Stage 61 is a quirky set of figures loosely themed around the SD Gundam Gashapon Wars game, originally released for the Nintendo Gamecube in 2005. The game is a kind of squad-level blue on red team where units take turns moving on a very small grid representing the battle area, switching to a real-time, frantic duel between combatants of the two teams. Compositions and squad levels vary as does the environments. All units are modelled in the same cutesy SD Full Color Gashapon-style although I didn't see the particular units appearing in this set getting any special focus in game. The first missions for example, feature Gelgoogs and GMs before introducing more varied opponents and player units. The graphic style really nails that Gashapon feel. :)
Anyway, we are not here to talk about console games but another ten of the old and adorable SD figures that are much missed in an era where the closest thing you can get to classic SD figures are the large and clumsy Mobility Joint behemoths that are basically model kits. The Full Color series on the other hand are almost ready out of the box (or rather Gashapon capsule); the spread here shows the various states of assembly for these particular figures as they came out of their plastic bags.
One late invention in the SD Full Color series was the little collector-card "SD Mechanic File" cards that are bundled with select figures. Two of the figures in this set qualified for these bonus-leaflets, the METEOR-equipped Strike Freedom and the hefty Psyco Gundam with its peculiar Dice-mode (more on that in a bit).
405 : ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam w/METEOR
The METEOR weapons system is a large weapons array that can attach to either the Freedom or the Justice Gundam. The concept was carried over from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED into SEED Destiny and so here comes the Strike Freedom Gundam with its own METEOR. I don't think this is a particularly good fit for a small Gashapon figure and it also requires heavy shrinking of the mobile suit figure itself. Perhaps the Bandai engineers could have cooked up a theme where the METEOR was separated into its own capsule (and this is actually something that happened about half a year later when two separate figures were released in the follow-up Full Color Custom series). As it stands right now, it is not much to look at.
Side-by-side with the original X10A Freedom Gundam figure also equipped with a METEOR system on the left there. That particular figure was first released in Stage 45 and also exists as a "1.5" version which is really the same thing but with a bonus coin-shaped token included in the Stage 50 anniversary set. The X09A Justice also has a METEOR attachment available in Stage 46 but the Infinite Justice never got one.
406 : ZGMF-XX09T DOM Trooper
No, that figure is not a MS-09 Dom but the half-baked "Dom TROOPER" that popped up as an annoying jack-in-the-box near the end of SEED Destiny. The figure is cool and the bazooka has a really modernized look to it but including it in Destiny was a mistake. The ZAKU Warrior was a nice nod and developed to a great potential but all the other rehashes just felt lazy. Anyway, you need three of these to build the full Terminal prototype strike team, good luck finding some I am currently sitting on two myself.
407 : ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam (Oowashi Sky Pack)
The cleverly named Akatsuki arrives into the Full Color series in this shiny golden form. On its back sits the Oowashi Sky Pack which grants it atmospheric flight capability much like the Aile Striker Pack does for the Strike Gundam. It comes armed with its signature beam rifle and a (nicely detailed) shield. I think the rifle could have benefitted from a slightly darker colour but otherwise this is a great representation of this important mobile suit.
Late is the hour in which the Akatsuki chooses to appear, yet there was a minor explosion of variant strewn out across later sets. First out was the space flight capable Shiranui Pack version with a beam saber from Stage 62 (sadly still missing from this line-up) and then various reinterpretations followed across the following SD figure series, some of which can be seen here.
408 : ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior (Live Specification)
Here's a bit of an oddity. Z.A.F.T. painted up a ZAKU Warrior in pink and sent it out as a stage prop on the "Lacus Clyne" propaganda tour in Destiny, but I am curious if it is also featured in Gashapon Wars because the thing is supposedly unarmed. Notice the cute little print on the shield although the colour makes it a bit hard to spot. The figure is of course compatible with other similar SD ZAKU Warriors so if you happen to have a figure to cannibalize for a weapon you can rearm her as needed. By the way, when are we going to see the ZAKU Warrior in Converge, it has been available in Ensemble for ages already. Imagine all the cool box sets they could do with this little thing, it is available in more colours than the rainbow flag.
ZGMF-X2000 GOUF Ignited
Here is another hold-over from U.C.0079 that was chucked into SEED Destiny. While I do consider the ZAKU Warrior a success the other recycled Zeon suits feel shoe-horned in, I guess the GOUF does a passable job of fitting in. The Destiny GOUF is pretty much the old MS-07B with a Gouf Custom-paint scheme and a little flight pack on the back, it even copies the concept of the heat sword for crying out loud. In its defence, there are some interesting Destiny variants such as the GOUF Crusher which is a close combat version (as stupid as that may be) with a bit of interesting kit centred around it. The figure itself however is great, especially the detail on that ignited sword.
I didn't address the elephant in the room yet, but I'm sure you have noticed these weird printed titles on some of the figures. They have been crammed in wherever there is enough flat space, usually on the back of the head or similar but it varies depending on each sculpt - the Gouf here had no choice but to stick it on top of the head. I don't know how or if these titles relate to the Gashapon Wars game; all I know is that they tend to start with a number (seven in this case) and then a short name or exclamation of sorts, perhaps a title? It is a bit of a blemish on some of the figures but easier to ignore on other and in my opinion doesn't add anything of value.
