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This is a complete review of the new METAL BUILD RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν GUNDAM. Amuro's mobile suit, appearing again so soon, is truly exciting. It's rare for the MB series to release a new mold and a new toy, making it worth playing with. Below is an in-depth review with more text and images. Overall, by July or August, this toy should be among my top ten for 2022. The surprise factor during play can currently rival the Chogokin Gundam from late 2020. Its excellent points are very prominent, but there are still quite a few flaws.
Pros:
Pleasing design and good paint application:
There shouldn't be much disagreement with the first four words. As for the latter four, it really depends on whether you got a "lucky draw" (i.e., a defect-free unit). Mine, fortunately, didn't win the grand prize, but there are always a few minor issues. Overall, it's really good. There are quite a few detailed paint applications. In terms of body shape, it's noticeably taller and more robust than typical METAL BUILD toys, which aligns with the Hi-ν Gundam's design (although METAL BUILD doesn't adhere to a strict scale).
Good articulation:
The mobile suit is quite large, but fortunately, the articulation is still good. Let's discuss each part below.
Head
The head's articulation is relatively poor due to the large helmet and high collar, which create a lot of obstruction. Please do not force the head's angle to avoid unnecessary damage. Both looking up and turning left/right have very limited angles, which you must accept.
Arms
The arm articulation is good, with some parts of the shoulders that can be pulled out to increase the range of motion. The arms this time have many rotating points, are quite robust, and the craftsmanship is very delicate. The right arm conceals a machine gun, and the left arm conceals a beam saber hilt, both exquisitely made. The weapons will be discussed in detail later.
Waist
The waist has a very good range of motion, and there are also some covering armors to prevent "gaps" when the waist moves. The left and right rotation range is ideal.
Waist Armor
The waist armor opens quite wide, and the front and back armor have high articulation. Only the left and right waist armor are a bit lacking, which affects the range of motion when opening the waist sideways.
Legs
The legs are quite robust and have good articulation. The bending range is ideal, and the knee parts have mechanical details and some联动 (interlocking) effects. However, during play, we might sometimes grip the interlocking parts, causing the knee area to become immobile. Care is needed during play.
Feet
The feet have good articulation, and ground contact is not an issue.
Backpack
The backpack this time is quite large, but it attaches very securely to the back with no risk of falling off. It's also quite easy to remove without needing excessive force. Some videos mentioned that the mobile suit couldn't stand independently with the backpack attached, but I didn't encounter this issue. It seems to involve angle adjustment.
Fuel Tanks
The fuel tanks this time come in a long version and can also be separated into short ones. Both are excellent, easy to install, not prone to falling off, and simple to remove. The paint application before and after separation is also excellent, with no issues.
Rich Armament, Each with Unique Features:
The pricing of this toy is among the highest in the MB series, and BANDAI has certainly delivered on its promise and sincerity. Overall, it's still quite good.
Beam Rifle
The signature beam rifle needs no introduction. This time, it even comes with a "gun strap" (though it's purely decorative and not for carrying the rifle). You can choose to use the gun strap or not (but any extra accessories must be stored properly as they are quite small). Personally, I find it looks more natural and stylish without the gun strap, though using it certainly adds character.
Bazooka
The bazooka this time can be folded, and there's a small extendable section near the muzzle. The entire bazooka can be securely mounted on the back, very stable. However, the magazine cannot be detached, which is a minor drawback.
Additionally, since the bazooka doesn't come with effect parts, I specifically borrowed a bazooka firing effect part from ROBOT Damashii, and the effect is quite good.
Right Arm Machine Gun
For the arm machine gun, simply open the right arm's armor to reveal the gun barrel. Pull it out, and the machine gun is ready. The craftsmanship is good, but the extended barrel section has noticeable "grooves," which deducts a few points, though it doesn't significantly affect the overall appearance.
Beam Sabers
This time, there are three beam sabers: two on the back and one in the left hand.
The one on the back has a longer hilt, and the beam extends from both the front and back of the hilt. Dual-wielding them is quite imposing. The one concealed in the left hand is smaller, with a shorter beam.
