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Packaging
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***1/2
Not much to say here as these follow the exact same form as the first
three Resi 5 figure boxes. So it’s a sturdy full colour box with a
magnetic side flap. The inside flap for Chris has a tray holding some
of his accessories, while this time around Wesker has significantly
less stuff, so his inside flap needs no extra tray and just has a big
environment image pulled from the game. Opposite these flaps lie the
fully constructed figures, well, I say fully constructed, there are a
few pouches, holsters and so forth to attach here and there, but
they’re virtually good to go!
Sculpting
- Chris ***1/2, Albert ****
I shall refer you here to my previous reviews, as these both use the
exact same sculpts. Both are natural looking portraits that won’t look
at all out of place alongside your other Move Masterpiece figures.
Wesker is still my favourite of the two, as I feel the observations and
fine-tuning on his portrait are just that bit closer to the way the
character looks in the game.
Paint
-
****
Again, it’s time to refer to those old reviews, but in a nutshell both
have total kick ass paint apps with the usual wonderful work on the
subtle skin tones and glossy wet eyes. I’m still really impressed with
way Wesker’s eyes have been constructed. Like on the first figure they
have a dark iris inserted from inside the head so they can light up
brightly when the small switch at the back of the neck is flicked on.
But the really cool thing is how seamless the eyes still look even when
unlit, one of the most unobtrusive and effective action features I’ve
seen.
Outfit
- ****
Ultimately it’s all’ bout da threads dis time’ round!
As I’ve been over above, essentially the base figures, head sculpts and
paint apps are all the same, so, these are for the hardcore Resi 5 fans
(or those that skipped the first releases holding out for some ‘special
edition’ love). Well, those that held out I salute your resolve… but
did you make the right choice?
I have to admit it’s going to differ from person to person, but as cool
as these two new looks are, I still prefer the first releases,
especially for Wesker.
Sure, he looks more ‘real world’ bad ass here in his rapid response
unit, armed to the teeth, ‘don’t even think of getting in my way’
outfit, but his old ‘camp disco villain’ wardrobe was so visually
striking it just had the edge for me.
While the changes Chris sports aren’t quite as extreme in their
departure from his original outfit, they still manage to make him look
slightly more ‘random military dude’ rather than ‘Chris Redfield…
zombie killing machine’.
Some of the elements of their uniforms are similar, for example, apart
from the colour scheme, the flak vests are almost identical bar the
puffy collar on Chris’ and the zip on Wesker's, the short sleeved
shirts are also similar but for differing collars, and Wesker wears a
white T-shirt under his.
Both also wear combat/cargo pants of slightly different designs, but
the changes are so subtle in the tailoring that only the trained prying
eye will pick up on them, small tweaks on pocket details and seams and
that’s about it. Chris also has a pair of kneepads that are this time
held on by Velcro instead of those tiny clips.
Lastly the boots, these are also very similar, but markedly different
in their own ‘unique’ ways, obviously the colours are different like
the rest of the wardrobe, but take a closer look and you’ll also see
that the sculpting of the fabrication is different as well, with
differing cuts to the panels, heights and the tread on the soles.
So, to sum up, these are two cracking outfits, well tailored to the
requirements of their own particular antimonies. Neither give much
restriction to the base bodies, so in that respect they are without a
doubt both full score outfits, however, for me the first two figures
are still the most iconic in terms of impact on the shelf.
I guess I also ought to mention the extra Safari shirt for Chris here
as well, although it’s packed as an accessory with S.T.A.R.S Chris,
it’s actually meant to be worn by B.S.A.A
Chris unbuttoned over his t-shirt. Its well tailored, nicely
finished and fits snugly over his ‘roid’ pumped frame, giving him that
slightly ‘fey’ look that you can only achieve by wearing a safari suit.
Hell, when Roger Moore wore one as Bond, it made him look like he’d
rather have a Bond boy than a Bond girl, such is the perfidy this
particular garment can achieve on the male frame. So it’s basic problem
is that it’s only of use if you have BSAA Chris, which luckily I have,
but I guess you could always flog it on eBay if you don’t want it!
Articulation
- Chris ***1/3, Albert ****
Sorry, once again I’m going to point you in the direction of the
reviews linked to above, as both utilize the same bodies as they did
for the first release.
They are two solid base bodies, with Wesker pulling ahead by a Cyrano
de Bergerac of a nose. As for all the cool aesthetic of that muscle
body that Chris is given, it can’t compete with Wesker in terms of
articulation and silhouette. And lets face it a fit ‘sporty’ guy of
average build always ends up looking smarter than some pumped quarter
back ‘steroid’ munchin meat head… which Chris does kind of look like.
The one thing I will say in Chris’ favour this time around is that his
trousers are slightly less restrictive, they weren’t too bad last time,
but the fabric seems thinner here and the tailoring slightly looser
making his poses from the waist down just that bit easier to achieve.
