In my latest “catch up” gallery, I have NECA‘s second release in the Crash Bandicoot line! Back in August, we shared a photo gallery of the original Crash Bandicoot Figure. The first few releases in the line all focus on variations of Crash himself. allowing NECA to get some mileage out of the base mold before bringing in additional characters. We know that they are currently working on at least 1 villain, and Coco Bandicoot. For this release, they give Crash a new expression and include the massive Jet Board. We picked the figure up from sponsor Entertainment Earth. After the jump, you can see the our photos and thoughts on the release.
Related Entertainment Earth links: Crash with Jet Board, Scuba Gear Crash Bandicoot, All Crash Bandicoot Items
Crash Bandicoot with Jet Board Deluxe Figure by NECA Toys
Pros
- Base figure is still great
- New expression is perfectly in character
- Jet Board is massive
- Nicely done paint work all around
Cons
- Just needs a stand to allow the Jet Board to hover
Overall
Crash comes packaged in a rather large window box. The packaging features promotional art from the Crash Bandicoot remaster, and is bright and colorful, while also showcasing the figure rather nicely. The back of the box features a large clear pic of Crash on the Jet Board, as well as featuring other Crash figures being released by NECA. Inside, both Crash and the Jet Board sit on a plastic tray, which allows them to be easily stored back in the box if so desired. Aside from the Jet Board, and a very nice cardboard dio backdrop, no additional accessories are included.
The Crash figure itself is nearly identical to the standard release from earlier in the year. The head sculpt here has a more wide open mouth expression, which feels a little more appropriate for the character than the expression on the initial release. The eyebrows are still articulated here, which is something I enjoyed messing with. Here’s what I said in my initial Crash review, which still holds true here:
“With their first Crash Bandicoot figure, NECA modeled their sculpt on his look in the new N. Sane Trilogy, which looks very much like his classic promo art. Crash stands about 5.5″ tall and has about 16 points of articulation. The sculpt work here is excellent, with some nice detail in the fur, and an overall look that captures the 90’s attitude that Crash is known for. Range of motion is ok, with the shoulders giving you the most range. There’s a surprising amount of poseability in the torso and neck, which allows for some good running poses. The articulated eyebrows are definitely a welcome addition. They sit on a ball joint, and aren’t hindered by any of the sculpted details on the face. With each Crash release, the portraits will have a unique expression. For this one, you have a standard smiling Crash. Paint work is handled well, with a nice highlight wash over the fur. There’s smooth transitions between the lighter yellows and the darker oranges, with mostly clean lines between areas like the eyes, mouth and clothing.”
The major addition here is the Jet Board accessory. This massive hoverboard is solid, with a nice bit of weight to it. The jet engine on the back is a separate piece that can be detached. The two pieces on the front of the board can be adjusted. The board is large enough to easily fit Crash standing on it in a variety of ways. Crash is a sturdy enough figure that I never felt the board needed a peg for the feet, so you have plenty of ways you could pose him. The only thing really missing was some type of stand to have the Jet Board displayed off the ground.
IF you missed out on the initial Crash figure, or were looking for a more substantial release, then this is a great place to start. The Crash figure is still excellent, and I think the Jet Board makes a great display piece. Check out some select pics below, and the full gallery after that.
CompaniesNECA
CharactersCrash Bandicoot
Scale7 Inch