01.18.09

Yamato GNU YF-19 and VF-19A

Posted in Macross Games, Macross/Robotech TMS, Oddball, VF/YF-19 Valkyrie, Yamato at 2:00 am by micronian

 

Review(updated): I have no idea how to pronounce this.  Guh-new?

Packaging & Extras (2/5)
There’s a lot left to be desired when the Yamato GNU YF-19 is removed from its box. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the box itself although there’s also nothing special about it. Unfortunately, the box (and the price) seems to imply the toy comes with some extras which sets up the proud new owner for immediate let down. Inside there are a few hands and a gun and nothing else.  Yamato has indicated that a future release of these toys will come with fast packs and that a stand will be available for purchase separately.

 

Charm & Collectability (2/5)
Yamato has made a solid name for themselves with some truly impressive transforming Macross merchandise but this was a bold move to infringe upon Kaiyodo’s established territory just as Kaiyodo nearly simultaneously released their own YF-19. I don’t expect Yamato to win this first round.  The VF-19A toy, released in November 2008, is rumored to be a limited edition but there’s been no indication that it, or the YF-19 toy, are selling particularly well.

Sculpt, Detail, and Paint (8.5/10)
The molded ABS plastic of the Yamato figures immediately set themselves apart from the competition. There is some painted on detail (including an excess UN Spacy kite pictured above) but overall the toy does look somewhat plain. There are some slightly special GNU toys out there that feature a light airbrushed shading technique. So far these lightly shaded ones have only shown up at Yamato press events but they may be a good indication of Yamato’s intent to produce some future variants.

 

Design (8.5/10)
Yamato touts their GNU line as being toys built on an internal skeletal frame and they have some cool advertisements showing off this frame. By making toys in this manner, the thinking goes, Yamato opens up their toys to customizers who can pop them apart with a little effort and then reassemble them on the skeleton. Initial feedback to this has been largely positive (although it’s clear that the internal skeleton gimmick has several compromises to accomodate the odd shapes of Valkyrie Battroids).  There are lots of ball joints including the shield as pictured above.

 

Durability & Build (8.5/10)
For a toy this small the GNU-19 is remarkably well built (as it should be priced at this level). Yamato’s opting for ABS over PVC plastic means the toy feels solid and not at all rubbery. Every joint felt responsive and I didn’t feel at any point that I was on the verge of something snapping. This toy hasn’t been in circulation long though so I’ll be sure to revisit this if reports start flourishing of parts failures.  I did knock this score down a fraction though as a few people have managed to damage it while trying to disassemble it and view the internal structure.

 

Articulation (8/10)
I have only one complaint about these toys: the legs are missing a twisting point. There is still a very large range of movement in the legs but a twisting point would have allowed just a bit more fun. The feet can be angled and pointed without regard to the rest of the leg so that largely counters much of the problem caused in other toys when an leg twist is absent.

 

Total Score (37/50)
Yamato set the MSRP in Japan to 3,150 Yen or roughly $31 US. That makes this about a $40 toy for folks outside of the Far East. While it is a pretty decent toy I can’t help but think your money would be better spent elsewhere at that price range. Think of it this way, for a long time Robotech.com had the Toynami MPC Alphas on sale for $39.99 and those are toys loaded with diecast and have the ability to transform into three modes (although the GNU will last longer and has much better quality). At $25 I would say this is a great buy… at $40 I’m thinking they should have made it a $50 toy and incorporated transformation into it.

NOTE: This review has been updated.  Pictures of the VF-X2 paint scheme were added.

Original post date: July 14, 2008

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