The Zeta Project II
Back From Beyond The Time
ExVee, 01/16/2006
Well, it's been a while. Longer than we had originally planned for sure. Back in August we released the first installment of The Zeta Project, collecting in a week long feature reviews of various Zeta Gundam figures. Ever since, we've been working slowly but steadily towards completion and release of the second installment. This one will be a little bit lighter on material than the first, but we feel we've gotten together a healthy week's dose of reviews. This time around, we'll be serving up one review per day, alternating between myself and RAC. Just like last time, we've planned out the reviews to be posted in the same order a design appeared in the animation. So with that out of the way, here comes The Zeta Project II!
Zeta Project II, Episode 1: Absent Minded
ExVee, 01/16/2006
Our week here kicks off with the Titans flavor Hi-Zack. With the way grunt mobile suits are treated in modern Gundam series, it's good to be able to go back and remember a time when a generic machine could be portrayed as threatening. In our recent Gundam of The Year feature, the Hi-Zack won my pick for Best Sculpt, largely for the fact that among the Zaku MSiA family, the Hi-Zack has a head shape that remains closest to the lineart and animated appearance.
In Zeta Gundam, Hi-Zacks were the very first Titans-specific generic mobile suits, used to pursue the AEUG force that had newly stolen two of the three Gundam Mk II units. Hi-Zacks continued to be a considerable threat to the Argama's MS team right up until the drop to Jaburo, after which there was much more focus on higher-end, sometimes Monster Of The Week prototypes. Regardless, the Hi-Zack was always around to some extent, even with the later models meant to replace it running around at the same time. Can't get rid of a classic, I guess.
Zeta Project II, Episode 2: Tension and Crisis
RAC, 01/17/2006
To follow up on yesterday's review, we now give you the Hi-Zack Federal Forces Colors. Used on Earth, often seen paired up on sleds for greater mobility, the Federal Forces Hi-Zack is simply a blue Hi-Zack, with all the highs and lows therein. I happen to like blue a lot, and I was pretty happy to see Bandai actually releasing this recolor at all. Even so, I rather wish I'd been patient and only purchased one version of Hi-Zack, because one is likely enough for anybody.
Bandai could probably still manage to squeeze another Hi-Zack's worth of cash out of me if they released that sled, though. It seems like the company is still timid about releasing midsize vehicle accessories for MSiA- a pity. While the quality of these new figures is far greater than we'd have received had the US Zeta line gone forward, the loss of the vehicles still sometimes stings. But even so waiting was worth it in this case, as there's just too many figures done in this past years' time that Bandai simply couldn't have done correctly even a few years ago.
The Zeta Project II, Episode 3: Giant Free For All
ExVee, 01/18/2006
After the One Year War, the Earth Federation took Zeon's playbook away from them and began applying the fundamental technologies and design theories within to their own projects. One particular case of this is the Psyco Gundam. Most obviously, it's huge, which follows the Zeon ideal of giant super weapons. Beyond that, the case can be made for it qualifying as a one-off prototype; A giant resource hog that could never realistically be mass produced, and that can't actually perform a complete job by itself. Finally, it's a Newtype-specific mobile weapon. Even though a normal pilot can kind of operate it, at least to the level of floating along and firing the guns, the machine only reaches its full power with a Newtype in the pilot's seat and interfacing directly by way of the Psycommu system - another Zeon development. Only for the fact that it transforms into a Gundam would you even be able to tell that it was at all connected to the Federation.
From this, it should be obvious that today's installment of Zeta Project II is the MSiA Psyco Gundam, reissued in Japan relatively recently. This had actually been scheduled for the first Zeta Project, but due to a combination of lack of time and an already crowded lineup for that feature, it got bumped. But here now, finally, my take on the tallest Gundam. Let's just put it this way - if you get it, it'll be for the same reason I did...
Zeta Project II, Episode 4: Tomorrow's Hopes
RAC, 01/19/2005
Today's entry for Zeta Project II is sort of a rerun- the first in what we hope will be a series of Second Opinions, this one being of the superb Gabthley MSiA. Not much of a second opinion at that, since I agree with ExVee in its being a great figure with a key feature- the shoulders- that I expect to see again later. It's particularly nice to see a groundbreaking feature on a figure that is itself excellent- that's not always the case, after all.
