Legacy G1 Optimus Prime

This is a bit of a weird figure, for two specific and related reasons:

1. In an era where the modus operandi of the Transformers Generations toyline has been established as 'media accuracy' - that is making figures that look how the characters looked in the cartoons, movies, video games, and comics, this figure instead focuses on being an updated version of Optimus Prime's original toy from 1984
2. This figure was released the same year that Takara released Missing Link Convoy, a collector-aimed figure doing the exact same thing (albeit to a much greater level of matching the G1 toy)

But yeah, this figure basically is 'What if we had Missing Link Convoy but as a mass retail figure'? (I swear I read somewhere that when they started designing this toy, Hasbro's side of things were not aware that Takara was creating the Missing Link, but I can't find a source for this claim though, so maybe I misremembered it).

Unlike ML Convoy, however, this Optimus Prime is not a 1:1 accurate reproduction of the original toy but with modern articulation. It is smaller than the G1 toy and also, understandably, lacks any diecast metal and all parts that were chromed on the original toy are either painted silver (the front grill, bumper, headlights, and side fuel tanks) or left as unpainted grey plastic (the smokestacks, thighs, and wheels). Also all details based off of the original toy's stickers are merely sculpted and not painted. On the plus side, the figure does have rubber tires! And - just like Missing Link - while it does obviously take from the G1 transformation - it no longer has the partsforming fists of the original toy.

This toy does have three things over the Missing Link though:

1. The head is on a ball joint, giving it a wider range of motion compared to the ML, which is only on a swivel
2. The ankles, in addition to having an ankle tilt, have a rotation joint as well
3. It comes with two ion blasters, representing both versions the original toy's laser blaster (the figure originally came with a 'fat' blaster that was later replaced with a 'thin' blaster in a running change)

But enough about how this figure differs from the G1 toy it's a tribute to or the Missing Link toy, what are my thoughts on Legacy G1 Optimus Prime as its own thing?

I like it, I like it a lot. I have two minor flaws on my copy (the smokestacks are very lose and really easy to knock out of place and one of his arms doesn't like to fully stay in place in vehicle mode, so there's a small gap), neither of which really effect my feelings on it overall. It is small for its size-class (Deluxe), I will admit that but it's also such a great fiddle Transformer, y'know? The kind that you just mindlessly transform back and forth like a fidget toy.

Will say though, I do wish he had opening hinged fists or something because, while he does have a Matrix of Leadership, he can't actually really interact with it in anyway? (I guess maybe if you're careful you could balance it on his hand? But he can't hold it) It is a minor gripe but a gripe nonetheless.

This toy is also capable of pulling trailers such as the original G1 trailer (mine is in storage, so no pictures) or the Earthrise Optimus Prime trailer and seeing how good it looks with the ER trailer in photos (My Earthrise Optimus is the Netflix version that was sans trailer)? I would absolutely double dip on a redeco that paints the sculpted sticker details and includes the ER trailer to go with it.

Overall though? Like I said, I like this figure a lot, it ain't perfect but what it is is really damn good.