Beast Saga Action Figures
Item No.: BS-19 Manufacturer:Takara-Tomy Includes:Sword, shield, 2 dice, trading card Action Feature:Dice launch out of stomach Retail:525 yen (or about $7) Availability: November 2012 Other: Prototype hat was black
In case there was any doubt, Tarlock is indeed turtley enough for the Turtle Club. Fans dubbed the figure "Captain Turtle" or "Admiral Turtle" after the first pictures debuted, which showed the figure with an entirely black hat. The final figure has a black visor, with the hat molded in green color, just like its skin. I think the black would have looked better, but it's still pretty great and it includes the same accessories as the dolphin from September.
For fans of Battle Beasts, the original Hardtop Tortoise figure is nothing like this. The new character has no vague connection to the original black terrapin with orange armor, and the 2012 Japanese release's outfit is actually a pretty slick departure from the line as a whole by being something different for a change. We've had numerous cyborg animals, with basically the same suits and roles, but this one actually adds unique elements to the costume. Epaulets, medals, and a swell hat change his role to that of a naval officer, and he's even got anchor "tattoos" sculpted on to his forearm armor. The back of the figure has a big green shell, which sort of restricts the bulky shoulders a bit. It still works, though, and the legs have better-than-average movement for the line.
With just 4 points of articulation and the dice launcher, it's a cool figure. The bright greens and yellows feel very 1990s, and there's a light dusting of paint on his snout in addition to his black painted eyes. The scaley pattern on the head looks fantastic, and I dig the ornamentation on the hat and armor. Takara-Tomy did a nice job with this one, and while I bet a version with a little more paint would be awesome, there's no doubt that this one, as it is, is very good. I am a little disappointed we're seeing weapons duplicated already, but I guess at least we're not seeing a swarm of repaints just yet.
At this point I'm pretty much in for the long haul, but this was a figure that was genuinely exciting when I first saw it. The final execution is a bit of a step back from what I was expecting, but these things do tend to happen so be wary that the hat is indeed how it looks in my pictures. For $5-$7, it's fun. For $10, it's kind of pricey relative to American toys... but it is really fun. If you like this kind of toy, I'd probably suggest you consider picking it up anyway. Don't upsize your combo or get that soda at dinner, you can swing the few bucks.
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