Fall of Cybertron Deluxe class Optimus Prime
Price:  $16
Available: Now

This is an iteration of Optimus Prime that represents the character as he appears in the Fall of Cybertron video game. To be honest, I don't care for the design aesthetic, especially compared to its predecessor from War For Cybertron. The original was smooth and curvy with a slight classic car look to it while the newer toy is boxy and a bit more simplistic looking. I wonder if the company demanded Optimus get a redesign for the new game so they could sell a new toy. On the good side, I transformed both for this review and the FOC toy is very easy to change between forms (the WFC one is not. But I still managed to do it from memory! :)  On its own merits, FOC Optimus is a decent toy. He's smaller then the Deluxes have been in recent years and his truck mode is a bit simplistic. His gun is decent (but the WFC one had a better one).

Verdict:   Good. I don't love this toy but it's okay for what it is.



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Fall of Cybertron Deluxe class Jazz
Price:  $16
Available: Now

My favorite thing about FOC Jazz is his cool vehicle mode. There's just something sleek and futuristic about its look that I appreciate. I'm not crazy on his robot mode--the face has too many needless lines (why so much detail, Hasbro?) He could also stand to have a few more colors applied (maybe some charcoal highlights to even things out a bit. He's a bit too white for my tastes). I also think that, like Optimus, he could use a bigger weapon. The one he has is too small and wussy for an Autobot warrior--especially one as cool as Jazz. His transformation is fairly simple although once changed into car form he needs the parts massaged to fit properly together.

Verdict:   Good.



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Fall of Cybertron Deluxe class Shockwave
Price:  $16
Available: Now

Putting aside the fact that Shockwave never had an Earth mode, FOC Shockwave is easily the best of the first wave of the toys for the game. He's more detailed and looks quite cool in his robot mode. Somebody thought about giving him two actual hands and a gun this time around as opposed to a gun hand (I always assumed G1 Shockwave could switch out the gun for a hand in-story if needed). The gun barrel is loose but I think it's intentional since the gun needs to fit into his tank mode when he's changed. Shockwave was the hardest of the three to change between forms but even he wasn't too bad (compared against other TFs of recent years, which can get difficult at times). My only major complaint against the toy is that it really should've been done up as a Voyager class--a character like Shockwave deserves a BIG toy, not this.

Verdict:  Very Good. Needs to be bigger though.



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First Edition Deluxe class Bumblebee
Price:  $16
Available: Now

This toy was out for about a year, clogging the shelves at TRU everywhere around where I live (preventing other, newer toys from appearing on the shelves). TRU finally resorted to discounting the FE Bumblebee (and RID version too), which helped greatly reduce their numbers. I picked one up on the discounted price. As a toy, Bumblebee is okay. My main problem with his robot mode is that it"s too flimsy and doesn't lock together very well. The car mode, on the other hand, is solid and looks good. (Now if only Hasbro would only stop over-producing him).

Verdict:  Very Good. A bit flimsy but a fairly solid toy overall.



***
Robots in Disguise Deluxe class Ratchet
Price:  $16
Available: Now

Thanks to an overabundance of Bumblebees and/or poor distribution we never got certain Prime toys where I live. Knock Out, RID Arcee, RID Vehicon and Ratchet just never appeared in stores around here. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a Ratchet at a specialty toy store (unfortunately, it was way more then retail priced). The toy itself is pretty good. He's a bit tricky to change between forms (compared to the others above) but not too bad either. His robot form is solid and show accurate and his vehicle mode is also well done. His two blade weapons are made of soft plastic but they're not flimsy so I can't really complain.

Verdict:   Very Good. A must-have if you like the character and can find the toy easily.