FranksFigurePage

“Your greatest gift to me, and I’m killing him. I must already be dead.” *DISCLAIMER*: This review is not sponsored. I’m a massive fan of Castlevania. My dad introduced me to Symphony of the Night on the original PlayStation when I was 3, and I’ve played multiple entries since; from Circle of the Moon to Lords of Shadow 2 — hell, I even played the most recent mobile release, Grimoire of Souls. It’s the game series of my childhood. When I heard there was an anime being picked up by Netflix, I damn near cried nerd tears of joy — having waited seven years since first finding out of an initial live-action movie adaptation. And once I saw it and found out it was actually good, I was massively thrilled. It was so good, in one hell of a peak Reddit moment, I personally messaged the showrunner, Adi Shankar; asking if a figure line was coming out, to which he replied: “it’s coming”. Suffice it to say, I was very excited when this figure line was formally announced by Diamond Select Toys almost a year later. I had some understandably high hopes because, finally, we were gonna get some decent Castlevania figures that were advertised to be more poseable than the NECA figures of yore (which I also have lol). The prototype figures all looked great, and proudly boasted 20 points of articulation. And now that I have the set of three; Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard — I can only say these figures fell out of a bull’s ass. Once again, Castlevania gets crapped on by the toy industry. These figures are so disappointing that I held off on this review for so long. To put into perspective just how long, I got these figures about three weeks before I got my Dante. It was too depressing to even think of, that I couldn't bring myself to take photos of these figures til JUST recently. I’ll explain exactly why in this review. I’ll start off with the only good things these figures got going for them: the sculpt and paint job. They’re really nice. But because of the figures having embellishments (coattails and robe detail) made of hard-but-pliable plastic, the sculpt gets in the way of a lot of the articulation. Just as well, the paints are decent, but Sypha’s got a rat mouth thing going, and Trevor’s eyes look a bit lazily done rather than just lazy. However, in certain lighting, the paint jobs are perfect. Anyways, going back to the articulation: these figures are articulated like trash. They were all advertised to sport double jointed elbows (except Sypha), but for some reason, DST had gone cheapo and went back on that; giving us single-jointed elbows that’re also sleeved. I can’t put Alucard into his trademark en-garde pose from the anime because the elbows can’t bend further than 45 degrees. FORTY-FIVE FRIGGIN DEGREES. Sypha’s robes all get in the way of her poseability as well, so she can’t really look like she’s casting spells. Trevor’s the best articulated out of all of them, but that really ain’t saying much because his arms also suffer the 45-degree syndrome. These figures come with way too many accessories than they can pose with. Granted, most of them are hands, but these accessories won’t do any good if the figures can’t be posed nicely with them. Alucard doesn’t come with any form of hand to hold the sheathe of his sword. Additionally, I had to RIP off a throwing knife from one of Trevor’s throwing knife hands just so he can hold his whip. You read that correctly, Trevor didn’t come with ANY hands to hold his weapons until I unwillingly (and forcefully) damaged one of them after exasperatedly exclaiming out loud “are you actually serious?”. Exhibited in this photo is is said hand holding the morning star whip, with the scar the knife I ripped off left on his thumb. It looks like peanut butter. Good thing that throwing knife was just soft plastic. Imagine if it wasn’t — we’d be having an angrier conversation right now, possibly with more expletives. Their excuse for this as I quote on the comment section of one of their posts is it’s a factory error. I guess the elbows are a factory elbow too, huh? I digress; he also comes with two swords and sheathes that can NOT be placed anywhere on him, and his whips can’t be stowed on his person either — which sucks because the figure itself has loops on its belt as though to store them. To top it all off, Trevor was also advertised to come with his cloak — but just like the elbow articulation, DST went back on that and replaced it with something stupider: a bland medieval bucket that doesn’t even have holy water or salt sculpted into it, or even a goddamn handle for Trevor to hold. Was this also a factory error? We consumers didn’t even get news for ANY of these changes during production. It’s borderline criminal. Honestly, the only good thing I can say for these figures is that they look very nice. Other than that, I can’t recommend anyone buy these figures for the $25 price point. McFarlane is making a Wonder Woman figure for WW1984 in the same scale that’s going for $19, and it’s even MORE poseable than this tragedy of a toy line. This is exactly what happens when you give a mature license to a manufacturer whose audience is veered more toward younger ages. It’s very evident they didn’t know if they wanted to cater to kids or adults with these figures. There are so many accessories — small enough that a kid can choke on them, yet the figures can’t be posed worth a damn. There’s a very obvious lack of passion that went into the figures. The abundance of accessories does NOT make up for the lack of articulation. As I said earlier, accessories aren’t worth it if the figures can’t be posed with them. There has to be a justified BALANCE. If there isn’t, what’s the point? DST should stick to statues, plain and simple. Do not give DST your hard earnings for