A new release has joined the METAL ROBOT SPIRITS lineup: the long-awaited GUNDAM BARBATOS LUPUS. Last year's GUNDAM BARBATOS LUPUS REX was a solid figure, but it was plagued by a serious issue—notoriously loose joints all around. So, does the new Lupus suffer from the same problem? Let's cut to the chase: Bandai has clearly learned its lesson. The joints have been handled much better this time, dramatically improving the overall playability. Combined with a massive arsenal of weapons that can be shared with its successor, the Lupus is an incredible release, a rare masterpiece, and a truly fan-pleasing product from Bandai.
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First, let's talk about the mobile suit's features by comparing it to the Lupus Rex. The differences between the two are quite significant. In terms of height, the Lupus Rex seems just a tad taller. Proportions-wise, the Lupus features long waist armor, which the Lupus Rex lacks. The arms on the Lupus are also noticeably shorter and smaller. Since they share the same Gundam Frame in the source material, they should theoretically be identical. However, we all remember the fatal flaw of the Lupus Rex's floppy waist. The Lupus features a redesigned structure here, and the waist is now much, much tighter. After two days of intensive posing, it's still holding firm, which is highly commendable.
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However, the two metal pistons on the waist can occasionally pop out, so you'll need to be careful during handling. If they do come off, putting them back in isn't too much of a hassle, so don't worry. Placing the two units side-by-side, which design do you prefer based on looks alone?
Head
The range of motion is fantastic, just like the Lupus Rex, so we won't dwell on it.
Arms
The articulation is excellent and more than sufficient for any pose, as shown. The problem lies with the wrist design, which is still a bit weak and causes quite a few issues when holding weapons. Because most of the Lupus's weapons are large and heavy, the wrists simply don't have the strength to support them. While the figure includes a display stand with support arms, using them to strike a pose just isn't ideal.
The shoulder armor can be opened, but without any blue flame effect parts, there's not much point to the gimmick. It's best to just keep them closed.
Waist Armor
The range of motion is wide and won't hinder your posing at all; it's definitely sufficient. When it comes to a Barbatos figure, articulation is never a problem—this machine was designed to be contorted.
Legs
Mobility here is also a non-issue. Thanks to the tighter joints, my copy has excellent stability and can stand flat-footed with ease. However, possibly due to individual QC, the right leg joint on my figure is a bit looser than the left.
Eye-Glow Effect
This is a must-have accessory for any mobile suit from the "Iron-Blooded Orphans" series. This time, the effect part is incredibly versatile. Each side has three independently articulated joints, allowing you to twist and angle the effect to match your pose perfectly. It's a lot of fun to work with.
Next up is the most exciting part of this toy: the weapons.
The Lupus comes absolutely loaded with a rich arsenal: four interchangeable arm cannons, two Twin Maces, a Valkyrja Buster Sword, and the massive Sword-Mace (borrowed from another suit in the story). This is far more generous than the Lupus Rex (which only had the Ultra Large Mace and Tail Blade) and the standard ROBOT SPIRITS Barbatos (which came with a tachi and long mace).
Basically, all of the Lupus's weapons are designed so that you first remove the hilt, place it in the figure's hand, and then reattach the main body of the weapon. The advantage is a very secure grip, but the problem, again, is the lack of wrist strength, which is a major hassle.
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Twin Maces
Let's start with the Twin Maces. These two are excellent for posing because they're short, easy to position, and convenient to hold. They are a really fun set of weapons.
Valkyrja Buster Sword
This long sword qualifies as a large weapon, and holding it one-handed is a bit of a struggle. The wrist often can't maintain its position due to the weapon's weight. Still, its length gives it an imposing presence, and holding it with two hands is no problem at all.
Arm Cannons
There are two types of cannons: Rocket Guns and 200mm Guns. Since there are no effect parts, there isn't much difference in posing with them. The muzzle of the 200mm Guns happens to fit the effect parts from the ROBOT SPIRITS A.N.I.M.E. line, but there are no corresponding effects for the rockets. When equipped, they don't really hinder articulation, but since they add some weight and bulk, posing is slightly affected. Still, having cannons gives the mobile suit a stronger presence and is well worth equipping.
Sword-Mace
This is the weapon the Lupus used against the Mobile Armor (in what is arguably the most classic battle in all of "Iron-Blooded Orphans," a raw display of power and skill with no wasted movement). Holding it one-handed is difficult; as soon as you try to pose it, the wrist tends to give out. Bending the elbow and resting the sword on the shoulder is a more viable option. The sword itself is truly massive and intimidating, and it's incredibly satisfying to handle.
Holding it with two hands is perfectly fine, though I personally prefer the one-handed look from the anime. It's a shame the arm can't be easily removed, or I'd definitely recreate its one-armed state.
Adding the eye-glow effect parts makes the entire Gundam feel like it's come alive with a feral energy. Here are some photos:
Since the weapons can be handed over to the Lupus Rex, I wasn't going to miss that opportunity.
Because the Lupus Rex's joints are extremely loose, handling these heavy weapons with it is quite difficult. However, the Lupus Rex has one major advantage over the Lupus: its sub-arms. These provide the necessary support to wield the Valkyrja Buster Sword and Sword-Mace without issue. On my copy of the Lupus Rex, even holding its own mace is a problem, and it often requires the sub-arms for support even with the Twin Maces.
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Honestly, when the Lupus Rex was released, its weapon count felt a bit sparse. While the base figure design is cool and intimidating (loose joints aside), it just wasn't that fun to play with. Now, with the Lupus's arsenal, the experience is far more enjoyable, allowing the Lupus Rex to finally realize more of its potential.
Overall, this METAL ROBOT SPIRITS Lupus is a rare, fan-pleasing product from Bandai. The core figure is excellently designed, improving on many of the Lupus Rex's problems, and the rich and diverse weapon loadout is a fantastic bonus.
If there are still issues, they would be the following:
1. The display stand design is a common problem for both the METAL BUILD and METAL ROBOT SPIRITS lines; it's very inconvenient to use. For example, the support arm for the MR line is too short. As figures get heavier, the stand design really needs an overhaul.
2. The Lupus has two connection points for the stand: one on its rear skirt and one between the legs. The one on the back is extremely difficult to use; it basically pops off as soon as you attach it and can't bear much weight. The one between the legs is the primary connection point, but using it restricts the legs' range of motion. For many collectors, posing is paramount, and we hope the connection points and stand design can be further improved.
3. The wrists lack sufficient support. For weapons this big and heavy, connecting them with just a tiny ball joint is not enough to pull off good poses. A recurring problem with Bandai is that they rarely consider things from a practical, hands-on perspective. The result is that you can *get* the weapon in the hand, but you can't *play* with it smoothly, which ultimately detracts from the toy experience.
4. Effect Parts. Including effect parts is always a great way to enhance a toy. At the very least, they could be made compatible with the ROBOT SPIRITS A.N.I.M.E. series. For 1/144 scale figures, effect parts are particularly meaningful. While 1/100 scale figures can be fun without them, 1/144 figures are a bit small, and adding effects can effectively highlight the toy's strengths and add a lot of fun to the handling process.
Thanks for reading!
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