The Demise of Gundam STANDart (and possibly also Assault Kingdom)

-So, you two were the last ones to make it out alive?
-Yes, although barely. Tell me Maester, will he recover again?
-Son, I have to be frank with you. At this point there is nothing more I can do for him. I cannot even save myself.
-But... but I don't understand... we had the best technology, the superior piloting skills...
-You cannot go up against Bandai's executive team and expect to fight your way through. You need to be eloquent and very articulate about it. Besides, how else can they get away with releaseing yet another 1/220 RX-78-2 figure?


I think it is pretty clear at this point that there will be no STANDart revival and no further excesses in the form of massive limited edition figures. The last STANDart figure to be released, the mighty Sinanju, arrived for Christmas in 2014 but even though that year was very active with three figures waves and both the limited mega-figures everything went quiet after that. It was like the FusionWorks development team burned all their remaining fuel in one last mighty assault.

The final hint appeared in the end of March 2016 when the Bandai Shokugan website launched two new figure series and sneakily changed the product categories at the same time. Compare the old and new Category quicklink pages below and it seems that not only STANDart is being relegated to history, but Assault Kingdom appears to be going the same way.

Girl power!

While there are still a couple of Assault Kingdom EX figures to be released, the telltale sign that there has been no wave 10 announced ever since volume nine hit the market back in July 2015 does make the situation seem rather grim.

The final nail in the coffin for both STANDart Assault Kingdom though, is the advent of the Universal Unit figure collection (or UN2 for short). These figures are made from a harder type of plastic which allows for more detailed figure sculpts (while at the same time making the figures more brittle or fragile one would suspect). The UN2 figures with their roughly 85mm height will be reasonably comparable in size to the present 1/220 collection so it would seem unlikely to have multiple series of articulated figures going in parallel. The first UN2 figures will hit the market in August 2016.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the dev teams at FusionWorks and Bandai for a beautiful run with Gundam STANDart, it was fun while it lasted and there are still so many awesome mobile suits it could have featured.

Assault Kingdom EX 07 : AMX-004 Qubeley

Hot on the heels of Quattro Bajeena's Hyaku-Shiki mobile suit, the Assault Kingdom line continues to storm through the Zeta line-up with another remarkable design, the Axis Zeon Qubeley. Supposedly designed by Haman Karn herself (what was she smoking?) it is Axis' next-gen Newtype mobile suit, incorporating a deadly Funnel type weapon system evolved from the bit-weapon technology on earlier Zeonic test beds such as the Elmeth.

Given its sheer size it comes as no surprise that the Qubeley is featured as an EX figure. It comes in the same large box type we have seen used for the Hyaku-Shiki and the Full Armor Unicorn. At first glance I thought the figure seemed a bit barren in comparison to previous EX releases. There are after all not a whole lot of accessories for the Qubeley.

Opening this sucker up I realized what was eating up all that space; it is all those clear parts and pieces. It almost looks as if the Qubeley itself could be persuaded to be stuffed into a regular Assault Kingdom box. And since this is a Japanese product we do of course find the classic shokugan chewing gum inside the box.

The Assault Kingdom Qubeley released in Japan in February 2016 with a suggested price tag of ¥2000. My particular figure comes from a Japanese shop where it sold for ¥1500 though, so I am not quite sure just how Bandai are going about with their pricing system.

So what are my impressions of the actual figure itself? Well, after some initial fiddling with assembly -the wing binders proved a bit frustrating to attach to their swiveling supports- I was quite impressed to see it in action. The articulation on this monster is much better than I had expected and although this figure is primarily a space type suit it stands firmly when on the ground as well.

The poseability of this figure is very impressive and easily outperforms the Hyaku-Shiki here, which seems odd considering how the latter has a very slim and traditional build. The large transparent action base included with the Qubeley is also of the very steady type (comparable to that of the Kshatriya) and is an extremely useful accessory for any Assault Kingdom figure to benefit from. The EX figures are almost worth getting for these items alone.

