SAMG Metal Cardbot W Grand Blue Leon Dark Edition

Another kickass mecha from SAMG Entertainment, and this time it comes from the Metal Cardbot series. SAMG’s mecha toy designs always fascinate me because their aesthetics look far too stylish and detailed for what is essentially a kids’ robot cartoon. This latest release is a dark variant of Grand Blue Leon. Scheduled for release in June 2026, the SAMG Grand Blue Leon Dark Edition will retail for 150,000 won.

In Metal Cardbot, Grand Blue Leon is the combined form of Blue Cop W and Blaion. Its overall aesthetic feels like a blend of Brave Police J-Decker and The Brave Express Might Gaine from the Brave Series, with a touch of Omnimon thrown in thanks to the oversized arm-mounted weapons. Despite the strong police motif, the influences behind Blue Cop and Blaion are not purely derived from J-Decker. Fans familiar with the Brave Series will probably notice several elements that lean more toward Might Gaine instead.

SAMG’s dark-edition robots are usually easy wins, especially for collectors who missed out on the original releases and want another chance to grab these increasingly popular designer-style mecha toys. For once, however, I think the original Grand Blue Leon color scheme actually looks better than this alternate version. Even so, I am still curious to see what else SAMG Entertainment has in store from its awesome mecha portfolio.

Armored Core VI Assemble Collection Vol. 1

 

t has been several years since Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon was released, and surprisingly, Bandai continues to show strong support for this underrated flagship franchise from FromSoftware. Following a series of model kit releases, AC6 is now getting its own candy toy line under the Assemble Collection series. Scheduled for release in September 2026, Armored Core 6 Assemble Collection Vol. 1 will retail for 1,500 yen each, with four figures per box.

Overall, the lineup feels quite similar to the FW Gundam Converge series, albeit with extra twist to justify its retail price which is roughly three times more. What makes this particular AC6 lineup stand out is its modularity, mirroring the customization mechanics from the game itself and allowing for extensive mix-and-match possibilities between parts.

The first volume features four notable ACs: Loader 4, Nightfall, Steel Haze, and Milk Tooth, a strong starting roster for the series. Given the sheer number of memorable designs in the game, there is plenty of room for future waves especially popular AC6 design like Ayre haven't made it yet. Even Super Robot Wars Original Generation candy toy lines managed to last for three volumes.

Since I have never played Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon myself, this is an easy pass for me. Still, I would not mind seeing a similar candy toy lineup based on the franchise’s 3rd- or 4th-generation titles someday.

Final Fantasy Adventure

 

One of the older Squaresoft games I recently came across, Final Fantasy Adventure truly punches far above its weight for a Game Boy title. While the Game Boy Color is often praised for its impressive RPG library, especially with the rise of the Pokémon series, I never expected the original Game Boy to be capable of delivering such an engaging RPG experience. Final Fantasy Adventure proved otherwise. Simply put, I was genuinely impressed by the scale and atmosphere of the game, which reminded me of my first experience playing Lufia: The Legend Returns in the early 2000s.

The Alexis Empire Chronicle

 

A low-fantasy manga I started a few years ago and only recently managed to finish, Alexis Empire Chronicle ultimately turned out to be a relatively weak entry in the genre,  unfortunately one that was also cut short before it could fully develop, in a manner similar to Hinowa ga Crush!.

The story follows a fairly standard premise: a young noble rises through the ranks of an empire through virtue, skill, and determination. As the narrative progresses, he begins to carve out his own domain, ultimately seeking to reclaim the lands once held by his mentor and establish a dominion of his own.

Much of the manga revolves around low-fantasy political and military conflicts between noble houses within the empire. This culminates in a confrontation with the protagonist’s estranged half-sibling, who becomes corrupted by jealousy and unchecked ambition.

Unfortunately, the series was ultimately discontinued, and its narrative shortcomings likely contributed to that outcome. The story feels underdeveloped and somewhat conflicted in its genre direction, resulting in a half-baked execution that weakens its identity as a fantasy work. While the artwork remains consistently strong and is arguably the series’ main highlight, it is ultimately not enough to compensate for the lack of narrative depth.

The character writing is especially lacking. Most of the cast is forgettable, and the heroine’s design feels overly reliant on generic fanservice tropes commonly seen in other fantasy manga. The antagonists are similarly one-dimensional, which is a significant weakness for a story that attempts to build itself around political and noble conflicts.

