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But I digress…
Oda, decked out from head to toe in black leather and armor, would probably be
more imposing if he didn’t have an annoying face.
Have you ever met a person that just oozes annoyance? You may have never spoken
to them, never seen them before but they automatically start to annoy you. Oda
has one of those faces that sets
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my nerves on
edge. The sculpt and detail are great, and I actually like
the amount of neck mobility, but he’s got the intangible annoyance factor.
Everything else about Oda is well done.
He has an interchangeable right hand – one with an open palm, one with a closed
hand to accommodate his sword. This provides some pretty good display options
but the accompanying scabbard that plugs into his left hip pops out quite
easily. Even just having him on display I’ve had to replace it a few times. The
sword fits perfectly in his hand or the scabbard. Although he sports the basic
Metal Gear Solid 2 (MGS2) articulation set – ball, hinge and seam joints
strategically placed – he’s not all that poseable. This is owed to his cape
mostly. And although it limits his articulation somewhat it keeps him standing
and makes him the second most stable figure of the bunch. (Gogandantes has his
own base.)
Play factor is heightened by the fact he has the annoying look. With the thin
moustache and goatee he’s just got to be evil (and annoying) and bad guys are
always hot sellers. In fact, Oda could easily pass as a samurai version of Darth
Vader so the kiddies will grab him up. Depending on how vigorously you play with
your toys, Oda has good playability. His cape can be torn off but that’s
something you really have to work at. Of more likelihood is losing his spare
hand or his sword and scabbard. If the sword-holding hand is lost you’d be
hard-pressed to ever have Oda holding a sword again. A piece that’s easier to
tear off is his belt ornament – and it’s not a clean tear (in one piece) since
the central part is solidly glued on and the flaps are attached to that with
thin plastic strands. (You can probably imagine the headaches associated with
reattaching such delicate parts.) Other than the points mentioned above, the
articulation is solid enough to resist damage but pliable enough for some
interesting dioramas and won’t break at the drop of a hat.
Worth buying? Well, that’s up to you, dear reader. If you’ve got the money, I’d
say, “Yes.” I base this on his ability to withstand moderate play, his Darth
Vader looks, good poseability and the chance to set up displays with characters
looking to smash his annoying face to a bloody pulp.
- Omni
(August 24, 2002) |
