Link and Epona (Legend of Zelda) - Action Figure Reviews

Series: Video Game Vehicles

Craftsmanship: 8.0 / 10

- Very nice sculpt and statue piece

- Detailed horse and base

- Not very articulated and essentially unplayable

Playability: 3.5 out of 10

- Link has a small amount of playability and accessories

- Epona wont stand without the base

- It just kinda sits there...

- Action Figure: Link (Ocarina of Time)

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Link and Epona (Legend of Zelda)by Joyride Studios

Joyride Studios are now into their 4th Series of Video Game action figures, including video gaming icons from games including SSX Tricky, Sonic the Hedgehog and Luigi's Mansion. In addition to their normal video game series, they've

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produced a series of awesome MechWarrior figures, and recently video game vehicle figures, including vehicles from the popular C&C games and Crazy Taxi. Today I'm looking at a figure from this series, Link and Epona from the Nintendo 64 Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time.

It's strange that this set is considered a "vehicle"

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as it's really just a set. Link and Epona comes with three separate parts, the figure being Link, with Epona the horse, and then a base to display them with. Link stands approx 4" tall, a little shorter than Epona at 5", and the base is a 2" tall sculpted as a section of ground for Epona to gallop over. The set fits together fitting Link onto the horse (the stirrups have pegs to keep Link on Epona) and slotting Epona into the base, using the pegs on her hooves. It's a nifty little set together - perfect for display on your computer or TV, but because only Link is articulated and slightly movable, it feels less like an action figure than an inexpensive statue. I'm sure this is what Joyride Studios are going for; however, it's the same deal with their other figures -- to highlight the authenticity and coolness of the character sculpts.

The sculpt of this set is pretty good. Link is sculpted to 3D form, although his facial sculpt isn't even close to the video game character, but the authentic costume makes up for it. The paint aps on Link are slightly disappointing, with overspill on the costume yet stunning gold paint and detailing on his accessories: the detailed sword and Hyrilian shield. Epona has simpler paint aps than Link but with a far better sculpt - stuck in a permanent pose of running, the horse is well detailed all over, with excellent paint aps on the mane and tail in particular. The base is simply orange-brown plastic with a golden sticker for Ocarina of Time. Overall, the sculpts by Joyride are relatively simple, with paint aps that detail the entire set up a notch to nice effect.

The set only includes two accessories - Link's sword and the Hylian shield. Although Link can hold the sword in both hands, he can only really be posed in one way, holding the sword in one hand and defending with the shield in the other. The sword also fits into the sheath on Link's back. Articulation seems disappointing, but as mentioned the set isn't really about playability - Epona isn't articulated, though Link has articulation at the shoulders, knees, midsection and ball-jointed neck & leg joints. Although for the small 4" figure, eight points of articulation seems a lot, the articulation is primarily to pose Link riding Epona in one pose, rather than making Link multiposeable.

The packaging for this figure is quite inventive but a little suss - the packages are presented with bright colors depicting art of the characters, in this case Link in striking pose. The card is actually two pieces of cardboard - it can be opened up in the middle for more information about the character, including some interesting tidbits about the history of Link and the Legend of Zelda, plus cheats and info on several of the games, which I thought was a very cool addition (the card stays closed with a small piece of velcro). However, the packaging is also covered with advertising, including what seems like dozens of subscription deals for Nintendo Power. I think this is a little in bad taste for an action figure. There's even a paper insert to the figure trying to get you to subscribe, for gawd's sake. And then little advertisements all over the back. This packaging is a mixed bag. Although I like the ingenuity of having the card open, I dislike all the unneeded, blatant advertising. Fortunately, it's ignorable - it's the figure inside that counts.

Although this is my favourite Joyride Studios figure, I can't help drawing comparisons between this figure and the earlier Toybiz figure. The original figure was more to my taste. It was larger, more playable and cheaper, although for many this will be a better deal - it's the ideal display piece that anyone who has ever played a Zelda game will like. I also think it'd make a fine gift to a gamer friend. I'm recommending it, just because I like looking at it. It's staying on my computer desk, forever charging into action...

- Shocka
(April 26, 2003)