| ROC figure thoughts - Viper Commando | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 9 2009, 01:46 AM (60 Views) | |
| viper commander | Jul 9 2009, 01:46 AM Post #1 |
Mercenary, Assassin
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When I first saw preview pics for the ROC movie toys I was only planning on picking up the Cobra Gunship. As I looked at more pictures online I started to be interested in the Viper Commando, the additional shoulder armor and the slightly different look of the body armor is what attracted me to this design more than the Neo Viper (I really enjoy both of their face masks). I also like his side holster with pistol too. While the style and design of this figure is drastically different than any other Cobra figures in the past, I can see what the designers were trying to achieve with the look. The new design make this generation of Vipers look more evil and potent than the brighter colors of the older generation. Compared to the older Vipers, these guys are just more intimidating. They won't be replacing the 25th Vipers I already have because I'll always love the classic design, but I do plan to use them as Plague troopers. With my username being Viper Commander, the Viper Commando designation attracted me to this figure too, LOL!    
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| Trench Knife 19 | Jul 9 2009, 09:00 AM Post #2 |
Spammenator 3.0
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While I can see the appeal of this character to some people. They really do not do much for me. I think that once again Hasbro has strayed too far away from what made Gijoe/Cobra awesome. I was so happy when the 25th line came out because I had a chance to get the really cool old figures that I had missed in the past, but I find that most of the stuff coming out is blah. I do applaud them for trying new designs but for me, the draw is just not there for MOST of the new design stuff.
Edited by Trench Knife 19, Jul 9 2009, 09:01 AM.
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| Dominic Guglieme | Jul 9 2009, 11:36 AM Post #3 |
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the human MICROscope!!
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The big problem, especially with the Cobra figures, is that they are all too dark. They are visually boring. There is a huge difference between the (hideous) neon colors of the early 90s and "grim and gritty". So far, I am finding much to like in terms of customizing, (which only makes the recolors more irksome), but little enough to like on its own. The fact that the movie brings little in the way of soft-property (context) to the table does not help matters. There is a real problem when I am not at all excited about characters like Stormshadow and Cover-girl. |
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| Dominic Guglieme | Jul 9 2009, 06:07 PM Post #4 |
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the human MICROscope!!
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I have not had a chance to really fiddle with the figures I have. Between that, and the fact that the movie toys seem to be getting uneven distribution, (meaning there is no way to know what is actually on shelves and pegs), I will just be posting general impressions. The basic set up of this line is similar to the "Transformers" movie toys, though with the price-points not exactly corresponding. The best analogy would be to see it as RotF with more scouts than Deluxes. But, the price-points do not exactly correspond. Some of it is my bias against the movie, but these are some of the least inspiring toys I have een in some time. It says something when I can walk by a shelf and see Stormshadow, Zartan and Firefly on the same shelf and barely muster the interest to read the, (bland), file cards. Something is lacking with these toys. Unlike the RotF toys, where the cost cutting during design and execution is obvious, it is hard to be certain with Joes. But, the toys feel unfinished somehow. (Given how hard it is to put my finger on exactly what is wrong with these toys, I am willing to put much of my reaction down to my distaste for the context. But, it does feel like there is something tangibly missing from the line.) As with RotF's "Robot Heroes" sub-line, there is a "Combat Heroes" sub-line for RoC. These have a narrow appeal, even considering the nature of the toys themselves. Given how little younger kids seem to care about "GI Joe", they are unlikely to pick these up when they have more recognizable SW and Marvel toys. And, given the general stubborness of older Joe collectors, (who seem to be the majority of the Joe fan-base), few of them are likely to pick these up. (I snagged a few for giggles, including the Duke/Baroness pack which is made of what the kids call "fail". ) Hasbro seems to be placing their chips on the carded figures. There seems to be 20+ carded figures out in theory. In practice, they are split across several case assortments that are distributed unevenly among stores. (There was a similar situation with the "Revenge of the Sith" figures in '05. Eventually it evened out, but it took time.) Unlike the "Revenge of the Fallen" line, which seems to have 2 price-points for carded figures, "Revenge of Cobra" only seems to have one before jumping to boxed vehicles that include figures. The smaller vehicles are a bit more expensive than the deluxe figures from "Revenge of the Fallen". Considering the amount of old molding showing up in these packs, the price is a bit high. One of the vehicles is cast from a mold that is ~25 years old, and obviously missing pieces with a few new ones bastardized into place. The drivers all look to be recolors of older figures. There is nothing wrong with recolors. But, considering that the movie is supposed to be a relaunch for the franchise, the sheer amount of recolors being mass-released is astounding. Store exclusive recolors are one thing, but one would thing Hasbro would spring for new molding on mass released vehicles and figures. One thing that can be said in defense of the RoC figures is that the single carded figures, (which do have new molding), are a rich source of custom fodder. I have spent a bit more than an hour just looking at figures on pegs in the store, trying to prioritize which ones I should pick up first for which custom projects. (Finishing the Phoenix Guard is now just a question of swapping parts and painting figures, rather than figuring out which parts to use. And, I should be able to finish at least a few more Plague Regiment troopers using RoC parts.) Truth be told, I had a bit of over-load trying to sort parts. (For the record, there are a few RoC figures that I plan to keep intact. Ninja Commando Snakeeyes. Shipwreck. Cobra Commander. Zartan (sans knives). Paris Pursuit Snakeeyes. And, I have vague plans to customize using parts from a few of these.) Sample list of figure I plan to complete using RoC parts: -Phoenix Guard Scarp-Iron (This, along with my yet-undone Phoenix Guard Wild Weasel, will complete the PG set I have been working on.) -Plagure Regiment medic (I dunno his name, but he is the "named" Desert Trooper.) -Coil Zandar (This is a case of finding the right accessories and extra bits.) Unlike the smaller vehicles, the larger vehicles seem to be drawn more from the movie. The first wave of mid-sized vehicles consists of 2 that I am sure are in the movie, and another I am not sure about. And, there is at least one more wave's worth of vehicles worth in the movie. (Given how badly the movie is expected to do though, that wave may never happen.) So far, there is one $40 vehicle, a new Night Raven. (If this were not so large and expensive, I would probably buy one.) As with "RotF", there are less appealling non-action figure toys that will likely clog shelves, (regardless of how well/badly the movie does), until the holidays. At that point, these toys will be picked up by confused and desperate parents who are just looking for a brand or character. Just as the TF movie line has a series of toys with simplified transformation engineering, RoC has a set of action figures that have fewer parts for kids to lose. (In fairness, this sort of thing is justifiable for a movie line. But, these figures do not tend to sell as well as well as "real" action figures.) There is some kind of Ultimate Duke figure. The the TF line's Ultimate Bumblebee is complex, it manages to display well. The Duke is just....hideous. It is big and clunky looking. Dom -time to get customizing. |
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| tarz_an2003 | Jul 9 2009, 09:31 PM Post #5 |
Anime in Motion
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Wow, those VIPER COMMANDOs have a bit of menacing look to them dude. I have to admit, I'm a bit intrigued by them though - they're not too bad Mike! I also enjoyed your review by the way guys, thanks for the thoughts... |
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| Dominic Guglieme | Jul 10 2009, 01:11 PM Post #6 |
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the human MICROscope!!
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The regular vipers look like putties from Power Rangers. I do like the Commando figure a bit more than I thought I would. I still plan to customize him, as my favorite bits from this guy are likely to be on the upcoming "Cobra Island" Alley Viper figure, but it is not all bad. (If you are curious, Digital Toys has the CI packs.) Dom |
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11:27 PM Jul 31
