This was a slaughter. Makes me even angrier that MS didn't release this version first. It could have been a really good first impression of them getting back into the MP scale game. But then again, even for legends, this has always been their business model.

Great comparison, thank you.. MP-44 was damn near $500 bones. The build issues are unforgivable at that price point. The MS pound for pound is the better looking version for a 1/3 the price. I have every last Prime, 44, 44KO, TE, TE cell shaded, MS 1.0, MS 2.0 and 2.0 EX. (Heck even MP10) I spent the $$$. The 2.0 on the shelf surrounded by other MP figures is phenomenal.

I really like my magic square Prime. I just got him the other week and I think he looks fantastic. The paint on him is really good and I really like his articulation a lot. Great review!

Interesting comparison for sure! I have both the official MP44 and the MS-02EX; it took a while, but The MS is really starting to look good to me, but I do think it has big gorilla paws. A couple of things in this comparison would turn out differently for me, though. The paint on MP44 is superb, even after a couple of transformations, no problems. I also have no knee- or other joint issues; it just has great articulation, and no loose joints. The main problems I have with the figure are stylistic; the abdomen that doesn’t continue down to the hip-section and the rather bulky backpack. But the head-sculpt of MP44 to me is the best one out of all of the third party Primes, which, with this character especially, is huge. Just my two cents!

Love the look of the Magicsquare. Even the antenna ears look wayy better. Def gonna have to pull the trigger on this one.

Amazing as usual and glad the reception wasn’t bad like you were expecting!😂 Awesome review

mmm, hi, To taste, I have the MP 44 and I saw the MS, and we have to be honest, the quality of the plastic is not better, although they achieved improvements and a greater range of articulation, we are talking about a long time later and it is clear that they were based on the MP44 to try to make a new one, there are details of the MS that cannot be, (that the elbow of the arm is hollow).-to be fair I think it is a good figure at a good price but the real MP 44 not the KO, It is better in paint quality.-

glad you were able to do a comparison after all

Another great comparison! Glad to see this as I was getting a little sad having sold my 2 KO MP44s while waiting on my new MS02 EX to arrive. I will say, I do like the rounded fingers that Takara does on their MP hands and wish MS would’ve done that type, but fully articulated instead. To me, the MS hands look a little too big, but that’s a small gripe for an overall superior figure.

I think MS actually really looks like some sort of MACK Cruiseliners from the early 80's and therefore more realistic. Many MP Prime's look like something more modern than GEEE-ONE

Been waiting for this comparison!

Excellent comparison! I have the MP-10 next to Apollyon, and the MS next to Takara Megatron on my shelf… I am one happy collector!

This is the defacto chanel to figure out what you want or what you are willing to accept. Great work on the chanel m8!

Man, you're really on these reviews and comparisons!

Even calling it one sided doesn't really tell the whole story. Looking at the categories Takara won, Accessories and Gimmicks aren't really about the base figure itself. Accuracy was a narrow victory in bot mode, and if you did add truck accuracy then it would be a tie (I know truck accuracy is less important to most people than bot mode). Finally members choice is hard to gauge since everyone has their own criteria, but it would not surprise me if at least some of the votes were using their knowledge of the first release rather than knowing about the improvements on this release.

Wwwwwwipeout! I don’t have an up to date Prime (EVA was my last one), so MS’s latest iteration is extremely tempting on almost every front

Magic square has got it all day 🏙

I just ordered the MS Nemesis since I was missing that color scheme. After seeing this video I will have to get the MS-02EX next month

Congratulations you have me second guessing myself about sticking with TE01 after watching this video.

i agree with most except paint. MP-44 paint is gorgeous! i know there are chipping issues, but man MP-44 pops out because of the paint

I really like the Magic Square Prime. My only nitpick is I absolutely hate the perfectly round headlights on his truck mode, lol!

No question magic square beats mp 44 @$$ ,, i always like it the MS , i dont know how people likes mp 44 is really expensive and a mess , thanks magic square, and transform element another great masterpiece optimus prime, you got to compare those two , that would be difficult, thanks for this

I never voted on this but MS would have won for me on this members choice. If I were in the market for Optimus I would get this one.

Ms-01 was a competitor to MP-10, and MS-02 is the competitor to MP-44. In both cases Ms won.

