Arknights x Persona 3 Collab Event

 

With Arknights having run for more than seven years on the CN server and six years globally, the game continues to go strong with a steady stream of content. That kind of longevity is a rarity in the gacha game scene, where many titles struggle to maintain momentum for even a few years. For its latest anniversary cycle, Hypergryph has something particularly special in store: collaboration events.

Not only are they continuing with the second Monster Hunter collaboration, but Hypergryph has followed it up with an even more unexpected crossover: Persona 3. The collaboration is set to begin on the CN server in early September 2026.

Persona 3 Reload APEX Limepie P3 Protagonist Makoto Yuki

 

Atlus and Sega continue their active push of the Persona IP through merchandise releases, and this time Makoto Yuki receives a particularly interesting figure. Among manufacturers, Apex-Toys is handling the release as part of their new Limepie series lineup. After establishing a reputation with premium PVC figures, Apex is now expanding into a more budget-friendly range, with Makoto Yuki chosen to spearhead this new direction. The figure is scheduled for release in April 2027 with a price tag of 6,800 yen.

Rendered in his Persona 3 Reload design, Makoto Yuki is posed holding an Arcana card, ready for combat. For a figure at this price point assuming a standard 1/8 scale this release appears to be a strong value proposition. It potentially surpasses previous budget-range PVC figures in both sculpt quality and design freshness, compared to lines such as Alter or Figuarts Zero.

And given the current trajectory of Persona merchandise marketing and the buildup toward Persona 6, I won’t be surprised that characters such as Joker and Yu Narukami will eventually receive figures in this same lineup.

Iron Toys 1/100 Star Eternal Review

 

One of the oldest Chinese model kits that had been sitting dormant in my backlog until I finally built it a few months ago is the Star Eternal by the Chinese manufacturer Iron Toys. While it falls short in the originality department, it more than makes up for it with its excellent price-to-value ratio. I picked up my copy for around USD 30, which was an absolute bargain for a model kit featuring a die-cast inner frame and such an imposing size.

The Star Eternal feels like a cross between the Nu Gundam and the 00 Raiser, combining design elements from both into a heavily armed ranged-focused mobile suit. One interesting feature of the kit is that it includes two color options for the armor parts—red or dark grey. For my straight build, I went with the dark grey version, though I'd probably choose the red color scheme if I ever decide to repaint the kit.

The Iron Toys Star Eternal was released at the perfect time, when the Chinese yuan was still relatively weak, allowing it to offer exceptional value for the money. Had it been released at today's exchange rates and production costs, it would likely retail for around USD 45, a price that would even make me think twice before picking one up.

Pacific Rim Infinity Studio Heavy Mecha Striker Eureka

The premium diecast action figure line from Infinity Studio’s Pacific Rim collection has finally come full circle. After several years of releases beginning with Crimson Typhoon, the final entry in the lineup Striker Eureka is now scheduled for release. Set for Q4 2026, the Heavy Mecha Striker Eureka will be sold at 1380 RMB.

Sayonara Odaiba Unicorn

 

After standing tall for more than a decade, yesterday, 31 August 2026, marked the final day of the 1/1-scale Unicorn Gundam statue at Odaiba DiverCity, where it had served as a beacon for Gundam fans from around the world to flock to. While it is certainly a sad turn of events, I think it is better to send off this iconic statue with a joyous swan song and remain optimistic that Bandai has its own plans for what comes next.

Personally, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity three years ago to visit the Odaiba Unicorn Gundam. It was the final stop in what became a Gundam statue hat-trick during my 2023 Japan trip, when I managed to visit all three life-size Gundam statues across Japan in a single journey.

Although the Unicorn Gundam is personally my least favorite of Japan’s three life-size Gundam statues, I was still very happy to have made it there before the statue was eventually taken down. At the very least, it enjoyed a considerably longer run than the life-size walking RX-78-2, which remains, in my view, the crown jewel of Japan’s Gundam statues.

I still believe Bandai would be prudent enough to prepare a replacement for the dismantled Unicorn Gundam. The question is what form that replacement might take—and whether it will even return to Odaiba DiverCity. Whatever Bandai has planned, I will certainly be curious to see what comes next.

June - August 2026 Loot

 
 Another sumptuous collection of loot accumulated over the course of the past three months. While this may look like a massive amount of loot, the overall cost of this batch is actually lower than some of my previous hauls, without being any less valuable when it comes to the core value of the collection. Pound for pound, the quantity in this three-month batch is actually relatively modest, but it truly shines in terms of variety, as I managed to bring home an assortment of model kits, action figures, and brick models.