Fin Funnels
This is the most distinctive feature of the Hi-ν GUNDAM. The six Fin Funnels can be securely mounted on the backpack (this comes with a significant cost, which will be discussed later when pointing out issues). The craftsmanship is very delicate and can be combined with connector parts to simulate the Fin Funnels being launched (this has some issues, which will be discussed later).
Shield
BANDAI cleverly included this "bubble shield" in the regular release to test the waters and see public acceptance. They surely anticipated the outcome, no need to elaborate. So, the "original shield" is compensated for in the Soul Web Exclusive Hyper Mega Bazooka Launcher. This bubble shield, looking at photos, is truly unacceptable. In person, it's a bit better, but still not very playable. The details on the back of the shield are quite good.
Iron Fist
Most Gundams have fists, but Amuro once used a Gundam to engage in fisticuffs, which is worth mentioning. (Laughs)
High Playability, Easy to Display:
Handling such a large Gundam in your hands feels quite risky. However, the connection point for display is on the backpack, making it very stable when plugged into a stand, with no risk of falling off. This is truly commendable. After all, if such a behemoth were to fall, the damage would be considerable!
Armor Purge is Unique and Thoughtful!
Recently, "armor purge" modes are very common. After all, creating an armor purge makes it easier to highlight technical skill, and players will feel especially moved when playing with it. This armor purge is indeed well-made; the handling of each part is just right, easy to purge and easy to retract, and the details are worth appreciating. After all, for a single toy, it's not easy to handle the outer armor, the armor purge, and the toy's own articulation all well at once.
Simplified mode without Fin Funnels is quite fun!
When playing, the backpack doesn't easily fall off, but managing the six Fin Funnels is quite troublesome. However, there's another mode for connecting the backpack, and the fuel tanks can also be detached. This makes the entire mobile suit feel significantly lighter, giving a refreshing feeling when playing. Anyone who has carefully played with it will have this feeling.
I've talked a lot about the pros; here are some issues:
1. The Fin Funnels are very difficult to attach to the backpack!
This part is really tricky! First, the Fin Funnel connection points are not easy to attach to the backpack; the backpack's connection points move. Additionally, the connection requires a certain amount of force to "snap" into place. Although the Fin Funnels don't easily fall off once attached, inexperienced players will likely be sweating profusely before getting them on. After all, for a toy costing several thousand dollars, having to "force it" is a big ask for players. Fortunately, there are many online videos guiding players on how to deal with this issue. I hope everyone handles it carefully. Otherwise, just following the instructions, it's really hard to know what to do!
2. The Fin Funnel clear parts are difficult to handle!
Honestly, those clear parts constantly wobble up and down, making adjustment very difficult. You truly feel what "moving one funnel moves the whole thing" means. This "spider-like" connector is really not easy to use. Adjusting the angle is difficult.
3. Must accept scratches after play
This toy's painted areas are very prone to scratches. The mobile suit uses a matte finish, and the colors are more subdued. However, with this type of paint, even a light scratch will leave a mark. For general players, once this happens, they might prefer not to play with it, which is quite a shame.
4. Base issues
From the first MB to now, this base has truly been used many, many times. When displaying it on the stand this time, the feel is good. However, once combined with the Fin Funnel stand on the back, many problems still arise. I suggest seriously designing a dedicated base to facilitate display and play for players.
Overall, although there are still many aspects of the toy that warrant discussion and improvement, the sincerity in its production is still abundant, which all serious players can surely feel. My favorite part is the armor purge; it's truly thoughtful and not difficult to manage. I believe this toy should be among my annual masterpieces. What do you all think?
Furthermore, one point worth considering for the manufacturer is to think more from the player's perspective and consider certain accessories. For example, the Fin Funnel connection stand constantly wobbles once attached, which is quite a significant problem. If toys could also undergo testing to assess the play experience after handling, perhaps some less user-friendly designs could be reduced? For instance, installing the Fin Funnels already makes general players quite apprehensive.
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