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Series: Final Fantasy X Monster Collection
Craftsmanship: 8.2 out of 10 - Great video game likeness - Good paint and sculpt - Not many poses available - Nearly impossible to stand without the base - A good display piece for FFX fans
Playability: 7.0 out of 10 - Can double as a rocking chair - Tail is easily lost - Can hold office equipment and smaller action figures - More display piece than play toy
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Varuna (Final Fantasy X)
With a worldwide following, Final Fantasy is one of the most successful video game franchises ever. This same worldwide following should be snapping up the toys by Koto Inc. and ARTFX. Overall, they’re a perfect example of a video game license done correctly: a good variety of figures that replicate their digital counterparts. Other companies like McFarlane Toys and the defunct Resaurus, have done things right as well, but neither has snagged a license as big as Final Fantasy.
Varuna is a good example of Koto’s work. If his wings are included, Varuna stands about 7 ˝” and is decently detailed. The sculpt is well done with lots of musculature and subtle bone-like plating. The attention to detail comes in with the symbols on his wings – front and |
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back. Colors contrast in an eye-pleasing manner – the brilliant orange torso, feet, forehead, and claws (highlighted with red) manage to make Varuna stand out on a crowded shelf.
Poseability is limited due to a couple of things: his big claw hands and lack of articulation. Total articulation points is five – four in the arms, one in the neck – but I can understand the decision to go this route. The “hands” make Varuna an extremely unbalanced figure – even installed on his base he can fall over, that’s how heavy they are. Once you do hit the magic |
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spot, he can stand with the best of them, even under vibration. (A display tip at the office: Varuna can hold small office supplies quite easily; pens, rulers, sticky notes, and my favorite, staple removers, are all easily supported when you’ve got his arms in the right position. Functionality is underrated when it comes to action figures.)
Playability gets a boost because Varuna can hold smaller figures like GI Joes. (Fighting Cobra’s no problem – taking on demon-like beings is another story.) His fingers aren’t articulated to attain a pincer action but even taking that into account smaller figures fit fairly snug. Varuna takes hits in the playability arena for the fact his tail can be lost quite easily. The wings and tail must be inserted in his back. Once inserted they stay there for the most part, but during the play test, they all popped out. (Re-inserting them is no problem but if you’re into “display only” you shouldn’t have any problems.)
Everyone has their favorite monsters from Final Fantasy X and those that are partial to Varuna should snap him up – the translation from digital being has been done very well. And if you like Anime, Varuna’s a good figure too since the influence is undeniable.
- Omni (May 1, 2002)
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