Not quite Vash...
Written: Aug 03 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: It's cheap. It's one of the best American toys made.
Cons: The released Kaiyodo Japanese Vash (the original) is 1000x better
The Bottom Line: Find the Kaiyodo action figure. Buy that instead. Once you compare, you'll regret the McFarlane purchase!
|
|
|
| Vash's Full Review: Trigun Vash The Stampede |
Well, seeing as how I am actually using Mr. Stampede's name as my moniker, how can I not rate this?
That aside, the Japanese-animated TV show set on the Planet Gunsmoke really started me on the road to toy collecting as as a hobby. Seeing McFarlane Toys make a character from one of my favorite shows was just too good to be true! After all, they make some of the most detailed figures on the market.
But that was before I discovered Kaiyodo. A Japanese toy manufacturer that had created many action figures for various anime series. And these are the real deal, folks.
On its own, the McFarlane Vash is pretty good - although not quite representative of his original manga/anime self. However, there aren't that many points of articulation, the painting is a bit shoddy, and the plastic has a soft, rubbery feel to it.
By comparison, the Kaiyodo version of the figure has 22 points of articulation - making it a *real* action figure. The paint job is fantastic and the accessories (guns, various detachable hands, signs, etc...) are all top quality.
Kaiyodo makes serious toys for the serious fan. The attention to detail is superb. McFarlane's version, while a good effort, just doesn't stack.
Why make this big of a stink over an import? Well, they aren't imports anymore. Thanks to Diamond distributors, Kaiyodo toys have made their way to the U.S. via speciality stores that sell many "alternative" music and toys or computer games and comic books (Electronics Boutique, Babbages, Newbury Comics).
Granted, they are a bit pricey ($14.99) compared to McFarlane's (I've seen 'em for $6.98). But for the extra quality, posability, and resemblance to the main character, I would go Kaiyodo over McFarlane any day.
As an aside, Kaiyodo has recently made available both Nicholas D. Wolfwood (who is even better-made than Vash), and Monev the Gale (currently the best-looking, posing action figure on the market in my opinion) in the States. Go find 'em!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 9.98
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Vash
|
|
Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
Vash writes for several magazines - some print, some web. Isn't that special?
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.