Hardcore Mecha

It took me seven years, but I finally settled my debt with a mecha game called Hardcore Mecha, developed by the Chinese studio Rocketpunch Games. Overall, the game has its share of optimization issues, but it’s still a well-made mecha title from a Chinese developer, one I’m glad I owned a physical copy of.

I first encountered Hardcore Mecha in the mid-2010s when it was still a Kickstarter project called Code Hardcore. I remember it took a long time before the game finally released. In hindsight, Hardcore Mecha feels like a modern rendition of 2D mecha shooters and serves as a spiritual successor to games like Assault Suit Valken and Leynos, which had their heyday during the 16-bit era.

Anko Miniblocks - Blue Racing Car Review

It has been more than a month since I moved into my new place, and I think the time is right to start a new review series in this setup! For this series, I want to begin with something simple, and Anko Miniblocks are a perfect choice. I’ve reviewed several Anko Miniblock sets in the past, and this time it’s the turn of one of their racing car models.

As of 2026, Anko Miniblocks offers several sports car models in their brick model lineup, and this one happens to be part of the seven 1:36 scale Racing Car series. I’m not an automotive expert, but this variant stands out as one of the strongest options in the series because it includes decals, which allow for greater variety and customization.

Anko Miniblocks are certainly one of the best value toy lines that Kmart offers. They provide a solid Lego-like building experience at a fraction of the cost, making them a great choice for budget-conscious builders. You can expect more Anko miniblocks review to come in Realm of Darkness. 

Guyver x Titanomachia Plamax Gale Hound 01 Guyver

Titanomachia series come with something very interesting! Usually running their original design of NAOKI, this time they are collaborating with Guyver series to give the classic Tokusatsu inspired series a new model kit. Released as Goodsmile Company Plamax model kit lineup, NAOKI’s version of Guyver will be sold for 9000 yen with December 2026 release date.

It is rather surprising that Titanomachia is not released by Kotobukiya this time, perhaps something to do with Guyver series licensing. Overall, this NAOKI’s version of Guyver 01 looks very promising with its new take on the classic series. While I do miss the bionic armor design of Guyver, this new design still looks good aligning more with modern tokusatsu aesthetics. The elbow blades has several new configurations that remind me of particular metal heroes series. Apparently from the product images, Guyver won’t be the last from this lineup.

Ys Revoltech 1/12 Adol Christin

I can’t overstate how thrilled I am about this development! What fans have been waiting decades for has finally arrived for the Ys series. The legendary JRPG’s one-man hero, Adol Christin, is getting his very first action figure on the courtesy of Revoltech. Based on his appearance in Ys I & II Chronicles, the figure will retail for 9,000 yen and is set for release in June 2026.

For Adol’s first dedicated action figure, Revoltech did a fantastic job bringing this iconic red-haired hero to life. The figure comes with a generous selection of accessories, including his classic sword and shield set and a fire magic rod. While this version would have been perfect if it included the Silver Sword,  Adol’s signature weapon from Ys I but the long-awaited release makes that forgivable. Hopefully the next iteration will add it.

Personally, I think a Ys VI rendition would be an excellent follow-up. Still, Revoltech’s current design captures the definitive look of Adol, and it’s a truly exciting moment for long-time fans.

Zeta Gundam Robot Spirits Asshimar Anime Ver

One of the Robot Damashii releases I completely overlooked last year turned out to be well worth revisiting. Back in mid-2025, Tamashii Nations announced the Robot Damashii Asshimar, released as a P-Bandai exclusive with a price tag of 15,000 yen and a scheduled November 2025 release.

Among the recent Zeta Gundam Robot Spirits lineup which now cost well over 10,000 yen, Asshimar stands out both in design and as a product. Ironically, I didn’t care much for the Asshimar when I was younger. As an antagonist mobile suit with rather unusual look, it felt awkward and unappealing. Over time, however, I’ve grown to appreciate its unique yet minimalistic design, especially within the Titans faction. As a transformable Dom-face mobile suit, it delivers a surprisingly strong presence, armed simply but effectively with a single beam cannon.

As for the figure itself, 15,000 yen does feel expensive for a Robot Spirits release at first glance. That said, the Asshimar is larger than a typical 1/144 scale Gundam, and it’s one of the few Robot Spirits figures that is fully transformable, complete with a proper flight (Gerwalk-like) mode. That added engineering goes a long way toward justifying the price.

Looking back, I think the main reason I initially overlooked this release was the default color scheme. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a re-release in an alternate palette. The Asshimar has received some excellent visual updates in MSV projects like Advance of Zeta, and a version inspired by those designs would be very tempting.

Warhammer 40k Joytoy 1/18 Primarch Jaghatai Khan

Three months after the release of Daemon Primarch Mortarion, JoyToy has unveiled its next 1/18-scale Primarc and it is none other than Jaghatai Khan, the Primarch of the White Scars! Scheduled for an April 2026 release, the JoyToy Primarch Jaghatai Khan will be sold for USD 140 price tag.

