DSC_1355
The Street Fighter series has had quite a history when it came to action figure releases, some more successful than others. The most recent game, SF V, currently has two companies making figures - Bandai through its S. F. Figuarts line, and Storm Collectibles, a relatively new player from Hong Kong with their true 1/12 scale figure line.
I eagerly picked up this figure so I could get a sense for Storm as a company, and of course, how their product compares.
In addition the main figure, Chun Li came with a fairly impressive set of accessories, particularly given the price point:
- two additional portraits with interchangeable hair, making for three total (neutral, "smiling", attacking)
- 7 additional hands (varying degrees of palm and finger position)
- V-Trigger effects
- Kikoken effect with additional stand
- Hyakuretsukyaku (lighting kick) effecf
- dynamic action stand
- spare parts for the stands (I believe)
- cardboard backdrop
As the photos show, the Storm 1/12 figure is somewhere between the Figuarts and the SF4 Play Arts line in terms of size. In terms of styling, clearly the Storm is more in-line with the Play Arts styling, namely going for "game accuracy" as compared to the looser anime interpretation of the Figuarts line.
A slight disappointment in this area is that despite being "supervised by Kiki" the portrait on the Storm figure, while more game accurate than the Figuarts, still had eyes that were too small. Also, moveable buns on the top of her head would have been great as well, particularly for poses that emphasize movement.
All three bodies offer roughly the same amount of articulation, and utilize a hidden joint to allow for a greater range of shoulder movement allowing for cross chest poses.
Moving a little closer, a spot check of the QC on paint and finishes. The Storm figure seems to have sloppier finish on the gold paint, and in general, the Figuarts toy seems to have a more metallic sheen to everything. Weaker paint applications are present throughout the Storm figure as compared to the Figuarts.
Having said that, on the whole I don't find the finishes any worse than your typical Play Arts figure. The paint on the hands and body general tend to be the same colour and the paint apps are sufficiently thin, whereas I've seen weird things on a Play Arts figure. As an added bonus, I didn't notice any poor sanding jobs on parts or poorly assembled pieces that I tend to notice on Play Arts figures.
Hands are made of a softer, rubbery materials, probably whatever is used for the costume parts.
The body proportions on both the Figuarts and Storm are excellent, very closely resembling the in game model. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but Chun Li isn't some skinny waifu, and her fighters build is reflected in both figures.
With regards to joints, both figures also show how far we've come from the days of the Play Arts figure having the some of the least subtle joints ever used on a $100 action figure, particularly with the knees. Having said that, a slight edge does go to the Figuarts in this department, as the elbow and knee joints aren't painted on the Storm figure (there are others, but these are readily visible) and overall, connections with the body and movement for posing just feel more solid with the Figuarts figure. But, joints are sufficiently tight to allow for all manner of pose with included accessory and effect parts.
The general figure stand that Storm provides is worth a brief discussion. First off, it actually has one - Figuarts seems to be always sold separately, and the one that comes with modern Play Arts figures is apparently so bad that nobody ever wants to put the thing together.
The stand comes with a pole that allows an arm to move up and down in order to allow the figure to be positioned in a variety of heights. While moving the thing up and down is a right pain in the ass, I've got to give it to Storm... the thing is solid and will actually hold the figure at whatever height you set it at. Furthermore, the arm itself also pivots and rotates, giving some freedom to do airborne stuff.
At the end of the day clearly, if you can only choose one line, unless all you care about is quality, my experience shows that Storm is your friend. The Storm sets offer just as much articulation as the Figuarts version, but for a very similar price come with more goodies for larger variety of display options.
The Storm figures are quite honestly what the Play Arts line should have been in terms of the product released.
Now would Storm PLEASE release a Cammy and a Guile.
DSC_1355
The Street Fighter series has had quite a history when it came to action figure releases, some more successful than others. The most recent game, SF V, currently has two companies making figures - Bandai through its S. F. Figuarts line, and Storm Collectibles, a relatively new player from Hong Kong with their true 1/12 scale figure line.
I eagerly picked up this figure so I could get a sense for Storm as a company, and of course, how their product compares.
In addition the main figure, Chun Li came with a fairly impressive set of accessories, particularly given the price point:
- two additional portraits with interchangeable hair, making for three total (neutral, "smiling", attacking)
- 7 additional hands (varying degrees of palm and finger position)
- V-Trigger effects
- Kikoken effect with additional stand
- Hyakuretsukyaku (lighting kick) effecf
- dynamic action stand
- spare parts for the stands (I believe)
- cardboard backdrop
As the photos show, the Storm 1/12 figure is somewhere between the Figuarts and the SF4 Play Arts line in terms of size. In terms of styling, clearly the Storm is more in-line with the Play Arts styling, namely going for "game accuracy" as compared to the looser anime interpretation of the Figuarts line.
A slight disappointment in this area is that despite being "supervised by Kiki" the portrait on the Storm figure, while more game accurate than the Figuarts, still had eyes that were too small. Also, moveable buns on the top of her head would have been great as well, particularly for poses that emphasize movement.
All three bodies offer roughly the same amount of articulation, and utilize a hidden joint to allow for a greater range of shoulder movement allowing for cross chest poses.
Moving a little closer, a spot check of the QC on paint and finishes. The Storm figure seems to have sloppier finish on the gold paint, and in general, the Figuarts toy seems to have a more metallic sheen to everything. Weaker paint applications are present throughout the Storm figure as compared to the Figuarts.
Having said that, on the whole I don't find the finishes any worse than your typical Play Arts figure. The paint on the hands and body general tend to be the same colour and the paint apps are sufficiently thin, whereas I've seen weird things on a Play Arts figure. As an added bonus, I didn't notice any poor sanding jobs on parts or poorly assembled pieces that I tend to notice on Play Arts figures.
Hands are made of a softer, rubbery materials, probably whatever is used for the costume parts.
The body proportions on both the Figuarts and Storm are excellent, very closely resembling the in game model. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but Chun Li isn't some skinny waifu, and her fighters build is reflected in both figures.
With regards to joints, both figures also show how far we've come from the days of the Play Arts figure having the some of the least subtle joints ever used on a $100 action figure, particularly with the knees. Having said that, a slight edge does go to the Figuarts in this department, as the elbow and knee joints aren't painted on the Storm figure (there are others, but these are readily visible) and overall, connections with the body and movement for posing just feel more solid with the Figuarts figure. But, joints are sufficiently tight to allow for all manner of pose with included accessory and effect parts.
The general figure stand that Storm provides is worth a brief discussion. First off, it actually has one - Figuarts seems to be always sold separately, and the one that comes with modern Play Arts figures is apparently so bad that nobody ever wants to put the thing together.
The stand comes with a pole that allows an arm to move up and down in order to allow the figure to be positioned in a variety of heights. While moving the thing up and down is a right pain in the ass, I've got to give it to Storm... the thing is solid and will actually hold the figure at whatever height you set it at. Furthermore, the arm itself also pivots and rotates, giving some freedom to do airborne stuff.
At the end of the day clearly, if you can only choose one line, unless all you care about is quality, my experience shows that Storm is your friend. The Storm sets offer just as much articulation as the Figuarts version, but for a very similar price come with more goodies for larger variety of display options.
The Storm figures are quite honestly what the Play Arts line should have been in terms of the product released.
Now would Storm PLEASE release a Cammy and a Guile.