As great as the Qubeley is, it comes off a bit lacking in the accessory department. This is purely in line with the design of course, when you pack ten funnel weapons under your pants that tends to be enough, but at least we can also enjoy two very long and translucent beam sabers (again highly usable for any Assault Kingdom figure).

Just like with the Kshatriya (and to an extent the Sazabi) the Assault Kingdom Qubeley has been armed with ten optional funnel weapons, attached to equally many curved transparent sticks. The latter are intended to clip on to a ring assembly which attaches to the Qubeley's back skirt (or optionally into slots on the action base itself). You can use these add-ons to simulate the launching of the funnel type weapons. I am not a huge fan of these Assault Kingdom funnels as I think they clutter and busy the whole look of the figure, but it is nevertheless a pretty cool feature if you avoid going completely overboard.

 
Conclusion

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the Qubeley although its lack of awesome accessories makes it a little less impressive than the previous EX figures and the fact that Bandai plan to recycle it as the AMX-004-2 and AMX-004-3 irks me a bit but I guess that was to be expected. It is a great figure though, and a lot of value is added by the superb action base, so I can still easily recommend it to Assault Kingdom freaks out there.

"What do you mean shoulder pads are a thing of the eighties?"

The rather impressive Assault Kingdom Zeta Line-up at this point. Still, I will remain fantasizing about a Nemo, a Gabthley and a Marasai too...

Gundam Converge EX 08 : RX-78GP00 Gundam GP00 [Blossom]

As far as EX reviews go, this will be a rather short one. Looking back on the Converge EX line we have seen some spectacularily configurable (and perhaps overproduced) figures with whole slews of accessories and two to three different display modes. Then came the Converge CORE series, which featured carefully repainted basic figures at higher cost. Converge EX 08 lands somewhere in between these and the generic Converge figures; it is a new sculpt with a fairly detailed colour scheme, but offers no transformations, optional accessories or gimmicks. At its heart this is a basic Converge figure elevated into grandeur for no apparent reason. But, I am getting ahead of myself again...

Converge EX 08 released in March 2016 with a suggested price tag of ¥1800 which puts it at the same level as the recent CORE figures, i.e. distinctly overpriced for what it is. It also comes in the same slightly oversized boxes as the other single CORE figures, although without an embarrassingly large brown cardboard box wrapped around it. Kind of interesting when you think of it, if it costs as much as a CORE figure, why does it get less packaging? Or perhaps Bandai are simply correcting a prior packaging overkill.

The contents of the box are not too spectacular; it looks very much like your average Converge figure. Perhaps a more detailed examination will reveal why this figure costs four times as much as a regular figure?

The RX-78GP00 or Gundam GP00 Blossom is something of a dark horse and a really surprising but welcome inclusion into the Converge line up. With the recent released of the GP04 (and the Gerbera Tetra) we can now really flesh out the Gundam Development Project development tree. It is a rather controversial mobile suit from a lore perspective though, starting its life in a hobby magazine and later being written into the universe through unofficial material. The different sources that do mention the GP00 cannot even seem to agree on how it ended its career; was it in a firefight with Zeon forces, a freak accident or a prototype test flight failure?

The GP00 figure itself is a highly conventional Converge model I would say. Sure, we have a really nice colour scheme on this guy and lots of nifty features such as the logo'ed antenna dish (also known as a Minovsky Particle Interference Wave Searcher), a massive long range beam rifle on a swiveling assembly and half of a Core Booster II craft attached to its back.

The articulation follows your traditional Converge pattern; rotating arms at the shoulders and a head that can look from side to side. The aforementioned beam rifle assembly also allows it to be repositioned in various directions however there is no means for the mobile suit to actually wield it, not exactly what you would expect from a Converge EX figure now, is it?

A Converge Gundam Development Project selection, left to right: The GP00 Blossom (EX 08), the GP01 Zephyrantes from Converge volume 8 (released October 2012), the GP02 Physalis (from twin pack SP 05 released in December 2014 which also contains a GP01-Fb Zephyrantes Fullburnern variant), the recent GP03 Stamen from the EX 07 box (released in November 2015, but the GP03 has also been released as a regular figure in volume 13 in December 2013) and lastly the also recent GP04 Gerbera from Converge #01 (December 2015).

