Sentinel Prime [Transformers One/Prime Changers]

Despite usually being just the worst guy ever, Sentinel Prime generally has some cool designs. This continues with his Transformers One appearance where he appears as a statuesque winged warrior. I was really looking forward to this toy as I just love this design. Sentinel seems to be the last Prime Changer released for Transformers One as of right now. Hopefully there will be more, they're great. Also, Sentinel is a solid figure, meaning each one of this class has been pretty good. That's really cool for an entire assortment to not have a single turd in the batch. Opinions may vary of course, but this one's mine. Sentinel, like the other Prime Changers, feels like a design from around 20 years ago. This is another example of why I enjoy the more 'simple' Transformers figures, it's like a trip back in time for me.

Sentinel is decently articulated in robot mode. Even his wings can be maneuvered into different positions. You can attach his guns to the wings and pose them in a dramatic fashion if you like. I chose to have them mounted on his shoulders and held in his hands. There's a certain Technobot quality to his sculpt that I can't ignore, so I just wanted this figure to have all the guns to replicate that old aesthetic more. I had fun with it. One complaint I do have is the thickness of his hands. They're a little small due to transformation and it sticks out. Not a deal breaker, but a little more substance would be great. Speaking of those guns, Sentinel has two larger guns meant to be placed on his shoulders, two smaller ones that serve as pistols, and a dual bladed melee weapon that looks like a shield. Considering he carries a different dual bladed weapon in the movie, I assume this toy was based on an earlier design.

Transformation is fairly easy. Arms fold up to become the jet's nosecone and cockpit area while his upper body and wings form the bulk of the mode. His legs fold up onto themselves and firmly become the bottom of the Cybertronian Jet. The shoulder guns attach alongside the cockpit while the smaller guns fit under his wings. The dual bladed weapon becomes something of a tail fin and the whole thing really comes together in one neat looking package that once again gives me Technobot vibes. I really want a red version of this toy now. If I were on the board that created convention exclusives, I'd push for a Technotbot inspired figure based on this toy. I'd like to think it'd be a success because it's my idea and that's how this sort of thing works. Duh. In all, this is another good toy from a movie I really liked. Nothing but euphoria and enthusiasm from me.

Quintesson High Commander [Transformers One/Prime Changers]

The Quintessons are some of the villains from Transformers that have remained interesting and cool ever since their introduction in the 1986 movie. While I haven't seen Transformers One as of this writing (but will have by the time you read this), the trailers have portrayed them to still be quite a threat. It's nice to see that they've managed to not only stick around all this time, but essentially remain the same threat that they've always posed. I've been a fan of the Quintessons ever since the 3rd grade when I first saw them in the theater. They're cool villains, you know? This figure, Quintesson High Commander (well call him QHC for the rest of the post, that's a lot of words) is another excellent toy in the Prime Changers price class.

I said above that Quintessons haven't changed much since their introduction, however their appearance sometimes does depending on the medium. QHC reflects a new look for the classic baddies while still somewhat similar. For the record, he's not a Judge. Those are the five faced Quintessons that people are the most familiar with. I say that as it's probably a question that several have by this point. The other Quintessons tend to have a singular face with tentacles. Similar to Alpha Trion, QHC feels like an unused Beast Machines design that was recently discovered. It's a really unique toys that thanks to it's alien design that comes off really bizarre compared to a normal Transformer.

QHC is a mass of tentacles attached to a torso with a base formed from the vehicle modes kibble. Vehicle mode is a Quintesson spacecraft that looks both weird and neat. I don't know if any of the Quintessons transform in the movie yet, but am sure this is for the sake of the toy. QHC comes with a tiny Energon Cube that can be stored within his body in both modes. Energon Cubes are forever neat, so this is a welcome addition. Transformation is relatively simple, though I did fiddle some with a few spots to get everything in the right place.

QHC is fairly articulated, though obviously not to the degree of a more traditional figure. Overall it's a pretty neat toy. To my understanding it's exclusive to Walmart here in the states, not sure about other countries though. I like his weird alien looks and overall creepiness. Hopefully more Quintessons from the movie will make their way to the toy line.

Much thanks to Hasbro and Paramount Pictures for providing Zone Base with this review sample. It's an honer and a privilege. Thank you.

Bumblebee/B-127 [Transformers One/Prime Changers]

I wasn't expecting to like this new Prime Changer Bumblebee toy as much as I did, but here I am about to tell you how much I liked it. As previously said, Prime Changers are slightly lesser class than a Deluxe for a slightly lower price. I say that knowing that the Deluxe Studio Series version of this Bumblebee will be more complex. However, in hand, this toy feels like a Deluxe. Aside from some slightly hollowed out parts... Bee feels like a much nicer figure than he's supposed to be. That's pretty impressive and once again makes me compare the Prime Changers size class to the Warrior Class of Robots in Disguise 2015. Many of those felt so much like a Deluxe Class that I often wondered if some of the classes were mislabeled.

This toy represents Bumblebee as he appears in the movie Transformers One. As of this writing, I haven't seen the movie yet, but thanks to the trailers know that the main cast are not able to transform until they receive Transformation Cogs. A Transformation Cog is a component of a Transformers body that is essential to their ability to transform. It was first introduced in the original cartoon series during the third season. Since then, they've made sporadic appearances in Transformers media, but seem to be returning in Transformers One as trailers and marketing material have clearly pointed out. You can flip up Bumblebee's chest to take a look at his Cog. That's a neat little addition they really didn't have to do, but did anyway.

