June 2006
We bring it to you first, two years late!
ExVee, 05/27/2006
Technically speaking, anyway. What do you call it when something gets cancelled only to be revived and come out years later? Is it late, or does that fail to apply when it gets officially cancelled once? This release was right on schedule as far as this particular release is concerned. But an MSiA BuCUE was supposed to be part of the Fall 2004 US lineup that never happened.Anyway, we're proud once more to bring you the first English review of the long awaited MSiA BuCUE. Here at It Figures! one of our great joys is to get our information out to you as quickly as possible. You may note there are no comparison shots of the BuCUE with Gaia in the gallery, for which there is a very good reason: Handing Gaia makes me want to embark on a murderous rampage across the countryside. Obviously that's much more hassle than it's worth, so I thought I'd skip it this time. A couple of the Japanese MSiA sites in our Links page have such comparisons available though, if it's that important to you. Anyway, please enjoy and look for more reviews soon!
Also overdue!
ExVee, 06/01/2006
Although it actually opened back in February, certain circumstances like lack of a name prevented us from linking to Tercero's Gundam Board in Action!! until today. As it happens, this is one of our favorite places to visit, as it's just about the only one of its kind, an English message board focusing on the merchandise aspects of Gundam, with forums for reviews, and current news. It's a great place that deserves more traffic than it currently gets, so head on over and have a look around. This is much better than a little merchandise forum tucked away on some general Gundam board!An action figure draws near! Command?
RAC, 06/01/2006
Today's review is of the Hero of Dragon Quest VIII. If you haven't played a Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest game since Nintendo Power magazine gave the original away to subscribers, you've missed some good stuff, but you won't be too lost. The core of the game hasn't really changed in the last twenty years, though it's gotten a lot prettier to look at and listen to. If you're interested, I hear Circuit City has it on sale for $10 this week, which is a steal considering I hungrily paid $50 for my copy.
The figure itself? Very nice. More of a shelf piece than a plaything, but I can live with that. I prefer high-level articulation- one of many reasons I adore MSiA- but every once in a while a really attractive but slightly limited piece is good too. Not too limited though- I demand there be at least some action to my action figures. I suspect the limited accessory spread may have been solvable in Japan- there's a Dragon Quest Legend Items set of weapons very similar to the UC Arms series, and I'm willing to bet they'd be in scale. They're also painfully expensive, so a Lv.1 Hero with Soldier's Sword he will remain. Alas.
I'd also like to second ExVee's endorsement of Gundam Board in Action!!. There's always good information to be found, and quite a few reviews for those wise enough to want multiple perspectives before making a purchase. It's the most enjoyable message board I've posted on in a very long time, extremely well-suited to somebody with toys on the brain, like me.
I have absolutely no idea when or what will come next, but I've got my eye on a GOUF Ignited. Stay with us for more reviews of MSiA and random shiny things that get my attention!
Fight For Your Justice! Show Your Courage!
ExVee, 06/20/2006
Following quite well on the BuCUE's tail is another long overdue figure: The first, I suppose Finite Justice, and the first English review of it! You'll recall when I posted the review of the EMIA Freedom, I made reference to the articulation model being employed in it and the EMIA Gundam being basically more harmful than anything else to the good of the figures themselves. I also wondered at the time whether the Justice, which had no proper forebearer, would suffer in the same ways as did the Freedom and Gundam which in most of the important ways did not actually need revision of the sort given by being Extended. It seems in fact that the Justice has shown benefit from having no actual prior MSiA incarnation, as well as some tightening up of the problem areas that so put me off the jointing of the past two figures. Were that the sole highlight of the Justice, it would simply be an amazing figure, finally proving the worth of having so damn many joints. The sad fact is the Justice's improvement came with one huge downfall. Literally. That backpack is the biggest failing to come along in recent memory for the simple fact that it doesn't come with the stand it was so obviously designed to be able to use. But, I'm beginning to repeat things I've already said in the review. We've got some more stuff planned to go up before the end of the month. Check back soon!
Green with Divers
ExVee, 06/22/2006
Originally discovered by akum6n at Gundam Board in Action!!, the MSiA Asshimar Green Divers version, set for an apparently limited release in September. The news of this broke very early Wednesday morning, but I wanted to hold off posting about it until more information became available. Being announced at roughly the same time the Titans Test Team versions Marasai and Galbaldy Beta MSiA are to begin shipping to those in Japan who placed orders through Dengeki Hobby, and with nothing known besides that it would be a limited product, I felt it appropriate to wait and be absolutely sure it would not turn out to be a magazine premium mistakenly advertised by Hobbynet. This afternoon early preorders have been opened at Hobby Link Japan at the same price as the original Asshimar, so this more strongly appears to be a retail product, though we're not sure at this point exactly how limited it is. It Figures! will of course bring you coverage of this figure following its release this Fall. In the meantime, I just hope the white stripes on the production version line up better than on the handpainted photography unit. The Asshimar is one of my favorite Zeta figures, so I'm very pleased to see an easily available recolor coming down the pipe.As Promised!
RAC, 06/30/2006
As ExVee indicated, we close out the month of June with the MSiA GOUF Ignited. Unless you are absolutely filled with hatred for all things Gundam SEED Destiny, you really ought to get this figure. Unless you're waiting for one in Heine Westenfluss Orange. Either way, long as you end up with a GOUF.
What is it about mass-production Mobile Suits? Gabthley, ZAKU, GINN- some of the best MSiA in the line are army-builders. Or would be, if they weren't $20 a pop. While the new shoulders don't have the range of the latest EMiA joint, they're also a lot more stable. More universal are the new chunky knees which, once paired with slightly stiffer ankles, will allow for more poses and better balance. And having seen the GOUF Ignited's backpack, I can safely say that Bandai will nail the inevitable EMIA Aile Strike Gundam. Or at least they better!
As always, there's more on the way but no real way of saying when it'll get here. Check back with us when you can!
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