Well, the Titans Return line is finally upon us.  The successor to Combiner Wars, this line – despite the Titans Return moniker – is pretty much a Headmaster line, with the smaller robots being dubbed ‘Titan Masters’ rather than ‘Heaedmasters’.  So lets look at the first two Leader-class toys – both Autobots – Blaster and Powermaster Optimus Prime.

 

Optimus – Robot Mode

Very nicely proportioned, though has solid panels under the arms which are quite noticeable whenever positioned in a heroic pose.  The way the helmet goes over Apex is very much like Energon Optimus but it works quite well.  Little touches such as the silver on the chest, shoulder cannons and the red hands are very indicative of the original Powermaster Optimus Prime.

Blaster – Robot Mode

It’s nice to see a robot that actually looks like Blaster rather than a recoloured Soundwave (though the FOC version wasn’t bad).  The visor/helmet that encases Twin Cast looks very much like a battle version of the original Blaster figures head.   Everything from the set of the shoulders to the hand weapon is a great reimagining of the figure.

Optimus – Truck Mode

Very compact, I actually thought it would look a bit bigger.  But the red cab and grey paneled trailer we have come to expect.  The black guns on top at the back don’t really add much, looks like he is going to shoot himself, but the two cannons at the front are quite good.  The feet stick out a little at the back but it’s not too noticeable.  It’s a very nice touch you can put Apex in the cab to drive it.

Blaster – Ghetto Blaster Mode

Looks like a proper ghetto blaster, not that anyone under 20 would know what one of those are these day anyway.  I didn’t think this would have much play value for kids as besides pressing the eject button it doesn’t do anything, however my son picked it up and started dancing which was so cute to see! And he was thrilled when he found out the likes of Stripes and Rewind slot into it.

Optimus – Base Mode

Probably his weakest mode, the base mode for the original PM prime was far cooler looking and even though it can hook up to Fortress Maximus it does so on a very odd angle so I just sit it on one side.  The fact Apex can sit in one of the cannons like Emissary does with Fort Max is cool, but there is little else for the tiny figures to do.

Blaster – Base Mode

I’m conflicted here.  On the one hand the base looks much better than PM Optimus Prime, more gun ports, better ramps and overall better proportioned.  However I think they really missed out on an opportunity here to make the set up a DJ booth with dance floor – the speakers lying down could be dance floors, the cannons at the top could have been spotlights, the cassette deck the DJ booth etc – it really would have suited Blasters character for him to turn into a nightclub rather than a battle base.  If ever I get a second version of the figure I might do some heavy modifications.

Optimus – Transformation

Quite straight forward for a leader-class figure.

Blaster – Transformation

Surprisingly it took quite a few moves to get him into his ghetto blaster mode, I suppose it’s the challenge of making such a proportioned robot into what is almost a 2D alt-mode.  Not hard, but more challenging than you would think. His conversion to base mode is fairly straight forward.

Titan Master – Apex

The face is very ‘Orion Pax’.

Titan Master – Twin Cast

Considering that you only see the face in alt-mode it’s a shame they didn’t make his body blue instead of red, just makes him look like a tiny Blaster.

Overall – Optimus  with Apex

He is a pretty cool shout out to the original Powermaster Optimus Prime.  Only problem is that he is a Headmaster, not a Powermaster.  This is a real shame because otherwise there is little to fault with this figure.  I’ll be using this one for my ‘Optimus with trailer’ display and getting the Ginrai version as well so I have a Generations version of that character as a robot.

Overall – Blaster with Twin Cast

I really like this figure.  I think it is a and the great rendition of the character and the leader scale works really well for him.  All three modes are winners and the Titan Master feature adds some play value.  Well worth getting.

 

So up to you kids if you get these figures.  Both (especially Optimus) have had plenty of CHUG figures based on them before, and neither are really known as Headmaster (sorry – Titan Master) characters.  But I quite like them and will be glad to pop them on my display shelves.