Looking down the flight line we can also see the development history of the Converge brand itself. The GP01 figure, released three and a half years prior to the GP00 is still doing just fine in a side by side comparison. Not bad for a ¥350 figure. Most telling though is the comparison between the recently released GP04 and the GP00. These two figures are contemporary to each other (although the GP04 was part of the Converge reboot) and it seems odd that one of them should be four times more expensive than the other.

Conclusion

I have whined a lot about the pricing of the Gundam GP00 in this review, and I guess that is also its main sore spot. Sure it would have been nice to see some more features or gear choices for it, it being an EX figure at all, but it is a lovely (and enticingly unusual) mobile suit that will sit well in your collection. If you can overcome its unnecessarily high price point I think it is a given for the collection.

Assault Kingdom EX 06 : MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki Set

Things have been a bit quiet on the Assault Kingdom side of the blog for a while now, mainly because we have seen no new regular figures since July last year. Instead the Bandai team have been busy with various vanity projects such as the oversized Psyco Gundam and the equally large Queen Mansa behemoth. Thanks, but I am not interested in paying 185 USD for a candy toy...

Yes, a full eight months have passed since Assault Kingdom volume 9, and we still haven't seen any mentioning of a planned volume 10. You would think Bandai would be eager to put on their best show and make something spectacular for this mini-jubilee, but instead all power seems to be spent on creating expensive EX-figures instead. That is not necessarily a bad thing however, as we have been rewarded with this rather tempting Hyaku-Shiki Set.

Traditionally, the Hyaku-Shiki tends to be released as a "common" figure (compare STANDart or Ultimate Operation for example), but Assault Kingdom is surprisingly giving it a lot of love and attention. This could easily have been a run of the mill yellow plastic figure with a beam rifle and a white toothpick for a beam saber. Instead Bandai went the extra mile and tuned up both its appearance and its toolbox.

Here we really get everything the Zeta Hyaku-Shiki is famous for; a full range of iconic weapons, including the massive Mega Launcher and a customizable DODAI atmospheric flight support vehicle. As a consequence of course, the price leans toward the expensive side, with a set suggestion of ¥2700, which is equal to almost seven standard Assault Kingdom figures. Having said that, I did pick up my figure from a shop in Japan and paid "only" ¥1800 for it.

The basic Hyaku-Shiki figure looks really great. This is the first metallic-looking Assault Kingdom figure I have seen. I had half-expected this to be a bright and plastic-looking overall yellow figure with a minimum of colour application. Instead we get this subdued paint scheme complete with logos on the shoulders and attention to details in red and black. Things that we are not accustomed to seeing in the Assault Kingdom figures. Clearly a lot of the budget has gone into the paintjob and as a result it looks excellent.

Another area where the MSN-00100 really shines is in the equipment department. We get a full set of interactive and interchangeable weapons, from the expected signature Beam Rifle to a Clay Bazooka, a translucent Beam Saber as well as a fully operable Mega Launcher (more on that one in a bit). Another neat feature is how both the Beam Rifle and the Clay Bazooka can be stored on the backpack rack in a similar fashion as the guns on the Rick Dias.

Articulation-wise, the Hyaku-Shiki is a bit of a mixed bag. It features the typical Assault Kingdom articulation points, and has especially good flexibility in the legs. The arms feel more rigid by comparison and do not offer as many nice features. The wing binders can get in the way a bit but can also be titled away to allow the arms to rotate fully in the sockets. We also have the traditional swiveling over arm and bending elbow. I just wish there was a way for the figure to extend its arms straight out to the sides.

Apart from the weapons pack, the Hyaku-Shiki comes with two major accessories; the DODAI configurable atmospheric flight support system, and the gigantic Mega Launcher weapon. A single standard hexagon base is also included which can be used to support one of the given accessories at a time. For some reason the support piece was made an opaque dark grey as opposed to the transparent pieces we have been seeing in the regular line for a while now, this feels like a silly oversight.

