Tsukuda Hobby Tekken 2 Mini Character Collection Series figure review

Taking a side step from our regular Pro-Wrestling figure coverage,

today's review covers two pieces of vintage video game memorabilia
released in the mid 1990's exclusively in Japan: Tsukuda Hobby's

"Mini Character Collection Series".

               


Following the massive success of Namco's 3D fighting game Tekken
in 1994, Namco immediately began working on a sequel along with a
weapon-based fighter called Soul Edge (which was renamed "Soul
Blade" to audiences outside of Japan).

To promote the arcade release of both titles, toymaker Tsukuda Hobby
produced two volumes of minifigures based on characters from Tekken
and Soul Edge.
                      

The first volume of minifigures features 10 of the starter characters
from Tekken 2.

The top of the packaging contains 3D renders for both volumes. The

Japanese text reads:

"Mini Character       No. 1                          No. 2
Collection Series       TEKKEN 2                SOUL EDGE
Lineup"                      10 Set                         8 Set"          

                         

The side graphic also depicts a grey Pac-Man logo in the right corner
which reads "LICENSED BY NAMCO" indicating that these sets
are official products.

The back of the Tekken 2 set includes the arcade portraits of each
of the 10 characters along with Japanese text mentioning Namco's
newest fighter and the figures based on the game.

A closeup of the 10 character portraits. Each character's name is written
in English, Japanese Kanji (Yoshimitsu, Jun and Heihachi), Katakana
and  Chinese (Lei)

The first figure is of fan favorite Paul Phoenix; doing his best Super
Saiyan powerup impression.

Paul's skyscraper hairstyle is faithfully replicated.

The text on the backs of each figure reads "(C) NAMCO
                                                                      CHINA"

One of the new fighters that was first introduced in Tekken 2
was Wildlife activist Jun Kazama.

Jun's goodhearted demeanor is captured in this minifigure.

Next up is the fast-paced, Bruce Lee-inspired fighter: Marshall Law.

Complete with confident facial expression and raised right leg, Law
looks ready to dish out a frenzy of flip kicks.

Other Bruce Lee inspired fighters from the era included Fei Long
(Street Fighter), Kim Dragon (World Heroes), Lee (Fighting Hero III),
E.R. Kung/Lee (Yie Ar Kung Fu/Jikkyou Max Voltage) and Liu
Kang (Mortal Kombat).

Taking a cue from Street Fighter, Tekken 2 featured the recently
dethroned boss of Tekken 1 turned starter character: Heihachi
Mishima.

You can almost imagine the lightning emerging from Heihachi's
victory pose.

It's a shame that Heihachi's signature Tiger decal is not included
on the back of Heihachi's black gi.

He said he'd be back: Russian robo-fighter Jack 2 in victory pose.

To stand out from the human combatants, Jack 2 is painted with a
lighter skin tone and contains striking red eyes.

                             

The camo design along Jack 2's pants is a nice touch.

"HI-YA!" Tekken's answer to Joshi Pro-Wrestling: Michelle Chang
in victory pose.

Even for the simple designs of the Tekken 2 set, there's plenty of
detail in the Michelle figure.

Another fan favorite. Japanese Swordsman and leader of the Manji
clan: Yoshimitsu.

Yoshimitsu's armor uses a special paint with a silver finish and
is the only figure in this set to feature it.

The top of Yoshimitsu's monk hat contains the Japanese Kanji "宇"
(which translates to "Universe"); a piece of writing Yoshimitsu has
often incorporated this symbol into his various attires throughout
the Tekken series.

Next up is series mainstay and bone-breaking submission master:
Nina Williams.

Nina's skin-tight, spandex outfit and matching stockings marked
the first time in the Tekken series where Nina was portrayed as a
video game sex symbol.

Even the attached tail (your guess is as good as mine) is also
included in minifigure form.

Tekken's resident Pro-Wrestler: the Jaguar Masked "King"!

King's design was based on the famous Anime-turned Pro-
Wrestling gimmick "Tiger Mask".

                            

King also features a championship belt around his waist
(a feature only included in King's Tekken 2 CG Art).

Random trivia: in 1997, Satoru Sayama (the original wearer of the
Tiger Mask gimmick) started billing himself as "Tiger King".

Strange coincidence?

Even King's Jaguar tail is included swaying to the side.

Stay tuned as we transcend history and take a look at the next
volume in this two-part series: the Soul Edge set!

Minoru Suzuki HAO Collection figure review

Also in 2007, HAO Arts Office added another incredibly popular Wrestler
to their soft vinyl lineup: Mixed Martial Artist and Pro-Wrestling legend
"The Lonely Warrior" ...Minoru Suzuki!