this. You as fans and consumers deserve better. This line should’ve gone to Bandai’s FiguArts or Max Factory’s Figma, or hell — even McFarlane; people who actually care about the products they’re releasing, who have actually made good anime figures. I can’t even sell these if I wanted to because of the box design (which is un-reusable) and the damage I had to cause to Trevor. If they come out with 2.0 versions of these figures that are closer to what was advertised, I’m actually gonna be pissed. In the album, I’ll provide prototype images so you know what I’m mad about. It sucks because with Castlevania, fans have come to the mindset that crappy figures are better than nothing — something I’ve personally fallen victim for as well. Only difference is a good number of them go on to praise these things because of that mindset. Thing is, Castlevania’s only ever gotten crappy figures (besides that amazing F4F statue, but that’s a statue). This franchise deserves a bone. + good sculpts + decent paint apps - heavily hindered articulation way more accessories than the figures deserve - figures were falsely advertised - Trevor’s lack of designated weapon holding hands - Also his cloak got switched to a generic medieval bucket - Bucket don’t even have a handle -Sypha’s somehow got even less articulation than the other two figures I’m really salty about those elbows. They’re the sole reason these figures can’t look good while posed. I got these figures at BigBadToyStore, but I’m not providing link to them specifically like normal because consumers deserve better than this garbage. Your money would actually be better spent on something else. Here’s the homepage instead: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/ Here's a link to my Facebook page for more reviews and photos! https://www.facebook.com/FranksFigurePage/

"I said I'd live out both our lives... Easy to make that promise..." Welp, here's how I'm celebrating the release and my completion of the FFVII Remake. On my Facebook page, I put this set up on an old gimmick named Frank's Wishlist, but deemed it too expensive to pick up. Since then - after its release, every time I went back to the Philippines for family functions, I'd go to the Data Blitz in Alabang Town Center to see if the set had gotten picked up yet. Then one day, in the middle of June 2019 and I'm back in Vancouver, I get a call from my mother asking what I wanted for my upcoming birthday. I ended up asking her if we can somehow get this at a good price - and if not, they didn't have to get me anything. To my surprise, she went to the store and because the people there have known my family since I was in the first grade, she was able to get it for a REALLY good price, which has not been disclosed to me. BASICALLY, I'm really lucky to have parents that support me in this hobby. I owe pretty much my entire collection to them, and one day I hope to pay them back somehow. I guess, in a way, this review is for them. Miss you guys, you're always welcome to visit! Anyway, point of that intro is "I'm a bit late to this party, and I've been waiting to get my hands on this set since its release in October of 2018". And boy howdy was the wait worth it. As it happens, I also have the original Play Arts Cloud and Fenrir set back home in Thailand - however I broke Cloud's leg trying too hard to get him low on the bike, and the entirety of the front axle came off the chassis. That set on it's own wasn't bad at all! However, this set strove to improve what they had on that original "Non-Kai" 2005 release. By God, did this set deliver. I'm going to start with the appetizer that is the newly updated Cloud figure before getting into the meat of this review. The sculpt is the exact same as the original Play Arts Kai Cloud release. The updates however lie in the accessories included and the paint job. The paint job features newer, more dramatic shading than the original release, with darker shade tones in the vest and the hair. He also comes with two newly-sculpted hands for holding the handle bars of the bike, as well as a hand that holds a removable cell-phone. A new sword that Cloud comes with is the inactive version of the First Sword of the Omniblade. It features an all-new sculpt that does not show the inner workings, as well as a more folded-up hilt. It is also shorter than the "active" version. Additionally, Cloud comes with an all-new headsculpt that sports his riding goggles. and alternatively, also comes with goggles that you can wrap around his neck with the headsculpt sans goggles. Other than that, he comes with the same swords that came with the original release, but also with very slight changes to the paint jobs, with more shading added for wear-and-tear. My only problem with the figure is that some paint from the vest rubbed off onto Cloud's right arm, so now he's got weird indigo spots. Another problem I have is the inactive First Sword doesn't fit into the holsters in Cloud's back, which is inaccurate, as in one scene in Healin Lodge, Cloud actually has it stowed there. There is a possibility that it's a problem with my figure alone, but honestly, that's highly unlikely due to how meticulous the sculpt of such a figure is. Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty. The brass tacks. The belle of this ball: The Fenrir Motorcycle, Cloud's steel steed throughout his misadventures in Advent Children. Considering this is a Play Arts Kai set, they had to size up the bike by almost twice the size of the original release. To top it off is some crazy-ass attention to detail. The chassis features all these pipes and the exposed inner workings of (what I think to be) the engine has all these rivets and exposed gear. Looking at that area alone is enough to start a bit of an information overload due to all that sculpted detail. Unlike the original release, however, there are no diecast metal parts, BUT this bike is one freakin heavy chunk of perfectly sculpted plastic. My guess is, they took the 3D model of the movie, scaled it down to PAK size, and then printed it in the needed materials. The wheels have really cool and slick treads, and seem to be made of a really solid and hefty rubber. It could possibly also be made of hard plastic with lots of traction, like the FiguArts Batpod. The only metal part I can think of is the articulated kickstand. As I touched up on earlier, the bike sports a few points of articulation. The first of which, is the aforementioned kickstand, which can be flipped up or down depending on how the consumer would like to display it. The front axle can also rotate laterally, but only -- I wanna say forty degrees. Enough to make it look like the figure is steering via the rear wheel. Just as well, the handle bars are on ball pegs. This adds a bit of realism to the poseability of the bike, and also makes it easier for the Cloud figure to hold them. This bike sports a predominantly glossy black paint job. The seat is more matte, and all the accent parts (which, honestly, are just all the exposed parts of the bike) have a nice brass colour, featuring some nice airbrush shading, conveying the wear and tear of Cloud's usage of the bike. There are a few silver accents on the bike though, like the gas cap and the exposed upper part of the chassis that houses the headlight. Since I just mentioned it, the bike also features a light-up system! It requires three LR44 batteries (the small button ones - not included, sadly), which would be housed in the little air-intake on the bottom of the bike. The lights themselves are decently bright, as evidenced by being nicely picked up in such low exposure shots. Finally, the black parts of the front axle can both be removed, in order to peg in the racks that "house" six of Cloud's swords. It's a really cool display option that gives this set more versatility in posing. Honestly, Square Enix could have just released just the bike for the original Play Arts Kai Cloud release (Ala Bandai-Tamashii with the FiguArts Batpod for their Dark Knight figure), and includes all the new accessories Cloud would have. That would've cost both consumers and manufacturers less money in buying/making this set. However, I'm still glad I get a new Cloud figure that I can display on the bike, whilst I have the other Cloud figure doing dynamics on the top of my "Japanese Imports" shelf. Lastly, I'd like to add that I still hate the stands that Play Arts Kai figures come with. Square really gotta come up with better designs than that. It does the job, but goddamn is it ugly. Hell, the stand that came with this figure has loose holes in the "stem", which can be annoying when one is trying to display Cloud off the bike in a dynamic pose that NEEDS a stand. All in all, I'm really glad I finally have this set. Its versatility in posing is almost on par with the FiguArts Batpod. It definitely improves on the original Play Arts release from 2005, and even adds more. However, for it's price point, I can only recommend this to people who REALLY enjoyed Advent Children. If you're a Final Fantasy VII super-fan (and ONLY super-fans), but don't like Advent Children or Cloud's design in the movie, I'd suggest waiting for the Ultra-Special Edition of the FFVII Remake that includes a Play Arts Kai set featuring Cloud and the Hardy Daytona, which is about the same price as this - BUT includes the game. Honestly, in my opinion, that's a steal as you're paying the price of the figure, and pretty much $10 for the game. Point is, only get this if you can afford it, and if you REALLY liked Advent Children and it's designs. Either way, Square Enix put a lot of love into this figure set, and it shows. Special thanks again to Kiko and Celine Rosario for picking this up for me! I can't be any luckier. + Amazingly meticulous sculpt on the bike + Newly updated Cloud figure with new accessories + Highly realistic paint job with no bleed at all + Bike is versatile as hell and adds so much posing options for both itself and the Cloud figure - Paint rub off on the right arm from the vest - Batteries not included - First Sword don't fit in holster - I hate the stand If you're in the Philippines and want games or collectibles, look no further than Data Blitz! They have everything for your gaming needs, like games, PC accessories, consoles, and gaming collectibles! Their collectibles include a lot of Japanese import figures, so if you're into that, definitely go to Data Blitz! Additionally, here's a link to my Facebook page for more reviews and photos!: https://www.facebook.com/FranksFigurePage/ More pics below! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Cash up front? This, I like. The water needs turning on, and those toilets need flushing." **DISCLAIMER: effect parts sold separately. This review is also not sponsored.