I think the big reason behind these ultimate figures is to get them out to the fans who missed the initial offerings since the new added articulation isn't a staggering improvement but a lot of fans still need a classic jungle/city hunter in their collection and the aftermarket prices are too high for the previous releases.

I too will have to wait and see what the final looks like with regards to the torso articualtion (prefer the solid type myself).

The one thing I have been waiting for NECA to release is a new, updated Predalien... That would be incredible with the new articulation tech that they are using.

Here's hoping.

Yep fully agree. Aftermarket prices are crazy and as someone new to this line I'll be picking up both for sure.

While I also prefer the solid torso as it looks better I'm hopeful that they can do well handling the torso joints here. From pictures I've seen the series 15 preds that had the exposed articulation don't really suffer much from it. I'll absolutely pick up the ultimate Jungle Hunter (maybe two to display different heads) since my only current movie Jungle Hunter is the water emergence version, I'll have to wait and see with the City Hunter.

'Hairless' Predators
 

Yeah, some variation in the hair could be good. In the novels though the hair is a rite of passage - if the young subject cries out while it's getting brutally braided it's all undone and the process starts again!

Anyone else hoping that NECA produces a new Predalien at some point? The McFarlane version is so limited as far as articulation goes... NECA has produced most of the AVP figures (except humans) so far... it seems logical that would be the next step.

On paper a bald predator sounds like an interesting idea. In the comics the predator Top Knot bundled his dreads up on top of his head so he had a distinct look.
McFarlane never did a predalien, that was NECA back when they were basically just McFarlane part 2. I'd like a new predalien but not based on the AVP:R design, the head was too big because they threw in the crest and its body looked more like Pumpkinhead than the bio-mechanical design the aliens have always had. The comics or the 2010 AVP video game are much better designs.

I didn't realize that was NECA... the lack of pose-ability is what gets me with that figure. I don't mind the design too much since it is supposed to be a amalgamation between a predator and an alien (the head design is really well done imo), but at this point I would like to see them produce something.

My problem with many predalien designs is that they throw in too much predator as if it were actually a hybrid. It is not a hybrid though, it is just an alien born from a predator host. Aliens born from humans have very little in common with humans beyond our basic bipedal structure, predators are basically just bigger humans with monstrous heads so predaliens should really only be bigger versions of aliens but with at least the mandibles thrown in to keep things obvious. The dog alien in Alien 3 didn't come out with fur and floppy ears.

Well of course it didn't because then it would be too adorable.

Got this bad boy from tru-dot-com. Pretty impressed.

He comes with hands for basically all of the accessories. The straight hand fits into the net launcher (took me a minute to figure that one out), another hand fits perfectly into the holes of the disc weapon, and a pair of hands is included for the combistick.

Articulation is vastly improved. The old figure was difficult to pose, not the case with this new one. Can't really get him to squat, but the same can be said of most figures; no matter how good they are.

The likeness is better, as well. He's less beafy, the face sculpt is more film-accurate (especially the eyes), paint apps are improved, etc.

Sadly, the plasma blast accessory is too heavy for the plasma caster to really hold in place. It fits nicely onto the piece and doesn't fall off, but the weight makes the whole thing sag. I don't see how they could have really remedied this, though. It's just too small of a part. That's really my only complaint here, and it's easy to overlook given what you get for the price.

I am looking forward to adding the Ultimate Jungle Hunter to my collection, even though the boxart for that one isn't as awesome as this one. I love the vintage posters.