This video really makes me upset I went and got the first version of MS-02, especially since I never was a fan of MP-44. My OP Leader has sufficed as my default prime, but I am chomping at the bit to get a more toon accurate one. I doubt Fans Toys will release one this decade, maybe if I catch a sale I'll give Magic Square a second chance.

Great comparison video. I have the MS Prime and think it a better figure overall, but I am partial to the MP robot mode proportions (except for the egregious backpack).

Late comment, but what version of mp 44 is that?! Edit: I arrived at the point you said it's a KO

Wow! I figured MS would win, but not by that much. Great comparison!

I understand that you use the ages 3 and up prices, but MS' own website only charged $125 for EX, a pretty significant difference that might be worth noting... This is relevant because that lower price is, therefore, the MSRP, which is a more fair comparison to Takara Tomys MSRP that other retailers use.

For Magic Square I always buy direct from them when in stock. This Optimus is $112.99 right now. I just ordered it today.

Nice VS. ✨️😃

Thanks for the comparison. My MS-02 EX came with a broken smokestack and red and blue paint scratches? Rub off? On the side of one of the thighs. Not sure how their legends come, but it’s a problem with their mp primes.

I feel like the MS-02EX is what the MP-44 should've been but with more diecast.

Nailed it, Sony! Keep it up

No question the MS02EX version is better than MP44. Great comparison.

MS-02EX is the best Cartoon Optimus for me :)

I really dig MP44 upper body proportions of the KO ver 4 but I do prefer leg proportions of MS02. Don't know why but I don't think MS02 is as good looking as MSB46 even though they have the same proportion and style.

Magic Square legs and groin. Takara upper body. That would be the ultimate Optimus.

MS is a Masterpiece killer, enough said. i got this 2.0 version, diecast.

Surprised alot of the more popular reviewers have yet to review MS EX yet.

I have the normal ms02. So that I don't need to worry about paint damage

Hey dude. Just want you to know that there's a dude selling this out of the back of his van under a bridge on Tuesday nights between 3:42 and 4:57 AM for $83.

2:47 that round head looks so off

Bad review. Magic Square actually has better cartoon accuracy, because MP44 has that big gap below the belly grill, the front of the feet of MP44 is smaller than it should be, the sides of the blue crotch piece on MP44 are the wrong color (white instead of blue), and that blue knee piece detaching from the lower leg during articulation in MP44 is not cartoon accurate.

my opinion. if you only play on bot mode, both are fine. MP44 has better painting(but might hurt during transformation) while MS02 has a cleaner look. both have great posability. due to the price, MS02EX has high cost-effective. both transformations are terrible. as you know MP44 has a over engineered and unenjoyable transformation design. MS02 is based on MP10 structure, but still not have a fun transformation process, those dismal pegs will make you mad. and both figures do not have a good alt mode. MP44 looks disgusting from back, MS02 has a slighty better looking alt mode but have a big fissure between two legs, unperfect as well. i think TE01 has the best alt mode as a MP prime figure, but it has the worst posability. wish we can get a perfect MP prime figure someday

Truck not Monkey.

(Teletraan 1 voice) "Both subjects......IDENTICAL". Lol

The side profile of cartoon Optimus is horrendous

No matter what his videos come to in the end of comparisons, it always comes down to what You want for your G1 Optimus, we all have different opinions which is what makes us unique, I have TE for my G1 Prime.

MP10 is still the best

I have MP-44 and I’m 1000% happy with it. He’s my definitive Prime and don’t ever feel the need to get another.

Ha 😂 you came up with a 44 to compare

Everyone has their preferences that mold their take on certain things but giving the paint to Magic Square makes no sense. It doesn’t nearly have as much paint as you think it does and it is certainly not painted as well as MP-44. Also making price part of your points system is nonsensical. Take into a fact and consider the materials, and paint used, how many moving pieces are used, the engineering. A cheaper price doesn’t automatically mean it’s better.

Takara gets hate, but nobody has topped mp44 yet 😊

Members coping cause they bought an expensive inferior figure 😂

I do like the look and proportions of MP-44 mold somewhat better, but don’t know why people are too forgiving when it comes to the hideous backpack and all the ugly kibble. IMO it breaks the figure. And the fact that it’s a $500+ toy is just unforgivable. I have the KO with flat backpack and that helps to ease the pain, but the transformation is also broken IMO and not fun at all.

the minute ammount of garbage you get with MP44 doesnt account for the massivly inflated price. Id much rather the $200 price over a $700 price.