                                

The removable slip-case packaging features the Pancrase promotion
logo as well as a "PANCRASE MISSION X" logo in the top left and
right corners.

As part of an "invasion" angle, Minoru would invade All Japan Pro-
Wrestling starting in 2006 with his "PANCRASE MISSION" stable.

The front of the packaging depicts Minoru on the way to the ring
cloaked in his signature entrance towel.

Minoru Suzuki stats and championship accolades are provided on
the back of the packaging. Each being organized by the various
promotions Minoru competed for.

He's calling you out: the HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figure in
standard black-coloured ring attire.

With articulation at the wrists, waist, arms and neck, fans can also
rotate Minoru's wrists into a "come here" pose.

Like his mentor, the HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figure comes
suited with his modern, Yoshiaki Fujiwara-inspired ring boots.

As a small extra, the sides of Minoru's ring trunks include a textured
scale design.

HAO Collection's head sculpt of "The Man With The Worst Personality In
The World" was designed to take intense selfies.

In HAO fashion, a limited edition white coloured ring attire variant was
also released in scarce numbers.

The white coloured variant pays tribute to Minoru's early Pancrase days.

Suzuki's complex hair design has also been faithfully recreated.
The lines themselves have been painted on to match Minoru's
skin tone in this vinyl figure.

The scale ring trunks are also featured in the exclusive white variant, too.

The HAO Collection Minoru Suzuki figures stand about 6 inches
tall.

More figure reviews coming soon!

Kenta Kobashi (Orange Trunks Ver.) HAO Collection figure review

Our soft vinyl coverage continues today with another figure from
the "Absolute Champion": 2007's HAO Collection Kenta Kobashi
orange trunks variant figure.


                               


This limited edition, alternate colour variant is a throwback to
Kobashi's classic All Japan Pro-Wrestling attire from the early
1990's.

Kobashi would also resurrect this look in the mid 2000's at
Japan'sYoyogi Stadium while competing for Pro-Wrestling
NOAH.

                              

Japanese toy maker Mogura House also released a special
repaint in honor of Kobashi's Yoyogi stadium appearance
also suited in his classic AJPW attire.
                                

The HAO Collection Kobashi figure is sculpted in a pre-Knife
Edge Chop pose.

The soft vinyl material used to make this figure add a nice
touch to it's simple design.

Kobashi's boots also contain lots of detail and colouring.

The Kobashi HAO Collection figure features articulation at the
waist, arms and neck; just in case you want to hoist an opponent
up or seek approval from the audience.

In terms of scale, Kobashi stands about 6 inches tall, making this
figure one of the largest and most detailed ever released for the
legend.

Read my review of the HAO Collection Kenta Kobashi (NOAH
Ver.) HERE

 

Antonio Inoki Mini HAO figures review

Starting in 2004, Japanese toymaker HAO Arts Office created a special
spin-off line based on the company's popular HAO Collection figures.

The spin-off line was simply called the "Minifigure" (ミニフィ
ギュア) or "Mini HAO" (ミニHAO ) line with figures being based
on popular Wrestlers, Shoot Fighters, Baseball Players, Models and
even Sumo Wrestlers!

Today, we'll be looking at two figures from the Mini HAO line:

the Mini HAO Collection Antonio Inoki Red and Blue towel
figure variants.


Celebrating New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 35th anniversary in 2007,
HAO added a handful of few New Japan legends and current
Wrestlers to the Mini HAO line.

Each figure came in a small, HAO-style clamshell package. The "35th Anniversary"
logo is prominently displayed in the top left corner of the packaging. The back of the
Mini HAO packaging has Inoki's stats and mentions that the Inoki figure was licensed
by New Japan Pro-Wrestling Ltd.
　　

Just like other figures from the HAO Collection, the Mini HAO
Antonio Inoki figure is made of soft vinyl.

Inoki's ring name is written as "A.INOKI" at the tip of Inoki's
fight towel.

Inoki is sculpted in a pre-fight pose tossing his fight towel to the
wind before the start of the match.

As for articulation, the Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figure features
articulation at the right arm and neck.

HAO also released a limited edition, alternate colour variant of the
Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figure with a blue fight towel!

As the case with many HAO alternate variants, the blue fight towel
variant is estimated at an edition of just 500 units.

Sadly, Inoki's fight towel cannot be rotated or posed differently.

Compared with a HAO Collection Great Muta, Toukon Shop Keiji Mutoh and Character
Product Great Muta Mini Big Head figure.

