Anko Miniblocks - Red Racing Car Review

A continuation from last month’s Anko Sports Car Miniblock post! For my first batch of Anko miniblock acquisitions, I picked up two Sports Cars. This is the second one inspired by the classic popular red sports cars of 80s and 90s.

Compared to the blue sports car model, this one looks a bit more monotonous due to the lack of decals, which might have been an oversight in the design process. Still, considering its price point, it offers great value and looks impressive when displayed alongside the rest of the series which Anko miniblocks still update.

So far, there are about 4–6 models available in the Anko Sports Car lineup. Let’s see if I can assemble and review more of them before the end of the year.

Attack on Titan as Parables – The Tybur Family Gambit

 

I rarely post this sort of article in Realm of Darkness but here it goes

Attack on Titan is undoubtedly one of the most successful recent Japanese manga, reaching audiences worldwide. There are many reasons why the series captivated so many, but for me, its appeal lies in the eschatological nature of its story, presented in a way that resonates strongly with younger generations, much like Neon Genesis Evangelion did decades earlier.

For Western audiences, both Evangelion and Attack on Titan tap into something deep in the subconscious. Their narratives echo elements of Biblical storytelling — not by direct adaptation, but by framing human struggle, morality, and existential threat in archetypal ways. In this sense, both works can be seen as modern parables: stories that help make sense of experiences and ideas that are otherwise difficult to comprehend.

Geppy-X HD Remaster

A rather surprising piece of news for mecha gaming fans but a welcome one nonetheless. A 70s mecha-themed PSX game, Geppy X, is getting a remastered version. Scheduled for a global release in July 2026, it will be available on all modern consoles, a rare and unusual treatment for a classic, non-mainstream PSX title.

Back when it first came out, Geppy X caught my attention as I explored the PSX’s mecha game library as much as I could. Considering I wasn’t really into the Super Robot genre back then, this one had mostly eluded me, but now it seems I have a good reason to revisit it.

In terms of gameplay, Geppy X appears to be your typical horizontal shmup, with a Getter Robo-style mecha as the playable character. What sets it apart, though, is the surprisingly high number of animated cutscenes unusual for a shmup, yet a clear sign of the developers’ passion for the project.

Nonetheless, I’m hoping for the best with the Geppy X remaster. Revivals like this are very rare in the mecha genre, and it’s exciting to see a classic like this getting a modern second life.

Densetsu no Yuusha Da Garn The GATTAI Land Bison

The first Yuusha series to receive the THE GATTAI treatment has finally come full circle. What began in 2021 as a revival project for Yuusha toy lines now reaches its conclusion for its first recipient, Densetsu Yuusha Da Garn, with the announcement of THE GATTAI Land Bison. Land Bison marks the completion of Da Garn’s supporting lineup, following Pegasus Saber and Seven Changer. Scheduled for a January 2027 release, THE GATTAI Land Bison will retail for 52,000 yen, making it about 2,000 yen cheaper than Pegasus Saber. 

Hardcore Mecha Mechatalk Part 1: UNF Mecha Catalogue

Having completed my journey with Hardcore Mecha and feeling overall satisfied with the experience, I’d like to reciprocate RocketPunch Studio’s passion and labor with a series of articles in Realm of Darkness. Before moving on to the main Hardcore Mecha feature article which will take some time to be completed in its proper form, I will begin with a Mecha Talk series focusing on the mecha units featured in the game.
 
This Mecha Talk series will be divided into three parts, with the United Nations Federation (UNF) faction be represented in part 1. The series will provide an overview of faction units available in Simulation Mode, as well as unit faction profiles from Multiplayer Mode. For easier navigation, the mecha roster will be organized into the main-lines.

As a mecha fan, I have to say that the sprite assets in Hardcore Mecha are truly top-notch. It would be a shame for such high-quality sprites to remain underutilized after the first game, especially since the game itself struggled somewhat with trying to do too many things at once.

February 2026 Loot

Another sumptuous haul this month and I have to admit, some of it was pure impulse buying. A portion of this haul came from the Jakarta Toys Event, and without it, the collection wouldn’t have been nearly as large.

