When Bandai released Model Kit for Huckebein MkIII, Fans have expected that the Boxer Unit going to follow suit at some point after AM Gunner and Bandai decided now it is the time to fulfill the expectation! Released yet again as P-Bandai item, Bandai's take on Huckebein Boxer Unit definitely surpass the Kotobukiya counterpart more than a decade ago and a worthy successor for the baton to be passed on. HG Huckebein Boxer will be scheduled for 11000 Yen with July 2024 release schedule.
In Late 90s and early 2000s, a farming-sim game series Harvest Moon was one of the hottest commodity in its time and released plenty of iterations as it changes its name to Story of the Seasons. After more than 2 Decades with no merchandise to be seen on horizon, Harvest Moon make a surprise appearance in GoodSmile Nendoroid format even though the choice was a particular one. For the first entry of the Nendoroid Harvest Moon, Claire the female main character of Harvest Moon for Girls is being chosen! Scheduled for September 2024 release, Nendoroid Farmer Claire will be sold for 6900 Yen.
Nendoroid Claire comes with respectable amount of Accessories for its Price tag complete with Farming Tiles and Animal companions of Cow and Baby Chick. I suppose Claire got released first because GSC feels that Waifu sells easier but I do feel Claire's Male counterpart Jack/Pete still have a good shot nonetheless and might as well throw some playsets into the equation. When I was a kid, I played Harvest Moon alot too even if it is not the main PSX Game but starting from GBC Harvest Moon 2 then transition into Friends of Mineral Town which I played alot even though never made it to have my tools upgraded into Mythic Level. Perhaps I might consider revisit FOMT too If my game backlog has easen up more.
I have been feeling very apathetic toward FGO series lately, and the Gacha drought over past three months doesnt make things any better. But I will still keep going nonetheless given it is one of my oldest Gacha that I still play and so does GSC even if the series wasn't as big anymore. Fate series might not be getting as much merchandise compared to its Zenith but there will be always something available every year and this one another surprise in Nendoroid Doll Form! I think it has been quite sometime since Fate returned this particular GSC lineup and the eternal heroine Saber Artoria is always the safe choice to join the fray! Released in her 1st Ascension version, Nendoroid Doll Saber Artoria will be scheduled for October 2024 release with 9800 Yen Price tag.
Having Saber released as Nendoroid Doll in her 1st Ascension version is a rather peculiar choice but it is probably have to do with testing the waters since GSC are not confident that they can release Saber's 2nd Ascension let alone 3rd Ascension within reasonable price. The accessories and outfit quality is rather lackluster but I am willing to pay some attention with this lineup considering that Saber Alter's 3rd Ascension would work very well in Nendoroid Doll format. In any case this one is an easy skip for me but still hoping for further development of Fate Series for this particular lineup.
Ever since the premiere in Japan early this year, Gundam Seed Freedom screening is no doubt one of the most anticipated moments by Gundam Seed fans for this year. After SEED franchise being dormant for almost two decades due to some trainwreck from unnecessary drama, Gundam Seed Freedom definitely doesn't disappoint for the fans and personally I got the opportunity to attend the premiere screening on my local movie theater last week. Overall Gundam Seed Freedom Movie is a whole level of a treat for SEED Fans and really live up to the expectation for the long awaited and much needed fanservice for the fans!
40th Final Gear Mechatalk is here! Nothing as fancy as the previous one but an appropriate option as the closure for Hexel Faction. The possible third last Final Gear Mechatalk Features the Head of Designers Family, Sumora! This lady pretty much held the responsibility of keeping Hexel Faction Military Machine going under the guidance of Steel Witch Noctris. Despite the pacifist nature, you will encounter plenty of her creations in Final Gear as opponents.
After Macross Frontier, Delta and 7 got their share of Tiny Session, Bandai finally make it to Macross Plus as well with the protagonist YF-19 becoming the first joining into the fray! Following the tradition of this new lineup, Tiny Session YF-19 will come with mini figure of Myung, the Female love interest of the Macross Plus love triangle. Tiny Session YF-19 will be scheduled for August 2024 release with 5500 Yen Price tag.
