Tag Archives: Alter

Nanoha Takamachi from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS (Summer Holiday Version)

written on June 13, 2012 by Tier

Nanoha Takamachi from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Figure Review

As reliable as death and taxes is Alter’s proclivity for making figures of characters from the Nanoha series. This one was a bit surprising though, as it appeared that they had wrapped up the StrikerS series with Vivio a couple of years ago. It seemed likely that they would begin adapting the new designs from the upcoming movie but contrary to that expectation, they’re going back to StrikerS. Not that I have a problem with that since I feel kinda dirty every time I look at my loli Fate figures.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/7 scale, Alter, Figures, magical girl lyrical nanoha, nanoha takamachi, Review, swimsuit | 32 Comments

Yagyu Jubei from Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls (White Swimsuit Version)

written on April 30, 2012 by Tier

Yagyu Jubei from Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls Figure Review

When you don’t have a belt or a strap to hang your swords off of, you make do the best that you can.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/8 scale, Alter, Figures, hyakka ryouran samurai girls, Review, swimsuit, sword, yagyu jubei | 30 Comments

Aegis from Persona 3 (Art Works Version)

written on April 6, 2012 by Tier

I was surprised when I learned that Alter was making another Aegis figure. They’d already done a figure of Aegis and their current catalog is mostly focused on popular, recent anime – Strike Witches, Bakemonogatari, K-On! and Railgun in their time, and so on. And though Persona 3 is a great game, it feels like it’s been overshadowed and overwhelmed by its sequel. While Persona 3 spawned a derivative and mostly-forgotten anime series, Persona 4 received a direct anime adaptation, on top of getting a fighting game developed by Arc System Works (to be fair, a few Persona 3 characters will be appearing in that game). And while several Persona 4 characters – such as Teddie, Nanako, and every female member of the player’s party – seem to be fan favorites, you don’t really hear anybody wax rhapsodically about Yukari or Ken. Me, personally, I like Persona 3 much more than Persona 4, so I’m glad that Alter chose Aegis once more.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/6 scale, aegis, Alter, Figures, persona 3, Review | 48 Comments

Naoe Kanetsugu from Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls

written on March 5, 2012 by Tier

Alter is one of the most well-respected figure makers in the hobby, and they have a diverse product portfolio that encompasses a huge variety of properties. There are a few franchises that they seem to particularly prize – in particular, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Strike Witches, and Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls. One could make a good argument that Samurai Girls doesn’t deserve figures of this quality but although the show is quite terrible, the character designs are, at least, fairly pleasing to the eye. They’ve trickled out over the last few years, and though Alter seems committed to making figures of all of the show’s characters, they’ve shown little of the alacrity that they evince with chucking out Strike Witches figures, who seem to get a new one every few months. Nonetheless, the newest one is Naoe Kanetsugu, an evidently happy young girl who carries a very big stick.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/8 scale, Alter, Figures, hammer, hyakka ryouran samurai girls, naoe kanetsugu, Review | 40 Comments

Fate Testarossa from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (Swimsuit Version)

written on December 21, 2011 by Tier

Alter kicked off 2011 with Fate Testarossa and yet another figure of the blonde mage is among those that will close this year. In fact, Alter released five figures of Fate in 2011 alone, demonstrating that she is one of their favorite characters. Their love affair with the lightning wizard will surely continue unabated, as Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force is still untapped and more significantly, the second movie is on the way, with a new costume for Fate. Admittedly, it looks quite like her old costume with just a few changes but that certainly will not deter figure makers and Fate’s fans will certainly not object.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/7 scale, Alter, fate testarossa, Figures, magical girl lyrical nanoha, Review, swimsuit | 38 Comments

Nanoha Takamachi from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (School Uniform Version)

written on October 4, 2011 by Tier

Nanoha Takamachi from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figure Review

Curiously, I have no scale-size Nanoha figures in my collection. I have six Fates, but no Nanoha. This imbalance must be amended – Fate is a lonely girl and she needs a friend. Somebody who will stand by her and give her a big hug. Somebody who will liberate her from a life of thralldom and unrequited love. Somebody who will occasionally Divine Buster her ass when she needs it.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/7 scale, Alter, Figures, magical girl lyrical nanoha, nanoha takamachi, Review, school uniform, staff | 30 Comments

Charlotte Yeager from Strike Witches

written on July 24, 2011 by Tier

The love that some people have for certain anime character traits can be a funny thing. There are entire communities dedicated to some particular aspect, like flat chests, or glasses, or the tsundere archetype, or tentacle violation. Equally funny is the fervor with which some people will champion their chosen fetishes. There are some people who will lash out with unbridled hostility if you dare attack their favorite things. I’m definitely among their number – insult my doll collection and I will hate you forever.

Nonetheless, I will go ahead and simply say it – I really don’t like animal ears on anime characters. They bug the hell out of me. No, I don’t know why I feel that way – one may as well ask why my favorite food is my favorite or why I hate certain sports teams or musical groups or waking up early or why I go absolutely ballistic if somebody driving slower than me passes in front of my car. It’s just the way things are.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/8 scale, Alter, charlotte yeager, Figures, gun, Review, strike witches | 36 Comments

Gotou Matabei from Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls

written on June 30, 2011 by Tier

And back to fighting girl figures. A number of great fighting girl figures have been released this year, which is enormously gratifying. Quite a few of them aren’t wearing pants or skirts, which is also very pleasing. One such figure is presented here, and while Matabei took a bit of additional hassle to acquire, it’s easy to see why she was worth the effort.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/8 scale, Alter, Figures, fundoshi, gotou matabei, hyakka ryouran samurai girls, Review, spear, thong | 45 Comments

Dizzy from Guilty Gear XX Accent Core (Alter Version)

written on April 30, 2011 by Tier

Back when I wrote about Kotobukiya’s Dizzy, I mentioned that I wished a better manufacturer like Alter or Max Factory had done the figure instead. Dizzy was the main reason I first played the Guilty Gear series and while I enjoy the games on their own merits now, Dizzy is still one of my favorite characters across all fictional media. While I did not dislike Kotobukiya’s figure, I still hoped that someone would do a better job of it. I didn’t expect to ever see that happen; after all, I’ve been pining away for an Irma figure – since MegaHouse has done almost all of the other Queen’s Blade figures – and an Itsuki Kannagi figure – since Good Smile Company sponsored Sora Kake Girl – to no avail. But fate works in strange ways and Dizzy now has two figures. I’d still like to see Irma and Itsuki get figures but when it comes to wishes made on a wing and a prayer, one out of three ain’t bad at all.
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Posted in Figure Review | Tagged 1/8 scale, Alter, dizzy, Figures, guilty gear x, Review, thong, wings | 110 Comments

Fate Testarossa from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (Phantom Minds Version)

written on April 9, 2011 by Tier

Alter Fate Testarossa from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figure Review

This year has seen a profusion of Tamaki, Sonico, and Miku figures, but Fate Testarossa has quietly staked her own claim as an It-Girl of 2011. Alter has already released an astonishing three figures of her in this year’s first four months, joining the Fate T. Harlaown figure they released two years ago to great acclaim and also the 2006 figure that was one of their earliest products. I had planned to skip this figure – she was rather expensive, her head seemed overly large and her angry scowl is a bit generic. But then Hobby Search tossed her in their bargain bin and I reversed my decision. I’m very glad I did because this is a spectacular figure, no doubt.
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