As expected, Chinese hobby products dominate in quantity, while the Japanese items take the lead in overall value. Highlights from this haul include finally completing the Yilichuangwan Fruity Robo set, now just missing Pino-Flight to complete the full collection. The REA-Lynx packaging is as massive as expected, and I managed to snag my copy of Blokees Tarn Action Edition at a great price. On top of that, I finally completed the 52Toys Racing Car AMTS set, which I thought I would not made it.

Looks can be deceiving, though: the most expensive items aren’t necessarily the biggest. In terms of value, the top four are: B-Daman Toyrise Blue Braver, Joytoy Perturabo, Figma Chilchuck, and Sentinel’s Yoroiden Suiko Shin. Together, these four items account for roughly 70% of the haul’s total value. I was lucky enough to get Suiko Shin at a very good price, leaving only the Earth Yoroiden remaining.

Since I’m leaving my current job, I might have more free time soon perhaps enough to finally start reviewing my backlog and move fast enough to make touch some items from this haul.

Realm of Darkness New Blog Banner

Yesterday, some visitors might have noticed that the main banner of Realm of Darkness has changed and indeed, the blog has received a fresh makeover! Considering that this blog has survived and thrived for over 16 years, and even reached 2 million milestones in less than six months, I felt it deserved a new touch and thus a new banner, still featuring Dis Astranagant and Astranagant.

The idea of creating a new banner actually has been lingering for years, but for a long time, I couldn’t find the right artist to commission. Then, through a chance encounter on a friend’s social media feed, I finally discovered the perfect artist. I’m overall happy with the end result and it also allows me to finally free myself from borrowing someone else’s artwork.

Among all SRW original mechas, I’ve always held Astranagant and Dis Astranagant in particularly high regard. That’s why I chose them as the gate guardians of this blog. While SRW series has no shortage of overpowered and heroic mechas, Dis and Astranagant possess a special quality that resonated with me personally subconsciously back then, and still to this day. Simply put, they represent the “Light” within darkness and the “Darkness” within light, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I look forward to exploring this theme in greater depth in a future mechatalk article about Dis Astranagant.

Ultimately, this new banner for Realm of Darkness serves as a marker of a new chapter in my personal life, as well as a reminder of my commitment to keeping this blog consistent in its mission.

Transformers Blokees Galaxy Version Defender Vol.3 Review

Continuing from my previous review of the Blokees Defenders series, it’s now time to look at Blokees Defenders 03. This release marks the final piece collectors need to complete the Devastator vehicle forms, providing the remaining combiner parts required to fully assemble Devastator.

One thing that immediately stood out in Defenders 03 is how lopsided the faction representation is. This set includes only three Autobots, compared to nine Decepticons. Interestingly, this imbalance continues into Defenders 04, which almost makes it feel like Blokees might be a secret Decepticon fanboy at heart.

Going forward, I plan to review the Blokees Defenders series on a monthly basis. At that pace, I should be able to fully cover my collection sometime before mid-2026.

Brave Exkaiser Soul of Chogokin GX-120 King Exkaiser

Bandai Tamashii Nation has finally responded to Takara Tomy’s Toyrise Brave Exkaiser. After releasing a Super Minipla Alternative version of the original Brave series years ago, Bandai is now producing a full-fledged Soul of Chogokin figure of King Exkaiser. Scheduled for release in July 2026, the figure will be priced at ¥42,000.

Shurato Yolopark AMK Pro Yasha O Gai

The third Yolopark AMK Pro release for Shurato is here! After Ryoma received his turn last time, this one is reserved for the antagonist side: Yasha O Gai. While fans are still waiting for the protagonist Hachibushu, Yolopark made the right move by reuniting Shurato’s best friend and rival so quickly. Scheduled for Q2 2026, AMK Pro Yasha O Gai will retail for $60 USD.

Yasha O Gai was Shurato’s childhood friend and martial arts partner before they were transported into Tenkukai. Later, Shurato discovered that Yasha had been kidnapped by another entity and turned evil. Among the Hachibushu, Gai is the only one who remains antagonistic until the end of the series, when he ultimately sacrifices his power to Shurato, allowing him to wield God Brahma’s power. While Shurato is a flawed adaptation of Hindu lore, Yasha O Gai still serves as a strong and memorable antagonist.

