We broke the news of the Alien vs Predator – Thermal Vision Alien Warrior way back in May. A Japanese toy store, Mamegyorai, had inadvertently posted a listing, and there was no taking it back. Soon after NECA revealed that this was a Toys “R” Us exclusive figure, and was slated for release between late Summer and Early Fall. Fall is here, and the figure is available now. It’s based on a scene in the AvP film, where the attacking Predator’s track the Xenomorph Drones through the temple using their masks tracking vision. The Aliens are seen in a bright green color. The Alien vs Predator Thermal Vision Alien Warrior is a translucent green repaint of NECA’s AvP Alien Warrior figure, seen in Aliens Series 7. It’s not only translucent, but also glow-in-the-dark.
NECA has sent along one of the figures for us to check out. We have a full gallery and review. Read on to see over 40 high resolution images as well as the review.
NECA Alien vs Predator Thermal Vision Alien Warrior – Toys “R” Us Exclusive
Pros
- Translucent green works really well
- Tight joints
- Great articulation
- Sculpt looks really good in a lighter color
- Selective glow effect looks cool
Cons
- The glow effect is a bit more subtle than Alien Eggs
Overall
Like most of the Aliens and Predators figures, the Thermal Vision Aliens comes packaged in a plastic clamshell box. It’s essentially the same packaging as the previous AvP Alien Warrior. the main difference is the back features a photo of the glow in the dark Xenomorph. The figure is held on a plastic tray with a few twist ties. It’s a nice overall package, but it’s one begging to be opened for sure. There are no additional accessories included.
The figure is essentially a straight repaint of the original AvP Alien Warrior. There don’t appear to be any major adjustments to the mold itself. The sculpted detail still stands out here. There are over 30 points of articulation here including a bendable tail. The knees and elbows are still double jointed, while hinged ball joints are used for the hips and shoulders. The neck and upper abdomen also sit on ball joints. There are hinges in the jaw, palms and feet. The overall range of motion is stellar. If you have either the previous AvP Aliens, you’ll be happy to hear that the same poses and movements are all still possible here. The translucent plastic does not hinder articulation at all.
The green, translucent plastic highlights the sculpted details very well. The gaunt rib cage and abdomen, the fine exoskeleton detail in the arms and the insane detailing on the neck and side of the head all seem to really pop here. I’ve always enjoyed fully clear and translucent color figures. When handled well, it adds a new perspective to a previously released figure. That’s definitely the case here. While there is some paint overlay throughout the Thermal vision Alien, it’s not overly thick. Areas like the head sculpt get a opaque treatment, while the limbs and much of the abdomen have sections with very little paint applied. It helps to make the figure look like it’s already glowing, even in full light. Once you charge up the glow effect and turn the lights out, the figure takes on a whole new look. The glow effect here is a bit softer and more deliberate. There are sections where the NECA treated the plastic with a dulling effect, giving a more screen accurate appearance to the Predator’s view of the Alien. There are more subtle shifts in the glow effect. Areas like the head and chest seem to light up, while sections of the arms and legs have less of the filament used for the glow effect. It’s a very different look compared to the recent glow in the dark Alien Eggs. Those were almost completely covered in glowing paint, making their effect more purely bright and pronounced.
If you are into Alien paint variations, then this is a must buy. The wildly different color scheme mixed with an already solid figure make for a good combo. The glow effect is more subtle than some of NECA’s previous glow in the dark releases, but steers it towards a more cinematic look. It’s a good figure for army building, or for adding to your growing list of beautifully painted, brightly colored, Aliens. You can purchase the figure online at Toysrus.com. It’s priced at $21.99 and is available now. Check out some highlight photos below and the full gallery after that.
CompaniesNECA
CharactersAlien Warrior
Scale7 Inch