TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Box Art:
Technical Specifications:
STR
INT
SPD
END
RNK
CRG
FPR
SKL

Sir Auros' review of: Rodimus Prime

Name: Rodimus Prime
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Protector
Sub-Group: NA
"Experience is the benchmark of maturity."

A vanguard for the Autobot ranks. Possesses acute military prowess. Speaks with the savvy of seasoned veteran. Expert tactician with exceptional maneuverability in battle. Can be hot-headed at times. Has a tendency to act first and ask questions later. In robot mode, carries a photon eliminator that shoots high voltage electricity. Range 500 miles. Speed: 200 mph. Sole purpose is to protect all life. His only weakness is his compassion for other living creatures.

I'd heard good things about this figure and seeing him marked down to $17 at the Toys R Us in my hometown caused me to pick it up as part of a ridiculously expensive toy shopping spree recently. The character had a great amount of appeal to me for two reasons. One, I loved the movie as a kid and thought Hot Rod was the coolest. Two, if you ever see a camper bus look this cool, you just have to buy it. Rodimus Prime is ultimately exactly what you'd expect from your average G1 toy, but it ends up not disappointing.

Vehicle Mode:
Hot-rodding camper van. Apparently becoming a Prime causes an Autobot to grow a trailer attachment. You could detach the trailer from Rodimus Prime's cab, but then the cab looks like some squished truck with rounded robot legs coming out the back. This isn't an Earth vehicle, but it does look pretty cool and seems to work out as a fun toy vehicle. There is fortunately only one sticker I recall applying in this mode and it wasn't even a pain in the butt that peeled off and curled up three seconds after application like most of the reissue stickers. This mode would probably be pretty cool for display, but I just don't have the room and prefer keeping the reissues in their very presentable packaging anyway.

Robot Mode:
Rodimus Prime looks angry in this mode. Not sure why. Maybe it's because he can't bend his elbows...or his knees...or move at the hips...or turn his head from side to side. Basically, moving the arms up and down in front of the figure is all the articulation you'll get out of Rodimus Prime. At least he looks more humanoid than some of the other figures and doesn't have the whole back end of a car to be imaginatively viewed as feet. The figure is solid and simple enough that I can forgive the articulation, especially because the trailer part turns into a mini-base in this mode. In addition to his already immensely intimidating gun, Rodimus has access to a double-barreled cannon with protective shielding. Except for the facial expression, the sculpt in this mode is really nice and I wouldn't mind displaying it in this mode.

Transformation: 8 - Very simple and insanely easy, and if it wasn't for the design trends of the time, this figure could have easily had some great articulation because of the transformation scheme.
Durability: 9 - Thick, sturdy plastic, stickers seem to stick better than other reissues, and not a lot of pieces to lose. Haven't figured out where to but the base mode's shields in vehicle mode though.
Fun: 8 - Figure looks great and has almost as much articulation as a Star Wars figure but can actually stand on its own.
Price: 8 - $17 still seemed a little steep when I was getting a bunch of reissues for $10 and under, but it is a pretty big toy.
Summary: 8 - If you can find it on the cheap, it's definitely worth adding to a G1 collection and even moreso if you have any affection for the character.