The Mega Launcher weapon features some minor articulation itself. The footstep titls down and the barrel can be extended forward a bit although the rubbery tubes tend to drag it back towards the back again. The two handle bars are neatly stowed on the butt of the launcher when not in use, and are repositioned to give the Hyaku-Shiki a means to operate it. This is all an illusion though, since there is no physical connection between the launcher and the mobile suit itself, instead they both have to be attached to the base through means of some fiddly but efficient pegging. It was awkward to pose the Hyaku-Shiki together with the Mega Launcher but once in place they sit nicely in place. It is a cool if gimmicky weapon although the next accessory is by far my favourite.

Yep, the DODAI is one of those highly versatile accessories that really open up for a lot of entertaining display options. The Assault Kingdom model has a good number of pegs and holes which enable some really creative use when placing figures on or around it. What is really cool is how the wings can be extended outward to make room for two figures side by side.

The obvious issue with the DODAI is of course its poor balance; the tiny base plate included in the box is nowhere near the size it needs to be to support anything but the most timid of angles. You'll want to dig out a larger action base (from e.g. the Qubeley or the Kshatriya) for the really crazy scenes.

This is such an awesome accessory, it borders on needing to be sold separately; how cool would it be to line up your entire A.E.U.G. army on a wing of DODAI:s? Hint to Bandai: Make a Karaba Dijeh with another DODAI and sell it as EX 15 or whatever. :)

Comparisons

MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki 1/220 scale, left to right: STANDart vol. 12 (released January 2012), Assault Kingdom EX06 (January 2016), STANDart vol. 2 (March 2008) and FW Ultimate Operation Plus 3 (March 2006).

Never before have I seen an Assault Kingdom figure which mingles so effortlessly with its brethren from STANDart and Ultimate Operation. Bandai really hit the mark with this figure.

Conclusion

The Assault Kingdom Hyaku-Shiki Set is a schoolbook example of how you do everything right with an action figure. It faithfully captures the mobile suit from the Zeta Gundam series and with its wide range of accurate and highly playable accessories this figure will add a lot to your Assault Kingdom collection.

Gundanium Gateway also came across a maintenance and performance evaluation on the Hyaku-Shiki signed by Lt. Quattro Bajeena himself. This is what he had to say:

"Overall the MSN-00100 has good mobility although its articulation is a bit hampered by the large binders on the backpack. Works well with DODAI support in atmospheric flight but the Mega Launcher is cumbersome to operate, and is not on par with the onboard targeting system, I can't seem to hit anything with it. Suggest Anaheim begins work on an upgraded system immediately. Recommend all A.E.U.G. and Karaba Armchair Generals add this mobile suit to their Assault Kingdom flight lines ASAP."

Gundam Converge : UC Ace Vol. 3 Magazine RX-0 Unicorn Gundam

Well, hello there little fellow. Haven't we met before? I have this distinct memory I saw you in a recent Converge release, and one before that, and one...

In the typical backwards world that is Gundam toys, you can't take one step without stumbling on a preciously rare and top performing Gundam mobile suit whereas the low performing mass produced machines -that exist in the stories purely to be turned into mince meat- are nowhere to be found.

Today's mini review will be a quick look on one of the bazillion versions of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. This particular figure was still rather fresh at the time of its release though, having only been preceded by one previous figure. This particular item was a promotional figure tied to the third issue of the Gundam ACE magazine, and was released in the end of 2011. Its claim to fame (apart form being a limited edition item in itself) is a layer of pearl coating.

As you can see from the above and below pictures this is a fairly standard Unicorn Gundam figure. You get the basic accessories and articulation which we have by now come to expect out of a basic Converge figure.

The pearl coating effect is really nice and the green eyes have also been given a nice and shiny appearance although this can be hard to see because of this figure's penchant for leaning forward. We've seen some of these Unicorns so eager to stoop forward that the only way to keep them on their feet has been to use the Beam Rifle (or that dull base which clips to the ankles) as an additional support. No such problems on this particular figure though.