Bee comes with some weapons as well. Included is a snap on energy blade and blaster that resembles the 'Mega Buster' style gun his arms form in the movies. Either weapon can be attached to either hand or combined together. In robot mode, Bee is fairly articulated with a good range of movement. To my understanding, there is ankle tilts that don't work thanks to a design flaw. I didn't really notice it, but am sure that'll drive some folks crazy. Bumblebee transforms into a sporty Cybertronian car that looks pretty neat. The transformation is mostly easy, though I found a few spots a little tough to work. I'm not sure if that's from another design flaw making things a little tight or just not doing things in either the correct order or being a little clumsy. The weapons can attach to the cars roof. Like I said at the beginning, I like this toy a lot. I'm not sure how well it translates in the pictures here, but there's a nice almost pearlescent sheen to the yellow colors and the figure is overall pleasant. He's oddly satisfying in hand in a way that I can't quite describe other than he's just a good Transformers toy. Admittedly, I'm generally a fan of Bumblebee and look forward to new toys of him as is... but was very pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking this one from One.

Alpha Trion [Transformers One/Prime Changers]

Right out of the gate, Alpha Trion is a great figure. A real stand out of the Prime Changers size class and a all around solid toy. I've always liked Alpha Trion and enjoyed his beast era depiction from the 3H era BotCon comics. That's where his lion based form first appeared and it always worked well for me considering his character. Funnily enough, I had mentioned before that these new Prime Changers figures feel like a toy from around 20 years ago. This Alpha Trion REALLY feels like a lost Beast Machines design. Not just in the way a ReAction figure mimics an old Kenner Star Wars toy, as in I'm convinced this figures design was sitting in the Hasbro vault somewhere unused.

In robot mode Alpha Trion has a really pretty pearlescent purple color with some nicely contrasting grays. He has a good amount of meaningful articulation and some fun weapons. Like most beast warrior style Transformers, Alpa Trion uses his beast tail as a weapon. The tail forms some sort of an energy whip or sword. Not seeing the movie yet as of this writing, I can't tell for sure. It looks cool either way. In addition, his horn also serves as an energy dagger. A little detail that I really like is how the lion head from beast mode serves as a cape in robot mode. That's a clever way to deal with unavoidable kibble! Wait... lion head... horn? Yes, starting in Titans Return, Alpha Trion's lion beast mode had been given a unicorn style horn and that carries onto this toy. I don't know why this design choice was made, but I don't hate it. Makes him more magical looking, I guess.

Transformation is extremely easy, like a lot of beast modes the character essentially gets on all fours and some parts are rearranged. Some folks don't like this, but I don't think things to be needlessly complicated. Lion mode is well implemented with decently articulated legs. The head unfortunately doesn't move, but does feature a great sculpt. I love the expression Alpha Trion is making in this mode. It's very 90's, which once again goes back to my feeling that this is an unmade beast era figure. Obviously as a Beast Wars guy and a fan of Alpha Trion, I'm going to be happy with this toy. Add in that he's a well executed figure and there's nothing to complain about. I love the colors and am all around happy. If more Prime Changers are this good, I'll be sad if they don't continue on after Transformers One.

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax [Transformers One/Prime Changers]

Like Rise of the Beasts, the Transformers One toy line has a separate 'main line' series of toys obviously intended for younger audiences with the Studio Series aimed more at collectors. Also like Rise of the Beasts... the main line is really neat and many adult fans are enjoying them just as well. The new Prime Changers size class is similar to Warrior Class toys from Robots in Disguise 2015 as it's a simpler figure than a standard deluxe with maybe a slightly lower price depending on where it was purchased. I don't have a RID 2015 Warrior Class toy pictured for comparison, but they feel extremely similar in build and articulation. Sort of a hybrid of a Deluxe and a Core Class if you will and oddly extremely similar to a standard TF from around 20 or so years ago. So far I've loved my experience with this new size class and would like to see it continue for mainline toys going forward.

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax is going to get a lot of new toys for Transformers One. Obviously Optimus gets a lot of toys from each movie, but he's specifically one of the main focal characters in this one. This version is sort of a hybrid design of Orion Pax and Optimus's designs as it mostly resembles a Cogged Orion Pax, but has Prime's smokestacks and head. I'd be inclined to believe a straight up Orion Pax figure using this mold as a base is in the works. This is a neat toy and I like it quite a bit. There's a fair amount of articulation despite the class having less. His paint is pretty good and there's quite a bit of accessories. In the picture you can see the Energon Axe. That can be held and thanks to some cool sculpted details looks like it's being held and not replacing his hand. The axe can also be store on his back or in vehicle mode. Optimus's smoke pipes can detach and be held as dual pistols... that's a cool touch. Additionally, there's a Matrix of Autobot Leadership in his chest that can be held. Frankly there's quite a bit in this for a 'lesser' toy.

Really the only 'lesser' thing I noticed and the lack of over abundant articulation. He has a decent amount, but smaller joints like ankle tilts aren't there. Transformation is easy and everything goes where it should without much struggle. I did get a touch confused with his legs, but that was me mentally trying to transform him like another toy. After so many thousands of these things... it happens. In vehicle mode, Orion/Optimus is a Cybertronian version of the traditional truck we're all used to. It's not my favorite Cybertronian version of the Optimus truck... but it's neat and growing on me more everyday. I really see that classic flat nose truck in the design. The truck is pleasant enough and rolls around pretty smoothly. This is a well done figure, it's nice and neat without any kibble from either mode. There's a decent amount of usable articulation with a nice assortment of clever accessories. It's almost like the 'lesser' size class kept them in check long enough to make a good figure without going overboard. It's the right kind of simple. So far I really like Prime Changers as a Transfomers size class. I'd like to see them more in the future even replacing the current Warrior Class.