Buyer's Ambivalence: Bandai of America's Gold Samurai Ranger from PR Samurai

Okay, so I bit the bullet and got another figure from the Power Rangers Samurai line, but this time I'm not too disappointed with what I got.  I mean it is (and at the same time isn't) a figure of Shinken Gold, my second favorite Shinkenger, and BoA treated their plastic representation rather fairly.

If I had to list down three things to like about this figure it's:

1. Paint- decently done, with a nice shade of gold and blue that does the character's colors justice. Also very thankful they decided to paint the back as well. 
2. Sculpt- very crisp. The details of the costume are there, and the helmet is nicely done. I love how they made it. 
3. Weapon- I've always loved the Sakanamaru and the one this figure comes with is real nice. Detailed and painted too so, awesome!

now here comes the nitpicks:

1. Paint- those elbow and hip joint colors stand out too much, and the elbows are colored gold. WHY? It's something really minor but it irks me easily. Even the  MMPR Green Ranger down below is more coordinated with his colors in terms of being close to the source material.
2. Sculpt- those shoulders just stick out too much, and well he's too buff to be honest, with western skin-tight spandex instead of looking like a suit actor with a smooth body outline.
3. Articulation- it's dated and cheaply done. I can understand if it keeps the cost down but it just doesn't add up for me, especially when compared to how many paint apps this guy got. (Again) Even a bicep swivel would have been nice.

Size compared to the previouss MMPR Anniversary figs? It's close but slightly taller. No improvement at all though in terms of design.

Size as compared to other 3 3/4"  figures?

Your mileage may vary but it fits in with most lines. At least enough to not stand out like the last ranger toy i bought. 

Overall? Pretty decent figure. Not perfect but worth the 450 pesos (roughly 10 bucks) i paid for, to be honest.

As always i advise you to buy this only if you like the character or his looks. 

Otherwise, don't bother. 

and now, Buyer's remorse! act 1: Power Rangers Samurai- Yellow Mega Ranger

it's decent but with the trends in 4 inch figures today it honestly could have been better.

stuff i didn't enjoy about it:

1. this thing was too tall for the other 4 inch toys that i own, in package she didn't look all that huge at all but when i stood her up next to chun-li and T-elos i was like; "fuck she's tall" and she's not even wearing heels like T-elos is,  so i can't justify that height. As a female it's figuratively (hee hee) as tall as Yao Ming. this line is in a scale of it's own... or it's like SIC Kiwami Tamashii. And if this is the case it leads me to my second point...
2. the articulation is limited. it would be fine if it was still 2003 but it's not. even a waist joint and basic bicep swivel would have been nice. pushing it i would have asked for ankle rockers. 
3. the proportions are weird. super long legs, tapered/noodly forearms, manhands, that overly mechanized shinkenmaru with a grip that would better suit a 5-6 incher.

stuff i DO like:

1. oddly enough, the design itself. 
2. the Land Slicer weapon.
3. the plastic quality. it seems very durable and softer where it needs to be.

Stuff i did for my figure:

1. shortened the calves. at least now she's as tall as Jazwares BA Baracus. 
2. added bicep swivels.
3. kept it. at the price i bought it for i might as well enjoy it. and after doing the previous 2 things i doubt anyone would want it. 

overall, Meh. Bandai of America, you had it down with Jungle Fury yellow ranger in terms of sculpt and articulation, kinda perfected it in RPM.

 you could have just downsized what you had in that line's features and applied it to this. the 4" MMPR figures and the samurai megarangers just seem lacking with marshmallow-y sculpts.

if they make a 4" regular costume of yellow samurai ranger, i'll be obliged to buy it, since it'll be shinken yellow by default. and until i can find a materialforce microsister body in yellow and affordable i'll be hanging on to this.


note:i didn't take any more pics because it just doesn't feel worth it, really.