Overall, Alexis Empire Chronicle feels like a simplified version of series such as Suikoden or Fire Emblem, but without the narrative depth or character complexity that makes those works memorable. Even compared to stronger entries in the genre, such as Realist Hero.

Ultimately, the series demonstrates that high-quality illustration alone is not enough to sustain a compelling long-running fantasy narrative. While it is based on a light novel that continued slightly longer than the manga adaptation, it is difficult to imagine the source material delivering a significantly more satisfying conclusion.

Starting YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

After taking an extended detour to wrap up my loose ends across earlier Ys titles, I’ve finally started Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. Within the first ten hours alone, the game has already exceeded my expectations. Having played Ys: Memories of Celceta on PS Vita about a decade ago, which is the previous entry before Falcom made Ys VIII. Lacrimosa of Dana feels like a significant leap forward in almost every respect.

While Lacrimosa doesn’t fully align with my ideal “pure” Ys experience, leaning more heavily toward systems reminiscent of Monster Hunter and even elements of Trails, Ys VIII nonetheless delivers a production quality and narrative scope that feels distinctly AAA within the series. Falcom clearly pushed far beyond its usual weight class with this entry, and it stands as a culmination of the design direction established since Ys Seven. It’s easy to see why this game became a mainstream breakthrough and a favorite entry point for many newcomers to the series.

For my part, I’m most looking forward to exploring the macro-level worldbuilding and historical layers that Ys VIII had to offer into the broader Ys narrative. That long-form lore and continuity remains one of my main motivations for staying invested in Ys series.

Invincible | What Makes Mark Grayson “Invincible”

 

Up until recently, I had never really gotten into Invincible. However, after repeatedly encountering random clips and discussions on my feeds, I gradually fell deeper into the rabbit hole and began bingeing Invincible-related content with surprising enthusiasm. Despite Robert Kirkman’s apparent fascination with infidelity as a recurring narrative theme, Invincible no doubt has far more to offer than a typical superhero story.

At its core, Invincible is not a story of uninterrupted victory, but a journey of a man rising through relentless struggle, where survival, rather than success, becomes the true measure of growth.

In this instance, I would like to explore what makes Mark Grayson,a half-Viltrumite, essentially the comic-book equivalent of a Saiyan rise to the pinnacle of a superhuman race bred to become ruthless galactic conquerors.

Fate/Grand Order Coonuts Vol.1 Review

 

During the airing of the Fate/Grand Order: Babylonia animation, Fate/Grand Order was at the height of its franchise popularity, resulting in a wide range of merchandise releases. Among them was the Coonuts candy toy lineup by Bandai. These simple bobbing figure toys, similar in concept to “Mighty Beans,” offered an affordable and accessible way to collect characters in miniature form.

Overall, I was slightly disappointed with my FGO Coonuts set due to quality control issues, including duplicate variants and inconsistencies, issues I did not encounter with my Pokémon Coonuts collection. The most noticeable defect in my set was a misprinted Merlin figure, which appears to have only the rear side properly printed.

Even so, I’m still glad to own this set. Despite its flaws, it remains one of the most affordable FGO collectibles and serves as a nice complementary addition to my broader Fate/Grand Order collection.

JRPG Talk | Atelier Iris 2’s Eden: The Conceptual Idea of Paradise

This will be a rather unusual blog post for me, as I rarely discuss the thematic core of video game series unless they involve mecha. However, given my long-standing investment in the JRPG genre and my curiosity toward esoteric teachings, I find it worthwhile to examine a work where both interests intersect.

As one of Gust’s early JRPG iterations, Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny possesses a thematic premise that stands out even today. While the game itself is relatively mediocre as a JRPG in terms of gameplay and structure, it succeeds surprisingly well in one particular area: its fantasy interpretation of the Garden of Eden through the lens of JRPG with unusually profound incorporation of alchemy as its core theme.

What Atelier Iris 2 does exceptionally well is its depiction of Eden as both paradise and forbidden domain, a portrayal that resonates strongly with real-world mythological and esoteric traditions.

Arknights 1/7 Eyjafjalla Hvit Aska - A Picnic before Long Trip ver

Another one of the best skin illustrations from Arknights has finally made it into figure form. This time, the spotlight goes to the precious sheep kouhai Eyjafjalla, whose Alter version skin is receiving the scale figure treatment. The PVC figure is based on Eyja Alter’s Epoque series skin, A Picnic Before the Long Trip. Scheduled for release in August 2027, this figure will retail for around 29,000 yen.

