EPOCH Tekken 4 Yoshimitsu 12 Inch figure review

Continuing our in-depth coverage of EPOCH's assortment of Tekken

collectibles, today, we'll be looking at another eye-catching addition
to the Iron Fist series: the Tekken 4 12 Inch Yoshimitsu figure.
                                 

Released in 2002 alongside the home console port of Tekken 4, the
Yoshimitsu figure was sold in durable, cardboard packaging.

Yoshimitsu's official Tekken 4 render is also featured on the front
of the box.



                                

The left side of the box acts as the spine of the packaging with
the same imagery as pictured on the front of the box (for those
looking to store their figures).


                        

The right side of the packaging prominently features the Tekken
4 logo.

                         
The top of the box.


                         

The back of the box lists the eight available fighters from the
Tekken 4 12 inch figure line:

Jin Kazama, Hwoarang, Steve Fox, King
Paul Phoenix, Yoshimitsu, Bryan Fury and Violet.

Steve Fox would be the only new character added to the lineup
(the only other new character that was included in the set: Violet
was simply Lee Chaolan in disguise).

The front of the box opens up with Velcro straps to reveal window
packaging that displays the Yoshimitsu figure.

The left side of the inner-packaging contains Yoshimitsu's official, in-game

prologue.

                          


The 12 inch Yoshimitsu figure is based on Yoshi's second player attire
from Tekken 4.

                              

The advertised "20 points of articulation" allow collectors to recreate
Yoshimitsu's fighting stance.

Although Yoshimitsu's costumes have always "evolved" from attires
worn in previous Tekken games (in this case, the very first Tekken-
from 1994) (right), I've always felt Yoshimitsu's original (and Tekken
4 2P designs) were heavily inspired by KONAMI's 1987 cult -classic
"Getsu Fuuma Den (月風魔伝) (left).

                               

Yoshimitsu's demonic visage is striking with dark red eyes, pointed
horns and a fierce snarl.

                      

Drawing from Japanese traditions, I believe the design behind Yoshimitsu's
mask was based on the characters "Furyumen" which have been worn
in the Japanese "Buryu" folk dance for centuries.

Tying in to Yoshi's character, it is believed the Furyumen masks were worn
by soldiers (as ordered by their lord of the area) who performed a sneak
attack against their enemies one night while beating drums and gongs;
gaining a crucial victory during Japan's warring period (1493-1573).

Yoshimitsu's armor contains a metallic paint finish that is placed over

black fabric. Sadly, the ropes that wrap around Yoshimitsu's chest and 

waist armor are made out of plastic.

On a positive note, Yoshimitsu's swords are slim enough to be held

in Yoshimitsu's waist-belt.

Yoshimitsu's black pants with gold trim (which are also made of fabric)
from Tekken 3 are once again incorporated into Yoshi's Tekken 4 look.

The metal loincloth contains the Japanese Kanji for "宇" (universe),
a motif that has adorned many of the space-Ninja's attires from over
the years.

The included kneepads, shin guards and tabi socks are all made
of hard plastic.

Making up for the lack of fabric belts, the 12 inch Yoshimitsu figure 

comes with a full mane of comb-able Kabuki hair.

                              


A major highlight is the massive demon-faced armor which covers
the entire back portion of the Yoshimitsu figure.

Perhaps NAMCO was paying tribute to "Bishamon" from CAPCOM's
Darkstalker series?

                            

Yoshimitsu's right arm contains an open hand sculpt (recreating
Yoshimitsu's fighting stance).

Sadly, the fingers are not poseable.

                    

In terms of accessories, both forearms and legs are removable
along with two swords.

Again, as only one hand is sculpted to hold a sword, I'm going
to assume that the second sword is simply included for decoration
(or, more likely as a replacement since Yoshimitsu started using
a second sword two games later in Tekken 6).

                      

Since Yoshimitsu's design is a mixture between plastic and fabric,
the legs and arm portions tend to fall off a little too easily; making
standing the Yoshimitsu figure more difficult than it needs to be.

Like EPOCH's line of standard Tekken 3 action figures, an included
display base would have made a world of difference when it comes
to displaying the 12 inch Yoshimitsu figure.

Tekken 4 would be the final Tekken game to receive figures made by
EPOCH as NAMCO would shift the franchise's merchandising focus
to gashapon capsule figures (through the help of BANDAI) with
installments to follow.

With it's mixture of fabric clothing, superb detail and articulation,
Yoshimitsu  (and the rest of the 12 inch Tekken 4 series for that matter)
continues to serve as a testament to the growing quality of EPOCH's
work from the early 2000's.