In this first selection of toy reviews I was privileged enough to get my hands on some of Diamond Select's, and Art Asylum's Minimate toys. They included in the shipment all four of the "Marvel vs Capcom 3" 2-Pack Minimate sets, one of the Square Enix "Tomb Raider" 2-Pack sets, and a San Diego Comi-Con debut exclusive of "Alice: Madness Returns". As I go along I will describe in detail the findings of each individual set, as well as a collective assessment of the the figures features, and overall quality. The quality details will included assessments of the paint job, the construction, and the articulation of each figure. I hope that by the end of the article you will find yourself educated enough about the product that you will be able to make the proper decision as to whether this is something you want to collect, or not.
Marvel vs Capcom
When it comes to the "Marvel vs Capcom 3" Minimates you will all likely recognize the fact that they are based on the characters from video game of the same name. The four 2-pack sets include characters that come from the "Marvel vs Capcom 3", and "Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3" universe. Among the characters included in the complete collection you'll find an "X-23 & Felicia" set, a "Wesker & Doom" set, a "Chun-Li & She-Hulk" set, and a "Ryu & Captain America" set. Each 2-pack comes with it's own character related accessories, and stands. Some of these characters are meant to be displayed in particular poses, but in reality they can all be positioned how you see fit using the 12-14 point articulation (joint movement) that's made available to you. You'll also find that some characters have interchangeable parts that can be swapped out to make them look different. This includes everything from body parts to hair, and even clothing. There's definitely a hint of character mixture capabilities seeing as some parts can be removed, and exchanged with other characters. Whether, or not this was an intended feature it is definitely an option.
The first "Marvel vs Capcom 3" set is that of "X-23 & Felicia". X-23, as all of us Wolverine comic book followers know is a clone of wolverine, and has a somewhat different set of claws than her forefather. As with the video game adaptation the X-23 looks strikingly similar to the in-game character she is meant to resemble. She's sporting her sports bra top, her arm bracers, her matching black jeans, and even her protruding hand and feet claws. Most of the clothing details are painted on, and are alright for the type of toy that it is. You'll find that X-23's claws do stick out from her hands, and feet making for a more realistic appearance. While the claws are a proper nod to the character they are a bit flexible, and rubbery making for a cheaper feel. Most of X-23's body is constructed of a glossy plastic. Her hair which has a satin finish is the only real exception.
Felicia is another unique character that comes from the "Marvel vs Capcom 3" mash-up. Originally hailing from the "Darkstalkers" video game series this humanoid feline has talents as a singer, and spends most of her days doing good deeds as a nun. Most of you will know her as the nearly naked cat chick. As far as her figure representation goes it is dead on considering the fact that the toy seems oddly inspired by the Lego toys of old. The paint job that covers Felicia's body is just as revealing as her video game counterpart. Added details such as her extra bulky cat claws, and paws give her that true Felicia appearance that we all know. You'll even find her signature cat ears, and cat tail as well. As far as the paint job goes Diamond Select, and Art Asylum stuck to the glossy finish for the chest, and legs area and gave her feline parts a satin finish. Even her flowing blue hair received the satin touch. The "X-23 & Felicia" set came with a clear dust cloud stand which imitates one of Felicia's moves, and a standard flat stand with a raised peg for placing the X-23's foot upon.
There's a couple of things that come to mind as I gazed upon the next set. This set which includes "Albert Wesker & Dr.Doom" will no doubt bring back memories to you as well, especially if you follow Maximilian's (Miles923) "Marvel vs Capcom" series on Youtube. Both characters included in the set are inherently evil in their own unique ways. Wesker" is the infamous bad guy of Capcom's "Resident Evil" franchise, and Dr.Doom does his own bad guy business within the pages of Marvel Comics. Out of all the sets sent this particular villain duo comes of as being the more high quality of the group. The figures are heavier in weight, and have the cloak, and trench coat that are associated with each character. While it could be argued that Wesker looks like he was ripped from the matrix with his all black ensemble he still comes off as being the MvC3 villain that we all know. Dr. Doom on the other hand looks absolutely amazing with his metallic getup, and details that were obviously inspired by his video game, and comic book appearances.
You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that Dr. Doom" has his cloak intact as well as his flanged gauntlets and a laser blaster accessory with which to blast his adversaries with. Wesker is also quite the bojo badass with his flowing black trench coat, and a hand gun with which he can deliver the "coup de gras" to Raccon City's finest. Wesker, for the most part sports a thoroughly glossy paint job that even covers his entire trench coat. The only satin feature on the Wesker figure is his hair. Dr. Doom is one of of the more interesting characters when it comes to paint jobs. His metallic parts are done up in a glossy silver paint that matches the video game rendition of him. His hunter green attire also reflects his in-game appearance. As far as satin finishes go Dr.Doom's cloak is the only part of him that utilizes that sort of finish. It gives the cloak more of a cloth-like feel in that respect. One thing that should also be noted about the "Wesker & Dr. Doom" 2-pack is that it comes with a stylish semi-transparent orange energy stand that looks as if it could go with either character. Sadly getting the two mini-mates to stand on it without falling over is a trying task.
