Halo: Master Chief

I really have been out of the toy loop over the last year so you can imagine my surprise when I saw new Halo toys hanging on the pegs at my local Target. The popular video game brand was now licensed to Wicked Cool Toys, a rather new toy manufacture. Prior to this line I was loosely familiar with WCT thanks to their Micro Machines license they also held. I loved the Halo games on the Xbox 360 and I like to have little video game related figures to display in my game room, so I thought I'd at least pick up this Master Chief figure to see what these new figures were like.

The packaging is pretty plain as most of it is a large bubble. At least it's easy to see the figure and what is included. The bottom right corner does offer some small artwork. Flip the packaging over and you're treated with a large image of Master Chief himself. I found this rather odd that they didn't use the back to showcase the figure and it's accessories or even a cross sale of other toys in the series.

The figure stands around 3 1/2 inches tall and is very detailed. The olive green armor shows some wear all over, especially the silver blast on the chest. The metallic gold paint used on his visor looks great and looks like it's reflecting light. Both hands are sculpted to hold his weapon in either hand. With today's age of modern action figures I'm kind of surprised additional interchangeable hands were included.

Master Chief comes equipped with his trusty MA5C assault rifle. The weapon is molded in back plastic and the majority of the gun as a dull sheen to it. Part of the gun as added gray paint as well. There is a small peg on the side of the gun that allows it to be pegged into the back of the figure. I particularly like this feature as it makes for some nice poses and it just makes since - especially since Master Chief can only wield two different weapons at one time. A hexagon shaped stand is also included with the figure and appears to be able to connect to additional stands.

Master Chief has all the articulation that one would expect from a modern action figure. The joints were really stiff right out of the package, but I was able to at least pull of this kneeling pose. I say it all the time that if you come here for dynamic action figure photography you will be disappointed because I suck at posing action figures!

Over all I am impressed with Wicked Cool Toys' Halo offering. At the time I picked up this figure the line had just launched so there wasn't much variety offered. Now there are several other figures from the Halo mythos including some really cool looking villains and even vehicles. I've seen the Warthog and the Ghost vehicles and both look fantastic. I don't have much room to display larger toys like vehicles anymore, but based on this figure I'm sure they are just as well made.

If you are a fan of video game toys then I think you'll find this new Halo series to your liking. They aren't as detailed as the older McFarlane line or even the Jazwares, however I believe WTC has done a pretty good job with these.

Mega Construx Halo: Battle for the Ark Blind Bag - Captain James Cutter

Have you ever been walking the toy department of your local retail store not being able to find what you were specially looking for, but had an itch to buy something anyhow? Well that's the basic story behind today's post.

While I purchased and reviewed past Halo sets under the Mega Bloks banner, I really can't say I pay a lot attention to them and I definitely don't collect them. I guess you could call me casual fan at best. My local Walmart (still to this date) had tons of trays containing this particular wave of blind packaged mini-figures. I took a look at the package and though "why the heck not".

There are 7 different figures and one mini ship (?) in this wave. Like with past assortments, the figures come in varying rarity - green for common, yellow for rare and red for ultra rare. Being a fan of the Halo video games, I was familiar with all but one of the characters...the rare translucent hologram. Of course this is the one I ended up with! I was really hoping that I get one of the UNSC figures, the Brute or even the Grunt.

A quick Google search told me that the figure I pulled was Captain James Cutter. Apparently he first made his appearance in the Halo mythos in the Genesis book, which was a prequel of sorts to the Halo Wars video game. That's why I didn't know who he was...I just stuck to the mainline Halo games.

I really don't know what to say about the figure other than it's small, blue and translucent. He comes with a pistol and a figure stand. The problem with these translucent figures is that the sculpted detail gets lost without paint apps. I guess it's cool, but I can't say I was exactly thrilled. I kept thinking that I would try my luck again in hopes I'd get another character I'd know and appreciate more, but since this was a more or less impulse purchase, I haven't gotten around to revisiting the Mega Construx Halo toys since.

Mega Bloks Halo: Series 5 Blind Packs

Mega Bloks keeps churning out the blind packaged figures with the newest set, series 5!  This time around there are 8 new figures to chase.

I was hoping I'd end up with one of the Flood figures, but I ended up with the UNSC Green Spartan (common).  That's OK since the figure is pretty cool.

  

Up until this series the only other UNSC Spartan figures I've pulled were non-green, so it's finally nice to have this guy.  I love new shotgun he comes with.  So far I've just stuck with one pack, but I may have to try my luck again in the near future as I love the Uncommon Arctic UNSC COB figure.