A rather pricey release from Good Smile Company, but as expected, the company really brings out the charm of this particular Eyjafjalla skin. Simply put, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired design perfectly amplifies the innocent and gentle qualities that Eyja naturally has. Whether as a devastating DPS caster or an exceptionally reliable healer, Eyjafjalla has always been one of the most dependable operators in the game despite her relatively tragic background compared to many other operators in Rhodes Island.

The last time Eyja received a PVC figure was based on her summer skin version, and honestly, she is one of the operators I would not mind seeing get even more merchandise in the future. If things go well for the series, I would not be surprised to see her Arknights: Endfield version eventually receive a figure adaptation as well.

Returning to Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim After Fifteen Years

 

 Back in 2011, I began my journey with the Ys series, with Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim being my first stop. Fast forward 15 years, and before setting forth to tackle Ys VIII–X after finishing Ys V, I decided to revisit Ys VI once again. Of all the available versions, I picked the PS2 release, which, as expected, delivered a rather mixed gameplay experience.

The first time I played Ys VI was actually on the PS2 before eventually finishing the game on PSP. Because of that, I chose to revisit Napishtim through the PS2 version, a decision I slightly regret. Among the various releases, the PS2 version has one of the more awkward localizations of Ys VI. I do not know if it was entirely Konami's fault, but the PS2 port added many unnecessary elements, with the 3D CGI scenes being the most notorious example. 

I suspect it had something to do with the localization mindset of the era, which often carried an anti-anime sentiment common in parts of the American entertainment industry during the 1980s and 1990s. As a result, the game was altered in an attempt to appeal to a broader mainstream audience without properly understanding the source material. In hindsight, this is rather tragic, as it was poor treatment for a relatively important milestone in Falcom's history.

Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim is more than just another iteration of Falcom's flagship franchise. Not only was it a proper revival of the Ys series after the commercial disappointment of Ys V, it was also the lynchpin that gave Falcom a second chance during its dark age. The game's success helped usher the company into its renaissance period and set the foundation for its rise to greater prominence. Had Ys VI failed back then, we might never have seen the Trails series evolve into the top-tier JRPG franchise that demonstrated what Falcom was truly capable of achieving.

Despite the PS2 version of Ys VI being something of a question mark in Falcom's history, and my disdain toward its unnecessary and shallow localization makeover, I was still able to relive the core Napishtim experience, which is ultimately what matters most. At the very least, Falcom would go on to work with better international publishers in later years. If I ever revisit this game again, I will probably stick with the PC or PSP versions. That said, I am fairly confident Falcom could produce a remaster of Ys VI in the near future given the series' legacy, perhaps around the game's 25th anniversary.

Zoids Genesis Spark Fig Grande Kotona Elegance

 

Takara Tomy is not exactly known for its PVC figure lineup, but out of nowhere the company has delivered a tantalizing scale figure of Zoids Genesis heroine Kotona Elegance. Dressed in a ravishing swimsuit outfit, this entry in the Spark Fig Grande series fully embraces the appeal of one of the Zoids franchise’s most beloved heroines. Scheduled for release in February 2027, the figure carries a price tag of 22,000 yen.

Among the many heroines across the Zoids franchise, Kotona Elegance has always stood out as something of an anomaly in the decades-long mecha series. She is the kind of “perfect waifu” character design that feels as though it belonged in a major shonen or seinen fantasy title rather than a children-focused anime, which arguably left her underrated despite her popularity. Even so, Kotona gained a strong following during the mid-2000s thanks to her top-tier eye-catching design, often comparable to modern fan favorites like Reisalin Stout from Atelier Ryza.

In Zoids Genesis, Kotona is introduced as a member of a mysterious assassin clan sent to target the main protagonist, only to eventually join his group instead. While she never truly stood out as a frontline Zoid pilot as her Rainbow Jerk lacking the overwhelming combat prowess of machines like the Murasame Liger, she excelled in stealth and subterfuge. Without a doubt, this new scale figure from Takara Tomy is a prime example of a swimsuit waifu figure done right, featuring an attractive and well-balanced physique without going excessively over the top.

I still own her classic Max Factory figure, which remains one of Kotona’s best renditions to this day and has been sitting in my collection for years. It is definitely a figure I look forward to reviewing someday.

