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Post by The-Rock on Jan 2, 2010 12:40:33 GMT -5
Originally I had no intention of buying Mattel, I sold off all of my jakks but a few figures. However after seeing all of the pictures, I decided to give them a shot.
I purchased:
Basic 1: Cena, Kofi, Big Show, HHH
2-pks: HBK/Y2J and Legacy
After messing around with them for a while, I feel I can give an accurate overview.
The thing that stands out the most to me is the actual physical look of the figures. Just displaying/looking a them...they look much more realistic than jakks and far less cartoony. It's also nice that each figure has different parts, different skin tones, etc. This looks really good when you line then up against one another because everyone is the correct scale. From a consumer's point of view this is a big upgrade. I used to get a little upset when I would buy a 2-pk of a tag team or buy 2 figures and they were identical except for the head. The 2 most similar figures I own are Legacy, and they look absolutely nothing a like...they have different skin tones and leg molds. Something else, which is sort of nice is that they are smaller and less dense than Jakks. One would think that this would be an issue for playing, but it actually makes doing moves a lot easier.
Unfortunately there are quite a few drawbacks as well. One of the biggest in my opinion is the knee pads. Some of my figures have rubber material knee pads, where others (like Kofi) have almost like hard plastic knee pads. This really affects the knee joint playability and the ability to swap (or even move the knee pads). The second biggest issue is the head scans, which was always jakks strength. The heads aren't very detailed, and almost every guy had a straight faced scan with no expression. The biceps could also be a little bit bigger on some figures, but then you sacrifice playability. By far the biggest issue for me is price. I spent about $82 after tax on 8 figures, which isn't terrible. The singles took on the exact same price of Jakks singles, however Jakks had recently raised their prices to $9.99 (an all time high, and a day I dreaded since I was like 12). This is also pretty steep considering they do not include any weapons or anything besides the pretty useless base. I am more upset about 2pks being $17.99. Until about 2000 (when 2-pks were only like $9-11.99 and singles were $5.99) there was no incentive to really buy a 2pk unless it featured a new character or was a must have character, because you were paying for 2 singles. Then as R3 and RA rolled around and singles prices increased to $7.99-9.99, buying a 2pk was a real value because you were getting 2 figures and accessories for $12.99-15.99. Also if you were buying the 2pk for just 1 figure (ex. ad 37 orton), then it wasn't too bad. But now at $17.99 (which rolls out to about $19 after tax) there is no incentive to buy a two pack unless it's a first time release that is just incredible. If mattel is going to produce the same product as is, the price of a single needs to drop to $7-8.99, and the price of a 2pk needs to drop to $15.99-16.99.
To people who are on the fence about buying mattel, I suggest investing about $30-40 in figures to try them out (or making a trade for them). You won't really get the feel for the line buy buying just 1 or 2 figures. You definitely should try and get a Y2J as he is a really good example of what the overall line is like.
Edit: On the subject of Elite, my TRU only had MVP who was the only elite figure I was considering. I looked him over and didn't even consider shelling out $15-$16 for him. Elite's are really a waste of $$ unless your the type of person who likes all those cloth accessories and such (and if you are like me and play, they are of little use anyways). Because of the knee pad issue, you are not really gaining much playability outside of the crotch joint and is that really worth an extra $5??
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Post by WalterF on Jan 2, 2010 12:52:27 GMT -5
I agree with alot of your points. So far I bought Basic #1 HHH and the HBK/Y2J two-pack and I think the figures are way more detailed overall and the inidividual molds and look of the figures is definitely way more realistic and less cartoony than JAKKS.
I'm on the fence w/ the scans. Some look really good, but some are pretty bad. I like HBK's and from the looks of the pics, the Orton scan/mold is the best I've ever seen on an Orton figure, but many of them look kinda shoddy. IE, 2-pack Morrison looks awful and some guys like Edge's are okay at best. They definitely need tp up the consistency on the scans.
I also agree with the pads. All they need to do is back the larger pads out of a softer material and the problem is solved.
Overall, you can't deny how good these figures are. Nearly every complain we all had as JAKKS collectors are now resolved. Every figure I've seen has fully detailed deco and attire and the scales are fixed. Awesome figures!!!!
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Post by The Silent Flute (joepetree) on Jan 2, 2010 12:58:18 GMT -5
Great Points man
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 26, 2024 0:39:00 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2010 14:50:21 GMT -5
I see a lot of people complaining about the dearth of accessories on these figures. It's a valid complaint, as there are many possibilities with these figures. Mattel also seems somewhat schizophrenic when it comes to accessories; on some lines, they go all-out(DCUC Joker, for instance), yet on others, if they include any at all, it's something ridiuclous and utterly useless(the Dark Knight Movie Masters).
