12.01.08

Yamato GNU YF-21 vs Kaiyodo Revoltech YF-21

Posted in Kaiyodo, Macross Plus, Oddball, YF-21 Valkyrie, Yamato at 1:32 am by micronian

 

Showdown: Go for the Guld!

Packaging & Extras: Revoltech
Was there even a question?  The GNU comes with a few extra hands and a gun, the Revoltech comes with all those things, a display stand, PPB punch, and Super Parts.  That’s a lot more bang for your buck, even if the Revoltech is smaller.

Charm & Collectibility: Revoltech
While the Yamato is a more polished product, the Revoltech fits existing collections while the Gnu is trying to establish a name for itself.  The Revoltechs look mighty impressive on a shelf surrounded by other Revoltechs… the GNU just looks lonely.  Still, there’s no transformation or diecast so I don’t expect either of these toys to be wildly popular.

 

Sculpt, Detail, and Paint: Yamato
The Yamato looks slick and sturdy while the Revoltech looks stylized and cheap.  Both toys have only a decent amount of detail but this is clearly an area where the Gnu’s larger size and better finish helps.

 

Design: Yamato
As with my YF-19 showdown I did earlier this year, Yamato’s construction of these toys in such a way as to assist customizers sets these toys a step above the Revoltechs.  For what they are, the Revoltechs are great, but Yamato adds a level to their GNU product by making you wonder what you can make them.  The GNU knees are also easily superior (if not as mobile).

 

Durability & Build: Yamato
There’s no question that Yamato’s product feels better in your hand’s than Kaiyodo’s.  Yamato’s choice of ABS plastic is welcome and their application of paint also seems consistently better.  You may occasionally find yourself accidentally disassembling a piece of the GNU but it always snaps right back together.

 

Articulation: Revoltech
Revoltech scores a big win here.  Not only is the figure more poseable but when the additional items provided with the toy are included you can have a lot more fun posing it.  That’s not to say the GNU is in any way a slouch, it’s fun also, it’s just not as much fun.

 

Overall: Revoltech
The Revoltech costs less and is more fun but Yamato does well, and sometimes better, in many respects.  If these toys were exactly the same price I might have been pretty hard-pressed to pick a winner but in the end your money is best spent on the Kaiyodo products.  Now that Yamato has announced it’s going to compete more in regard to packaged items with their toys future showdowns ought to be very competitive.  If you’re a person with some extra cash and less worried about extras and extreme poses and more interested the best line art representation and best build then stick with the GNU.

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