Jaghatai Khan is the Primarch of the White Scars, one of the First Founding Space Marine Chapters, known for their Mongolic and East Asian–inspired aesthetic and their mastery of lightning-fast, hit-and-run warfare, often employing bikes and rapid assault vehicles. Among all the Primarchs, Jaghatai stands out as one of the most easy-going and independent, yet he possesses a clear-headed, razor-sharp intuition when it comes to matters that truly matter.

The timing of Jaghatai’s release, coming shortly after Mortarion, feels particularly fitting. The two Primarchs share one of the most memorable rivalries of the Horus Heresy, making their action figures perfect for dramatic re-enactments.

During the climax of the Horus Heresy at the Siege of Terra, Jaghatai Khan faced Mortarion now ascended to a Daemon Primarch in a brutal and legendary duel. Though Jaghatai emerged victorious, he was mortally wounded in the process. After the Heresy ended, Jaghatai vanished into the Webway, his fate and purpose remaining a mystery even to his own sons.

With recent developments in Warhammer 40,000 lore, there is growing speculation that Jaghatai Khan could become the third Primarch to return to the 41st Millennium. Whether or not that day comes soon, his arrival in JoyToy’s Primarch line is a welcome one and a must-have for White Scars fans and Primarch collectors alike.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

I’ve been an avid Igavania fan ever since I discovered Aria of Sorrow in my teenage years. That experience led me to play nearly every Castlevania entry in the series directed by Igarashi. It’s hard to overstate how influential Igavania has been on my gaming life as it formed my core foundation for the metroidvania genre as a whole.

Fast forward to 2026, and I finally had the chance to revisit one of the DS Igavania trilogy titles, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, thanks to the Castlevania Dominus Collection. I was glad to complete my run, even though it took me around three months due to real-life circumstances.

Longest Day in Chang’an | 长安十二时辰

As someone who studies history in my free time and spent two years studying in mainland China, Tang Dynasty history has long captured my attention as one of the high points of Chinese civilization. It was for this reason that the Chinese drama The Longest Day in Chang’an (长安十二时辰) eventually caught my interest.

Released in 2019, the series generated significant buzz at the time, though I only recently got around to watching and finishing it. Structured around similar format with “24” TV series, The Longest Day in Chang’an presents a fast-paced thriller set in the Tang capital during the Lantern Festival, one of the most important celebrations of the year.

Warhammer 40k Joytoy Space Wolves Killteam Review

This is a short review of my JoyToy Space Wolves collection from a few years ago. I wouldn’t say I’m a big personal fan of Space Wolves Space Marines, but somehow I still ended up collecting a few of them. This was probably because I was quite active in playing Warhammer Tacticus at the time, which motivated me to pick them up.

Overall, the collection is very solid. It features three named Vlka Fenryka Astartes leading the team, supported by two generic Space Wolves battle-brothers. The core of this kill team consists of Ragnar, Arjac, and Bjorn, making it an all-star lineup as far as Space Wolves action figures go especially in melee monsters department which is Space Wolves specialty.

Although Sigyrr Stoneshield has long since left my collection, I still have a Space Wolves Paladin to fill the gap. Hopefully, I’ll be able to redo some photoshoots of the Space Wolves in the future, ideally alongside their gene-father, Leman Russ.

Arknights Furyu F:NEX 1/7 Ines

Arknights after running for 6 years is still strong in the merchandise department! For Premium scale figure, some are lucky enough to get their rendition quite fast while others take time. After almost 3 years, The premier Agent Vanguard 6* Operator, Ines get her turn! Released by Furyu in 1/7 Scale in her regular getup, Furyu F:Nex Ines will be sold for 1199 RMB Price tag with November 2026 release.

It was rather surprising that it took 3 years for Ines to get her PVC Figure, considering she is solid S-rank operator when it comes to popularity even if not S+ rank. In Arknights she is one of my go-to choice for Vanguard operator slot due to her respectable DPS and her convenient utility in her kit.

Overall Furyu rendition of Ines in her default skin is solid though given her popularity as Waifu character, her other skins which are top tier could have been considered and perhaps we could see some in the future. Looking forward to her Nendoroid which are quite likely as long as Arknights remain popular and I likely expect Operators like Reed or Eblana could follow up if the slot is not taken up by Namie’s operators.

Legend of Galactic Heroes 1/3000 Hyperion Plamo

Out of the blue, Kotobukiya is back with Legend of the Galactic Heroes and this time it’s something for fans of the classic OVA series rather than Die Neue These. Just right after the Die Neue These version of the flagship Hyperion, Kotobukiya is now releasing the OVA version of Hyperion back to back.Scheduled for a June 2026 release, the 1/3000-scale OVA Hyperion model kit will retail for 8,800 yen.

Just like its Die Neue These counterpart, the kit measures over 30 cm in length, making it an impressively sized display piece.One can’t help but wonder why Kotobukiya chose 2026 for the OVA version’s release, as the timing would have been perfect years ago alongside their Yang Wen-li PVC figure. That said, this release is still a major win for LOGH fans who remain loyal to the OVA, which many consider the definitive adaptation of this space opera.

If this release is any indication, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Brünhild follow as an OVA-version model kit. After all, an eternal rivalry feels incomplete without both sides represented.