Next up you'll find that two rather brawny ladies are the focal point of this next set. The set I'm referring to includes none other than "Chun-Li & She-Hulk". Both ladies of the law are muscular in their own right, and as such are represented in all their muscular glory. Fans of Chun-Li will be glad to know that the sculptor paid close attention to details when it came down to her appearances. Her Chinese dress still has all the lacy, and gown-like details that Chun-Li is known for. You'll find that her puffy shoulder pads are still in place, and that even her hair is sporting the bun covers from her many video game appearances. Her dress which is the accurate color of blue has white, and gold trimmings just as it does in-game. Even her thighs are accurately displayed with the darker brown stockings that accent her muscularly defined legs. Those of you worried about her spike bracelets you'll find that those are there as well. When it comes to a satin finish on the Chun-Li mini-mate the hair, and the arms are the only parts that aren't glossy in nature.
She-Hulk is all about beauty, brains, and brawn. This sexy, and muscular lady of the law comes from one of Marvels more interesting story archs. She's been involved in everything from Marvel's civil war to the video game series known as "Marvel vs Capcom". While She-Hulk has worn many different outfits, and uniforms in her time Diamond Select, and Art Asylum decided to stay true to the subject matter, and give her the outfit she wore in MvC3. In essence She-Hulk is the solid green babe she's always been, even for a Minimates figure. Her only different sources of color comes from a painted on purple, and silver one piece swimsuit. Other than that the only real details included are her muscular outlines, and her glossy dark green hair. Between "She-Hulk & Chun_Li" the only accessories included were a standard round display stand, and a special stand for Chun-Li with which you could supposedly position her as if she were doing her signature special move, the "Spinning Bird Kick". Unfortunately I was unable to use the stand for it's intended purpose as the base of it was warped, and Chun-Li's added weight made the display topple over every time I tried to get it to stand up.
The last of the MvC3 collection comes in the form of a 2-Pack that includes Marvel, and Capcom's leading examples of heroism. Both "Ryu & Captain America" return in all their glory with added accessory bonuses that outshine the rest of the MvC figure offerings. Ryu, being the simple man in a karate uniform that he his was done up quite impressively by the Diamond Select, and art Asylum artists. His ragged sleeveless top reflects that video game representation that all fighting game enthusiasts will recognize. As with certain other mini-mates figures his shirt top can be removed if you simply remove his head. Other notable details include Ryu's signature sparring gloves, and his red headband. The really interesting thing about the Ryu Minimate though is that it comes with a clear blue fireball that has it's own stand. This in itself makes for a nice display in a collector's curio/cabinet.
Captain America isn't without his own fine details, and accessories either. This superhero of the red, white & blue comes complete with a removable/swappable mask, a blonde hair accessory, an attachable shield, and a paint job suiting of Marvel's finest patriot. His gloves which have always been wider at the base sport the same look on this mini-mate inspired replica. Even his mask contains the details that reflect the man of honor that he is. Included on the mask is the signature "A" for America, and two eagle wings which are located on either side of the mask. The shield being the add-on accessory that it is plugs right into a hole attached to his left forearm. Aside from his perfect attributes this mini-mate did have one huge flaw though. One of the lower legs was backwards meaning that the person who assembled it added the wrong leg to the figure. While this could be considered a positively price altering detail to hobbyists, I found it to be a bit on the bad side of things.
Tomb Raider (Square Enix)
Lara Croft of the "Tomb Raider" franchise has been featured in many different forms of entertainment. Whether it was her original debut on the Sony Playstation, her movie debut, or her other naughty adventures captured in the world of adult entertainment this buxom broad has always held her own as being one of the most badass babes that has ever graced the entertainment industry. As fate would have it Diamond Select, and Art Asylum chose to represent Lara Croft, and her in-game comrades/adversaries in their more female friendly Square Enix style. Out of the four set collection I got lucky enough to score one of the Lara Croft inclusive sets for review. The set which is titled "Lara Croft & Tomb Raider Scavenger Scout" shows the pair of characters as they were shown within the confines of the video game.
The Lara Croft Minimate comes complete with a wide assortment of weapons, and accessories while sporting the signature Square Enix/Crystal Dynamic's costume design. You'll find that same bluish-grey tank top, and brown khaki pants that the Lara of this latest adventure wears is also painted onto the mini-mate representation. The accessories (Bow & Arrows, Walkie Talkie, Torch ...) included alongside the Lara Croft Minimate figure give a proper nod to game related art, and in-game activities that she has been shown in from time to time. As far as her packaged companion goes he is one of the many villainous people that Lara runs into as she tries to evade, and survive against the threats of the island she finds herself on. He is definitely one of the more interesting Minimate creations in that his painted burnt face details, his overlapping vest, and his different gloves make for a more intricate appearance. You'll even find that this bad guy comes with his own painted on tattoos which no doubt reflect the character contained within the video game. One thing to note is that this set comes on a plastic holder glued to a cardboard backing. It is not like the boxed "Marvel vs Capcom" Minimates that you've seen in the earlier photo I've provided.