Scale wise, the Mini HAO Antonio Inoki figures stand just under 3
inches (7cm) and are recommended for collectors looking for
likenesses noticeably bigger in scale compared to Character
Product's Mini Big Head figures.

The other Pro-Wrestlers featured in the Mini HAO line are:
Shinsuke Nakamura (Black tights)
Shinesuke Nakamura (Blue tights)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (White tights)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (Black tights)
Masahiro Chono  (Black sunglasses)
Masahiro Chono (Silver sunglasses)

Antonio Inoki HAO Collection Retirement Statue review

Today, we'll be looking at an extra special figure released by HAO
back in 2006. The Antonio Inoki "Fighting Spirit Legend" HAO
Collection Statue.

                       
Unlike most HAO figures which come in see-through clamshell packaging,
the Antonio Inoki Fighting Spirit Legend statue comes packaged in a black
cardboard box complete with a stylish photo of Inoki on the front.

The left corner of the packaging features Antonio Inoki's signature with the
inscription "闘魂" (Fighting Spirit) along with Inoki's ring name  "アントニ
オ猪木"" (Antonio Inoki). The bottom of the package reads "闘魂伝説"
(Fighting Spirit Legend) in red lettering.


                                   


HAO Collection's logo is prominently displayed at the top right corner.

The back of the package contains a latch at the top of the box to remove
the Inoki statue.

The writing on the back of the package reads "GSP" (Global Standard
Products) and "IMA Corporation" along with a website for the latter.

The packaging opens from the front to reveal the Inoki statue. Inoki's
"Fighting Spirit" signature (left) is also accompanied by "燃える闘魂" on
the right which reads "Burning Fighting Spirit" in Japanese.

Although it's hard to pick out, below the Inoki statue is a gold foil sticker which
reads "INOKI INC (C) 2006". This seal is found on all of Inoki's officially
endorsed products from the era.

The inside of the packaging contains a message from Antonio Inoki

that includes a printed graphic of a "Hanko" stamp with Inoki's
namesake.

Next to the message is a picture of Inoki from his retirement match

against Don Frye and a mini bio which reads:

ANTONIO INOKI

KANJI INOKI (Inoki's birth name)
190cm/102kg
1943 2 20 (February 20th, 1943)

Yokohoma, Kanagawa Prefecture

The inside of the packaging also mentions Inoki's Championship victories

from 1964 to 1987 as well as the dates the championships were won

and the opponents Inoki defeated.

                            

Unlike the majority of HAO figures which are made of soft vinyl, the
Fighting Spirit Inoki statue is made of Polystone.

                              

Inoki's signature fight towel is also included as a removable accessory (a
feature that is very rare for HAO figures and statues). The fabric fight towel
contains Inoki's Fighting Spirit signature in gold and white stitching; adding
a nice touch to this collectible.

Like other statues released by HAO, the Inoki statue contains an
attached black base.

HAO Collection also created similar Polystone statues for their "K-1
FIGHTER FIGURES" line banner with matching black bases.

Being both an iconic Pro-Wrestler and a notable Martial Artist, Inoki
is the only Pro-Wrestler from the HAO Collection to receive a 6 inch
K-1-esque statue treatment.

The Inoki statue features Inoki ready to fight with a clenched fist.

   

The intense look on Inoki's face is fully captured here. The design of
this statue itself is based on Inoki's final years as an active Pro-Wrestler.

HAO's distinctive art style is faithfully adapted into this medium as well.

The polystone material contains a glossy finish that helps the Inoki
statue stand out easily.


                             

The bottom of the statue's base contains the HAO Collection
logo and Inoki's Copyright.

Scale: when stood next to HAO Collection's VOL. 002 Stan Hansen figure.

                               
From the base, the Inoki statue stands 16.5cm tall (about 6.5" inches)
(half an inch higher than most figures from the line).


Closing thoughts:
From the stylish box to the sculpt of the state itself, I've always
loved this statue. Inoki's likeness is instantly recognizable and
the cloth fight towel is a splendid addition to this retirement
match commemorative.

Sadly, the Fighting Spirit Legend Antonio Inoki figure was the
only Pro-Wrestler given the 6" K-1 style statue treatment in
the HAO Collection; making this collectible a truly stand-alone
piece.

One can only imagine how other famous Wrestlers would have
looked like given HAO's statue treatment.

For those of you looking to purchase your own Antonio Inoki
HAO Collection statue on the secondhand market, I strongly
suggest looking over the condition of the statue itself (front,
back and bottom of the base) before making a purchase. Due to
the statue being fragile, there are many examples out there
with cracks, chips and staining on the polystone.