Mega Bloks Halo: UNSC Cryo Bay

Several weeks ago while picking up a few things @ Walmart I noticed a few new Halo Mega Bloks sets I haven't seen before.  There were several new battle packs and some of those figure sets with the large pods...none of them really grabbing my attention.  I saw a new Brute Chopper which looked cool, but then I saw this set stuck behind a few of the Choppers.

I don't have a lot of room to display toys other than Transformers so I really try and resist picking up a lot of other stuff, but I love building block sets so I had to give this one a try.  After all in this one set you get both Master Chief and Cortana!

The set is small and only clocks in with 72 total pieces.  However there is a lot of good stuff in those 72 pieces.  First I want to show off the Cortana piece.  In the blind packaged figure series there is an actual figure of Cortana, but she looks way goofy.  I know this may seem silly, but this small Cortana piece is what helped sell this set to me.  Cast in translucent blue plastic, it looks pretty darn nifty on display.

Looking at the rest of the set and you'll notice the very interesting shaped base/floor piece.  It always seems when I'm building a LEGO set that has a floor plate it's always rectangle or square shaped.  Not only is this not a square, but it's not flat either.  Look carefully and you'll notice another layer towards the middle area.

Off on the right side is a weapons rack with three guns.  All 3 are iconic in the world of Halo and I love how they hang and display so well here.  To the left of the weapons is the actual Cryo Bay itself.  The whole bay module sits on a hinged piece that allows the bay to be laid back at an angle or brought straight up to an almost standing position.  The front door also lifts up to reveal the sleeping Master Chief inside!

I should've taken a few shots of the Master Chief figure (what was I thinking?) as it's a great figure.  I noticed several changes to the typical figure mold that I've come accustomed to with the blind packaged figures I've bought.  Overall this is a great little set and I could easily see this being worked into a larger diorama type set up.  If you're a fan of the Halo Mega Bloks then I'm sure this set won't disappoint.

Mega Bloks Halo: Series 4 Blind Packs

The Halo blind packs are back with an all new series 4!  I recently found them at a local Walmart and grabbed a pack.  I don't keep up w/ Mega Blok's release schedule so I was a little surprised to find these.

I like the new die-cut bags they are using this time around.  There are 8 new figures to collect.  1 ultra rare (Cortana), 2 rare and 5 common.  Price per figure is up a little from series 3.  I believe they are up to $2.97 each or something similar.  Enough talk though let's open it up and see what figure we have waiting inside.

Not surprised that we got one of the common figures.  This is the green UNSC Marine.  I don't think I have a Marine with this head sculpt so that is cool.  The only thing that seems off to me is the neck.  Doesn't it look like the head is floating?  I love the green color and the weapon is a first for me.  I also like the new thinner "stand" packaged with series 4.  There are only 3 pegs and since these figures have a wide stance the figures look better standing on a 3 peg piece.

The rest of series 4's line up looks pretty solid.  I could've done without another Covenant Brute, but that's just me.  The Cortana figure just doesn't cut it for me.  I'd rather chase after the yellow UNSC ODST.

If you've been waiting for these to hit your area start checking Walmart.  It seems that these are part of their new spring reset so get to hunting!

Mega Bloks Halo: Series 3 Blind Packs

I'm a little surprised that I, a avid video gamer, have ignored the Mega Bloks Halo toys for as long as I have.  Maybe it's my renewed interest in Halo with this being the 10th anniversary, but I picked up one of these blind packaged figure packs a few days ago on a whim.  While the quality doesn't seem up to par w/ LEGO, I gotta say I'm beginning to understand why these little sets are so popular with collectors.  Series 3 gives you 8 new figures to chase.  I'm not sure if there are any cheat sheets out there that help you determine what figure is inside or not so I just grabbed the pack on the top.  For $2.50 you get one figure with accessories and one black brick.  These must me pretty popular as when I went back to grab another pack the little gravity feeder box was empty...and it was just packed full not 2 or 3 days earlier!

The figures come in 3 levels of rarity if you will.  Out of the 8 possible figures you have a better chance at pulling a common (blue) figure.  I ended up with the orange UNSC Spartan.

It wouldn't be a Mega Bloks set if you didn't get to assemble your figure.  I like how these little mini figures feature ball and socket joints.  I didn't know going in these figures had this level of articulation.  You also have hinged elbows and knees and the waist swivels a full 360 degrees.

The paint apps on these figures look really nice.  I like the worn / weathered look on the armor.  I also have to say I like the wide stance of the figures.  When putting the figure on a block you have a peg in between the feet.

Overall these are nice little figures.  I may just be tempted to pick up a few more of these blind packages and possibly even a small building block set.  I don't have the funds or space to go hog wild here, but I commend Mega Bloks for handling the Halo license well here.