Megaman X Kotobukiya 1/12 Iris Model Kit

Kotobukiya Megaman X have survived long enough until they deem to be ready for this point. I think it is almost 30 years since Megaman X4 and at long last the Megaman X series waifu, Iris is released as model kit! Despite her brief appearance in X4 and Xtreme 2, Iris managed to secure a place in the hearts of Megaman X fans and in some way Kotobukiya tried to fulfill the sense of longing with releasing her plastic model kit. Scheduled for May 2026 release, Kotobukiya 1/12 Iris will be sold for 8200 Yen.

In Mega Man X4, Iris is a female Reploid who serves as Zero’s support character and gradually becomes his love interest after he saves her in a fateful encounter. Despite her gentle appearance, she is actually the sister of Colonel, one of the key commanders of the Repliforce and one of Zero’s major rivals in the game. Iris’s relationship with Zero ultimately ends in tragedy: devastated by her brother’s death, she loses control, transforms into an ultimate weapon, and forces Zero to fight and ultimately defeat her.

Kotobukiya’s Iris Model kit is definitely an oasis of her character merchandise drought. Despite her relative popularity among Megaman X fandom, Iris barely get any merchandise over past 30 years. Iris was popular enough that she got several variants in now defunct Megaman X Dive gacha game but it takes almost 30 years for some sort of decent physical representation for her.

I used to take quite a liking for Iris due to being Megaman series token waifu character though over the time I preferred Iris design on Megaman Battle Network series appearing on MMBN6. Iris MMX4 design definitely didn’t age well given 30 years gap but her archetype remains appealing. With Iris being released, I wouldn’t be surprised if MMX characters like Colonel or Alia might get model kit by Kotobukiya someday.

Jurassic Park (1994) Sega Arcade

The Jurassic Park movie in the early ’90s was undeniably a blockbuster success for Spielberg and Hollywood. Naturally, it spawned a wave of media adaptations, including video games and arcade titles. Among them, Sega released a rail shooter in 1994, simply called Jurassic Park. I played this game as a kid but never managed to clear it. Decades later, I finally experienced it again through emulation.

Sega’s shooter is pure action-movie chaos, loosely tied to the movie’s plot. Players embark on an over-the-top dinosaur adventure, blasting hordes of creatures, including the iconic T-Rex. The game’s design seems inspired by Sega’s earlier Rail Chase (1991), a solid rail shooter that established many of the mechanics used in Jurassic Park.

That said, the 1994 Jurassic Park arcade game shows its rushed development. It’s poorly balanced and clearly intended as a coin-guzzler—most players, no matter how skilled, cannot survive certain unavoidable damage sections, particularly during T-Rex boss encounters. Yet, in its heyday, the game served its purpose well as a mainstream arcade attraction. The thrill of the shaking seat and being chased by a relentless T-Rex is an experience that emulation simply cannot replicate.

Viewed through a modern lens, however, Jurassic Park (1994) hasn’t aged gracefully. Compared to Rail Chase, its design priorities; making quick money over player enjoyment are painfully obvious. Sega would eventually redeem themselves with 1997’s The Lost World, a much more polished and satisfying Jurassic Park shooter.

Saint Seiya SCM EX Pegasus Seiya Gold ver Tamashi Nation Exclusive

Never thought time goes so fast and it is December 2025 again and time for a little bit more special for the review series! Growing up exposed to Saint Seiya , I had some familiarity with this classic shonen series. Naturally, I did spare some expense to obtain a collectible from Saint Seiya but only reserved getting Sagittarius Aiolos related SCM, being a Sagittarian myself. Thus, I never really intended to collect any other Saint Cloth Myth including the protagonist Bronze saints. However, from strange turn of event, I did obtain SCM Pegasus Seiya and a limited edition at that!

In essence this SCM is gold recolor version of SCM V3 Pegasus Seiya. I did obtain this SCM because the price is actually cheaper than its regular counterpart and curious if it could make use SCM part from SCM EX Sagittarius Aiolos to make Sagittarius Seiya.

