Hello everybody, (hello Dr Nick!) I have today an oddity which even though it's on general release isn't in TFW's resources, not that I could find anyway. I'm not sure why this is, it doesn't appear to have a brand, aside from 'Transformers Prime Remote Control Optimus Prime'. (I've seen it referred to as a 'Botshot' online though, even though it's more like an RPM.) I saw this in a catalog months ago, but up until a couple of days ago I've never seen it in stock. But finally I have one and here's what I think... Sorry, no in package shots, I was pretty excited to finally get hold of this guy. First thing I noticed, it's not a full function remote control toy. The controller only has two buttons so you don't have full control of him, you can only make him got forward and transform. I'll be honest, I was extremely disappointed. So we're off to a bad start here. The controller only has two buttons, the left button makes him go forward, and the right makes him transform. The controller itself is very small, ideally suited for little hands. The remote control aspect works via infra red, there's a emitter on the controller and reciever on the top of Primes engine. You need line of sight for it to work so if you drive it underneath a table, it's not coming back. The controller works off 2 AAA batteries. In truck mode he's obviously reminiscient of Optimus Prime in his long nose TFP mode. It works in a super deformed kind of way. There are three Robots that come in this TFP subline, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Knockout. There are three different RC channels to select from (just pick channel 1,2 or 3 on the toy and on the controller), so theoretically you can have all three on the go at the same time. Prime himself runs off two AAA batteries as well, so the whole toy only requires 4 AAA batteries. In robot mode he obviously suffers a bit because of the autotransform feature. He's very chunky and simplistic, but immediately recognisable as Optimus. Which leads us onto the auto transform feature, the entire gimmick of this toy, and how can I sum it up? FUCKING BRILLIANT. When you hold down the 'Transform' button Optimus goes backward and turns, and at the same time converts into a robot. If you keep holding the button down he'll pop back into truck mode again. The forward button works in robot mode too, and as he rolls forward he twists at the waist to simulate a punching action. Very cool, he actually does what's in the gif a lot faster, the whole sequence only takes around 3 seconds or so. Now considering that's all he does (roll foward and transform) I've spent an awful lot of time just pressing those two buttons. Turns out this guy doesn't need full function to be spectacularly fun. After looking at the way his mechanism works (the transform feature runs directly off the forward or backward motion of the wheels) it's actually impossible for there to be full function in this guy short of a complete redesign, resize and presumably more expensive pricetag. You can see the size of him compared to TFP Cyberverse Optimus Prime, and even though he looks nothing like the Cyberverse Commander you can still tell it's the same guy. His hands have holes in them which are slightly bigger then the standard 5mm pegs, but he can stll hold weapons like TFP BH Optimus Primes sword. In conclusion, this fella is a one trick pony, it pretty much only does one thing, but when that one thing is as fun as this, I don't need him to do any more. Absolutely super fun, and incredibly well suited for younger kids who can easily get to grips with him.
He does, but not totally. You can get him to go forward as a truck or robot, and as he transforms he reverses and turns at the same time.
Love it. LOVE lT! That transformation is like a drunk fat guy getting up from a punch and swaggering off for a 'bab. It's me!
Argos... uh here. Buy Transformers Remote Controlled Optimus Prime at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Radio controlled toys. Goddammit if I want Knockout too, and if I'm not careful I'll wind up with a set of three...
Cheers! Even Bumblebee looks good and Knockout has a blinged up gold wheels thing going on. Loving these, going to have to get one.