The fact that our thoughts regarding the Gabthley are so similar is why a Second Opinion is necessary, and why we're happy to have Magnus working with us. ExVee and I have been working together for a while now, and the fact that we were like-minded on many aspects of MSiA was a key factor in our starting It Figures!. But because of that, you end up with the equivalent of 1.5 opinions on a subject. To see that some of our Bests were Magnus' Worsts (and vice versa) in the Gundam of the Year Special Feature was a pleasant surprise for me, as now the site can only become stronger and more useful to those looking to make an informed purchase.
So for today, you get Tomorrow's Hopes, both for MSiA and for our site. For myself, I hope to find that Gabthley kneecap that went flying...
Zeta Project II, Episode 5: War of The Cosmos
ExVee, 01/20/2006
Sometimes things occur that go beyond your hopes and expectations. With the announcement in early 2005 of the Extended MSiA Zeta Gundam, hopes were rather low, and our expectations were far from what the EMIA line appeared to be intended for. Appearing as nothing but a quick rerelease of the Zeta Second Version with fancy paint. We could not have been more wrong.
The EMIA Zeta made out pretty well in our recent Gundam Of The Year feature, taking awards in Best Sculpt, Best Paint, and twice in Best Surprise. It's really a perfect companion to the Gabthley as figures who set the bar for MSiA just that much higher. In this hobby, it's a real treat to come across figures like that which not only surpass expectations, but are amazing figures besides. Considering some of the things we cover here, I have to say this is a big part of the real fun in doing it.
Tomorrow, the finale of Zeta Project II!
Zeta Project II, Chapter 6: A New World
RAC, 01/21/2006
And last but not least, we close out this installment of the Zeta Project with the MSiA Hambrabi.
Using a number of mechanical designers broadened Gundam's horizons as a whole, and made Zeta's MS the most varied in Gundam history. After watching a while though, you can make out patterns and take a good guess at who designed what- it's my observation that Kazumi Fujita tends toward the barrel-chested and Makoto Kobayashi has a love for all things bulbous. With its slight build, pointy feet and bizarre-looking conical head, Hambrabi strikes me as a good example of Mamoru Nagano's more baroque tendencies in design. I prefer his more reserved work, such as the Rick Dias and Galbaldy Beta, but the Hambrabi is growing on me- possibly because the toy is just that good.
But for the lack of a functional stand, Hambrabi does everything well- including a simple, quick and painless transformation- and has everything you could expect and a Dummy Canister besides. (The stand issue may in fact be an isolated incident, as well- ExVee informs me that his newly-acquired Hambrabi has a stand that works perfectly!) It also features a minor, occasionally-seen accessory I always liked: the angled-wrist hand. I'd like to see that more frequently in the future. Best yet, this is the third or fourth transforming MS Bandai knocked out of the park in `05, and I can hardly wait to see what they can do with whatever comes next.
So ends another chapter of the Zeta Project. I imagine there may yet be another, depending on how Bandai proceeds from here, but currently the only Zeta MSiA on the schedule is the massive Baund Doc. Rest assured, if they make it, we'll review it. And check back with us soon to see what else we're up to!
Zeta and MSiA News
RAC, 01/21/2006
Unfortunately, the two are separate so far: In addition to the EMiA Freedom Gundam and BuCUE recently announced by Gunota Headlines, the Justice Gundam and GOUF Ignited are being readied for June, according to Zinc Panic. The prices cited for the GOUF and BuCUE are low for EMiAs, making us here at It Figures! wonder if the Extended line may supplant the original MSiA line this year. More seriously, does the return to Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny mean the end of Z-MSiA, at least for now? Only time will tell.
In Zeta-related news, members of the Anime on DVD forums are reporting that the individually released Zeta Gundam DVDs have more accurate subtitles than the earlier, more expensive boxset release. So those of you who held out got the superior release for slightly less, and early adapters like myself got... pencil sharpeners. Thanks, Bandai!
Zeta Project Addendum
RAC, 02/02/2006
I thought this was worth a link: MIASora shows that The-Reissue of The-O is noticably more tan than the original pale yellow version. Also good news for importers: the new box is significantly smaller, which might help to reduce shipping somewhat. (Though it's still really heavy, so maybe not all that much.)
My personal experience with the last year or so of MSiA reissues is that they also have cleaner and more consistent panel-inking than the originals, but as always that will probably vary from figure to figure.
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