With all that in mind, I feel they need to be cut a little slack at this point, for two reasons:
1. the price point is about the same as with the Jakks figures. While the figures don't include the (often useless) accessories Jakks figures did, they do have far more accurate and detailed paint apps than Jakks figures ever did. This does figure into the production costs, so it's a bit of a tradeoff. You didn't get a dented cookie sheet or your 100th ring bell, but you got an Undertaker or C.M. Punk or Edge or whoever with insanely detailed tattoos. Not all the figures have tattoos, true, but the tradeoff is still there.
2. This is the inaugural assortment of the various lines. A hell of a lot of new tooling was necessary, and Mattel will necessarily have to skimp a bit on accessories right at the beginning until they start turning a nice profit. I predict that, within a few waves, we'll start seeing some real accessories with these figures. At this point, there's still a massive cost for tooling that needs to be paid for. I worked in the injection molding industry for several years, and I can tell you first hand that a new mold is extremely expensive. Some of the smaller molds run in the tens of thousands of dollars. When you look at all the new parts in this line, and consider that each and every one of them required new tooling, you can understand the expense involved.
With all that in mind, I'm inclined to cut Mattel a little slack right now. If this problem persists beyond the first 6 months or so, then I won't be too happy about it. It's not worrying me at this point, though.
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WCM's Izzy
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 23, 2007 16:30:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,709
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Post by WCM's Izzy on Jan 2, 2010 15:09:56 GMT -5
As much as I like Jakks, I already placed my order on 6 figs and I'm actually excited about getting them, haven't been so excited with getting new figs for some time.
Got to at least give them a try before shooting them down...
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Post by deskjet on Jan 2, 2010 15:12:01 GMT -5
Originally I had no intention of buying Mattel, I sold off all of my jakks but a few figures. However after seeing all of the pictures, I decided to give them a shot. I purchased: Basic 1: Cena, Kofi, Big Show, HHH 2-pks: HBK/Y2J and Legacy After messing around with them for a while, I feel I can give an accurate overview. The thing that stands out the most to me is the actual physical look of the figures. Just displaying/looking a them...they look much more realistic than jakks and far less cartoony. It's also nice that each figure has different parts, different skin tones, etc. This looks really good when you line then up against one another because everyone is the correct scale. From a consumer's point of view this is a big upgrade. I used to get a little upset when I would buy a 2-pk of a tag team or buy 2 figures and they were identical except for the head. The 2 most similar figures I own are Legacy, and they look absolutely nothing a like...they have different skin tones and leg molds. Something else, which is sort of nice is that they are smaller and less dense than Jakks. One would think that this would be an issue for playing, but it actually makes doing moves a lot easier. Unfortunately there are quite a few drawbacks as well. One of the biggest in my opinion is the knee pads. Some of my figures have rubber material knee pads, where others (like Kofi) have almost like hard plastic knee pads. This really affects the knee joint playability and the ability to swap (or even move the knee pads). The second biggest issue is the head scans, which was always jakks strength. The heads aren't very detailed, and almost every guy had a straight faced scan with no expression. The biceps could also be a little bit bigger on some figures, but then you sacrifice playability. By far the biggest issue for me is price. I spent about $82 after tax on 8 figures, which isn't terrible. The singles took on the exact same price of Jakks singles, however Jakks had recently raised their prices to $9.99 (an all time high, and a day I dreaded since I was like 12). This is also pretty steep considering they do not include any weapons or anything besides the pretty useless base. I am more upset about 2pks being $17.99. Until about 2000 (when 2-pks were only like $9-11.99 and singles were $5.99) there was no incentive to really buy a 2pk unless it featured a new character or was a must have character, because you were paying for 2 singles. Then as R3 and RA rolled around and singles prices increased to $7.99-9.99, buying a 2pk was a real value because you were getting 2 figures and accessories for $12.99-15.99. Also if you were buying the 2pk for just 1 figure (ex. ad 37 orton), then it wasn't too bad. But now at $17.99 (which rolls out to about $19 after tax) there is no incentive to buy a two pack unless it's a first time release that is just incredible. If mattel is going to produce the same product as is, the price of a single needs to drop to $7-8.99, and the price of a 2pk needs to drop to $15.99-16.99. To people who are on the fence about buying mattel, I suggest investing about $30-40 in figures to try them out (or making a trade for them). You won't really get the feel for the line buy buying just 1 or 2 figures. You definitely should try and get a Y2J as he is a really good example of what the overall line is like. Edit: On the subject of Elite, my TRU only had MVP who was the only elite figure I was considering. I looked him over and didn't even consider shelling out $15-$16 for him. Elite's are really a waste of $$ unless your the type of person who likes all those cloth accessories and such (and if you are like me and play, they are of little use anyways). Because of the knee pad issue, you are not really gaining much playability outside of the crotch joint and is that really worth an extra $5?? My feelings especially on the drawbacks you mentioned. The prices on the Elites are really a drawback for me. I own 3, opened Punk and was left unimpressed. Even the crothc mobility isnt that great, and the arm articulation is the same as basic. So you're paying clothes and that's about it. Not worth it to me. I spent around $120 on stuff just to get a feel. Again, overall, i like the product but I'm not buying every little thing from every line. |
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Post by The Outsider on Jan 2, 2010 18:41:49 GMT -5
The Rock, you should have picked up the MVP. I have all the figs released so far (except those dumb ass Flex Force) and he is the best IMO. I think you'd really enjoy him. The knee pads are NOT a factor in the playability of this figure. Definite 5-star figure!
