Phat Company Gurren Lagann Yoko & Nia + Boota PSG Arrange ver. Figure Set

After preordering this in January (for a June release) and then having it pushed back a further two months, it feels like I've been waiting forever for this set to arrive. After doing a fantastic job with their various Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt sets, Phat Company have returned with another 2-pack in that style...only this one is a little different. Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Gurren Lagann (which as you all should know by now is my favourite anime series), this new set reimagines lead heroines Yoko and Nia (along with Boota) in Panty & Stocking style. These figurines were based off designs by Atsushi Nishigori - the character designer for both series.

While the Angel version Panty & Stocking figures came in fastened packaging that could be opened without damaging the box, this Gurren Lagann set has reverted to normal bubble packaging which means if you want to open them the packaging needs to be permanently damaged. The front backing card is nice and colourful, and rather reminiscent of some of the background you might find in the Nia artbook. The back is simple but really effective - we have the original art these figurines were based off of, including the colour palettes used for any artist nerds among us. 

Despite Yoko having an identical expression to the standard Panty release, both Nishigori and Phat Company have really knocked these designs out the park. Yoko feels like the most substantial figure in my collection (which includes them all bar the Galaxxxy set), not just because of the inclusion of her huge rifle but also her impressively chunky hair. The cartoonish toning on the hair looks superb, with Yoko's attire fitting in nicely with the colourful world of P&SwG.

Then we have Nia, who for obvious reasons I was excited for the most. It sucks a little bit that this is probably the best Nia figure I'll ever get without having to resort to statues, but if I never get my articulated figure of her I'm happy to call this the best. She's just a colourful bundle of joy (especially those eyes!), and the cartoony style couldn't suit her childish innocence any better. 

Finally with have Boota, who's been included as the extra piece just the Chucks/Fastener/Heaven coin of previous released. While Yoko and Nia have arguably been made cuter by their new aesthetic, Boota looks pretty darn evil. Up like a angry cat and his sunglasses in a pretty sinister shape, I would not want to mess with this little molepig.

I love all of my Phat Company figure sets, but this is something REALLY special. A brilliant anniversary item and a wonderful cross between the two closely connected franchises, my only regret is that the characters never cameoed on P&SwG in these forms. 

Legend Sentai Ranger Key Set: Magiranger

With over 199 keys to collect from DX sets, candy toys and gashapon (not to mention Tamashii Web Exclusives), I think I made the right decision in only picking up my favourite teams in key form. This post is dedicated to my favourite Super Sentai series that isn't Gokaiger...the Mahou Sentai Magiranger! Though originally released in late August, Hobby Link Japan didn't send mine until earlier this month (despite pre-ordering as soon as they went up) so I've been eagerly anticipating these for a while now. The set includes Magi Red, Blue, Pink, Yellow and Green. Magi Shine, Magi Mother and Wolzard Fire are also available in key form, however are not included here.

Unlike the Dekaranger key set, the Magiranger packaging is fantastic. Suitable font, excellent colours and the Ozu family crest superbly used as the background. This set will look just as good on the card as it would opened.

As you'd expect, inserting any of the keys into the Mobirates or Legend Mobirates makes the "Magiranger" call out (along with a unique sound effect). Using the Legends Mobirates inencyclopaedia mode will also give you a short bio of the team in Japanese.

Toybox REVIEW: Play Arts Kai Cyborg Ninja

Square Enix's Play Arts Kai toy line is something I seem to have completely avoided over the years, and not just because its filled with Final Fantasy figures. Although previous entries into the line such as the Fullmetal Alchemist, Kingdom Hearts and Batman: Arkham Asylum figures have wowed me, I've either been too preoccupied with other toys or too hesitant to pay for slightly more expensive larger figures. But when Play Arts Kai announced they would finally be tackling characters from the first Metal Gear Solid game, I knew there was one I just couldn't pass up. MGS is one of my favourite video games of all time, with the Cyborg Ninja/Gray Fox being my favourite character from the game. A limited 500-piece version based on the alternate red costume from the game was also released, annoyingly including an open mask Gray Fox head.

