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Series:
MechWarrior – Dark Age Craftsmanship:
9.0 / 10 -
Keepin’ it metal! -
Faithful to the MechWarrior source but needs some “battle damage” -
Not as poseable as it could be -
Stable Playability:
7.0 / 10 -
Mech battle dioramas look great -
Heavy figure -
Small pilot will be lost - Limited articulation points might mean broken limbs Related Links:
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Mad Cat II (MechWarrior)
As a MechWarrior figure, Mad Cat II is probably the most recognizable. Legionnaire, Forestry ‘Mech, and Jupiter could be mistaken for big robots from other series, but Mad Cat II has the distinctive three-point feet, dual shoulder-mounted long-range launchers and domed beak-like cockpit that will forever be associated with the MechWarrior universe. For me, at any rate. Mad Cat II almost fires on all pistons – almost. One or two issues affect it’s technical score and the first is the limited articulation. There are 11 points of articulation but the position of the seam joint at the “waist” limits Mad Cat II’s ability to turn completely – the tops of the legs are just high enough to prevent free movement. The remaining points do a great job allowing for some cool poses. It’s balanced extremely well and it can actually be put into action poses with a bit of experimentation. Those that have always hankered for some cool MechWarrior dioramas – the wait is over!
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The second issue is that Mad Cat II is a little too squeaky clean, which is a general fault with the entire series, but is more glaring thanks to its white paint job. These huge machines see a lot of flak during battles and they don’t exhibit any scorch marks? Dents? Dings? Exposed wiring? There is some blackening around the gun barrels, which is to be expected, but c’mon! Either the pilots are really good or the MechWarrior units are fresh off the assembly line. With the right kind of paint, a steady hand and some imagination, battle damage can be added. Of course, this route isn’t recommended if you don’t have some experience |
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customizing your figures – otherwise it will just cause you frustration. If Joyride has plans for another series of MechWarrior figures (or a repaint of this series), I hope they take the initiative to add the extra detailing. Everything else about Mad Cat II is top shelf. It remains faithful to the MechWarrior source material and even if you’re not specifically interested in MechWarrior, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail. As a display figure, it fits in with the other MechWarrior figures and is to scale with them – it simply towers over the Forestry ‘Mech. Playability is mixed. Like Jupiter, Mad Cat II is a big heavy figure and can actually present some danger. (Mostly if it’s thrown across a room.) In conjunction with the other MechWarrior figures there is quite a bit of play to be had, but on its own… well, kids won’t have a problem letting their imaginations run riot, especially if you happen to have Joyride’s C & C: Renegade vehicles. However, this will put it in danger of losing a limb. The joints don’t have much “give” increasing the chances you’ll hear the line, “Dad, can you fix this?” A nice touch with all the MechWarrior figures is the small pilot figure packed with them, but their size makes them entirely loseable. Once installed in the cockpit (by flipping open Mad Cat II’s “forehead”) the pilot will stay put, but if you’re one to fret over lost accessories and “incomplete” sets, it’s for the best to just put the pilot in a safe place. Without a doubt, this is a must-have for MechWarrior fans. Mad Cat II has much going for it as a display piece (Yay, metal!) – and a little less as a play toy – even though it could be made better. - Omni (April 12, 2003)
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