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam lineage. To the left we have the originalRX-0 from Converge vol. 2 (released January 2011), in the middle stands the (also) pearl coated RX-0 from the Overseas Only triple pack from 2012, and to the right we have the most detailed version, the UC ACE figure from December 2011.

The pearl coating was apparently popular enough to be reused when the RX-0 was reissued in the "Converge Limited (Overseas Only)" triple pack in 2012, which saw it rebundled with a Jesta and a delta Plus, both of which had also had their colours upgraded. The UC ACE version of this figure is easily recognized through the additional colouring on its shield which was not added on the 2012 version.

To make this short review a bit more interesting I am including the line-up of cardboard box promo figures thus far released in the Converge line:

Promotional figures in similar boxes: Char's Zaku II with machine gun (Dengeki Hobby Magazine August, 2011), the pearl-coated RX-0 (UC Ace Vol 3, December 2011), the Banshee (Unicorn Mode) again from Dengeki Hobby Magazine (July 2012) and the X-0 Crossbone Gundam Ghost which came with Gundam Ace magazine in June 2013.

Mobile Suit Gundam Ultimate Operation : FW Gundam Ultimate File

Today I have a really unusual artefact to present, an item I recently stumbled on simply by chance. It is the Fusion Works Gundam Ultimate File publication, which is a glossy book (more like a product catalogue than anything else) published by Dengeki Hobby Books whose logo also appears in the top corner on the front cover. According to the production notes on the last page the book was formally releases on March 20th 2008. The price listed on the back cover is 2500 yen.

At this point in FWUO history the series had already folded, with the last figures of Operation Maelstrom appearing already a year ago in March 2007. And to this end the book is not dedicated solely to the Ultimate Operation series, but also contains material on the first two volumes of the recently initiated STANDart figures series, also manufactured by Fusion Works. As such, the book is not an exclusive FWUO tome, although for the Ultimate Operation collector it is a complete reference guide and as such quite seminal.

The book itself is in landscape format and sits inside a portrait-oriented cardboard cover, to match the size of your typical Dengeki Hobby Magazine. It is roughly 100 pages but wastes no time on unnecessary words. The first page is an index, and from then it starts presenting full artwork spreads of the FW UO figures in the order they appear. You will recognize the style of the artwork from the miniature images on the Ultimate Operation packaging back covers, where the actual figures are presented against computer generated backdrops, often with augmentations such as glowing eyes or motion blur effects. Sadly there is no text or other facts presented but just the pictures themselves.

The YMS-15 Gyan from FWUO vol.  9 shares page with the two RGM-79SP GM Sniper II figures from FWUO vol. 10.

The two MSM-03C Hy-Gogg figures from FWUO volume 10 in some dramatically enhanced portrait shots.

Char's MS-14S Gelgoog and a litter of MS-09 Doms (this time around without the Black Tri-Star numbers on them), all from the reissue figures from the UC0079 series.

Interspersed between the action shots we find the real meat of the book however, the figure series data. Here each figure wave is quickly summarized and the book also points out some basic details about each figure, such as if there are marking variations or special gimmicks or transformations. You will find most of this information on the individual figure cards as well, but not as nicely displayed and detailed as here.

The below spread is of particular interest, displaying all the limited figures (which of course are not mentioned on the regular figure card backs) as well as the two FW EX figures released in 2005. I myself didn't even know about the Burstliner model until now, a model which I will now have to begin searching for (rather fruitlessly I fear).

Nearing the end of the book we also get a short summary of the first two STANDart waves of figure, although there is no additional artwork associated with these figures (dear FW can we also have a meaty STANDart reference as the series epitaph now that the series has been killed off?). The very last page before the end titles is titled "Special Comments" and contains three articles that I would have loved to read, except everything except the heading is in Japanese only (you knew it).

Overall, I find this book highly relevant as a reference guide for any serious Ultimate Operation collector. I don't know how rare it is, since I normally do not bother with the Dengeki Gundam products, but my guess is it is probably tricky to find though probably not very expensive.

Before we go, let's just zoom in on a couple of these awesome suits: