With the advent of the Gundam Universal Unit series, Assault Kingdom was retired and replaced. The UN² figure series is comparable in size and features, with the selling point being more refined detail and the moving away from soft plastic parts (although this makes the figures less durable). However, UN² figures are essentially low-budget model kits requiring the user to cut parts from sprues and assemble the figures manually. The standard Universal Unit figure is approximately 85mm in height.
Universal Unit Volume 1 August 2, 2016. Suggested individual figure retail price: ¥500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---------------------------------------------------------------
1A : RX-78-02 Gundam (The Origin Version) - Beam Rifle / Shoulder Cannon equipment
1B : RX-78-02 Gundam (The Origin Version) - Bazooka / Beam Saber / Shield equipment
2A : MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type (Char's Custom) (The Origin Version) - Bazooka / Heat Hawk
2B : MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type (Char's Custom) (The Origin Version) - Anti-Ship Rifle
3A : ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos (Third Form)
3B : ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos (Fourth Form)
4A : RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 "Alex"
4B : RX-78NT-1FA Full Armor Gundam "Alex"
---///---
EX 01 : RX-105 Xi GundamAugust 30, 2016. Suggested retail price: ¥2500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---///---
EX 02 : RX-104FF PenelopeSeptember 27, 2016. Suggested retail price: ¥3800
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---///---
MRX-010 Psycho Gundam Mk-II September 2016. Premium Bandai limited item: ¥12800
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page, P-Bandai page]
---///---
Universal Unit Volume 2October 31, 2016. Suggested figure retail price: ¥500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
------------------------------------------------------
1A : MSZ-006 Z Gundam (Beam Rifle + Shield equipment)
1B : MSZ-006 Z Gundam (Hyper Mega Launcher equipment)
2A : MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1
2B : MSZ-006C1 Zeta Plus C1
3A : GX-9900 Gundam X (Buster Rifle + Shield equipment)
3B : GX-9900 Gundam X (Beam Sword equipment)
4A : MSM-03C Hy-Gogg (closed claw version)
4B : MSM-03C Hy-Gogg (open claw version)
---///---
EX 03 : MSM-07E Z'Gok ExperimentOctober 31, 2016. Suggested retail price: ¥1500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---///---
G-Bit SetOctober 2016. Premium Bandai-limited item: ¥1200
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page, P-Bandai page]
-------------------------------------------------
FX-9900 GX-Bit
FX-9900 GX-Bit
FX-9900 GX-Bit
---///---
EX 04 : RMS-142 Xeku ZweiNovember 29, 2016. Suggested retail price: ¥4500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---///---
Universal Unit Volume 3January 31, 2017. Suggested figure retail price: ¥500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
----------------------------------------------------------------
1A : RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam GP01 "Zephyrantes" Full Burnern (BOWA Beam Rifle + Shield equipment)
1B : RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam GP01 "Zephyrantes" Full Burnern (Beam Saber + Experimental Beam Rifle equipment)
2A : RGM-79N GM Custom (Machine Gun equipment)
2B : RGM-79N GM Custom (Beam Saber + Shield equipment)
3 : XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero (Endless Waltz Version)
4A : ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus (Forearm Guns equipment)
4B : ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus (Sword Mace equipment)
---///---
MSZ-006C1[Bst] Zeta Plus C1 "Hummingbird" (blue version)February 28, 2017. Suggested retail price: ¥3800
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
---///---
MSZ-006C1[Bst] Zeta Plus C1 "Hummingbird" (red version)February 2017. Premium Bandai limited item: ¥3800
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page, P-Bandai page]
---///---
RX-78GP03 Gundam GP03 Dendrobium
March 2017. Premium Bandai limited item: ¥17800
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page, P-Bandai page]
---///---
Universal Unit Volume 4May 2, 2017. Suggested figure retail price: ¥500
Links: [Review], [Bandai product page]
--------------------------------------------------------------
1A : RX-93 Nu Gundam (Beam Rifle, Beam Saber + Shield equipment)
1B : RX-93 Nu Gundam (Bazooka + Fin Funnel equipment)
2A : LM312V04 Victory Gundam
2B : LM312V06+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam Hexa
3A : LM111E02 Gun-EZ (Beam Rifle + Beam Saber equipment)
3B : LM111E02 Gun-EZ (Bazooka equipment)
4A : RX-79[G] Ground Type Gundam (Beam Rifle + Machine Gun, Shield equipment)
4B : RX-79[G] Ground Type Gundam (180mm Cannon equipment)
Since the last production is on May 2017, I am wondering if GFrame that will be released on Feb 2018 will replace this one? It will be slightly taller though at 11cm, almost the same as HG. Would be glad if author could also make a post about the upcoming GFrame.
ReplyDeleteHello, we have a small discussion going about G-Frame under this post (I'll tag it for easier search also):
Deletehttp://gundaniumgateway.blogspot.se/2017/09/g-frame-bane-of-universal-unit.html
Hey, thanks for replying! Thanks for the link. I am also wondering about whether you are reviewing Ensemble lines. Saw you mentioned it in one post, but never really saw its review.
DeleteAnyway, really appreciate your team effort on this blog! Really informative, it is my #1 source for Gundam shokugan and gashapon, since I am a new collector. Keep it up!
The Ensemble figure line will be added to the SD history page at least, some might end up being reviewed as well. The research is completed already but I also need to get some photos done. And since I am using daylight for photographs not much is going on during the winter months due to very limited daylight. A lot of stuff still sits unopened in boxes waiting for some sunshine... :/
DeleteI wonder when will they release Universal unit 4 in usa? I'm getting tired of seeing volume two and three I just wanted to see the release of volume 1 + 4
DeleteI think it is safe to assume that the Universal Unit brand is long dead by now. My guess would be that what is available is unsold overstock. Maybe the importer decided to skip volume 4 (or perhaps the quantities were much smaller and the stock is already sold out). If you are willing to import from Japan directly you can find most of these figures at Mandarake for about ¥400 per piece.
DeleteSince someone revived this comment, what do you think about G-Frame vs Universal Unit? I had collected the first four series of G-Frame but the quality is just.. meh. But that maybe I already get used to HG gunpla. So how is it compares to Universal Unit? Is UU better or just the same?
DeleteSo far I have avoided Gframe entirely, mainly because the mobile suit selection is so lackluster. Had they started off the series with some really unusual suits I may well have given in. :) Other concerns are the facts that they are not size-compatible with the 1:220 Shokugan family of figures and that the step to actual HGUC model kits is so small that the series feels a bit redundant. My base assumption would be that Bandai are reusing technology from both Gunpla and Universal Unit when creating the Gframe series, mixed with the questionable practice of spreading out parts for one figure in two different boxes. I am surprised the series has lived this long, apparently it must be more popular than I had anticipated.
DeleteSome of the people thought they are great for diorama. But the price for the people outside Japan may not be that attractive. Since we need 2 boxes for each units, and considering it is not mass produced and also a niche market, the cost will go up to bring in to other countries. It ended up more expensive than its HG counterpart, despite being slightly shorter and much lesser quality. And yeah it dont has that "oommph" of collecting unlike other chibi shokugan/gashapon.
DeleteI was wondering where can I find the universal unit volume 4? I'm listening from the US
DeleteAt this point UN4 is over two years old so anything left in retail will be unsold stock that has not been cleared out. If you are willing to order from Japan you can often find these figures at Mandarake.co.jp, they actually have the full set for sale at ¥3000 right now.
Delete