(EA Figures) Mass Effect Series II: Garrus Vakarian

There is no Shepard without Vakarian. Damn straight. Garrus is also a mainstay crew member of the trilogy. He is awesome. I love this guy and despite the scarcity of "Archangel" figures out there, I do believe I tried to catch the two that are noteworthy and feasible in my collection. I like this figure and I'll explain why.

For collector's sake, I regret not getting Miranda, even though this is not a good representation of the sexy Cerberus agent.

The sculpt is fantastic. It is a Turian body and we can easily recognize Garrus in a heartbeat. It has his signature battle damaged armor, his visor, and for his only accessory, he has a sniper rifle; trademark of the Archangel of Omega.

The paint isn't exactly accurate to his ME2 aesthetics, but it is fairly good. The blue seems a bit too metallic, which I get what they were going for, it's just that I feel it is a bit off. Garrus' Turian features are fine, not as crisp, but does well enough.

Much like the other figures in this wave, he is outdated in the idea of articulation. Yes, you can get him to do some things like dancing, or holding his gun, but don't expect a whole lot. But he does have some forgivable qualities since Mass Effect action figures are rare and the affordable ones are are even more scarce for my collection.

The closest figure that I know of that can compare to EA Mass Effect figure in regards to Garrus is the Playarts Kai version of Garrus. Different time, different price points, different quality, different versions of Garrus(EA is ME2 and PAK is ME3), but both are my only Garrus figures and I appreciate them. Both are definitely cool enough to join my ranks of awesome figures!

Again like the rest of the set, there is a lot left to be desired. With that though, there is a lot to factor in as to why this/these figures are missing a lot. All in all, if you are a Mass Effect fan and is just looking for something affordable to put on your collection that is Mass Effect related, then this is it for Garrus Vakarian! 

N7 Day

Never truly forgotten. N7 Day everyone!

Mass Effect: "Firefly"

This Video was a year in the making. Glad I finally made it though. I personally love this, I thought the story concurs with the music quite so well.

No 'Gemini' Sig at the end. Figured it would be so freaking redundant.

Bishoujo: Commander Shepard

BigBadToystore

She has indeed arrived! Commander Shepard in her Bishoujo adaptation! Been gawking at this bad girl for the longest time now and because of a certain special occasion, I finally have her in my possession! Armed and ready to add some more Mass Effect Badass'ness!!!!

Again the boxes of Bishoujos are always something to marvel at! The transparent cover and the art style is again tempting to leave such statue in their respected box, but again, I'm no longer THAT type of collector in regards to certain ones.

Interchangeable arms allows for certain 'action' postures. The famous and ME3 exclusive omniblade returns and for the variant arm is the M55 Argus Rifle(barely used it in ME3, honestly). As impressive as that 'minor' addition is in this statue, one thing that really got my collector senses on haywire(the good way) is the fact that they added a little bit more attention to 'detail' with these:

Yes, you discerned correctly! One can change the base's 'design' and make it either paragon or renegade! One just merely has to open the bottom part of the base and place whichever insignia one would find adequate for how one played. Honestly, I was mostly paragon, but the renegade fits the color scheme so I know which one I went with.

Details on the face isn't something I would say adheres to the Jane Shepard that we know in the game(the default one, of course). She is adorned by the common 'face' of anime which is 'perfect', immaculate facial texture, and did I mention if looks could kill? I suppose they managed to get the hairstyle, but other than that, it isn't the prominent FemShep.

The omni posture looks intimidating enough. Truth to be told, the details on her armor is immaculate to the game with all the ridges and the panels. While Shepard's armor has always been on the 'skin tight' side(which makes it more appealing for the female version), it always has that 'armor plating' look to it which makes it convincing that she can take a few rounds or so. That or her invisible shields can do the trick before her armor!

Side profile and back side does her justice as well. My only small gripe is that I wish that they spent some coloring on the area where there is lighting(closer to her shoulder blades). Red coloring would do well with it, but again, no real worries on that part.

Not that there would be a substantial difference, but it's nice to add in the variant of this Bishoujo. With the renegade stand and the M55 Argus, let's see how she looks, shall we?

Not much of a difference I know. But again, it does shifts perspective a bit with having a gun instead of an omniblade. With that said...

I should go.... and place her amongst her fellow N7 collection!

The shelf itself is starting to get vibrant more than ever! Loving the addition of both Mordin and Jane Shepard for this month! If I add another N7 related toy, I will have to do some reorganizing. 

Mordin Solus: "Someone Else Might've Gotten It Wrong"

BigBadToyStore

As I have listed off in my recent post(Minor Addition), I was planning on getting this one in my collection in some way or the other. Well, in good grace here he is, Mordin Solus! Or a bust form of him anyways(Hey Square Enix! How about a playarts Kai of the rest of the crew, huh?! You guys made 15 Sephiroths why not at least ONE of each of the Normandy crew?!). Honestly, if they made a bit more Mordin product, I'd probably get most of them(taking in the notion that they are to my liking) since Mordin is one character that I am enamored by! For a myriad of reasons, so this bust is a GREAT addition!

 

As expected from a bust, there isn't much to go of in regards to 'posing' or 'articulation'. The only real thing one can get out of that is the removable 'head piece' that Mordin wears and from my memory, he NEVER took off in the game. I think his other alternate outfits had this apparatus in it.

 

The details are pretty close to immaculate. He retains the scars in his bust form that he 'proudly' carries in the game. A true show that this Salarian isn't just some pijack scientist! He is from an elite force of this particular alien race. Though I do wish he has his arms doing some famous 'pondering' posture. Of course that would mean that this wouldn't be the 'frugal' price it would've been if more material was added. Still happy with it though.