The GOUF Ignited is also available in Stage 57 painted up in Heine Westenfluss' custom orange colour. While I am stilling missing that figure (the late SD Full Color sets are annoying that way) here is the upsized and redesigned version of Heine's machine released in SD Full Color Custom 06 about a year and a half later. Both figures look great but I really do appreciate the larger size of the newer figure. is the blue GOUF Ignited also available in SD Full Color Custom size? I hear you ask. Yes it is, available in volume 10 which is also still missing in my collection.
410 : MRX-009 Psyco Gundam / Saikoro Gundam
The Psyco Gundam is the only figure in this set to actually be featured in the opening cinematic of the Gashapon Wars game. It even shows up in both modes plus the odd Dice-Gundam form. Take a minute to check out the intro video if you haven't seen it before since it is really entertaining and well made. At the risk of dating the review, here is a current link. Talking about the figure itself it is a nice representation but the Psyco Gundam really should be allowed to retain its full size, it never quite works for me in a downsized form like this.
SO what about this Dice Gundam thing? Well, just like the curled up little Acguy it is based on a joke. In this case the name Psyco sounds pretty much like Saikoro in Japanese, which as you have already guess is the word for a die. You can see references to this form as "Dice Gundam", "Saikoro Gundam" and even "Psycolo Gundam". The SD figure throws in a die for you to stick the figure's head on. Was it worth the trouble? You tell me.
If you want a beefier Psyco Gundam look around for the old version released in the Full Color series' infancy. The MRX-009 first appeared in Full Color Stage 7 back in February 1999 and is like all the earlier figures a fair bit larger than the late series figures.
411 : NRX-044 Asshimar (Clear Color Ver.)
The figures in this set just keep getting weirder and weirder. I did see the Asshimar appearing as a large boss-size enemy in videos from the game but I don't know why Bandai decided to bring back the old sculpt and make a translucent version. It would have been cool if they had went for a fully transformed mobile armour form mode instead, something we have yet to see in any figure series beyond the 1/400 Gundam Collection.
The basic color version of this figure is a real veteran from the early days of SD Full Color. It appeared back in Stage 6 released in December of 1998. Both variants look cool but I definitely prefer the traditional colour variant. By the way Bandai, I am still hoping against hope for the Asshimar to pop up in Converge +Plus size, together with the RAS-96 Anksha pretty please. :)
412 : RX-93 Nu Gundam
The last couple of figures in Stage 61 return back to more traditional faces. First we have a Nu Gundam (with no Sazabi to fight I note) that is in the middle of launching a couple of its Fin Funnel remote weapons. This is a neat little sculpt, notice how the first Funnel is already transforming into its claw-shaped form. The rest of the figure is a really traditional looking RX-93 with enough colours and insignia to make it an alright representation.
Peas in a pod? It looks like the Stage 61 figure is a modified RX-93 figure from the Stage 37 set (released three years earlier in November 2002); that awkward pose with the arm is at least faithfully reproduced. :)
413 : RX-78-2 Gundam
I guess you cannot make a Gundam-themed free for all without including the grandfatherly RX-78 and so here it pops up again in I think its twenty-sixth official form. This is a rather awkward pose since is designed to pair up with the attacking Zeong from this set but even then I am not quite sure how it was intended to look. By the way, I had no luck trying to google these strange words printed on the figures. the Gundam here for example translates to "9 kokuimushou" according to Google but that doesn't take me any closer to understanding what it represents. If anyone has insight into these titles I would be curious to know.
Here is my best attempt at putting the Gundam and the Zeong together. I had to prop up the Gundam figure a fair bit and I still don't think this pose works. These things always look cooler in the booklets thanks to the magic of editing. :)
414 : MSN-02 Zeong
I'm pretty sure there is a spectacular battle between the RX-78 and the Zeong somewhere inside that SD Gashapon Wars game. This set furnishes us with a really imposing version of the Zeong hovering over its prey, caught here in the middle of launching its two Psycommu hands.
This figure is fairly similar to the 2.0 version of the Zeong released in Stage 37 in November 2002. Interestingly, Stage 37 was also a game special, titled "G Generation Special". Notice how the older figure has a slimmer peg and the hands still firmly attached. Below you can see various representation so the Zeong in SD form, the bottom row features the early version 1.0 and Perfect Zeong figures (including the DX version on the far right). The upper row also has the peculiar High Mobility Type form up in the right corner.
Conclusion
Overall, there is a lot to like in this quirky set and it sports a couple of rare mobile suit types in the mix. The main drawback in my opinion is the titles printed on the figures but they are thankfully hidden away in hard to see spots for the most part. Like all the late-era SD Full Color sets these figures are noticeably harder to find than the earlier releases - I guess used lots on overpriced sites like eBay or actually visiting Japanese second-hand stores would be the best bet. You rarely see SD Gundam figures over at Mandarake these days so you may have to arm yourself with a lot of patience before you encounter them.