Like Ryoma, Gai comes with two body frames: one for his casual outfit and another for his armored form. While KidsLogic released a rendition of Yasha O Gai years ago, Yolopark is the clear choice for the best playability. Even if it doesn’t feature the die-cast armor gimmick of the SCM line, Yolopark delivers superior articulation and quality, making it feel more like a proper action figure.

SRW Alpha 3 4th Playthrough Begins!

It’s hard to believe that it has already been 15 years since I first picked up Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. I last stopped my journey in 2012 during my third playthrough with Cobray Gordon’s route.

Fast forward to 2026 after a rather strange chain of events, I find myself returning once again to this legendary title in the Super Robot Wars series on PS2. Over the past 15 years, I’ve changed several laptops, yet somehow my Alpha 3 save file has survived. That alone feels very meaningful in a way. With my progress data remained intact, I can finally resume my α3 journey without having to start from scratch. 

Figmaplus Playstation

A pleasant surprise and a welcome one! Figma recently introduced a new accessories lineup called Figmaplus, and the latest addition is a PlayStation-themed series. The Figmaplus PlayStation set features the complete lineup of PlayStation consoles, including the PSP and Vita. Scheduled for release in September 2026, Figmaplus PlayStation will retail for ¥5,500.

Back in the day, there were Bandai Gashapon PlayStation figures, priced at ¥300 each. Figmaplus justifies its higher price tag with a more completionist and premium approach. In addition to the consoles, the set includes game cartridge accessories for each system and features slightly more elaborate gimmicks, making it feel more like a collector’s item than a simple toy.

Not only are these accessories perfect for 1/12 action figures, but they also carry strong nostalgic value. I’m also confident this product will open the door to customization opportunities for skilled collectors especially since the cartridges can be modified or recreated to relive personal gaming memories.

If Nintendo is not stingy with their IP, a Figmaplus rendition of their consoles could easily follow.

Kurogane no Linebarrel (manga)

I’m finally settling another long-standing reading debt by rereading the complete run of Kurogane no Linebarrels in one go. Linebarrels was one of the mecha manga I followed during my college years, but I never picked it back up after losing track of the serialization. The series eventually concluded at 25 volumes, and this reread was my first time experiencing the story in its entirety.

Kannazuki no Miko Moderoid Take no Yamikazuchi

I somehow forgot to write an article on what is arguably the only noteworthy piece of merchandise for Kannazuki no Miko for almost two decades, despite having dedicated a series of extensive articles to this relatively forgotten franchise. I might as well use this opportunity to remind readers why I gave such special attention to this mecha series wrapped in Yuri in the first place.

Sometime in late 2023 before I even began my recent journey visiting the series, Good Smile Company announced a MODEROID kit of Take no Yamikazuchi, the titular mecha of Kannazuki no Miko. Released in April 2024, the MODEROID Take no Yamikazuchi was priced at 6,900 yen.

Warhammer 40k Joytoy - 1/18 Allarus Custodian Osyr Archimaxes

I’m finally back to posting Joytoy Warhammer 40k reviews now that I’ve settled into my new place and I’m kicking things off with a figure from the Adeptus Custodes! I’ve never been a Custodes person, but I somehow keep accumulating them as part of my Joytoy 40k collection. The figure in this review is my first Custodes model from Joytoy: the Allarus Custodian.

Originally, I only planned to get one Custodes figure to represent Kitten from the Text-to-Speech 40k fan series. However, my first Custodian ended up being the Allarus Custodian with Power Axe. Instead of the iconic “banana-head” look, this model represents the Terminator Armor equivalent of the Adeptus Custodes, a tankier version of the Imperium’s most elite protectors.

As with many Joytoy Warhammer 40k figures, the sculpt on the Allarus Custodian is excellent, just as you’d expect. However, don’t expect great playability from this one. Like many of Joytoy’s bulkier figures, it suffers from limited articulation, which makes posing and dynamic display a bit more challenging.