"YOU STUCK PLAYER 2"...
Written: Oct 22 '09
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: High level of articulation. Amazing sculpt and paint job. Cool Accessories. Bonus "Medal".
Cons: Internal packaging issue (see review)
The Bottom Line: "Player One Earns the Grenade Stick! Achievment..."
|
|
|
| Chris_Billings's Full Review: Halo 3 Series 6 - Spartan Soldier Recon [GameStop... |
McFarlane Toys just released Series 6 in the Halo action figure line based on the video game series of the same name this month. Series 6 is based on characters seen and introduced in the two latest X-Box 360 video games, Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST.
Spartan Soldiers of the UNSC (United Nations Space Command) are genetically enhanced humans like Master Chief (the main character in the Halo series) that wear similar suits of armor. McFarlane Toys did a great job in replicating these characters from the Video Game. Think of the Stormtroopers/Clone Troopers from Star Wars...except on steroids.
The latest figure I picked up was the Spartan Recon (Steel) figure which is exclusive to GameStop. It's essentially the same figure as the Spartan Recon (White) figure in the Series 6 basic assortment with the exception of an alternate paint job and accessories. The "Steel" colored figure comes with two weapons and a bonus accessory.
McFarlane Toys did an amazing job on the sculpting of the figure. It's would be hard to improve the design of the figure. It's like the character stepped out of the video game and jumped off the television screen. The Spartan Recon (Steel) figure stands just over five inches tall. The piece is classified as a "6 inch" figure though. The detailing and sculpt of the body armor is fairly realistic looking which is further enhanced by the paint job.
This particular figure has armor painted a grayish color that resembles "steel". The exposed area of the figure is painted black to mimic the body suits worn by the soldiers under their armor. The helmet area of the figure was painted in a hurry though. The "visor" is painted a metallic gold to replicate the look of the sunshield that protects the soldiers' eyes from intense light of suns and stars on the various planets they visit. Except the gold paint gets a little out of the lines.
Articulation is one of the most important aspects I look for in an "action figure". The Spartan Recon (Steel) figure sports an amazing 26 points of articulation (as advertised on the package). The figure has double joints (ball-hinge) used at the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle locations. The wrists feature standard swivel joints allowing the figure to hold just about any weapon or accessory in the product line. The toes even have a hinge-joint on them allowing the figure to "kneel" and have a much more natural look when doing so. The ball-hinge joints used throughout the figure look like large gears. They are extremely heavy duty and are well made McFarlane Toys has learned their lesson when it comes to joints. They've been criticized for years because they have made extremely detailed figures that look like sculptures but are not very functional. I personally have never run into a figure from the company that has broken on me. But I have heard complaints though. Anyway, there are several sections of the armor that is removable. The shoulder "pads" as well as the chest plate and helmet come off. They are swappable with the same sections on other Spartan Recon figures. And if you happen to collect ‘Halo Points' you can pick up bonus armor for around 225 to 250 points (http://www.spawn.com/halopoints/recon-red.html).
The Spartan Recon (Steel) figure is packaged with a "Brute Shot" as his main weapon and a Spike Grenade as his secondary weapon. A Brute Shot is a type of gun held like a Gatling-gun and has a large scythe/axe-type blade that is attached to the rear of it which is used for close combat melee attacks. It's a dual purpose weapon so that the soldier doesn't have to drop his gun while participating in close quarters combat situations. The Spike Grenade is similar to the one that's packaged with several figures including the Master Chief figure in Series 3. The particular Spike Grenade has a slightly longer handle on it. The Grenade resembles a large club/mace with razor sharp spikes hence the name "Spike Grenade".
The latest wave, Series 6, is dubbed "Medal Edition" because each figure includes a replica achievement or medal that players earn while playing online multiplayer matches in the video games (Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST). This particular figure is packaged with the "Grenade Stick!" medal; which is earned by killing your opponent by sticking a Spike and/or Plasma Grenade on your opponent in the Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST. The medals' packaged with this series of figures is an octagon shaped piece of plastic. On the front side of the "medal" is a painted on achievement that resembles the shape/symbol used in the different games. In this case, a picture of a 16 pointed star inside another 16 pointed star with an energy orb in the very center is painted on the medal (it kind of looks like some sort of strange flower). Those who play the halo games know this to symbolize the "Grenade Stick!" achievement. On the back of the medal is the "Halo 3" logo cast into the plastic. Another use for the medal, if you don't mind ruining it, would be to sand it down and paint it like a Stop Sign.
The shape and size of the medal is approximately to scale with the action figure. It would look cool to modify the accessory for display/diorama purposes. Add some distressing to the "stop sign" and you have a cool post-apocalyptic "artifact".
The only problem I have is with the grenade accessory. It's a really cool looking weapon, but when the figure was packaged the Spike Grenade was put into a form fitting tray made a little too small. The four little spikes at the end of the grenade were smashed up. I bought duplicate figures (one I left in the package) and both of the grenades were damaged. Other than that I am very pleased with the Halo figures from McFarlane Toys.
The Spartan Recon (Steel) figure comes with Ten (10) Halo Points. McFarlane Toys has a website set up that allows collectors to cut the UPC's off the boxes/packages and send away for exclusive accessories, figures, and other collectable items; like a limited edition lithograph drawn by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo. The only downside to the program would have to be the requirement that you cut the UPC from the package to send away for these bonus items. So if you are a collector who doesn't like to open or take the figures out of the packages, you might want to buy duplicate figures like I do.
________________________
[ACTION FIGURE]
Spartan Recon (Steel) [GameStop Exclusive]
[SERIES]
Halo (Series 6: Medal Edition)
[SCALE]
6"
[MANUFACTURER]
McFarlane Toys
(Made in China)
[YEAR]
2009
[COMPANY WEBSITE]
www.spawn.com
www.spawn.com/halopoints
www.bungie.net
________________________
[RELATED REVIEWS]
TOYS:
McFarlane Toys 6" Action Figures
Halo
(Series 3: Campaign)
Master Chief (Spartan-117)
Halo
(Series 6: Medal Edition)
Spartan Recon (Steel)
McFarlane Toys 4" Odd Pods
Halo
(Series 1)
Master Chief | Brute Chieftain | Spartan EVA (Red) | Spartan EOD (Steel)
_________________________
© COPYRIGHT 2009 Chris Billings
*Special thanks to Suzanne for adding this product to the Epinions Database!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Other
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Chris_Billings
|
 in Games |
 in Kids & Family |
|
Member: Chris Billings
Location: Spokane Valley, Washington, USA
Reviews written: 188
Trusted by: 272 members
About Me:
"You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?"
|
|
|
![Halo 3 Series 6 - Spartan Soldier Recon [GameStop Exclusive] 5" Action Figure](http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/d2/38/02/39341688-177x150-0-0.jpg)
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.