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flex067
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Dec 22, 2009 20:18:55 GMT -5
Posts: 121
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Post by flex067 on Jan 2, 2010 18:46:18 GMT -5
i agree mvp is the best also cm punk.
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Dean Winchester
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 16, 2002 0:26:04 GMT -5
Posts: 1,656
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Post by Dean Winchester on Jan 2, 2010 18:48:54 GMT -5
Originally I had no intention of buying Mattel, I sold off all of my jakks but a few figures. However after seeing all of the pictures, I decided to give them a shot. I purchased: Basic 1: Cena, Kofi, Big Show, HHH 2-pks: HBK/Y2J and Legacy After messing around with them for a while, I feel I can give an accurate overview. The thing that stands out the most to me is the actual physical look of the figures. Just displaying/looking a them...they look much more realistic than jakks and far less cartoony. It's also nice that each figure has different parts, different skin tones, etc. This looks really good when you line then up against one another because everyone is the correct scale. From a consumer's point of view this is a big upgrade. I used to get a little upset when I would buy a 2-pk of a tag team or buy 2 figures and they were identical except for the head. The 2 most similar figures I own are Legacy, and they look absolutely nothing a like...they have different skin tones and leg molds. Something else, which is sort of nice is that they are smaller and less dense than Jakks. One would think that this would be an issue for playing, but it actually makes doing moves a lot easier. Unfortunately there are quite a few drawbacks as well. One of the biggest in my opinion is the knee pads. Some of my figures have rubber material knee pads, where others (like Kofi) have almost like hard plastic knee pads. This really affects the knee joint playability and the ability to swap (or even move the knee pads). The second biggest issue is the head scans, which was always jakks strength. The heads aren't very detailed, and almost every guy had a straight faced scan with no expression. The biceps could also be a little bit bigger on some figures, but then you sacrifice playability. By far the biggest issue for me is price. I spent about $82 after tax on 8 figures, which isn't terrible. The singles took on the exact same price of Jakks singles, however Jakks had recently raised their prices to $9.99 (an all time high, and a day I dreaded since I was like 12). This is also pretty steep considering they do not include any weapons or anything besides the pretty useless base. I am more upset about 2pks being $17.99. Until about 2000 (when 2-pks were only like $9-11.99 and singles were $5.99) there was no incentive to really buy a 2pk unless it featured a new character or was a must have character, because you were paying for 2 singles. Then as R3 and RA rolled around and singles prices increased to $7.99-9.99, buying a 2pk was a real value because you were getting 2 figures and accessories for $12.99-15.99. Also if you were buying the 2pk for just 1 figure (ex. ad 37 orton), then it wasn't too bad. But now at $17.99 (which rolls out to about $19 after tax) there is no incentive to buy a two pack unless it's a first time release that is just incredible. If mattel is going to produce the same product as is, the price of a single needs to drop to $7-8.99, and the price of a 2pk needs to drop to $15.99-16.99. To people who are on the fence about buying mattel, I suggest investing about $30-40 in figures to try them out (or making a trade for them). You won't really get the feel for the line buy buying just 1 or 2 figures. You definitely should try and get a Y2J as he is a really good example of what the overall line is like. Edit: On the subject of Elite, my TRU only had MVP who was the only elite figure I was considering. I looked him over and didn't even consider shelling out $15-$16 for him. Elite's are really a waste of $$ unless your the type of person who likes all those cloth accessories and such (and if you are like me and play, they are of little use anyways). Because of the knee pad issue, you are not really gaining much playability outside of the crotch joint and is that really worth an extra $5?? My feelings especially on the drawbacks you mentioned. The prices on the Elites are really a drawback for me. I own 3, opened Punk and was left unimpressed. Even the crothc mobility isnt that great, and the arm articulation is the same as basic. So you're paying clothes and that's about it. Not worth it to me. I spent around $120 on stuff just to get a feel. Again, overall, i like the product but I'm not buying every little thing from every line. Not sure how you feel about jakks, but the articulation on the Elite is much better. A torso joint that actually moves forward instead of the tiny tilt of DA as well as arms that arent so inflated they can barely move at all. The DA arms had the same articulation RA figures. If you were just getting a feel $120 is a little overboard. You could have just spent $50 and got that same feel. Hope over time you grow to like them more so that it wasnt a total waste. |
