Review of 1989 Video Game Batman action figure

Introduction

Back in 1989, if you had a hit movie, you had a video game. They went hand in hand, so it was no surprise when the Burton Batman flick got it's own console treatment.  NECA has been doing a series of action figures celebrating these early video game designs, and they've added the 1989 Keaton Batman to the list, in all his pixelated glory.

This guy is showing up at Toys R Us right now, although you can find it at comic book shops as well. Expect to pay around $20 - $22, depending on the retailer.

Packaging - ***1/2
The box was shrink wrapped on the shelf at Toys R Us. Not sure why - they also have a deluxe Freddy out right now in the same style fifth panel box, and it's not shrink wrapped.  Things that make you go "hmmmm".

The box looks great though, complete with fake wear along the edges and the 1989 style graphics. The idea is to capture the look and feel of one of the old cartridge game boxes, and they've done it quite nicely.  It's collector friendly too, if you can ignore the plastic wrap. Maybe the plastic wrap is supposed to be part of that mimicking of the old boxes...

Sculpting - ***
This is a 7" scale figure, although he is a little shorter than that even with the ears.

The head sculpt is very much Keaton, especially in the lips and chin. The suit is done in a similar style to the game, and he is wearing a removable cloth cape.

The head sculpt is my favorite part of the overall look. The body isn't as impressive, although I do like the heavily cut musculature, mimicking the look from the game. The body seems a bit too small, especially the torso, and the head/cowl sit high on the shoulders. The only time I could get the cowl to sit down completely on the shoulders and chest is when he was looking perfectly straight forward and slightly down, which limits you're posing a bit.

He does stand great on his own though, and the hands are sculpted to work with the accessories and a variety of fighting stances.

Paint - ***
They've gone with a really interesting paint scheme - you won't have anything else quite like it in your collection. There is the cool Mignola Batman Black and White statue, which used a similar style but done in a gray scale.

This time, it's a funky set of wild colors, done in way that's attempting to simulate the chunky, rough look of the old game. It's somewhat successful, but it's a bit on the sloppy side, too. There's some weird slop around the chin and cheek, where the skin color doesn't quite cover, as well as some thick drippiness to some of the light highlights.

Still, it's an admirable try, and will certainly stand out amongst the many other Batman figures on your shelf.

Articulation - ***
The articulation is well done, although some of the joints are more restricted than I'd like.

For example, the ball jointed neck has very little tilt and lean, and not even a lot of turn. That's because of the large one piece cowl, and if you do tilt or lean the head at all, the gap is quite apparent between the cowl and torso.

The hinge/post shoulders are a little tight, but work well enough. However, the hinge/post elbows can't bend very far, making the arm poses pretty limited.

The wrists are ball joints, and the hands swap pretty easily. There's a rocker waist too, as well as ball hips, hinge/post knees, and pin/rocker ankles. The legs work quite well, and you will be able to get some decent fighting stances.

Accessories - ***1/2
There are two extra hands to go along with the two he comes wearing. That gives him a pair of fists, plus an tight grip left hand and a loose grip right hand. These work pretty well with most poses, and they swap easily enough with no fear of breakage.

He also has his grappling gun, as well as one batarang. Again, these work nicely with the hands, but the sculpts are a little soft. That's because they are made from a more malleable plastic, making it tougher to get a sharply defined sculpt.

I mentioned that the cape is removable (pop off the head and it slips off), but I'm not counting it as an accessory here.

Fun Factor - ***
This isn't a Batman most 8 year olds would go for - it's just not a color scheme they are likely to get behind. This is clearly a figure intended for the old geezers who fondly remember playing this game as an 8 year old themselves.

Value - **
A lot of figures in the 6 - 7" scale are hitting the $20 price point these days.  I don't want to say it's average quite yet, but it's getting there.

Still, this figure isn't quite as complex in sculpt or detail as the better Funko Game of Thrones or Star Wars Black figures.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing!

Overall - ***
If you're a big Batman fan - like me - picking up this really unusual and unique figure is a no brainer. Looking for something different in the collection? You've found it.

That being said, I do wish the paint and sculpt quality were a smidge better. It's clearly a good Keaton, but there are a few nits that hold him back from a slightly higher overall score.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ***
Paint - ***
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has him for $20.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
This isn't NECA's first shot at the 1989 Keaton Batman, and their 1/4 scale version is outstanding. Hot Toys also did a terrific sixth scale version, along with the Mime Joker and regular Joker, but they are pretty pricey.

Discussion:
Want to chat about this review?  Try out one of these terrific forums where I'll be discussing it!

Enjoyed this review? Be sure to head back to the main page to find thousands more just like it!