(EA Figures) Mass Effect Series I: John Shepard

To end these blast to the past figures, I am here to review Commander Shepard; my timing couldn't be any more perfect since tomorrow Andromeda does come out. As to when I'll have my copy, only this week will be able to tell. Then playing it is another story. Well, until that time, let's take a gander at Commander Shepard, courtesy of EA.

Nothing new in regards to the packaging. We've seen this before with my previous reviews.

I'll jump right in and point this out: he has a helmet that he can wear! That is an awesome addition since there isn't a lot of Shepard related figures that have him sport his classic helmet (definitely does NOT look like his ME2 or ME3 helmet). Good for it too since his face rendition isn't very good. We'll get to that but first lets look at the figure.

Save for a few coloring with the N7 stripes, the blue lights on his back, and the black parts of his armor, this Shepard is all metallic grey. It resembles Shepard's armor enough, but I think it misses a few points. The sculpt is good; it has a lot of rivets, different texturing, and a lot of 'plating' to make it resemble 'armor' rather than just painted out 'detail'. That's something I can appreciate.

The face is bad, I have to admit. It looks nothing like vanilla Shepard.

The helmet, while not perfect, does offer a new kind of aesthetic. Though he reminds me of Robocop for some reason with the color of his armor, the helmet, and all that.

Of course we all know how this articulation goes. There is really no need for me to go in depth at what he can't do and what he can do. You can get the basics, but that's about it. He can't even have a proper gun shooting action pose.

And while Playarts Kai Shepard does offer more articulation and accessories, the face resemblance doesn't hit home either. I am hoping a company like Figma or S.H. Figuarts pick up the Mass Effect franchise since they are pretty good at making their figures resemble the characters they are trying to depict. Still, I am grateful to have Mass Effect figures on my collection.

What can I say? The figures do have their share of problems. But figures that are out dated have some leeway in terms of how harsh I can judge them. Hindsight, I probably would have a waited a few months to open them since something is around the corner.... BUT it is Andromeda's release date so here I am celebrating that. Shepard, being the last that I own does come with some drawbacks, but hey, I still like this figure to some degree. Maybe in the future I'll pick up Thane and Miranda; MAYBE in the future, a new line of Mass Effect figures are around the corner to pay homage to the awesome trilogy.
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(EA Figures) Mass Effect Series I: Grunt

Grunt was that character that you weren't supposed to get. The Krogan scientist that created him, Okeer, was supposed to be the Krogan member in the ME2 lineup but that didn't happen no matter what you did. Who you get is a tank bred Super (Krogan) Soldier named Grunt. This figure is plastic bred and has been in the case for some time but it's time to get him out of there!

I really do regret not getting Thane. I might still, though. Thane ended up being of my favorites in the Mass Effect lore. Grunt, on the other hand, I really started appreciating when we get into ME3. But that's another topic for another day. On to the figure.

While Wrex looked more 'organic' and closer to how all Krogans dressed, Grunt has a metallic and almost cybernetic look to him. Compare it to Hulk and Iron Man; Wrex is Hulk while Grunt here is sporting the Iron Man look. I liked his design and I like how it came out in the figure. From what I can remember, it looks accurate, save for the less vibrant lights in different parts of his body (reminds me of Iron Man's repulsors).

As everything that goes with this line: we get a weapon and a stand. That's it. Grunt has a shotgun and he holds it well enough. Definitely better than how Legion holds his sniper gun.

And his articulation isn't something that will wow anyone. But they do serve their purpose adequately for him to be displayed. Nothing dynamic, though.

Being the only Krogan in my collection of Mass Effect paraphernalia, I think he fits the job well. I'd prefer Wrex since he is a classic, but Grunt is cool. This figure is cool. Again, like a broken record, this line is outdated and more or less an affordable, detailed, and somewhat articulated statues. As a Mass Effect fan, I've found the enjoyment for them! 

Bishoujo: Tali'Zorah

She is finally here! The second statue addition for my 2016 line up and it's only March! My oh my! What a year it is going to be for collecting! Well, before any of that, I do want to talk about this beauty. Other than the obvious fact that I love Tali and all the things she is from Mass Effect, this statue proves to be a gem! So with that opinion in tow, let's go ahead and jump on the figure and scrutinize what makes her great in my opinion!