Unfortunately turns out the body frame type of Aiolos and Seiya highly differs thus such avenue is impossible. I also notice that Bronze saint diecast armor parts are much simpler than Gold saints and prior to obtaining V3 Seiya, I never know he had optional wing parts as well even not as big as Sagittarius.

Considering the photo shots were meant for quick review, there is no elaborate action pose for my copy of SCM Pegasus Seiya. Perhaps in the event it didn’t get sold in near future maybe Seiya will get more action poses. In any case despite Blokees offer far cheaper alternatives, SCM Seiya still worth looking at if you are diehard fan of Saint Seiya.

The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls

Another samurai-and-ninja manga from the creator of Basilisk, Yagyu Ninpocho takes a somewhat unconventional approach compared to its peers, yet it still offers something intriguing. Samurai revenge tales are a staple of the genre, and this series puts a fresh twist on the familiar trope.

Yagyu Ninpocho tells the story of a disgraced samurai clan, destroyed by a tyrannical daimyo during the early Edo Period. Unlike more famous samurai revenge stories, such as the 47 Ronin, this story centers on the wife and daughters of the fallen clan. After being killed unjustly, they take up the role of avengers against the tyrannical Daimyo of Aizu and his seven ruthless samurai retainers.

Of course, the women alone can only go so far, and it’s through a twist of fate that Yagyu Jubei of the famed Yagyu Clan becomes their mentor, helping them execute retributive justice with their own hands.

While samurai revenge is common in Japanese pop culture, Yagyu Ninpocho stands out by making assassins-in-training the central cast. This angle gives the story a unique flavor, though novelty is largely its main selling point. The series works well as a quick sword-and-sandal fix, but for those seeking a more compelling narrative, the creator’s Basilisk remains the superior choice.

Girls Frontline 2 Exilium 1/7 WA2000 Makiatto Ballroom Interlude Ver

Coinciding with 1^st Anniversary of GFL 2 Exilium, we got ourselves another premium 1/7 Scale Figure for the gorgeous T-Doll, this time it is the tsundere Sniper T-Doll, WA2000 who is known as Makiatto in GFL2. In this figure rendition, Makiatto comes in her Ballroom Dress outfit with her usual tsundere expression expressing some jealousy toward Shikikan giving attention to another T-Doll. Scheduled for August 2026 release, 1/7 Makiatto will be sold for 28930 Yen.

Having played GFL2 for a year, I felt the game has been quite a drag these days though I still stick around due to the top designs for T-Doll which hit the perfect balance without going to the extremities like Nikke. WA2000/Makiattor represents one of the best design from GFL being perfect redhead waifu with tsundere streak which later have inspire designs like Kafka from HSR or Dolla from GFL. In GFL 2 she took Sniper Role with Ice element affinity specializing in area denial.

WA2000 tsundere lovestruck design makes her easily a favorite waifu from GFL topped with her rivalry with HK416 for Shikikan’s heart. Given my attachment toward GFL is not exactly strong, this figure is an easy skip for me, though I would look forward to any action figure rendition for WA2000 even if it had to be model kit format which Groza should be getting in near future.

Kotobukiya MSG Variable Frame System Garuda Gear [Diablo]

Kotobukiya does not run short of good mecha designs but this one fell on rather odd circumstances. Being an original mecha design that does not really fit in Hexagear nor Frame Arms design. This mecha called Garuda Gear [Diablo] got rather short end of the stick and end up in MSG sub lineup called Variable Frame System. Released back in December 2023 Garuda Gear Diablo was sold for 8000 Yen.

Garuda Gear is essentially Kotobukiya's take on Macross Variable Fighters and the end result is not too shabby. There were 2 variants for Garuda Gear: Beluga and Diablo which are depicted as opposing sides.If Beluga aesthetics resemble Zeta-Plus C1, Diablo is VF-19F Basara with slight evil streak. Not sure with the detail of the transformation gimmick, but if Garuda Gear possess seamless transformation from plane to mecha mode, the value of product is actually high. Given the awkward circumstances, I really doubt the short lived MSG lineup that Garuda Gear lineup will be ever continued since it was likely considered as failure, but there are still alterations can be made to make Garuda Gear fit in Hexagear or Frame Arms.