Which is why I still find it baffling they didn't release the noir as a regular web exclusive then make the normal strike E an event exclusive. Oh well my own fault for hesitating to order when I had the chance I guess.
My thoughts as to how the releases should've been: - Strike Noir (retail) (everyone wants this) - Strike Rouge Ootori (retail) (easy recolor of the body that everyone wants, with a new backpack that's alright) - Strike-E IWSP (retail) (easy recolor of a body that not everyone cares for, with a new backpack that everyone wants) - Strike Rouge IWSP with different markings (exclusive) - any other variant (exclusive) This way, retail people can get the Strike Noir normally, and a Strike Rouge IWSP by buying two full sets and mixing/matching. Those who don't want to buy two sets could opt to get the exclusive set instead. Seems like a win-win situation for Bandai. But noooooooooo.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV Metal Build Lightning Striker Pack (Alternative Strike Ver.) Tamashii Webshop Exclusive Price: 14,300 JPY (Taxes Included) Release Date: Jul 2023 Reservations Start: Jan 27, 2023 16:00 JST
Just got my order of the Metal Build Guren from TOM and man am I underwhelmed. shame I can't return it because of their policy, anyone here interested in it? eBay has been a crapshoot for me with some good, some eh. But the Metal Robot Damashii knightmare figures I sold went pretty well...
Two questions: 1) What store is TOM? 2) What in particular is so underwhelming? The reason why is that I think you are the first on the board here who hasn't loved theirs. [ I personally don't have one or an interest in it, more so curious because I'm a metal robot junky. ]
So just a recolored Lightning Striker Pack, to match a base figure that very few people got their hands on? Genius move, Bandai. Tokyo Otaku Mode. I personally didn't have a good experience shopping there in the 2 orders that I made, but they do seem to be reliable.
G.F.F.M.C. Deathscythe Hell (EW) new pics Bandai: Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite - Deathscythe Hell Gundam (EW) - Passion4Fun
So US gets the Striker pack listing but not the Strike Noir listing. They need a new business manager. P-Bandai $140. Orders start 1/27 METAL BUILD LIGHTNING STRIKER (ALTERNATIVE STRIKE Ver.) | GUNDAM | BANDAI Official Online Store in America | Make-to-order Action figures, Gunpla, and Toys.
Wow that's ridiculous! I still don't get why they made a metal build figure with such heavy remodeling a super-rare web exclusive... and now they offer its accessory pack on PBandai? What are they thinking?
Because in my opinion Bandai use Katoki and his designs/modifications to somehow justifiy price and limited release and Katoki use Bandai to promote his ulterior takes on Wing mechas mixing and matching elements from the TV anime, EW and Glory Of The Losers (he is the mecha designer for both). Personally i'd hope to see at some point Bandai force him to reveal as a model the Snow White. Anyway i fear the purple color is to further keep it distinguished from the MRS, i really hope it will be toned down. The cool thing is we'll get every possible version of the Scythe from the 1st anime season up to the GOL manga, actually it's cool to see why the forearm protections were designed like this, they were intended as mini buster shields to deploy. For me, wings could have been larger. Also i hope we'll get a peg in the back to keep in place the scythe when not in use.
Sorry, I was referring to the fact that the MB Strike Noir was so incredibly difficult to procure at a reasonable price, yet its accessories are going to be available for pre-order at PBandai.
No problem. Simply put, it's a problem only outside of Japan because for them getting Strike Noir wasn't that much harder than PB. Of course outside Japan it's way more pricey but it's of no concern to Bandai (at least in the USA you have your own PB, in Europe not even that). The reason the set is PB is because it's not exclusive to Strike Noir but compatible with all the previous Seed releases (all Strike variants, Strike Rouge, Astray Red Kai Alternative, Red Dragonics, Blue Full Weapon and Blue 2nd Devise) thus it's available to everyone who wants to buy it. LS Alternative is a recolor but sold separately, Rouge Aile Striker as of now is tied to Strike Rouge + Grand Slam set and not sold separately to make you buy another Rouge even if you already have the previous release.
I hope they ship the new Wing 0 before Deathscythe hits PO. Still on the fence about whether I want it, though the scythe options definitely help. But I really want to see how I feel about the line before I commit to any more of them. Still not sure about the color choices or the tacked on bits. I'd like to see it without all the option parts and rocking the standard scythe.
Think I just got too into the hype, that and after just finishing the Code Geass Movie (& rewatch the 2wks before) AND getting the Metal Build figures, I was just all "I Gotta add this to the ones I Have!" impulse moment. Also thought it was more exclusive. Now I sold the others, trying to sell the Robot Damashii figure ones, and I'm all meh about it. Thought about seeing if there was anywhere on MyFigureCollection to try and sell it, but nope. I guess robots don't count as figures over there (makes note to add robots with chinese figures)
I think I mentioned it before; had the Guren and Lancelot come out way back when the Lancelot prototypes were shown, I'd have snatched everything Code Geass related. The sad part for Bandai is that they waited too long (whatever the reason was), and my interest in Code Geass, especially the mechs, didn't have as lasting of an attachment for me as other series did, so I have very little drive to get those now. ---===--- I may still get the GFFMC Deathscythe, though, as a one-off from the Wing series, since the Deathscythe has always been my favorite MS from the series. At least we get the proper scythe that everyone wants. Thought the scans presented above didn't show "standard" side/hip armor, without the claw-things.
