am not quite sure where to put this toy. It’s a bit too small for your CHUG collection, doesn’t quite fit into your G1 collection (looks too plastic for it), so it’s mostly a stand-alone thing, as I can’t really imagine Hasbro going the full Missing Link route and continue on with more toy-inspired figures.

So what’s the bottom line here for this figure, especially in comparison with Missing Link Convoy? Well, ML Convoy is better, no doubt about it, and closer to the original toy in both size and proportions. This one here, however, costs only about a quarter and while it is a bit smaller, it’s certainly a fun Optimus Prime toy as well. So my recommendation: if you already have ML Convoy or have the free budget to buy him, there is no need to get this one here. If not, this one here is a good replacement for the budget-conscious TF fan who simply wants a fun Optimus figure.

Rating: B