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Series: Metal Gear Solid 2
Craftsmanship: 8.4 out of 10 - Weird points of articulation - Stands amazingly well but slight hunch makes him tippy - Straight from the video game
Playability: 6.8 out of 10 - “Re-breather” easy to pull off - Five accessories - Accessories can be lost easily - Interchangeable heads - Good compatibility with other figures in the series
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Raiden (MGS2)
Raiden has some of weirdest articulation points out there. The fact that they work is an engineering feat – or “feet” in this case.
Raiden has about 17 points of articulation. Two of these points are seam joints in the middle of each foot. At first glance, this choice makes no sense but when you get into posing him, it begins to. The hip joints are seam and the knees are hinged. But the way the sculpt is, the legs are at strange angles to the body, so if the feet were without that seam joint, Raiden would be impossible to stand. When posed, he looks like a spring about to be sprung! It’s a good “snapshot” effect. The mid-torso ball-joint and elbow seam joints are also of note. Lots of possible poses. In most poses he’s tippy (falling over with slight vibrations), but picking the right pose can eliminate some of this. (Usually by leaning her against something.)
The sculpt and paint job capture his video game likeness, complete with “re-breather” mask.
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The model numbers on her suit are clear and devoid of smudges. (Is it me, or does his suit look he stole if off Paul Atriedies?) It’s a top-notch effort, especially the roomy but unobtrusive gun holster on his right thigh and the split-toe ninja-type shoes. The swords fit well in his hands, as do the guns. What Raiden really needs though is a scabbard to hold the swords when in use. The handgun fits nicely in the holster and the machine gun has a strap so it can be slung over his shoulder – but when the swords aren’t in use, they’re easy to misplace. An accessory easily overlooked is his extra, unmasked, head. Pulling off the |
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masked head is easy – it’s harder to replace it with his unmasked head. Regardless, one head is always in danger of vanishing. Which is to say nothing of the “re-breather” part of his masked head. The re-breather seems to be of foam rubber, which is very easy to pull off – accidentally or otherwise.
Playabilty. . . well, Raiden suffers from a certain lack of “cool” factor. He’s got much in common with the classic GI Joe figure, Snake Eyes, but just lacks that “I don’t know what.” Raiden is moderately tough. During the play test I managed to pop out his left hand, then, when I attempted to reattach it, his forearm popped off. The rest of him held up well though. Playability also takes a hit in the number of accessories that can be lost. Some of this is counter-balanced with the cross-compatibility with other figures in the MGS2 series, but what if you lose one of his heads?
I’m not sure if the mainstream crowd will scoop up Raiden, but fans of the video game won’t be disappointed.
- Omni
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