There are certain moments in life that feel strangely monumental (even if they involve toys) This was one of those moments for me. After decades on this planet, I was all set to open the box of the very first Transformer I’ve ever owned. Yes, I’m an adult. Yes, I’ve been around a long time. And no, I’ve never owned a Transformer… until now. Id gone through the He-Man figure stage, I’ve always enjoyed Star Wars collectables but for some reason I had never owned a Transformer. Until now. Now I am the very proud owner of Optimus Prime, or to give the full name of this particular figure ‘Transformers Age of the Primes Titan Class The Thirteen Star Optimus Prime’ which you can now get from Hasbro Pulse.
What follows is a sort of summery of my full experience unboxing, assembling, and eventually transforming Optimus Prime which is actually a 3-in-1 converting Transformer from the perspective of a complete newcomer. (me!) If you’d prefer to watch and listen rather then read then you can of course check out my unboxing/review video which is at the bottom of this article. The choice is yours!
First Impressions: The Box and Packaging
The box packaging immediately gave off a sense of quality. The box itself is sturdy and weighty, its not flimsy or overly hollow which is reassuring in a world where online thumbnails often don’t tell the full story. There is nothing more exciting and genuine than feeling the box in your hand. For those who care about scale (and I think that matters when buying collectibles online), the box of this particular Transfomer measures:
17 inches long
13 inches wide
4 inches deep
The box felt substantial in my hands. I didn’t have weighing scales to measure the exact weight, but it definitely doesn’t feel like “all packaging and no product.” This felt like something serious was waiting inside. and I was right!
What’s Inside the Box?
Opening the box carefully (very carefully collectors will understand why) revealed The large Optimus Prime figure (38cm tall) ,A detailed instruction manual and multiple accessories, including weapons, muzzle flares, and armour pieces and even a small bullet which fits inside the rifle that Optimus can be armed with, The instruction booklet shows all transformation stages, including robot, truck, and battle station modes however as someone that wasn’t familiar with Transformers, the manual did seem a little daunting to me (but more about that later)
The Reveal: Optimus Prime in Robot Mode
Once freed from the internal packaging (which is impressively secure ideal for postal delivery), Optimus Prime finally emerges. The figure is held in with ‘ties’ which are easily snapped with a pair of scissors (careful with the scissors)
Wow.
This Optimus Prime figure stands at 38 cm tall, and it feels incredibly solid. There’s none of that fragile, flimsy feeling you sometimes get with collectibles. Everything feels tight, sturdy, and well-engineered. Standing Optimus upright for the first time was a proper “wow” moment. This is Optimus Prime instantly recognisable and beautifully detailed. The level of detail here is genuinely impressive, it has solid joints, excellent poseability and as id mentioned, earlier the figure has a premium, weighty feel. This isn’t just something that looks good on a shelf (though it absolutely does). It’s also highly playable, with lots of articulation and interaction points. Some of which I hadn’t realised were there until I began the transformation.
Accessories and Assembly
With the accessories,things get more fun. There are weapons which clip into Optimus’s hands, muzzle flashes which clip into the end of the barrels, there are laser swords too, as well as shoulder turrets that clip onto the shoulders (and will come in handy when its Truck, and Battlestation time)
Everything attaches pretty logically, and once you understand where things clip in, the assembly is quite easy. One helpful tip: some accessories are easier to connect together first before attaching them to the figure and also some ‘pressure’ is needed with some to make sure they slot into place. I was very careful not to put too much pressure onto things as I didn’t want to damage this collectable.
Another cool thing is that you have the option to mix and match the muzzle flares small details, but they make a big difference when displaying the figure. You can change it now and again just to keep things fresh.
A Toy, a Collectible… and a Puzzle
One thing quickly became clear: This isn’t just a toy. It’s a series of mechanical puzzles.
Opening panels, revealing compartments, inserting smaller components there’s a real sense of discovery as you explore what the figure can do. It’s satisfying, tactile, and genuinely fun yes even for a newbie like me, and an adult too. It most certainly wasn’t a ‘remove it from the box and you are done’ type figure, but nor is it something that will have you spending days and days building.
Final Thoughts on the Robot Mode
After completing the build (which I think took me around 25 minutes for the video) , I can confidently say: This was not frustrating to build at all, Nothing feels cheaply made which I would 100% say about all the Hasbro items that Ive had over the years. Hasbro = Quality A little pressure is sometimes required to press components into place but thats to make sure everything locks into place nicely and securely and for a first-time Transformer owner, that’s a huge win.for me. Now lets chat about the transforming of this transformer.
I’ll be honest right up front: I do fully intend to display Optimus Prime in the robot mode most of the time. It’s instantly recognisable and looks incredible on my shelf. It now sits behind me at my desk keeping a watch over me when I’m recording my podcasts. But I cant write about a Transformer without mentioning the transformation.
One Week Later: The Transformation Challenge
Here’s where things get interesting. A week passed since I had first filmed the ‘unboxing’ part of the video before I attempted to transform Optimus into the truck mode and that delay wasn’t accidental. Despite having the instructions, I found the transformation process a little confusing at first. A huge part of that will have been because I wasn’t familiar with a Transformer collectable, and also being wary of damaging this collectable. As it was over Christmas, I knew that I didnt have to rush anything and so over a few days I attempted to transformer the figure without using the instructions, with using the instructions, and generally I was failing in most ways to make the Prime robot look anything like a truck. After some research (and thanks to Abul, a helpful friend who found clearer visual guides), I finally took the plunge, and transformed Optimus.
Transforming Optimus Prime into Truck Mode
Once you understand the mechanics, the transformation does make sense but for a first-timer, it was definitely a learning curve. Some panels required more ‘force’ than you expect (this is normal) Certain sections feel like they might break but they won’t and they didn’t and most importantly once you’ve done it once, it becomes much easier and after that first transformation. I did it again and again and now I can transformer Optimus Prime within a couple of minutes without any need for the instructions.
And the result? A fully functional Optimus Prime truck, complete with rolling wheels and weapon storage. It looks great, feels solid, and holds together well once everything clicks into place. The next stage (which I haven’t completed as yet, will be to transform Optimus into the battlestation, and then back into a truck, then into the robot.
Is It Worth The Purchase?
Absolutely it is. It does retail for £159.00 so perhaps is out of some peoples budget (but its worth saving up for if you dont have the budget) but this collectable works on every level It can be a magnificent display-worthy collectible and that is very much worth the £159.99, a highly playable toy and also a fun mechanical challenge when it comes to the transformation of it. The figure is heavy, durable, very detailed, and clearly built to last. I can’t imagine holding it for more than a few minutes without feeling the weight and that’s a compliment. Its pure quality.
As my first ever Transformer, this Optimus Prime exceeded my expectations although being the owner of several Hasbro collectables, I know the quality I will get and Hasbro haven’t let me down.
Yes, the transformation took me some time to master. Yes, the instructions could be clearer for beginners.
But once you understand how it works, everything clicks literally into place and the end result looks fantastic.
This Optimus Prime will proudly live on my shelf in robot mode, but I’m genuinely excited to keep experimenting with the transformations.
Have you ever owned a Transformer? Which one is your favourite?
And how easy did you find the transformations?
I’m officially hooked and very interested in learning more about these incredible figures.
You can get yourself one of these stunning Optimus Prime’s HERE
frompage2screen.com 