But this little saying makes it Mordin authentic(it was already, but I'm just saying)! His famous and rather cathartic quote makes this piece just Right; any other less words in the bust would get it wrong.

Added to my Mass Effect shelf, it sure adds more 'color' to it. I'm thoroughly elated and not to mention it adds a less than awkward stance to my oddball (and rather dwarf like) Normandy! Anyways, that's that for now! Check that off the list and let's see where else we are going with this month in regards to addition to my Red Game Room!

Happy Birthday, Shepard!

"Drifting in the Stars.
Fighting for what's right.
Two paragons together through sickness and heath.
Dying to win because they are born to lose."

"One wouldn't be there without the other.
The eye for precision and the will to endure.
An amalgam of two distinct warriors in one soul.
Death won't do them part."

So yes, it is Commander Shepard's birthday today(April 11, 2154). Suffice to say I will be bones by the time that special date comes in this 'Real Life', but I want this one implemented in the world wide web to further accentuate my exuberance for this Character!

The Mass Effect Shelf

The Game Room

I know what you are thinking: "Is there anything new?" The answer is: "No". Just felt like venting about this shelf. Despite how sparse it is in contrast to my other shelves, I still feel that this is on my top five of my favorite shelves! 

Shepard, Tali'Zorah

FemShep, Garrus

There isn't a playarts Kai that adheres to the Mass Effect mythos out that I am willing to buy. There is an Ashley williams, but that can stay on the back log(when she sells for a thrift price). Believe me, I am more than enthused with the idea of adding something in this shelf since it is a bit on empty when comparing it to my other shelves. But frivolous spending is not entirely on the budget as of right now.

"It Was A Good Ride"

I finally 'finished' the last DLC of Mass Effect 3 rightfully named as: "The Citadel". Well, truth to be told I beat it a few days ago, but officially went out with a bang with the party that was thrown at the very end. Suffice to say, while the content of Mass Effect have indeed came to an end, I will say that my love and my endeavors with this masterpiece will never be over for me. I will always have my D-pad(or for this day and age, the analog) on this game until I am no longer capable of gaming.

And while the game was not infallible by any means, it offered a plethora of good memories! It will, and always will be part of my top ten. Wouldn't be hard to imagine that it might be on the top three, suffice to say. And mark my words, I have yet to make my final dent on my words in regards to this game. I will continue to perpetuate my need to exfoliate the things that Mass Effect Trilogy has done for me as a gamer and so forth! But alas, some things do 'end' to an extent. So with that said, to the 'final' days of a new content, Good Bye, Normandy! It was indeed a good ride!

A scintillating moment.

"Honesty"

Haven't done one of these in a while. Thought I'd add one in for the humorous purpose of it!

"The Red" Phase VI

Well, I won't be overzealous with words on this update since, well, there are minor things done to this place. Some can be seen if one scrutinizes this picture and compare it with the other ones...  But yeah not much really.

That wall is no longer bare bones. I was debating whether I should leave it just Red and have the others be the full on blown detail, however it wasn't going to work out in my eyes. So added some framed pictures and...

If my idea goes well, this will be the designs in the back; all of my comics(or most). We'll see if it plays out well and concurs with what is looming about my head... Well, that's it for now!

Playarts Kai: Commander Shepard(Female)

"Joining The Fray"

Female Shepard has joined the ranks of the Mass Effect Playarts Kai and suffice to say, she is also as enticing as the others; perhaps even more than her male counter part. Now to say that is something since I am still highly enthused that among the foray of my rather exuberant collection, I can say that I own my favorite video game character in a figure that is highly prestige in almost every way! But honestly, as much as I do love the Male Shepard(Playarts Kai: Commander Shepard/Male), there are a few things a bit distorted on that said figure that deters my full love and attention for it. First and foremost, the most prominent flaw is that his face isn't entirely as accurate. It's a bit too dark and not entirely concurring with the default Shepard(as these playarts are of course trying to replicate). Second flaw in the male Shepard is that he isn't entirely as compliant with his articulation as Tali, Garrus, and Female Shepard. Now he is still malleable to say the least, however he is a bit more on the difficult side. 'Jane Shepard' over here was very easy and fun to pose as well as Tali and Garrus.

In regards to her facial attributes, she is a bit more on the accurate side to her video game counterpart. Strong expression, proper tint for skin, and 'pretty'ish' despite her being on the more strong female character. Ever since the more prominent exposure of the female Shepard with Mass Effect 3's release, there has been a more distinct 'face' to the female aesthetic of the N7 Reaper Killer. Speaking of killing...

The 'N7' submachine gun; I am not bothering to find the exact name.

Ms. Shepard comes equipped with the N7 trademark submachine gun and Sniper gun along with the also ME3 exclusive omniblade like her male counterpart.

Real Long range combat with the sniper and up close and personal with the omniblade. 

So with the articulation in play and her options in weaponry, obviously posing is indeed in abundance. Again, playarts kai is good in that notion!

And this is her right next to my chosen lover for the femShep of my Mass Effect 3 game. I do love the rapport between the two and making them closer in my opinion does justice. However, just how awkward is it to have a human and a Turian indulge in sensual acts? No offense, Garrus.

And the 'mirror' pose!

Well, that concludes my playarts for Mass Effect. I have gained the four I really want since I don't have an interest in Ashley. Though if they ever come out with the others I am highly enamored about like Thane, Mordin, Legion, Wrex, Kasumi .... then I have o make room in my Mass Effect shelf.