Transformers Wild King - Energy Master Rex Blade

 

Seeing how SAMG has been making a killing with their Dinoid Warrior and Miniforce lines for quite some time, Takara Tomy was bound to make a move of its own. Leveraging the strength of the Transformers brand, the company has unveiled a new series called Transformers Wild King, seemingly positioned to go head-to-head with SAMG’s Dinoid Warrior lineup. One of the main releases is a blue dinosaur mecha named Energy Master Rex Blade, scheduled for release in June 2026 at a price of 6,700 Yen.

Takara Tomy’s newest product clearly feels aimed directly at SAMG, starting with the noticeably similar packaging design. Rex Blade comes across as Takara Tomy’s answer to Rex Kaiser, though the overall design philosophy is quite different. While Dinoid Warrior leans heavily into flashy, ultra-cool aesthetics, Rex Blade retains the unmistakable feel of a toy designed primarily for younger audiences. At the same time, Takara Tomy’s long experience in the mecha genre shines through, as Rex Blade carries strong vibes of both Zoids and Super Sentai mecha despite being part of the Transformers franchise.

Where Rex Blade attempts to outdo Rex Kaiser is in its versatility. The figure features three transformation modes: humanoid, dinosaur, and vehicle. Since the product is clearly built to compete directly with SAMG’s offerings, Rex Blade also comes with supporting units capable of combining into a larger combiner mecha called Energy Beast Wild King, which I’ll leave below for you to judge yourself.

Hemoxian 1/12 Rhande Khoskinen & Rusted Brier

 

 After producing several impressive cyborg-themed model kits, Hemoxian is finally stepping into something completely new. The company appears to be aiming for a foothold in the mecha musume market, and their debut entry is surprisingly strong. Their latest release, Rhande Khoskinen & Rusted Brier, feels like a blend of Alice Gear Aegis and Strike Witches, with a touch of classic Macross-inspired mechanical design. The kit is currently scheduled for a Q3 2026 release with a very competitive price tag of 218 RMB.

Hemoxian has definitely caught collectors’ attention with this release. The concept combines a mecha musume character with a WWII-inspired aircraft mech setup that heavily leans into vintage military aesthetics. Individually, the kit’s components may not look groundbreaking, but the real appeal lies in how much content Hemoxian packed into a single package while keeping the price relatively affordable. The character design even gives off strong Tanya the Evil vibes, except this time paired with a transforming aircraft-style mech loaded with multiple weapon configurations. Depending on the setup, it can resemble either a Macross-style variable fighter or a more traditional Strike Witches-inspired flight unit.

The sheer amount of versatility offered by this kit is likely to make Japanese manufacturers pay close attention, especially as more mainland Chinese companies continue pushing aggressively into the mecha musume market. If Hemoxian can maintain this level of quality, value, and creativity, they could very well carve out a significant place for themselves within the genre.

Zuru Max Retro Collection - Retro Gameboy Console Review

 Ever since I first came across the Lego Game Boy set, I became somewhat obsessed with finding a worthy alternative to scratch that nostalgic itch. Since I grew up with the Game Boy Color, I wasn’t exactly eager to spend 80 bucks on a brick-built replica of the original Game Boy. Eventually, though, I stumbled upon something that perfectly matched what I was looking for.

Enter Zuru Max Retro, a premium Western blind-box brick model line featuring semi-premium builds based on classic electronic gadgets from the ’80s and ’90s. One of the models in the lineup happens to be a retro handheld console clearly inspired by the Game Boy.

For its price point, this Zuru retro game console exceeded my expectations, and without a doubt, it’s the best entry among the Zuru Retro variants I’ve seen so far. The model includes a detachable game cartridge, essentially a parody of Tetris. While the gimmicks aren’t nearly as elaborate as the Lego Game Boy, they’re still surprisingly solid considering the lower cost.

Interestingly, the design of this Zuru handheld actually resembles the Ambernic RG35XX series more closely than the classic Game Boy itself. It’s also roughly comparable in size to the R36S, another popular budget handheld emulator with a Game Boy-inspired design. Since this brick model ended up surpassing my expectations, I honestly wouldn’t mind picking up another set from the Zuru Retro line, especially the retro arcade machine, which already caught my attention.

Mecharashi — Final Rank Permit Milestone

 

After being stuck in a prolonged bottleneck for more than five months, I finally managed to clear Chapter IX of Mecharashi, which in turn unlocks the game’s final level cap restriction. This is a significant milestone, as there are very few gacha games that demand this level of sustained time and attention for progression. Each “urgent mission” required to unlock the next chapter in Mecharashi is a substantial drain on mental energy, and the final hurdle is no exception.