You know, despite so much else that went on during the year, 2016 turned out to be a great stretch for video game action figures.
Yes, I realize it is January, but this brand new Zero Suit Samus figma from Max Factory was actually released during the last week of 2016, and it put a nice exclamation point to a year that saw Mega Man, Link, Star Fox, and countless others see their due. I am 100 percent a Nintendo guy, so watching my video game shelf expand with such quality and quantity was a great thrill, and even though I have had a fully armored figure Samus for several years now, I kept great anticipation for this particular figure since its announcement. There is no substitute for the iconic look created by Samus’s armored visage, but her Zero Suit has a great design all its own, and it allows us glimpse at the woman under the helmet.
Sure, if I were fighting against dangerous parasitic aliens on a far-off planet, there is no way I would abandon the armor and cannon of her traditional suit, but this is a valid look made famous via the Other M storyline, and since Samus has been one of my favorite video game character for a long time, there has always been a spot for this look on my toy shelf. The figma expression for these classic game characters has been really great, and this Samus joins her previous incarnation, as well as Link, Pit, and others, as a solid entry from that line. This figure looks great and carries with it all the strengths of a typical figma, but it does have a few (very) frustrating shortcomings that I will be sure to get into.
Metroid dates all the way back to the original “Adventure Series” that debuted with the release of the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Along with Kid Icarus, it was the game that challenged me the most as a pup and still does to this day. Over the years and subsequent game consoles, Metroid has established quite a mythos, but I still hold the original as my favorite of the series. For a game meant to capitalize on the movie Alien, but without paying licensing fees, the final reveal of Samus as a woman still remains one of the biggest surprises in video game history, even though we should have seen it coming all along.
The figma impression is one of the most consistent action figure lines going right now, and overall Samus is just what you would expect. The articulation is the real highlight, and not only in point count, but also functionality. I find figma joints to be silky smooth and overall, probably my favorite in terms of the Japanese import figures I collect. The joints all work so well together and they are fluid but offer just enough resistance to ensure steady poses, even with the ridiculous high-heeled boots of this costume. Highlights from this particular figure include pull-out/drop-down shoulder and hips, and even the ponytail is articulated. Granted, a few more points here and there would be optimal, but I generally always find additional needed joints for any figure, so I am not holding that against her.
The sculpt is very nice too, and while the Zero Suit certainly highlights Samus’s feminine form, nothing is overblown for the sake of gratuity, nor sacrificed for the sake of articulation. Much like modern Iron Man armors, Samus’s standard armor is very thin in some places, but it is actually rather convincing that this form could fit inside of that armor, so that is believable. I really dig the metallic blues used for the costume (despite the fact they are a terror to photograph), and they offer a strong contrast to the red and gold of her other togs. Like most figmas, you get a wide offering of additional hands, so Samus can do everything from hold her blaster to punch to give the classic “thumbs up,” so you certainly have a variety for display.
Samus also comes with two swappable heads, as well as two different face plates, so you have four different options to choose from. Of these parts, I DEFINITELY prefer the more placid face (the non-smiling one) and the long hair. The short hair piece is cool because she has her earpiece communicator, but the haircut is so painfully ’90s that I just cannot bring myself to display it. Also, while I love the details in both faces (they even got her beauty mark right), there something just slightly off with the smiling face. I think it is the eyes, though I am not certain, but whatever it is, I prefer the other face, so my combination was easy to choose, but there are options to be sure.
Now, there is also a major fail point with both of the heads, and it goes hand in hand with the included helmet, too. While it is certainly not required as they are two separate releases, it is a real shame that neither of these heads can perfectly attach to the armored body of the previous Samus release. Yes, I have a picture of it, but it took some Blu-Tack to help get me there, and it is so aggravating we were denied that this release. The same goes for the helmet. Yeah … unlike incompatibility from one release to another, the helmet is hollow, so it was not even intended to be able to be displayed aside from being held. Madness. Madness, I say. I know, it is not a required thing for this version, but it is still very puzzling. Again, I got the Blu-Tack out and used the extra peg from the included stand (it plugs right into the neck hole) and jimmied it all together for a picture, but still, MADNESS. So thumbs down for that.
Despite my nitpicks, and the fact that she does not come with an actual Metroid, I dig this figure a lot. It is fun to pose, and it is a great complement to the more iconic figure on the shelf. Plus, Samus has to have a down day now and again. Plus, she looks like she could be Mega Man’s big sister or something, so I have a soft spot for the color combination. As I said, this was a great way to cap off a great year for video game figures, so it is my hope that 2017 will continue the trend so all of our classic video game properties can make it to our toy shelves. Let’s start by getting that awesome Arthur from Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins first.
