Monday, August 27, 2007

Black Lagoon 1/6 Scale Revy Figure

In the Black Lagoon animation, an average salaryman named Rock is recruited into a mercenary group known as Lagoon Company which tackles hairy missions in Southeast Asia. Supported with work from the Russian mob known as Hotel Moscow, the Lagoon crew runs into a motley assortment of killers and professional assassins in their travels.

Lagoon Company's renown is generally bolstered by Revy, a woman warrior who shoots first and asks later. New Line's production of their Revy interpretation measures 13cm or 5.11" tall and her pose is relaxed and generally sedate. Revy's holding one gun while another lies beneath her left leg. Bullet clips are included in the package and may be arranged in front of her green combat boots. The Revy figure is fixed pose, fully assembled, and painted. Upon taking it out of the box, Revy is ready for display on a mantle or lighted pedestal. Preorders will ship today.

Transformers Collection Toys

Four of the most popular Transformers Collection toys have been re-released in Japan. The new production of the Transformers are packaged in the original windowed cardboard boxes and feature updated parts. The four re-issues are as follows:

TFC Vol. 1: Convoy US$65
TFC Vol. 2: Megatron US$65
TFC Vol. 3: Soundwave US$45
TFC Vol. 4: Starscream US$35

Preorders will ship today and new orders are welcome. Next up in the Encore series: 05 Iron Hide and 06 Ratchet which ship in Dec 2007.

Heisei Gamera Figure

Forty two years ago, an enormous bug-eyed turtle stunned audiences with its debut in the movie Daikaiju Gamera. The monster would go on to star in a dozen movies that would be eventually be shown around the world to enrapture young and old viewers alike.

Japanese manufacturer
Weccle Ats has started preorders for a 160cm or 62.99" tall Gamera figure which weighs 36kg or approximately 80 lbs. While Gamera doesn't have as much gaming feng shui goodness as Weccle Ats' life-size Mario statues, he's still a pretty big attraction thanks to his recognizable face, fangs, and overall form.

Preorders for the Gamera figure are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2007. Due to the limited nature of this product, NCS requires a US$300 non-refundable deposit for all preorders. Pricing is set at JPY
400,000 or US$3500 from NCS.

Real Action Heroes 350: MGS4 Solid Snake

When we first met Solid Snake nearly 20 years ago, he was a punk kid with some skills but nowhere near the legend he is today. Through the decades, we watched him grow in stature and renown as his escapades were painstakingly chronicled across multiple gaming platforms. If asked to describe noticeable features about Snake, we might conjure up his camouflage suit, the billowing headband, endless supply of cigarettes, and the stubble. The words "dashing," "unerring," and "loner" might also be thrown into the discussion.

As the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots begins, Snake is an old man. White-haired, wrinkled, and somewhat wobbly, Snake is a shadow of his former self but he's still got skills. Years of training and his innate survival instincts just don't disappear overnight. The years of smoking cigarettes has taken a toll on his lungs however and Snake coughs up a storm. Per usual Medicom convention, the company has announced a Real Action Heroes figure for Grandpa Snake which measures 30cm or 11.81" tall and is scheduled to ship in January 2008 at JPY20,000 or US$189 from NCS. Preorders are welcome today.

Oneechan Bara VorteX Aya - Red Bikini Figure

In the Oneechan Bara VorteX game from December 2006, sisters Aya and Saki teamed up with a policewoman named Anna to rid the metropolis of a rising zombie threat. When plunging into masses of undead with the goal of chopping them up, most sensible warriors would put on some armor, chain mail, or at least armlet.

Aya scoffs at those pansies.

She goes to war wearing a two-piece bikini, a hat, and a pair of thigh high boots. Occasionally she'll throw on a feather boa to accessorize. In the case of the Oneechan Bara VorteX Aya figure, our idol also wears a beaded necklace and hefts two swords for that special dual slicing action.

Preorders are welcome starting today to ship in mid-late December 2006 at JPY5800 or US$58 from NCS.

Real Action Heroes Full Metal Alchemist Movie Ver

Medicom has started preorders for two Real Action Heroes figures which are scheduled to ship in December 2007.

» The Alphonse Elric figure measures 22cm or 8.66" tall and is decked out in a red cloak with a black uniform underneath.

» Colonel Roy Mustang aka The Flame Alchemist measures 30cm or 11.81" tall and his fist may be fitted with artificial flames.

Transformers Music Label: Soundwave in Blaster Black

Distributors have opened up preorders for a "Blaster Black" version of the Transformers Music Label which ships in mid-late December 2007. Based on the photos released thus far, the black appears to be a matte-black color instead of a glossy black patina. Takara is also reproducing the "Spark Blue" version of the Transformers Music Label which is scheduled to ship in mid-late December 2007. Please note the "Sonic White" color variant won't be reproduced.
Preorders are welcome and pricing remains at US$99.

Japanese Import Outlook

NDS One Piece Gear Spirit Bandai

Oni Zero Sengoku Ransei Hyakkaryouran Compile

Summon Night Twin Edge Seireitachi no Kyoumei Banpresto
PS2 Beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD Konami

Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Dream Hyper Battle Marvelous
PS3 Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War Koei

Blade Storm: the Hundred Years War Limited Edition Koei

USA Release Outlook

NDS Garfield's Nightmare GFactory

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 EA
PS2 Stuntman Ignition Crave

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 EA

Wild Arms 5 XSeed
PS3 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Koei

Lair Sony

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 EA

Warhawk + Bluetooth Headset Sony
PSP Dead Head Fred D3

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 Capcom

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes Bandai

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 EA
Wii Carnival Games Globalstar

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Nintendo

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 EA
X36 Blue Dragon Microsoft

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Koei

Stuntman Ignition THQ

Stranglehold Midway