As always, the most expensive pieces in the haul are not necessarily the biggest ones. Takara Tomy’s Basara Prime takes the crown as the most expensive item in the lot, with figma Senshi and Cangdao Kainar following closely behind. The figma lineup in this collection is particularly interesting, as I managed to complete several sets by reuniting Raphtalia with her beloved master and assembling the full Dungeon Meshi figma party.

I also finally managed to score the Bebe Brick Model Magic Academy at a much cheaper price than I had originally expected. Considering how much I had prepared myself to spend on it, getting it for significantly less was definitely a pleasant surprise.

Along the way, I also managed to secure some older pieces that I had failed to obtain during my previous haul, including the NXEDGE Gundam Mk-V and the Galahad Mecha Musume model kit, as well as several vintage SD Gundam kits.

But the most peculiar piece in this haul has to be the Getter Robo box. It is part of a merchandise set featuring artwork from local illustrator Subjekt Zero, whose art style is simply too awesome to pass up. It may not be the most conventional addition to my collection, but that is exactly what makes it stand out among the rest of the loot.

All in all, this is yet another sumptuous banquet of collectibles that I probably won't be able to consume anytime soon, even if I try my best. Looking at the size and variety of this haul, I think it may finally be time for me to cut down on my model kit preorders.

Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite Zaku Desert Type

 

A rather interesting new entry in the Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite lineup. While the series has already featured several Zaku variants in the past, this release stands out for spotlighting a less commonly represented unit: the Desert Zaku. Of all possible variants, Bandai’s choice is quite fascinating. Scheduled for release in December 2026 as a P-Bandai exclusive, the GFF Metal Composite Desert Zaku is sold at 30,000 Yen Price tag.

Among the many Zaku variants, the Desert Zaku has a notably interesting history in Gihren’s Greed. In that context, it goes beyond its intended role as a desert specialist unit, proving itself as a reliable all-round grunt mobile suit for Zeon’s Earth campaign against the Earth Federation Forces. It serves as a strong early game alternative to the standard Zaku II, and when paired with the Zaku Cannon, it becomes part of a highly effective frontline composition.

At 30,000 Yen. GFF Desert Zaku sits well outside my budget for a Zaku figure, so this will likely be a skip for me. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a newer model kit rendition of both this unit and the Zaku Cannon in the future.

Arknights Myethos 1/7 Kaltsit Esperanta

 

With the release of Kal'tsit Alter in Arknights CN—one of the main figures in the story—it was expected that she would quickly receive a high-end PVC figure from Myethos. This rendition of Kal'tsit comes as a highly detailed diorama-style 1/7 scale figure, scheduled for release in May 2027 at a price of 42,500 Yen.

This is undoubtedly positioned in the premium tier of PVC figures, largely due to its elaborate diorama base, similar in spirit to previous high-end releases like Skadi Alter’s premium version. In this figure, Kal'tsit is accompanied by a new incarnation of her guardian sentinel following Mon3tr’s given autonomy from Kaltsit. The design appears to blend elements reminiscent of Hitekai Ikaruga and Matrix Sentinels, featuring a more diversified range of offensive capabilities compared to Mon3tr.

Since Kal'tsit Alter has not yet reached the global server, it is still somewhat difficult to fully grasp her character on a more personal or intimate level. However, it is clear that she returns with even greater power and a renewed commitment to Rhodes Island and the Doctor following her banishment by the Priestess in Chapter 15. It will be interesting to see whether this figure line eventually extends to a Nendoroid release as well, especially with Mon3tr already confirmed to receive one in the near future.

Eddas 1/100 Nomes

Eddas has been consistently improving the quality of its model kit lineup, and its latest release is the 1/100 Nomes, a tactical urban combat mecha featuring a die-cast inner frame. Scheduled for release in Q3 2026, the kit is priced at 168 RMB.

In terms of design and loadout, Nomes appears to be a relatively lightly armored machine specializing in rapid assault and urban operations. Its armament is centered around lightweight firearms, with a submachine gun serving as its primary weapon, while a shoulder-mounted cannon provides additional firepower when heavier targets need to be dealt with. Overall, Nomes gives the impression of what an urban warfare counterpart to the Jesta might look like—agile, tactical, and purpose-built for close-quarters engagements rather than frontline slugging matches.

