VNR Optimus Prime

By far, Optimus Prime has more toys to his name than any other Transformers character. Even if you specifically just look at the original from G1. So, odds are 99%+ he will get a toy in any product line.

In 2019, Hasbro added another subline under Transformers: Generations, called Collaborative. The gimmick is cross-overs with other franchises & companies, both internal & external to Hasbro. They did something similar from 2007 to 2011, but that was strictly Star Wars & Marvel. This time, they’ve done so much more. Prior to this release, they’ve done toys with Ghostbusters, Top Gun, X-Men, Street Fighter, G.I. Joe, Jurassic Park, My Little Pony, and Universal Monsters.

And those all check certain boxes that make sense. Movies, cartoons, toys, video games, comic books, all things collectors & kids take interest in. But this is different.

Hasn’t been confirmed, but supposedly, this toy originally started out as an Amazon-branded figure. And seeing how that could piss off other retailers, they scrambled and turned it into Holiday Optimus Prime. Kind of cool, but I can’t ignore his gun looking like a candy cane.

Fortunately, this has always been an officially licensed Volvo design, so we got this version now.

A collaboration or cross-over with an auto-maker sounds weird at first, but it’s not a stretch. More & more, Hasbro & Takara are both getting officially licensed alt modes. This isn’t even Prime’s first licensed toy. Just the first official Volvo for Transformers.

I really like the style of the box. It’s as compact as can be, not flashy. And almost everything looks like blueprints. Which makes sense. Volvo & their VNR truck are completely real.

And that’s exactly what VNR Optimus Prime’s alt mode is, the latest big rig from Volvo. Impressive is the amount of detail. They got everything right. Grill, bumper, headlights, fog lights, mirrors, panels. Even the wheels are right, and that’s usually a low point outside the Masterpiece series. You can even get one in that shade of red from the factory. They don’t offer the chassis fairings in blue, but still.

Amazing is that this is another retool of what started out as Siege Optimus Prime, then got turned into Earthrise Optimus Prime, and then Legacy Laser Optimus Prime.

The trailer, Combat Deck, is nothing so fancy. Just a redeco of the one that came with Earthrise Prime. It doesn’t have as many features as the original from G1, but is a nice modern rendition. It has a support that swings down and several peg holes. I like to store the gun down there, between the wheels.

Transformation is simple. Open the rear gate/loading ramp, and fold down the sides. Tons of sculpted detail on the inside, but no deco to speak of. Just two different shades of gray, and the black of the drone and gate/ramp. Instead of two spring-loaded missile launchers, the drone has cannons. And instead of a jointed arm and rotatable radar, the drone has two arms.

Even more peg holes for mounting things too. Combat Deck can also still do the repair bay mode. There are three hinges between the drone & base, so you’ve got some poseability & options.

VNR Optimus Prime sells as a leader-class figure for $50-ish, but it’s because of Combat Deck’s inclusion. Prime himself is really a voyager-class figure. Good looking too. He’s in the classic colors, lots of red & blue, with some gray parts & spots, and yellow for lights. I know he’s a retool, but honestly?

The only parts I recognize are the hips & upper legs. Everything else looks brand new or heavily redesigned. How he transforms is totally different too. Hard to describe, but I like it. Feels fresh, gives him a different profile. Still cool & strong.

Looks nice all around, but there are some cavities in the back of his upper legs. It could be worse. And really, at this point, with Transformers and other toys, I’m used to this cost-cutting measure by now. So common, I’m not inclined to knock it. But I’ll celebrate it whenever it’s better than this.

We do have some sculpting on the sides, so I’ll take that.

Articulation is really nice too. He’s got swivels & hinges galore, plus ankle tilt. Getting him below the waist how you want can take a little work, because his forelegs are the truck cabin split in half. But the effort is worth it everytime.

For accessories, he can still do some of the things the Earthrise figure can. The drone from Combat Deck is removable, so it can be hand-held or mounted under either arm, and uses blast effects. But he can’t use it as a jetpack or backpack, because of how the wheels hang off his back.

The trailer door/ramp is also removable, so it can still be used as a shield.

As usual, he has his laser rifle. It folds in half for storage, but locks together tightly when folded back out. Unfortunately, he can’t use the weapons from the Centurion weapons pack like the Earthrise figure, because his hands are different.

Lastly, he also has the Matrix of Leadership, and it is removable.

If you’re into mainline Transformers, an Optimus Prime fan, or don’t want to spend over $100, VNR Optimus Prime is a worthy purchase. His gun doesn’t look like a candy cane either. I can’t stress that enough.

My only criticism is how bland Combat Deck is on the inside. But for $20, Reprolabels/ToyHax has you covered. These last pics are after I applied everything.