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This is a combined review of two releases from the "Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team" family, representing opposing factions from the series. First, we'll dive into the Zaku II JC Type, followed by a look at the extensive 08th MS Team Option Parts Set.
With so many generations of Zaku figures being released, I've honestly lost track of how many I own. However, this Zaku II JC Type has left a particularly strong impression. As a key antagonist mobile suit from "The 08th MS Team," it was a must-buy for me, and thankfully, it has plenty of excellent qualities worth appreciating.
1. Excellent Articulation.
The classic impression of a Zaku is that it's a bit clunky, right? Well, this Ground Type version boasts some surprisingly good mobility.
Let's start with the head. A Zaku with a functional neck joint that can look up properly opens up a world of posing possibilities. The range of motion in the head is absolutely outstanding!
The arm articulation is fairly standard and comparable to previous releases, so we won't spend too much time on it.
The waist, however, is another pleasant surprise. It has a fantastic range of motion, and when combined with the neck articulation, it gives this Zaku a significant advantage in dynamic posing.
The leg articulation is also solid. Thanks to the well-designed feet, achieving a stable single-leg stance is incredibly easy. The overall balance is great, making running or slashing poses no problem at all.
2. A Solid Arsenal of Weapons.
This Zaku comes equipped with its machine gun, a bazooka, a sheathed Heat Hawk, and an activated, glowing Heat Hawk.
In keeping with the gritty, military aesthetic of "The 08th MS Team," many of the weapons feature modular components. For example, the machine gun's magazine can be detached and stored on the skirt armor, and its scope is also removable. The bazooka's magazine is also detachable, though the barrel itself is a single piece.
While these removable parts add a great layer of detail, they can be a bit fiddly during play. They can fall off, and the connections aren't super tight (though given the small scale, we can't be too critical).
As a figure in the ver. A.N.I.M.E. line, it honestly does everything it's supposed to do. There are no major disappointments. While there are areas one might wish were more detailed, we have to remember the positioning of the Robot Spirits line. For instance, if it included water-slide decals, it would be on the level of a Metal Robot Spirits release or a special edition!
Next up, let's talk about the Option Parts Set:
The ver. A.N.I.M.E. releases for "The 08th MS Team" and "0083: Stardust Memory" rarely disappoint, and this set is no exception—it's quite good. Of course, even a great accessory pack has room for improvement. Let's start with what's in the box.
It goes without saying that an option parts set is packed with accessories. This one includes two main weapons (a rocket launcher and a missile launcher) with corresponding effect parts, a special shield effect (for planting it in the ground), a cannon muzzle blast effect, and a damaged arm for the Zaku II JC Type. Let's break them down one by one.
1. Rocket Launcher
The rocket launcher's barrel is on the shorter side, so it doesn't look particularly "intimidating" when held. It would have been better if the barrel were a bit longer and thicker!
Unlike the long cannon, this rocket launcher doesn't break down into five sections. However, the magazine can still be removed for play.
Adding the effect part gives it a very dynamic look. The blast effect itself is well-sculpted and looks great from multiple angles. However, since it plugs into the muzzle, it adds significant weight to the front. Compounding this is the lack of a "back-blast" effect, which causes the entire weapon to tilt forward. This makes it extremely difficult to pose and secure, which is a real shame. It's recommended that the weight of the effect part be reduced in the future, otherwise, it can be a disaster to handle. If it had both front and rear blast effects, the balance would likely be much better.
2. Missile Launcher
The missile launcher has a very short body and can be separated into four parts: the grip and three barrel sections. This allows you to recreate scenes of the Gundam assembling its equipment. The weapon can be held securely in one hand without any issues. However, because the three barrels are all separate pieces, the whole assembly is surprisingly prone to falling apart during handling, so be careful.
Opening one of the launch ports reveals two small holes for mounting the firing effects. You can also attach a back-blast effect to the rear. With both front and rear effects attached, it can be held securely in hand or rested on the shoulder.
The smoke trail effects are fantastic. The staggered launch of the missiles creates a great sense of depth and action. Once the effects are attached, the entire figure seems to come alive—it's truly masterful work!
3. Cannon-Related Effect Parts
The effects related to the 180mm cannon include the muzzle flash, the dust cloud from firing, and the shield-planting accessory.
The muzzle flash effect is excellent! The long trail of fire really captures the feeling of a massive cannon blast. While you could use other generic option parts, none would look as good as this one.
However, the most debatable piece is the shield-planting accessory. According to the official photos, you plant it in the ground and rest the cannon on top. In those photos, the Gundam's cannon is angled upwards. This is where I want to share my experience.
When I tried it, the planted shield sits very low to the ground. If you rest the cannon barrel on it, the angle is actually pointing downwards, not upwards, which contradicts the official photos. (If you look closely at the official pictures, the shield seems proportionally larger, as if its size doesn't match the one held in hand).
An upward-angled cannon pose just looks more powerful. But if you insist on that pose, the barrel ends up hovering far above the shield.
In the end, I just moved the shield forward a bit to fake the look. I'm curious how others have handled this scene when taking photos.
Personally, I love the look of the planted shield. The texture of the displaced dirt is great, and the dust cloud effect is also well done.
4. Zaku's Severed Arm Wires
You have to remove the Zaku's left arm and then plug in the exposed wire part. This piece is tiny in your hand, but it has a huge impact on the Zaku, creating a truly battle-damaged appearance.
Of course, we have to get a group shot!
After reviewing all these accessories, here's my overall evaluation.
I think the accessories are all a lot of fun and elevate the original figures to another level, which is commendable. For example, the missile launch effects are beautifully made, and combined with the smoke trails, they are incredibly dynamic. This is a signature feature of the ver. A.N.I.M.E. line. I hope to see these kinds of elements incorporated into the Metal Robot Spirits or Metal Build lines to make those toys even more fun and interesting.
Of course, the problem of the effect parts' weight remains.
The weapons themselves aren't very heavy, the figure isn't very heavy, and the grip of the hands isn't super tight. When you suddenly attach a heavy effect part, the figure becomes unbalanced. The worst offender is the rocket launcher; being so front-heavy, it just doesn't work. I ended up putting the backpack on the Gundam Ground Type, which helped a little. Of course, collectors can use various methods to secure the weapons. However, the designers have a responsibility to put more effort into this. If a toy requires Blu-Tack or glue to be posed properly, that's not ideal, is it? For example, could the effect parts be hollow? Could effects be attached to both the front and back of a weapon to achieve balance? These are things worth considering.
Finally, the instructions say you need to remove the backpack to install the rocket launcher mount, so I didn't bother trying that.
In the future, the manufacturer could try designing large-scale diorama effect pieces, like 1/144 scale colony debris or cityscapes—physical objects, not just paper backdrops. Posing figures with those would be even more impressive!
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