Toy Review - MP-17 Masterpiece Prowl

[jazzcomp]

what is the small one?

[GoktimusPrime]

what is the small one?

Smallest Transforming Transformers Prowl.

[Gasaraki]

MP Prowl is my Christmas present to myself this year, which I opened yesterday. I'm very impressed, and feel that this figure lives up to most of the hype I've heard (either that or I was able to have realistic expectations of what the hype translates to). Love both modes, and I think the transform is pleasingly complex enough, with a scary bit tabbing the chest down to the abdomen plate, and a pretty darn awesome leg transformation that is unlike any other TF I have.

Agree with others that the shoulder launchers are a poor omission, and I would've also liked to see the gun storing somewhere other than the roof. It looks like it just might be possible with this particular weapon and figure (unlike Sideswipe's shoulder cannon).

Haven't looked with a fine-toothed comb, but I've noticed a pain blemish on the right shoulder cannon (? defect that's painted over). Otherwise the paint scheme is perfect for me.

[M-bot]

Awesome toy. The MP Datsuns are a massive hit. Paint apps on mine are immaculate. The only small negative for me (as with all of the recent MP cars) is the lack of rubber tyres, as others have noted.

[GoktimusPrime]

G1 nostalgia aside, I personally think that the Binaltechs were much better toys and far superior value for money (I personally don't think any post Grimlock MPs are worth paying full price for <--JMHO). The MP cars may transform from licensed vehicles to articulated G1 based robots, but Binaltechs do the same thing only that they also have die cast parts, rubber tyres, working steering columns, clear windows, detailed interiors e.g. steering wheel, air con vents, speedo, gear stick, park brake, glove box panel, air bag panels, seats, opening doors, opening boots, opening bonnets with engines, weapons are all concealed or incorporated into the transformation etc. etc.

I personally paid 4980JPY ($53) for each of my BTs, whereas my MP Datsuns cost me an average of 4549JPY ($49) each... so even w/ preorder discounts, my MP Datsuns cost me nearly the same as what I paid for my BTs (approx. $50). But to be also fair to the MP Datsuns, they are also constrained by the engineering challenge of taking a licensed vehicle and making it resemble a predetermined cartoon model while still making the toy design intuitive and fun. This is a restraint that Binaltech didn't have - the characters only needed to bear an identifiable resemblance to their G1 namesakes, but the robot modes didn't have to try and look like them. But even bearing that in mind, I still find that Binaltech gave me more bang for my fifty bucks than MP Lambor or Prowl... and that's comparing full priced BTs w/ discounted MP cars. <---JMHO

[Gasaraki]

G1 nostalgia aside, I personally think that the Binaltechs were much better toys and far superior value for money (I personally don't think any post Grimlock MPs are worth paying full price for <--JMHO). The MP cars may transform from licensed vehicles to articulated G1 based robots, but Binaltechs do the same thing only that they also have die cast parts, rubber tyres, working steering columns, clear windows, detailed interiors e.g. steering wheel, air con vents, speedo, gear stick, park brake, glove box panel, air bag panels, seats, opening doors, opening boots, opening bonnets with engines, weapons are all concealed or incorporated into the transformation etc. etc.

I personally paid 4980JPY ($53) for each of my BTs, whereas my MP Datsuns cost me an average of 4549JPY ($49) each... so even w/ preorder discounts, my MP Datsuns cost me nearly the same as what I paid for my BTs (approx. $50). But to be also fair to the MP Datsuns, they are also constrained by the engineering challenge of taking a licensed vehicle and making it resemble a predetermined cartoon model while still making the toy design intuitive and fun. This is a restraint that Binaltech didn't have - the characters only needed to bear an identifiable resemblance to their G1 namesakes, but the robot modes didn't have to try and look like them. But even bearing that in mind, I still find that Binaltech gave me more bang for my fifty bucks than MP Lambor or Prowl... and that's comparing full priced BTs w/ discounted MP cars. <---JMHO

I have a great amount of love for Binaltechs myself, for many of the reasons you stated. They are still some of the most amazing Transformers ever made and anytime I wanna impress one of my mates of what toy tech has achieved these days, I whip out BT Smokescreen (or even Jazz for example, but Smokey does it best!).

You are right and I agree that BT's can do much of what they do (and MP's have not) because they do not have the restraints that MP's have to abide with (G1 accurate robot modes being a major thing). The prices we have paid plays on our mind alot about the bang-for-buck factor, however, perhaps a relevant thought (taking into account economy and other factors that have changed over the years) would be to consider what a BT made and sold today would cost us - going by the Super GT series (smaller toys), one would have to say considerably over $100. That would give me some pause... small-ish pause, but still

[GoktimusPrime]

The prices we have paid plays on our mind alot about the bang-for-buck factor, however, perhaps a relevant thought (taking into account economy and other factors that have changed over the years) would be to consider what a BT made and sold today would cost us - going by the Super GT series (smaller toys), one would have to say considerably over $100. That would give me some pause... small-ish pause, but still

BT-19 was released in 2008 and cost only a few dollars more than most previous BTs, and the cost of TFs in 2008 are more or less the same as what we pay now. Anyway... I didn't mean to get bogged down in a discussion about prices, I just wanted to mention that I feel that as nice as the MP cars are, I personally think that BTs are better toys and value for money. Just my two cents.

[Gasaraki]

BT-19 was released in 2008 and cost only a few dollars more than most previous BTs, and the cost of TFs in 2008 are more or less the same as what we pay now. Anyway... I didn't mean to get bogged down in a discussion about prices, I just wanted to mention that I feel that as nice as the MP cars are, I personally think that BTs are better toys and value for money. Just my two cents.

No worries, I gotcha. And I personally consider your thoughts always worth considerably more than two cents!

[GoktimusPrime]

Comparison pics between all 3 MP Nissans w/ G1, BT and Classicsverse posted on the MP Nissans Comparison Thread

[Nevac]

There's no denying the detail that goes into the binaltechs for their vehicle modes as this is the main focus of them but the datsuns are far superior in robot mode. The detail, proportions and articulation are all much better in the datsuns in my opinion.