Accessories
- Chris ***3/4, Albert ***1/4
I guess Wesker couldn’t have this whole review go his way!
But to be fair we have been so spoilt with the bounteous bags of
goodies that we got with the Videogame Masterpieces (VGM) from Hot Toys
in the past, that even Chris with his Gatling-gun and extra safari
shirt seems slightly on the light side.
The official accessory listing from Hot Toys goes thus-
Albert comes with-
- Handgun / Samurai Edge (one of his signature weapons)
- Shotgun / Hydra (as is this)
- Magnum / L. Hawk (and this)
- Incendiary Grenades (2 pieces)
- Knife
- Sunglasses (what would he be without his shades)
- Headset (best one so far)
- Radio with pouch
- Harness with pouches
- Holster
- Flashlight
- Knife Sheath
- Three Interchangeable posing hands
- Figure stand with game logo and nameplate
While Chris has-
Handgun / M9
Machine Gun /MP-5 (Midnight Wesker had this last time)
- Magnum / S&W M500 (Wesker had this as well)
- Gatling Gun (Whooooa baby, mind where you point that thing!)
- Incendiary Grenade
- Flash Grenade
- Knife
- Ammo Pack / Machine Gun
- Magazine pouches
- Knife Sheath
- Belt
- Holster
- Headset
- Radio with pouch
- 3 Interchangeable posing hands with gloves
- Figure stand with game logo and nameplate
- Bonus costume - military jacket for Chris’ B.S.A.A version.
All the weapons have articulated elements, cocking mechanisms and
removable magazines or shells (in the case of Hydra). All of Weskers
accessories can be fitted to, and/or carried on his body where as with
Chris you will need to make the choice of the MP5 or the Gatling gun…
HA!
Like it’s even a choice!
Of course you’ll go for the Gatling,
this is one mean looking and quite frankly ‘huge’ piece of kit, ideal
for slaughtering infected zombie scum by the thousand. The six
barrelled fore section can rotate and the belt leads from it’s
underside to the huge drum of ammo
that is secured to his back, this has adjustable straps and small
plastic clips for ease of fitting. The extra tight grip right hand
holds the trigger handle well, but he could do with a tighter grip left
hand to hold the front handle more securely. With a bit of futzing he
can hold it OK, but an alternate hand with a more closed, almost fist
like position would have looked even better.
Both also come with ear pieces for their radios, Chris has the same one
he had before but Wesker has his own specific design
and I have to say I like it, not only does it look cooler it fits and
stays on better as well (thanks to a small magnet), pretty much all the
other goodies are reused from earlier versions.
By any other standard, both these figures have an outstanding selection
of firearms, but when comparing to what VGM figures have had before…
then they don’t quite measure up as well, however, this is just because
we have been spoilt in the past!
Value
- ***1/2
If buying from Sideshow, the official importer of these figures you
‘could have’ expected to pay $149.99, I say ‘could have’ as both proved
very, very popular amongst gamers and sold out pretty fast. And it has
to be said that the more popular VGM’s seem to demand huge prices on
the secondary markets (which I think prompts scalpers to chance their
arm on picking up a few multiples) just look at the prices that the
Leon S Kennedy RPD goes for now, here
and here.
So value, how long is a piece of string, and what colour string is best?
In some ways these will be considered by many people to be full score
figures without a doubt, but the re-use of those head sculpts coupled
with the lighter haul of accessories mean that for me they are just
short of game fan heaven… but only just.
Fun
Factor - Chris ***1/2, Wesker ****
We already know that $150 figures are NOT toys!
They may look a bit like toys… OK, OK they ARE toys, but they are NOT
play things.
Well, you might get a bit of a kick out of poising them, perhaps
switching Weskers ‘light up’ eyes on and hissing “time to die…
Chrissssss” or “I’m not destroying this world… I’m saving it!”
OK, OK they are playthings.
BUT, they are not the playthings of a child, oh no, they are the
playthings of an adult (that came out kind of weird sounding, but you
know what I mean). So as far as fun goes they’re pretty hard to beat,
with Wesker still just taking the top spot for me because of his more
versatile articulation and the light up eyes.
Overall
- Chris ***1/2, Wesker ***3/4
Of the two, Wesker is very much my favourite, he looks cooler, he poses
better and he has those eyes that look so freaky when glowing through
his shades.
However,
when all’s said and done Chris does have an absolutely massive gun… and
that counts for a lot in any language!
So.
I’ve based my final score on the RRP of $150, if you were lucky enough
to get them for nearer the $130 mark then I’d have no problem giving
these a full score, another very solid and strong release from Hot
Toys, as we have come to expect, not much to be negative about at all.
Where
to Buy -
Sideshow have now sold out, but Chris was available for $149 - and
Wesker was the same.
Big
Bad Toy Store have also sold out where they were
$140.
So it looks like your best
avenue might be eBay
where prices seem to be between $140 to $165, with Wesker fetching the
higher prices.






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