Despite its appealing design, the pricing may prove to be a tougher sell for overseas collectors. With the appreciation of the Chinese yuan in recent months, the overseas SRP rate feels less competitive than it once would have. Compared to Eddas' previously released Asgard—another die-cast frame real robot kit packed with weapons and equipment—Nomes offers a lighter loadout while costing slightly more. Even so, for collectors who appreciate modern tactical mecha designs over heavily armed super prototypes, Nomes still stands out as one of Eddas' more distinctive releases to date.

Fate/Stay Night EXQ Gilgamesh Prize Figure

 

Some Fate series Banpresto prize figures have been sitting on my shelf, gathering dust and waiting for a proper review, and I figured I'd start with Gilgamesh in his Fate/stay night casual outfit. This figure was released during the Heaven's Feel movie trilogy, so it felt only fitting to finally crack it open before working through the rest of my Fate prize figure backlog.

Considering the King of Heroes has remained one of the franchise's most popular Servants even after Fate/Grand Order has been running for years, it's somewhat surprising that his Fate/stay night casual outfit received a figure at all. Caster Gilgamesh and Ruler Gilgamesh are far more likely to receive new figure releases, making this casual version a rather uncommon choice. Banpresto took advantage of the Heaven's Feel movies to release a figure that otherwise might never have happened, and I think the timing worked out perfectly.

To be honest, the EXQ Gilgamesh is far from the best rendition of the King of Heroes, as it lacks the regal aura and commanding presence that define the oldest hero of mankind. Even so, it remains one of the most affordable figure representations of Gilgamesh available and is still a much more faithful interpretation than some of the more questionable designs released in recent years, such as the recent Honkai: Star Rail-inspired rendition.

Although I doubt Fate/Grand Order will receive many more prize figures given its declining mainstream popularity, I still wouldn't mind seeing a Summer Caster Gilgamesh prize figure someday if Banpresto or other manufacturer ever decides to make one.

Dungeon Meshi Nendoroid Chimera Farlyn

 As fans continue to wait for the second season of Dungeon Meshi, another piece of merchandise featuring Chimera Farlyn has been announced following her Pop Up Parade figure. This time, Good Smile Company is giving her the Nendoroid treatment. Priced at 7,800 yen, the figure is scheduled for release in February 2027.

At 7,800 yen, I think Chimera Farlyn represents fairly good value. Considering her much bulkier design compared to the average Nendoroid, I wouldn't have been surprised if Good Smile Company had priced her even higher. Instead, they've kept her at the standard price point for many recent Nendoroids from popular licensed series that at times come with less accessories, making her a relatively good bargain.

She would also make a nice companion piece for my Dungeon Meshi figma collection, which I have already completed. While I'm still undecided on whether I'll pick her up, she's certainly one of the more tempting Nendoroid releases from the series so far.

SD Gundam G-Generation Robot Damashii Great Zeong

 

With the continued popularity of SD Gundam G Generation Eternal, another original mobile suit from the G Generation series has finally escaped limbo. A few years ago Bandai released the Phoenix Gundam, and now it is Great Zeong's turn to receive the Robot Damashii treatment. As expected, this massive release will be a Premium Bandai exclusive, priced at 32,000 yen with a scheduled release in February 2027.

I first encountered Great Zeong back in SD Gundam G Generation World on the PSP, where it stood out as one of the more powerful Zeon mobile suits among the game's original roster. Despite its enormous appearance, it is still classified as a mobile suit rather than a mobile armor, which makes it particularly fascinating. Often regarded as an advanced successor to the Perfect Zeong, Great Zeong combines technologies derived from the Zeong, Big Zam, and Apsalus projects, making it one of the most formidable experimental Zeon machines in the G Generation universe.

Although it sits firmly on the expensive end of the Robot Damashii lineup, I think Great Zeong offers better value than many previous Premium Bandai releases such as Kikeroga or Big Zam. Besides its imposing size, it also features a body-separation gimmick reminiscent of Turn X, giving it a unique play value rarely seen among Zeon mobile suits.

If G Generation Eternal continues to perform well, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bandai revisit even more original G Generation designs in the future. There are still plenty of memorable units that have yet to receive collectible figures, and Great Zeong feels like a promising sign of things to come.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby Kotobukiya 1/7 Grass Wonder

 

With the resurgence of Uma Musume: Pretty Derby following the Global server's debut last year, many of the older Uma Musume have finally started receiving new merchandise. After releasing Super Creek, Kotobukiya has now announced a 1/7 scale figure of Grass Wonder. Priced at 21,000 yen, the figure is scheduled for release in February 2027.