Somehow I was under the impression only special version have black boxes. Guess I was wrong, but Tali is special. Well, on to the figure!

We'll do a complete look at the figure but just looking at this angle, I have to say she is gorgeous. We'll start off by talking about her paint job... immaculate! Everything about the different variations of purple really does make you think Tali. The patterns on her 'clothing' is also rather recognizable and the small hints of gold all about are also accurate. The layers and all the different textures that are put into this are just amazing.

 

 

Then of course the black contrasts along with the silver! I can't go enough in details to say just how much I am impressed with Kotobukiya's work on the paint job. Time after time I am just astounded by how well this company can make a popular female character and make them 'their own version'. Though Tali, paint job and all, still symbolizes her Bioware counter part in every way.

Now when we talk about the sculpt, yes this is Tali. Down to the core. The way her veil hangs around her head, the little straps here and there, her signature Quarian hands and feet, then the wonderful 'mysterious' face that is just teased through her helmet:

We did get a 'canon' version of her face in Mass Effect 3, so perhaps it would have been nice to get a variant. But I know not a lot of fans appreciated that and some even want to keep this mysterious look of Tali; so for that sake, this one looks good. It's transparent to see the shape of her face and the 'eyes', but not enough to reveal anything about her enigma that she held from Mass Effect 1 until near the end of Mass Effect 3.

The details on her Quarian Reegar Carbine is amazing as well. Just the rivets, the certain color palette to signify metal... man.

Then look at those different textures put into her suit. The straps. I love those different honeycomb sections then to the... uh.... err.... This is Tali accurate!

And just like Jane Shepard and Juri Han, Tali has alternate stand designs. As you can tell, I chose the Tali art more than the 'Mass Effect 3' lettering for a permanent stand. Though, I do know this suit more from Mass Effect 2; and that game was my favorite out of the three.

And here is Bishoujo Tali next to some of my Mass Effect Playarts Kai figures(Garrus and Tali). Obviously Tali Bishoujo has the details while the Playarts Kai has the articulation and the accessories. I don't have too many Mass Effect collectibles, but I do love what I have. I swear I will have a 'redo' review for some of these figures.

And as I mentioned before, FemShep shares her alternate stand and I still have Ms. Shepard designed with her Renegade symbol and her gun rather than her Ombi-blade. They stand well side by side, I say.

And here she is in my Mass Effect shelf that is slowly growing. I don't think there are anymore in my crosshairs when it comes to Mass Effect merchandise so I should be good. Though those POPs.... hmmm.

I didn't mention the 'negative' things about this Bishoujo--that's because there is hardly any for me. I mean, a variant weapon or head is always nice, but this one is as simple as it is awesome. I think this is a lovely addition to anyone Mass Effect/ Tali fans. Bishoujo did a great job and it isn't so anime enough to take away for anyone who loves Mass Effect but aren't big into the anime versions of some of the work Bishoujo does. I love her and I'm glad to have her in my collection!

Also for those who are interested, there is a variant colored version. I am pretty sure I won't be getting her because the change isn't that drastic to warrant buying it; basically it almost feels like I'd be buying the figure twice.

Bishoujo: Tali Z'orah vas Normandy

(Coming in the future)

What a beauty! I'm sure she will be available everywhere, but as of right now, she is preordered in BigBadToyStore!

Look at the detail on her! Wonder if there will be some kind of special variant for her face?

She does come with a grey variant, which I don't think I'll be getting. In the mean time... can't wait till I get her! 

N7 Day

Never truly forgotten. N7 Day everyone!

Edited

Well.... Thought I'd do some 'cleaning' up on certain posts that I did in the past. I started off thinking that this would be best done on Marvel Legends... but I cleaned up a couple of others as well. These are the results. Minor changes, but still more than pleasing. The aesthetics definitely looks a LOT cleaner.

Hot Toy: Mark V

BAF: Apocalypse

BAF: Onslaught

BAF: Rulk

BAF: Iron Monger

BAF: Terrax

BAF: Rocket Raccoon

Bishoujo: Commander Shepard

I might go as far as changing even OLDER ones like the Bishoujos. Who knows. Depends on the time. As it is this took me a bit to spruce things up so I might just avert my attention from old stuff and just focus on the present blogging pictures. Who knows, right?

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.