Alice: Madness Returns (San Diego Comic-con Debut)
If you missed out on the console version of American McGee's "Alice: Madness Returns", or this San Diego Comi-Con exclusive Minimate your really did yourself a disservice. The game, let alone collectibles associated with it are a highly sought after thing, and often times have a strong cult following. For those of you who are unfamiliar with American McGee's re-imagining of the "Alice in Wonderland" fable it is basically a tale that involves a mentally disturbed girl who visits an equally disturbed version of Wonderland. By visiting her otherworldly friends this poor girl named Alice tries to make sense of her real-life predicament. Blood, gore, and lunacy are all things that reside within the imagination of this lost girl, and the frightful fantasy world she has created only acts as a means to hide herself from the harsher facts of real life.
When it comes to the Comi-Con Minimate exclusive the saying "Great things come in small packages" definitely applies. Everything about this Minimate recreation screams "Alice: Madness Returns". From the painted on details to the added hair piece everything done to this micro version of Alice definitely reflects the creative imaginings of Spicy Horse. The Alice Minimate looks as close to the real thing as she possible could considering she's being presented as a Minimate toy. The box she's included in brings things full circle with video game related art, and the signature "San Diego Comi-Con" label. Even Spicy Horse get's their name plastered in the tiny box. As far as accessories go the Alice Minimate is unfortunately void of all such items. It's just her, and her alone.
The Assessment / Verdict ...
No matter what Minimate you opt to buy you'll find that they are all built basically the same way. They have removable, and posable body parts, clothing articles, accessories, and stands. As I mentioned before they include 12-14 points of articulation (joint movement) depending on the model type. This includes a pivotable head, shoulder joints, elbow joints, movable hands/feet, hip joints, knee joints, and even a midsection that can turn. Some Minimates will have shoes/feet that can be repositioned while other mini-mates have shoes/feet that are a part of the lower legs. In that sense they are well beyond being articulated like the Lego figures of old. As far as paint jobs, and painted on details go the artists behind the creations keep things similar to the portrayed character in both color, and appearance. The only incorrect details that you'll find is the lack of noses on the faces of each mini-mate figure.
The paint jobs on the each of the figures that I reviewed were decent for the most part. I did find that there were some sloppy mistakes from time to time though, but nothing in the way of a noticeable disaster. As far as the actual build of the toy is concerned the peg to hole articulation works quite effectively, but feels rather stiff making the posing of Minimates a daunting task at times. The add-on accessories, and included stands also present a slight problem as well. Some of the stands, and accessories will be bent out of shape due to package positioning. A couple of the stands I got, for example were warped pretty badly as were a few of the accessories. While these are all minor complaints on the grand scheme of things the worst issue I ran into was the backwards/wrong foot on the "Captain America" Minimate. This is definitely something a collector would not like to see. That of course brings me to my final point.
When it comes to toys, and collecting them many hobbyists will opt not to remove them from the packages. Others will want to display them on a desk, or even put them in a display cabinet with the rest of their collected figures. If you are a hobbyist that goes for the collecting value of a toy, and chooses not to open what you buy then I'd say that this is a most excellent line of toys for that. If your hobby preferences lie on the other end of the spectrum, and you like opening and displaying your toys then you might want to pass the Minimates up. Such a collector will find that pieces can be easily lost, and that displaying the Minimates is not always a viable option. Things like tiny accessories, and easily lost parts could decrease the value of the figure that you have invested money in. You also need to keep in mind that this line of toys is not meant for younger children (0-3 restricted / Only For 8 & Up), so if you have younger children in the household loose parts, and the Minimates themselves could prove to be a choking hazard.
Measurments ...
HEIGHT: Roughly 4 in., give or take a little depending on hair
WIDTH: With the arms by the side it's a little over an inch, and a half in width. In a spread arm pose it varies, but can reach a little over 2 inches in width.
Intended Age Requirement ...
Mini-Mates are intended for children 8 years of age, and older. It expressly forbidden that anyone from 0-3 years of age get their hands on these toys.
Pricing ...
Mini-Mate 2-Packs: $9.99 ea.
Alice: Madness Returns Exclusive: $5.00 ea
VERDICT: In the end, with all things weighed I'm gonna have to say that Minimates are best kept in the package, and are not actually play worthy. If you want a proper collectible though they do offer an a proper hobby source for comic book, and video game fanatics. If you are looking for a new play thing look elsewhere. Be sure to keep those two things in mind when making your next Diamond Select Toys Minimates purchase!
Diamond Select Toys: http://www.diamondselecttoys.com
Art Asylum: http://www.artasylum.com
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