Hello, and welcome to All Your Monies, where The Glorio Blog’s resident toy and figure collecting crew (and Aqua) will run down the last week’s new pre-orders, turning a loving or scathing eye over what’s been put out for you to spend your hard earned cash on. This week we have more Smash Bros joining the fray.

Nendoroid Kirby (Kirby’s Dream Land)
Good Smile Company, January 2016, ¥4,167

Zigg: Why is Kirby headlining this week? Because fuck Mega Man that’s why. Seriously though, this is adorable as hell and while it’s questionable branding it a Nendoroid, I guess it’s the line that fits the best. As ever, smart accessory choices and faceplates make and break the figure, and in this case it’s a cool, funny lineup they’v gone with. Would it have been too much to ask for a star base though?

Jel: Kirby’s in that weird space where a nendoroid kind of makes sense but his design is so iconic and minimalistic that you can only do him one way. Basically, you could call this a Kirby figma and it would still have to look exactly the same. For an example of how that concept can go wrong, see the oddly proportioned Mario nendoroid. Fortunately  GSC left well enough alone and Kirby look pretty great here. I’m most impressed with the accessories. The star wand and sword hat are a given, but the fire is a nice extra to put it over the top. Pretty harsh making the Maximum Tomato a GSC shop exclusive though.

Iro: I don’t know what makes this a nendoroid apart from them claiming it’s a nendoroid, but the accessories are all quite good (barring the Maxim Tomato being an exclusive; should have made the Power Drink an exclusive and just included the Maxim Tomato), and in theory they could charge more later by releasing hat packs or something. There’s a lot of copy abilities out there.

Nendoroid Mega Man (No Games Ever Again)
Good Smile Company, January 2016, ¥4,445

Zigg: I’m no big Mega Man fan, but even with that said there’s something a little bit off about this. The armour is outstanding as you’d expect but there’s something wrong with the faces I just can’t put my finger on. There should really be a helmetless variant head too, although I guess GSC might be saving that for one of the innumerable variants of the character.

Jel: Speaking of iconic, minimalist designs, Mega Man actually works great as a nendoroid without too much effort. In fact, I couldn’t help but think of the design for Powered Up PSP remake years ago. I’m impressed with the poses more than the accessories, using the limited nendoroid movement to successfully get the “jump” motion and the oddly specific look when he’s taking damage. Pretty cool overall, but again harsh to make those cool death dots a GSC exclusive.

Iro: The adventures of other companies doing more for Mega Man than Capcom has done (or will do) in years continue for the foreseeable future.

Hatsune Miku: Greatest Idol ver. (VOCALOID)
Good Smile Company, May 2016, ¥11,112

Zigg: It’s becoming hard to get excited about another Miku figure, but I will say I dig the alternative colour scheme on this, as much as she rmeinds me of a candy cane. That guitar/keytar combo is a work of sublimely awful art and I really hope it’s removable (unlikely I know) so it can be put to better use on other figures.

Jel: Sure it’s another Miku in a pose I’m pretty sure we’ve seen before and wow the colors are offending my design senses, but I can’t help being incredibly impressed with the sheer technical prowess on display here. Obviously the guitar/keytar steals the show with the incredibly detailed strings and knobs, but even the more subtle things like the wrinkles in her clothes and the laces of her shoes look fantastic. I actually assumed this was a Max Factory figure when I first saw it, so good on GSC for steppin’ up their game.

Iro: Lacking anything valuable to say about yet more Miku figures, I will instead say that the keytar makes me wish for a Mic Sounders the 13th figure. Maybe they’ll make a Soul of Chogokin one so Zigg can spend another several hundred dollars.

‘Heroine X’ (Fate/Stay Night)
Alter, December, ¥10,800

Zigg: For some reason I actually really like this. I think it’s because I actually like the Saber character design but all her ‘known’ looks have been so desperately oversaturated over the years it’s kind of refreshing to see a new look. I like the shorts and the jacket with just enough colour to remind us of the character, plus I am of course a sucker for scarves. Then there’s that Alter detailing to take into account. Surprisingly tempting.

Jel: You know a character is at figure overload when even Iro, our resident Type Moon expert, barely knows what this is. This might be the deepest cut of all the Sabers (I believe it was some kind of April Fool’s joke) but I have to say it’s also the first one I’ve wanted since GSC’s Fate Zero version from a few years ago. I love the simple, sporty look in contrast with her regal scarf thing and of course, Excalibur itself. Bonus points for making the ahoge popping out of her cap. Now someone give me money to buy this.

Iro: This is from some April Fool’s joke that was spoofing Saint Seiya, starring a bunch of the less popular Type-Moon heroines (they even stuck a DDD reference in there somewhere, and nobody on the planet cares about DDD) and the Mysterious Heroine X (who is absolutely not their biggest cash cow heroine, Saber, no sir), and I guess it’s a pretty nice figure.

Alisha (Tales of Zestiria)
Alter, December, ¥10,000 (Re-release)

Zigg: I really liek this, despite the somewhat generic design. I think it’s partially because of the unusual colour palette, which is very warm and gentle and contrasts nicely with the awesome armour. It’s an interesting but not entirely questionable pose and again, that Alter production value counts for a lot to me. Again, I’m pretty intrigued.

Jel: I’m simultaneously impressed and bored with this. In a vacuum it’s a fantastic figure. The sculpt is great, I love the color choices, and the bits of metal armor look great. But in the greater context of the Tales figures Alter has been cranking out over the years, Alisha’s design just isn’t very interesting to me. It’s almost dipping into the Shining series territory of cute girls in armor with big weapons. Still, it’s a great figure and I’m probably just being cynical. It looks worth picking up if you missed the first run.

Iro: Let’s put armor on our extremities and not on our entire center body where it’s most necessary, it’ll be fine.

Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2015 ver. (VOCALOID)
Good Smile Company, June 2016, ¥8,241 (Exclusive)

Zigg: I’m a big fan when companies go for slightly more ‘realistic’ Mikus and this is another example that I’m digging. Not so sure about that pink piping but the black and grey, combined with the overall older look of the figure, give an unusually classy look. Plus it’s a great pose, we’ve got killer hair (which to me at least is half the attraction of Miku figures) and some nice detailing. A word of warning though – this is only 1/10 scale so you’re paying quite a lot for not much figure here.

Jel: I love the figure, hate the color choices. For the good things, the fierce pose and expression are fantastic, I love the slightly more mature look in this design, and the outfit itself almost looks like she’s ready for combat. Those colors though… that amount of dull gray and black plus the green and pink clashing just make my brain thud when I look at it. I guess they were trying to play off her original outfit? Other than that, I can’t see any reason why you would choose those colors. Too bad, it’s a cool figure otherwise.

Iro: I can appreciate an anime figure that doesn’t have such wildly anime proportions. In other words, it’s nice to see a Miku that doesn’t look fourteen.