Just like other Tiny Session, the accessories are as barebone as it gets as the main selling point of this lineup remain to be affordable Macross Valkyrie Fighter Collectibles that still maintain its transformation gimmick. I would expect YF-21 will come with Sharon Apple mini figure if it ever get a Tiny Session which is quite likely given it won't be Macross Plus without Isamu and Guld duo rivalry. Considering YF-19 could get Chogokin and Tiny Session, I would expect Hi-Metal would be within high realm of possibility someday.
Among Alternate Universe Gundam Sidestory, I do have quite a soft spot on G-Unit which was a Gundam Wing sidestory available in 3 Tankoubon Manga which feature some really cool Gundam and Leo variants Mobile Suit design. I never thought the original G-Unit series will have a continuation when it comes to merchandise after quite sometime but it is a pleasant surprise that Aesculapius Gundam upgrade unit Burnlapius do get a HG Model Kit! Scheduled as P-Bandai release on July 2024 with 3800 Yen Price tag.
Some more interesting product released by Chinese Manufacturer which resembled Bandai's Gundam Ensemble/Robot Concerto Lineup which is created by a manufacturer called 百川模型 under the lineup dubbed Canned Squad Unit. Wonder if this one will get into hot waters with Bandai since the product use the Gundam Ensemble Joints but certainly this one will have a upper hand if they ever have a smooth sailing as this products open up plenty of avenue by denying Monopoly by Bandai. Having 3 Mecha variants as the part of early roster dubbed Blockade Division, Canned Squad Unit will be sold for 49 RMB each with June release schedule.
One of the Chinese Robot Model kit that I overlooked but soon regain my attention because I am a sucker for any mecha that got Cockpit gimmick. After being under radar from International Market for so long, There is this particular Chinese Robot cartoon series called 果宝特攻 / Fruity Robo make a resurgence with some very cool looking Mecha Model Kit by a manufacturer called 壹理创玩 /Yilichuangwan starting with the mecha called Pineapple Slasher. Slated for Q2 Release these Bite-sized Mecha Model kit will be sold for 99 RMB and you will expect these won't be the last of it!
Apparently this Fruity Robo series has been around since 2009 and the model kit served as 15th Anniversary for the series. On the first glance, Fruity Robo is reminiscent of B-Daman series with its SD Sized Mech design. Not only this Fruity Robos come with Cockpit Gimmick but they also came with Combiner Mecha gimmick which is why I decided to pay attention to Pineapple slasher once again despite I dismissed this fellow as cheap Gundam Exia Copy at first. This Pineapple Slasher is actually part of Combiner Robot called 果宝战神 or Fruity Wargod and you can expect Yilichuangwan will commit all the way to bring all of the Combiners into the series. To wrap up this article I will leave a glimpse for the Fruity Wargod which doesn't look too bad for Chinese Combiner Robot.
Despite fierce competition by the Chinese counterpart Joytoy for 1/24 Scale Mecha Toy Market, Kotobukiya is releasing another good Hexagear product which make good use of the V-Thors frame this time instead of some palette swap. Making use of the popular V-Thors mold, Hexagear is getting a really badass samurai mecha dubbed 凱風快晴/Gaifu Kaisei which literally means Victorious Wind and Clear Sky under the possible sub lineup named Bui Tohru. Scheduled for August 2024 release, 1/24 Gaifu Kaisei will be sold for 8800 Yen which slightly more expensive than V-Thors given the extra parts.
Gaifu Kaisei comes with a pair of Heat Blades as its armaments which make it automatically resemble with Mr Bushido's Ahead from Gundam 00. However the Jumonji Spear weapon as shown by Kotobukiya's sample Photo is definitely the weapon to go for Gaifu Kaisei for the best Samurai Mecha Vibe. The Spear weapon is defintely the dealbreaker for me to get interested with this particular Hexagear though I can't pinpoint the exact Modelling Support Goods for this one which might be MSG 31 Oni Juji, I probably will settle with MSG Gun Blade Lance or even the Spear weapons from Musha Gundam if I cant find the exact copy because this guy need a spear for the best samurai Vibe. I will look forward to Kotobukiya if they could expand their Hexagear with more Samurai themed unit given the potential showcased by this Gaifu Kaisei.
