January 2023 Loot

Not as much compared to last batch but this one is impressive in its own right. Obviously Joytoy reigns supreme for this loot batch as several big shot items managed make it this time which is my first 1/18 Joytoy Diecast Mecha and a 40k Dreadnought. Both of them are very good value for money as any Japanese Toy with their size and quality would easily cost double or triple. By this time my 40k Joytoy collection have been taking shape properly and i am looking forward to the rest of my Space Marine preorders coming up.

While Joytoy take the main spotlight this time, I also managed to expand my Macross and Arknights collection. I still look forward for more Macross collectibles to join my lineup which Tamashii Nation upcoming lineup look very promising.

Artery Gear Hyper Body AG-01 Lark Nio

Being released not long ago in Global Server, Artery Gear devs is very quick to expand their influence by releasing their merchandise with now the postergirl Nio made it as Hybrid Figma product! Whether it will succeed or not, Artery Gear dev are very dedicated to surpass its brother, Final Gear for sure. Released as hybrid Figma+Model Kit, Hyper Body Lark Nio will be released on November 2023 with 12900 Yen price tag.

 Previously Artery Gear had model kit released by Wave for the Spider/Crab mecha thing but this one is bigger deal as the Poster Girl decided to descend herself as Action Figure. The Hyper Body lineup really reminds me of Act Mode which is hybrid Model Kit/Figma too which looks kinda cool even though i am not a fan of mecha musume myself. 

In Artery Gear, Nio is the Postergirl who is a 3* Thunder Balanced unit, Not exactly powerful but she is equipped for all range type of battle, whether beating the boss unit with her Lark Seeker Sword or cutting swathes of Minions with her Jet Stream Cannon.

I gave up on Artery Gear few months ago since the game at its current state doesn't have much to offer compared to its Senpai, Final Gear and the way the Devs rushed the collab banners on Global server are just annoying. If this item is a full fledged Figma, i would have considered getting one but given how the product turn out to be Hybrid model kit, it failed to catch my attention. Might have been different if it is a unit from Final Gear which Flashwing should done one.

Yuusha Tokkyu Mightgaine The GATTAI Might Gaine

 Shortly after shown in the Mechasmile Impact 2023 which is quite a treat for old school mecha fans, Goodsmile is quite fast in announcing the preorder for next Yuusha The GATTAI series, Mightgaine. After sitting around for almost 2 years as prototype, The Gattai Mightgaine is open for preorder with September 2023 release selling 25000 Yen price tag.

 

 The Gattai Mightgaine comes with rather modest accessories with Dorinken as the only weapon and i thought for its Price tags it might have included Mightgaine's train wheel as thrown weapon. But the selling point of this version of Mightgaine remains to be the complete gattai feature and Gaine himself appear to have quite good articulation.

 

As the middle child of Yuusha Series, Mightgaine is somewhat peculiar because it has the most generous amount of preferential treatment by Obari.  I can see how Sunrise production team at the time tried to make this series catered more to Teen audience but due to massive use of Train as the mecha theme and corporate meddling by Takara, it kinda failed halfway. While Yuusha series never stray far from incorporating Trains as part of mecha design in liberal amount, Mightgaine is the MVP in this category which is why i am never particularly attached with this series despite it has quite good presentation due to Obari's major involvement. 

 Since I had SRC Mightgaine already, i am not particularly eager to buy this version of Mightgaine but in case if I get myself a copy, I will just stick to Mightgaine and not getting the Mightkaiser or Might Gunner because Great Mightgaine is easily one of the worse Yuusha design out there. Personally I look forward more to the future Seven Changer release which comes with complete 7 Transformation forms.

Arknights Nendoroid Surtr

  It is just a matter of time and the Ice cream Goddess is here! After getting some generous amount of PVC Statue treatment, the premier Guard Operator Surtr finally descend into Arknights Nendoroid series. Nendoroid Surtr is scheduled for July 2023 release with 7000 Yen Price tag.

  Nendoroid Surtr comes with her Iconic Giant Hand familiar that wields the Laevatein with two variants, Acrylic one for her Elite 2 Pose and the solid one for other attack poses though it is only the hand. The Nendoroid also come with complimentary Ice Cream accessory so the Goddess can relax off when not using her S3.

Named after Mythical Norse Fire Giant, Surtr is one of the most Meta Guard Operator until this day due to her Laevatein skill which is basically delete button, meltin almost everything non aerial whether it is mob units, Bosses or anything in between. With her given popularity, Surtr could have made earlier appearance if Hypergryph wishes it but the current timing is suitable enough. I think for the next Nendoroid the prime candidates would be Blaze, Nian or Mudrock though i still want my Angelina and Magallan.

SRW OG Riobot Yaldabaoth

  Rather peculiar choice by Sentinel for their next SRW mecha toys but the Hokuto Shinken Super Robot, Yaldabaoth do make it as their next entry for Riobot lineup! As always Sentinel Riobot series cost a fortune and for Yaldabaoth it will be sold at 33000 Yen with October 2023 release.

 Yaldabaoth is a martial arts super robot which made its playable debut in SRW OG Gaiden for OG timeline and i think it originate from SRW Compact/Impact along with Alteisen. Yaldabaoth is basically a mecha incarnate for Kenshiro as it is capable of launching flurries of punches and kicks. In its apotheosized form it is a destruction incarnate which destroys its surrounding environment with its powerful attacks. IIRC the pilot was Folka Albark who belongs to a warlike race known as Shura and due to some encounter with Human, he decided to fight against his own kin in order to thwart his race invasion plan to earth. The guy is quite a badass whose appearance unfortunately rather brief in OG timeline and Gaiden was not exactly as memorable as OGs.

I can't really imagine once released as 4800 Yen model kit by Kotobukiya now are made to be a 30k Yen action figure and expected many people to get it compared to SRX but Sentinel's decision to stick to release one is commendable. But i don't think it would be wise for Sentinel to bet on Yaldabaoth's partner, Valefor future release in Riobot lineup and expect some good cash in. Lastly even with the high price tag, I don't even think Sentinel could make a robust and posable mecha like Bandai had with their Robot Damashii series.