This figure depicts Grass Wonder in her signature racing uniform. Personally, I was hoping Kotobukiya would include her iconic naginata to better reflect her composed, warrior-like image, but it seems the company chose to play it safe with a more standard presentation.

Although Grass Wonder is one of the less popular members of the original starter roster, she has been my favorite waifu ever since I started playing the Japanese version of the game. Beyond her in-game personality, her real-life racehorse counterpart also enjoyed a highly accomplished racing career, making her one of the more distinguished horses represented in the franchise.

I'm seriously considering picking this one up since I'm a big Grass Wonder fan, although I'll need to see how my budget looks closer to release. Even if I end up passing on this figure, I hope Kotobukiya or another manufacturer eventually produces her alternate costume version. And if Grass Wonder ever gets a figma release, that would be an instant purchase for me.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Revisited

 Going back-to-back after Memories of Celceta, my detour before reaching my final destination of the Ys Marathon, is Ys Oath in Felghana, repackaged as Ys Memoire on Nintendo Switch. Back then, I had some hesitation about revisiting it, considering I had already done a full rewrite of the article not too long ago and, story-wise, Felghana was relatively lightweight.

However, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to fully revisit Adol’s adventure in Felghana. Ys Memoire is essentially a straight port of the PSP version of Oath in Felghana, with some surface-level improvements, primarily new character illustrations for the cast. These additions don’t necessarily make this version superior to the PSP release, which still offers an intense and tightly designed adventure built around the Napishtim-era engine.

Overall, the game delivered pretty much what I expected from my playthrough 15 years ago: intense, high-paced combat with a minimal narrative layer. The boss fights remain as brutal as ever, and I still consider them the hardest among all the Ys iterations on Normal difficulty. I had to retry several bosses multiple times, particularly the Lava Statue and Clockwork Cannon. Surprisingly, though, my fight against the final boss, Galbalan, went relatively smoothly and only took one retry.

While I wouldn’t say I gained much from revisiting Felghana purely for my blog articles considering the main Felghana article is pretty much done. I still gathered enough material that should prove useful for future JRPGtalk articles related to Felghana, such as pieces on the Ys heroines and Galbalan.

With the playthrough clocking in at around eight hours, I consider my revisit with Oath in Felghana still turn out to be worthwhile. It may not have added much to my existing Felghana coverage, but it was a short, intense trip down memory lane and provided enough new material to make the detour worth taking.

Barabaride

Bandai recently announced a new toy lineup called Barabaride, which immediately reminded me of Crush Gear, a franchise that enjoyed some popularity in the early 2000s. It seems Bandai is making a loose attempt to revive the spirit of Crush Gear with Barabaride as a spiritual successor, perhaps partly inspired by Takara Tomy's success with Beyblade over the past few years.

For its first wave, Barabaride features three main variants, each with alternate color schemes, along with a couple of accessory packs. The concept appears to be a relatively simplified continuation of the Crush Gear formula, while introducing several new gimmicks, including an over-the-top popping-out effect when a unit is defeated for added visual spectacle.

To be honest, I don't have particularly high expectations for this lineup. Compared to Takara Tomy, Bandai doesn't have quite the same track record with products aimed at younger audiences, and the way they fumbled the Vital Bracelet a few years ago doesn't exactly inspire confidence. The entry price is also not particularly cheap, starting at around 3,000 yen.

If Bandai really wants Barabaride to succeed, they need to take marketing and community building seriously. The early stage of a toyline's lifecycle is crucial for this kind of product, especially when its appeal depends heavily on having an active player base. Otherwise, I could easily see Barabaride becoming another short-lived cash grab attempt like the Vital Bracelet.

Interestingly for Barabaride, I think Bandai might actually have a stronger market among millennials than the young audience they appear to be targeting. Incorporating Crush Gear-related accessories, callbacks, or even compatibility into Barabaride could be a great way to capitalize on that nostalgia. A 3,000-yen entry point isn't exactly cheap for teenagers, particularly for overseas consumers, but it is much easier to justify for an adult who grew up with Crush Gear and now has disposable income to spend on the hobby.

If Bandai can successfully tap into that nostalgia while still making Barabaride appealing to a new generation, it might have a better chance of establishing itself as more than just another short-lived toyline.