** Hi, I'm Frank! I run a small review page on Facebook, and this is my first review on ToyNewsI's forums! I wanted to start strong by reviewing my personal favourite figure, the 1000Toys Dante from Devil May Cry 5. I guess I'm gonna start this review with saying "this figure is quite possibly the best figure in my collection". I've never owned something of such quality and poseability. The closest competitors are the Sixth Scale figures I own, and the One:12 Collective Sovereign Knight Batman. Even then, it's like 1000Toys are playing the proverbial action game with a Guitar Hero controller, and somehow taking no hits. Not to over-hype the figure, but it's the most innovative figure I've ever laid my hands on. The fact that it's a six-and-some-inch figure is what's baffling me even more. I'll explain exactly why in this review. Starting out with the sculpt, one will notice they went with a slightly more stylized look, rather than realistic. It's mostly evident in Dante's facial structure, as well as his slightly-longer-than-normal arms without the coat on. I think the sculpt works for this figure, and it feels like Dante came off the pages of a comic, rather than out of the game. There are details where needed: creases on his shirt all look natural when posed, and just as well, his pants are textured really nicely -- emulating leather perfectly. Besides all that, there are furrow creases on the corners of his brows, and there are also veins sculpted onto his arms; so 1000Toys definitely have that eye for detail needed in such a competitive industry. I also never expected his biceps to be fully sculpted under the coat -- I expected it to be more like a basic grey and barely look like a general bicep area, but nah; there's creases on the sleeves, and muscles are toned through the shirt. When it comes to high quality figures, sculpt isn't the only thing of importance. Articulation is another key factor one should consider. Because of how this figure is engineered, it comes with a LOT of articulation. It's surprisingly even more articulated than the Amazing Yamaguchi Batman I reviewed on my page a while back. The figure's torso is pretty much a skeleton under a silicone shirt. His clavicles are about the level where the skeleton ends, transitioning into the sculpt of the neck. This way, no sculpted parts get in the way of posing. You can put this figure in some HEAVILY dynamic poses, and it'll stay with no fight at all. One should definitely worry of the silicone of the body starting to warp if it's kept in a dynamic for too long, but that should be an easy fix with a hairdryer -- STILL, best not to risk it. The torso itself is comparable to the Figma Joker from Persona 5, but this one does it a lot better as it's infinitely more poseable. The best part is all the articulation is really well-hidden, making the figure look almost-seamless. I mean, goddamn, it can pull off kneeling poses better than the aforementioned Amazing Yamaguchi. One can put this figure in ANY pose they want to -- be it straight from the game, or from their own heads, and it WILL look good. Before I forget, there's also a ball-peg on his back, meant to stick up through the coat for his swords to hang from. The paint applications are a direct reflection of the quality of this figure too. There is NO bleed at all, thus making the figure seem as though all the parts were molded in their specific colours. There's nice shading on the face, hair, and bandages, as well as very nice paint-detailing on the face (namely the beard and the glisten of his eyes). His belt-buckle is also painted a nice gold colour -- also no bleed at all. Looks almost as if they printed it on. Finally, since I got the deluxe edition, Dante comes with a friggin shipping yard full of accessories. His swords: the Rebellion, Sparda, and Devil Sword Dante; All three forms of King Cerberus, all with really nice gradient effects emulating their respective elements; His shotgun, the Coyote-A; His twin-pistols, Ebony and Ivory; A backplate for his coat; A smiling and a wincing faceplate; an alternate hairpiece; Hands to hold ALL of these accessories, as well relaxed hands, and a pair of fists. 1000Toys went HAM on these accessories. They're all sculpted and painted with the precision of a sniper with the ability to shoot a bullet through a straw and still hit the bulls-eye from 400 meters away. There is a part of me that wish he came with Balrog, but alas, engineering for the pauldrons, as well as placing the gauntlets on his forearms would probably have proven a hassle to both 1000Toys and the consumer. Additionally, his coat is fully removable, which is why I'm only now really getting into it. It's got really nice thread patterns, is layered really nicely where needed, and features a wire running through it's edges and waistline. It's also made of a really nice leather-like material, if not actual leather. I had initially thought the coat might've been a touch over-sized, but after having it in hand and futzing with this figure as much as I did, it really isn't -- it's fitted to the figure surprisingly well. Had it been any tighter, it's possible articulation in the arms would have been compromised. Nonetheless, it's when the figure is posed that's when the coat looks its best. If Dante's just in a standing pose, one would have to futz with the coat just a touch in order to make it look good. Anyways, yeah this is probably the best figure I've ever owned. I've finally been spoiled by the quality of a 1000Toys figure. Now any figure I get, I have to compare to this. This really figure really raised the bar for 6-inch figures, and I hope more companies follow suit. For $150, I can wholeheartedly recommend this for the price -- be you a fan of DMC, or just a general collector. If not, go for Hellboy or even Abe Sapien. This company needs as much support as we can give, so we can keep getting collectibles of this calibre. + Very visually appealing sculpt + Precise eye for detail + Very highly-articulated + Innovative engineering + High quality paint applications + Boatload of accessories Seriously, this figure's so good I succumbed to the temptation of getting Nero. Want one? Head over to BigBadToyStore! On top of this, they got an amazing selection and reasonable shipping prices. Click the link below to head there now! https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/94458 Here's the link to my facebook page for more reviews and photos! https://wwwfacebook.com/FranksFigurePage/ More pics of Dante below! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________