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Post by The-Rock on Jan 2, 2010 18:55:21 GMT -5
My feelings especially on the drawbacks you mentioned. The prices on the Elites are really a drawback for me. I own 3, opened Punk and was left unimpressed. Even the crothc mobility isnt that great, and the arm articulation is the same as basic. So you're paying clothes and that's about it. Not worth it to me. I spent around $120 on stuff just to get a feel. Again, overall, i like the product but I'm not buying every little thing from every line. Not sure how you feel about jakks, but the articulation on the Elite is much better. A torso joint that actually moves forward instead of the tiny tilt of DA as well as arms that arent so inflated they can barely move at all. The DA arms had the same articulation RA figures. If you were just getting a feel $120 is a little overboard. You could have just spent $50 and got that same feel. Hope over time you grow to like them more so that it wasnt a total waste. I felt $80 (more like $75ish pre tax) wasn't terrible, especially given the prices of a single figure. Back when Ra's first came out KB toys was doing buy 1 get 1 free, and TRU was doing jakks singles for $5.99. I for some reason didn't feel bad spending $80ish and getting 8 figures... essentially an entire collection for me vs. spending $11 and getting 1 figure. I figured it was a one time thing. Hopefully we get some coupons in the next few days from TRU, and I can get some $ back. |
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Post by King Bálor (CM)™ on Jan 2, 2010 20:03:38 GMT -5
The additional articulation in the crotch and legs is what makes Elite better and worth the extra $5.
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Hacker
Main Eventer
CTRL+ALT+DEFEAT
Joined on: May 2, 2002 16:11:32 GMT -5
Posts: 4,497
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Post by Hacker on Jan 2, 2010 20:11:08 GMT -5
I picked up Jo-Mizzy, Y2J, HBK, HHH, Kofi, Batista, Cena, Evan, and Big Show. I have b=never been a fan of the DA style because there is too much articulation. I had problems keeping the arms and legs from moving into abnormal poses, etc. I gave up the mobility for a tighter and easier to keep natural looking figure. So, with Mattel I picked up several of the basic line to try them out. Here's my take:
My Dislikes:
The heads seem too loose and tend to swivel in all directions. They are not awful, but more loose than Jakks typically.
The smaller arms are hard to get used to for me. They are very similar to R3 in that when moving up and down at the elbow they are fine but moving the arms out (such as an Orton pose) they are tight and feel like they might break at times. (None have however).
Not a fan of the pads. I'd almost rather have molded on pads. The only was I can see to remove them is by cutting them off (at least on figs with kickpads).
Some of the head scan look VERY plain if not childish. Granted these are toys for kids and everything, but they are less acurate that much smaller Star Wars lines for example. There are a few scans however that are very good.
The standard figs legs are too close together to pull off certain moves. I thought RA was bad...
My Likes:
Phenomenal detail. The outfits, the boots, the tats - all detailed and sweet looking. These figures overall look great.
The legs move easily yet are not loose. Full range of motion (although no ball joint type movement of course). Way better than Jakks RA there.
Way more realistic look. Not oversized arms, scaled properly, and none of the heads seemed huge. I also love the variety in parts being used. Scale is huge for me. As someone else said, I also like that they are not as bulky as Jakks. Takes much less room to display or store them.
Overall:
I am torn. I wasn't a fan of R3 for play because they seemed so fragile. This is what Mattel reminds me of. I am also concerned about how long I will have to wait, and how much money I will have to dish out to replace the current roster. I am still thinking about whether or not I will try to replace Jakks, or just hang on and add the TNA roster next Fall. Odds are that I will pick up a few more Mattel figs and give them a chance at least, but this is what I thought of the new lines.
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