The box is a simple white design, which is good in that it doesn't draw any attention away from the figure peeking out from the window. The original Metal Gear Solid logo is placed in the bottom left corner next to the Play Arts Kai logo, while a cardboard box "MGS 25th Anniversary" logo is displayed proudly on the window. The box spines are plain, but the back includes a large picture of the ninja with some smaller action pose pictures (with suitable backgrounds).

As I mentioned earlier, I'm far more used to smaller figures. But I can't help to be wowed by the sheer size and bulk of Ninja, who stands at an impressive nine and a half inches (approx). The sculpt is perfect, and chock-full of tiny detailing. The entire body is covered in little paint applications, from the black panel lining to bring out the skeletal structure of the design to industry names and warning messages. In terms of poseability Ninja has a ball jointed head, hips and shoulders while ratchet joints for the elbows, knees, feet and hands. The upper-torso is also a separate piece, so there's some limited movement there too. Meanwhile the toe sections are also rotatable for further posing, but unfortunately doing so tends to make the feet look very unnatural.

These problems with the feet also mean that the Cyborg Ninja can be very difficult to pose. He's a fairly dynamic character (he IS a ninja after all), and so the ability to pull off dynamic action poses or at the very least a semi-decent kneeling pose (it is MUCH harder than the picture on the back lets on) seem rather vital. I've seen Square Enix pack stands in with other figures in the Play Arts (not sure about since its switched to Play Arts Kai) line before, and it really wouldn't have gone amiss here.

The accessory count is fairly low, but then I've never thought a mountains of extras was high on Square Enix's priority list anyway. Cyborg Ninja comes packed with his sword, an alternate right hand in order to hold it and finally an alternate rail gun arm. The gun can be switched out with relative ease (although mine had a little trouble staying in) and also features a bunch of tiny detailing.

For my first Play Arts Kai purchase, I'm very pleased with the Cyborg Ninja. Because of its posing issues it does feel more like a moveable statue than a dynamic figure, but the sheer level of detail and impressive sculpting more than make up for it. Until a better Cyborg Ninja figure comes around, this is a highly recommended purchase for Metal Gear fans and also a good stand alone purchase whether you're into Play Arts Kai figures or not. The only true downside is that it seems to be a pretty popular figure and might be difficult to get for a reasonable price on the after market - so get it while you can!

Mega Bloks Power Rangers Super Samurai Battle Damaged Gold Ranger, Mega Mode Blue Ranger & Mystery Figure

 

Rounding off wave 2 of the Super Samurai Mega Bloks blind bags are these three guys, two of which are common and the other the super secret rare "we don't even tell you what it is on the flyer" figure.

First up we have the battle damaged Gold Ranger figure, which is essentially a scuffed up version of the first wave's Gold figure. The sash is messed up as well as the black marks all over the figure, and quality seems pretty good overall. He comes packaged with his barracuda blade once again.

Secondly there's the Mega Mode Blue Ranger figure, who like his Mega Mode wave mates comes with a jointed Mega Blade weapon (Pink is feeling pretty left out right now). Its a reasonably good figure, but the weakest of the three types of blue rangers included in these bags thus far.

Finally comes the "mystery figure", who is in fact a solid red version of the Super Mega Mode Red Ranger and not the standard Mega Mode like I'd said in an earlier post. I still hold that its a pretty underwhelming mystery figure and looks like some sort of prototype, but in hand I found it does have some noveltly/unique value to it and is currently the only Super Mega Mode in the blind bags.

So that's wave two over and done with. It seems unlikely there'll be a wave three since nothing has been heard about it yet (and Samurai is on the way out), but if it does come I'd like to think it'll feature a more interesting range of characters. So far we've had 4 types of Red, 3 Blues, 2 Greens, 2 Gold, 1 Yellow and 1 Pink. At the very least I hope they manage to sneak some sort of morphed Yellow minifigure into the mix.