Before I start, something worthy of note: this toy is not actually the same as the original Powermaster Optimus Prime released in the U.S. in the 1980's- it's actually "God Ginrai", which is essentially the same toy but with an extra trailer section at the end called "Godbomber". "Godbomber" can combine with Powermaster Prime's super robot mode to create an...um... even-more-super robot mode.
    Vehicle mode is a truck with a really looong trailer. In fact, if it were any longer it'd be a pain to move around without bumping it into anything. It's huge. Plus, it's armed to the teeth- five- count 'em- FIVE gun emplacements are on this guy, ready to go kickin' some butt. Another positive is that this version of Prime stays together a bit better in vehicle mode than the original Optimus Prime. (And it'd better, considering how much weight this thing has to pull...) The diecast metal bit is the front half of the cab.
    The normal robot mode can only be achieved by plugging Hi-Q (aka "Ginrai") into the front of the cab, which allows you to swing down the legs to "open up" the cab. (Hi-Q, by the way, is the little engine guy shown above- he's Optimus Prime's "Powermaster"- a gimmick in which you had to plug in the Powermasters, transformed into engine mode, to transform the larger TF. Hi-Q's kinda boring, himself- he can swing his legs side to side and his arms back and forth. That's it.) Prime's normal robot mode is like the original 1984, only a bit cruddier. Mo more individual leg articulation for him- his legs are now molded together at the bottom. His chest actually just has a bunch of stickers applied on to make it look like his old chest- only it doesn't work nearly as well when it's just stickers. It looks gaudy. His robot mode chest actually isn't the cab front in vehicle mode, but is just for show to identify him with the original optimus Prime. Additionally, his head's just molded on a square block, and his arms are skinny. Meh.
    The base mode isn't much, but it's certainly better than the older Prime's "fold out trailer" base mode. This one has some roadways leading up to it, a "base room" inside the tower, and some gun emplacements that you can fit Hi-Q in. The super robot mode arms on the side of the tower look rather goofy, though, considering that they're so obviously arms.

    Powermaster Prime's "super robot mode"- in which you combine the cab and the first following trailer- is okay. Just.. okay. The arms are a little puny, but I do like the style of the metallic cab-engine chest and the head. (The head is just a separate piece that isn't storable in any other mode, though.) His legs are really wide and blocky, though, and they can only move sideways. Considering that his only other points of movement are in his shoulders, this makes Prime essentially a big brick with a head. Um... whee?
    Godbomber's robot mode is a piece of crud, and probably my least favorite form of this toy. (Godbomber is made up of the last trailer section, remember.) His "transformation" involves just taking the trailer apart and reassembling it in a different arrangement, which is really cheap. Not to mention that Godbomber falls apart if you so much as look at him the wrong way. He also has no leg movement at all- only his arms at the shoulders can move (and usually fall off when you move them anyway). His arms aren't even solid- they're just outer shells of arms, like only one half of an arm matters.
    When you combine Powermaster Prime's "super robot mode" with Godbomber's pieces (called "Apex Armor" for this release), you get a final combined, really-really-big robot mode. Unfortunately, it's little more than the super robot mode, but with a new chest plate and bigger arms and feet. And the chest plate and backpack pieces don't stay on very well, anyways. No new points of articulation, no new gimmicks, no nothing. A rather pointless combination, if I do say so myself.
    Powermaster Optimus Prime has a lot going for him- FOUR different robot modes, a really big vehicle mode, and a little Powermaster guy. He also has quite the weaponry, and considering his size, $50 isn't that bad of a price for him. Too bad he's essentially just a big brick with odd proportions, or he might have been a really fun toy.

Apex Bomber Bio:
FUNCTION: Autobot Armored Warrior
Unites with Optimus Prime to form to create Powermaster Optimus Prime Apex Armor. The enhanced armor provides superior weapon blast deflection in battle. When not united with the Autobot commander, he acts as a non-cognitive drone that responds to the orders of Optimus Prime. Can be commanded by Optimus Prime to perform combat functions. Armed with a super rifle and particle beam cannon.
Strength: 9.0
Intelligence: 2.0
Speed: 8.0
Endurance: 8.0
Rank: 2.0
Courage: 6.0
Firepower: 10.0
Skill: 7.0

Review by Beastbot

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