Gundam Converge Limited (Overseas Only) (2011)

Here is a real blast from the past, the very first Overseas packaged Converge product. And by Overseas Only, they mean an item not sold within Japan itself but handled by the Bandai Asia division, I guess technically it is across the pond from Japan. I suspect that the Overseas Only products are a brainchild of the Hong Kong division although I believe that these items were also available elsewhere such as Taiwan, but don't quote me on that. It is clear from the prices on the secondary market in Japan that the Overseas figures are typically sought after domestically. At the time this review is posted Mandarake has one item for sale at a rather incredible price of ¥29500.


This double pack features the Gundam Exia and Union Flag II figures released in the year before, with some minor colouring variation only. I find it interesting that the product has no particular item number or series indicator, just "Converge Limited". What was to be one of many such products but in 2011, who could tell?


There is nothing particularly odd about this product, two standard bags chucked into a slightly larger box than usual. This box format was a mainstay for the first couple of years with Converge before Bandai began spreading their wings with the massive EX-figure series.




GN-001 Gundam Exia


The Exia figure has been repainted with a metallic coat but is otherwise similar to the standard figure. The pink metallic colour applications are a bit weak on the torso section and I don't really think that metallic colour variants add much value over the standard item, it is a novelty above all.


The Exia figure comes with its large GN Sword in its blade-stowed mode, this was not yet the era of optional gear or parts-swapping. Come to think of it, isn't it odd that we still haven't seen a Converge Exia (or other 00-era suits for that matter) in its Trans-Am Configuration? Trans-Am has been featured in both Gashapon Senshi Forte and Mobile Suit Ensemble for ages.


Comparison shot of the original Converge Volume 1 Exia (release November 2010), the Overseas metallic colour variant and the later Converge Operation Revive figure which features the GN Short and Long blades as optional equipment (if you purchase the limited edition variant that is).






SVMS-01X Union Flag Custom II


The Union Flag Custom II or GN Flag was recently seen in Mobile Suit Ensemble (January 2021) but it was a long 10 years since it appeared here in Converge. I often wonder why Bandai doesn't want to dig deeper into the 00-era suit inventory, I have my suspicions that it is the spindly structure of many of these suits that make them difficult to realize in Gacha or Super deformed style. Still, the old SD Full Color range and to some extent the 1:400 Gundam Collection ranges were full of them. Whatever the case there is no denying that the Converge figure with its tiny feet and soft plastic constitution has some trouble standing upright without the aid from its clear support piece. Of the two figures I have the standard figure is much better where this brown metallic limited variant leans forward quite a bit.


The GN Flag comes with its makeshift GN Drive attached to the left shoulder so as to power up the beam saber. You can see the figure holding the handle of the saber but there is no beam effect part (or even black toothpick) to represent the blade. I am thinking about picking up one extra figure as well as repurposing one of the beam sabers that come with the Converge Sharp Exia figure. The shape of the beam is not exactly the same of course but it should be a nice tweak to this figure although it will become very front heavy and keel over for sure. :)


Notice the somewhat straight posture of the Converge Volume 1 GN Flag compared to the listing Overseas Only-variant. I like both figures but there really is no need to have a bronze coloured figure in your collection unless you are a completionist.





Conclusion

All in all, this is a nice set of the typical dueling-style that we tended to see in the early Converge twin-packs. As pointed out already, there isn't really any reason to pick this set up if you sit on the original volume one figures already. If you have neither you should still be able to find the wave one figures fairly easily although the prices keep going up of course, seeing as they are quite old by now.