Sunday, January 8, 2017

Dark Lord Dungeon 2016 Toy of the Year

Welcome to the Dark Lord Dungeon 2016 Toy of Year award! 2016 was a rough year for us, filled with soul-searching and new directions - all for the good. There were dark times. You'll note that there is no entry in August because we wanted to shut down this blog in August. The Higher Powers said no, so here we are. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Thank you for continuing to be a part of our journey. Here's to a great 2017!
Dark Lord Dungeon 2016 Toy of the Year
This year's finalists



Evasion Mode Optimus Prime FWI-5 Advanced Weapons Collection and Reprolabels upgrades
Say hello to my "little friend"!
Evasion Mode Optimus Prime FWI-5 Advanced Weapons Collection and Reprolabels upgrades

Featured in January, We loved the Reprolabels upgrade for the "weathered look", however we felt that they didn't quite "pop" enough - in fact it's hard to even notice them.

We absolutely also loved everything about the FWI-5 weapons collection - the only thing we hated about them is that you could actually kill someone with the sharper weapons.

Evasion Mode Optimus Prime FWI-5 Advanced Weapons Collection and Reprolabels upgrades
Pimped up Prime
Transformers Combiner Wars Sky Lynx

Featured in February. The mighty Sky-Lynx! We loved the Hasbro Transformers Combiner Wars Sky Lynx for being really well made and quite sexy - though there are some issues with his feet and the shortness of his tail. We really enjoyed shooting him, particularly when combined with a stand. Sky Lynx's shuttle mode is even cooler!

His combined mode: Sky Reign, was... okay. Nothing special, nothing horrible.

Transformers Combiner Wars Sky Lynx
Hear me roar!!!!
While we loved how sexy Sky Lynx looked, we couldn't help but feel that he looked a tad bit juvenile. He certainly could benefit from having bigger wings. Also the original G1 Sky Lynx could split into a separate "Lynx" (Loader) and "Eagle" (Shuttle). The Combiner Wars Sky Lynx cannot split into two. He has an unofficial "Lynx" mode but it looks a bit weird.

Transformers Combiner Wars Sky Lynx
Meow!
KO Star Wars Episode VII Lego Millennium Falcon
The Millennium Falcon: Currently under New Management
KO Star Wars Episode VII Lego Millennium Falcon

Featured in March. This is the the Lepin Star Wnrs (That's not a typo) Episode VII Millennium Falcon - a ripoff of the Lego Episode VII Millennium Falcon. We loved it because it cost a fraction of the original Lego set - which is severely overpriced here in the Philippines; For being a wonderful (albeit fragile) play-set filled with little gimmicks, and; for having a wonderful "patchwork" interior and exterior.

It was cited for being rather flimsy; Having horrible versions of the Star Wars characters, and: For having faulty firing mechanisms for its spring-loaded weapons.
KO Star Wars Episode VII Lego Millennium Falcon
Open up!
Star Wars Black Series Ahsoka Tano

Featured in April. We absolutely loved the 6" Black Series version of Failed Jedi Ahsoka Tano, and to date it's far superior to any of her 3.75" version - including our beloved Vintage Edition Ahsoka Tano. We loved her detailing, particularly the layering of her armor/clothing; The two silver lightsabers that can he hooked to her sides, and; Ahsoka's extremely high articulation which made her a joy to pose and is perfect for the action-figure given her dervish style of fighting.

The Star Wars Black Series Failed Jedi Ahsoka Tano was cited for having an extremely deadpan face whose montrals limited her articulation, and; for having rather flimsy lightsaber blades.

Star Wars Black Series Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka will be back - most likely to die by Vader's blade.
Halo 5 Guardians Spartan Fred
Lieutenant Junior Grade Fred 
Halo 5 Guardians Spartan Fred

Featured in May. Admittedly Fred's entry into this year's Dark Lord Dungeon Toy of the Year is a bit of a surprise. Usually it's the Master Chief who runs for this honor. So it's nice to see someone else step up to bat.

McFarlane Toy's Spartan Fred is loved for bearing a Centurion-class Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor - The Centurion features C4I2SR - or a Command, Control, Communications Computers, Intelligence, Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance package (He sees everything!). It is our favorite of the Spartan armors - even if it's a bit bulky. Despite the bulk, Spartan Fred is also loved for having quite a high degree of articulation.

Spartan Fred was cited for being gray instead of having the blue tint that he bears in the video-games; His bio also suggests an affinity/preference for knives. Fred has none, and; for requiring us to cut his trigger finger free from the rest of his fingers just so that he can hold his weapons.

Halo 5 Guardians Spartan Fred
Post surgery Fred could finally hold all of his weapons.
Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider Lara Croft
No nipples on this wetsuit
Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider Lara Croft

Featured in June. The SOTA Toys Angelina Jolie, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life action figure is actually one of the older toys in the Dungeon, and one we just decided to feature last year. It's also one of our favorites despite the fact that she looks like a very young Angelina Jolie, or Sophie Turner, and; the pose-ability of the figure is hampered by the lack of foot-pegs.

We love her for being a very nicely designed figure - she literally flows. Her harness hampers some of her articulation, but we actually don't mind - else she'd look like she was wearing a condom. Speaking of which, we're actually happy that SOTA toys removed the nipples from her suit that the movie Lara had.
Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider Lara Croft
Perhaps Sophie Turner should be considered for a Tomb Raider Movie
Combiner Wars Optimus Prime Perfect Combiner PC-08 upgrade
Optimus Mazimus
Combiner Wars Optimus Prime Perfect Combiner PC-08 upgrade

Featured in July. The Hasbro Combiner Wars Optimus Prime was a finalist in our Toy of the Year competition in 2015. He's back more than a year later sporting a new upgrade from Perfect Combiner, the PC-08 torso and hand/feet upgrades.

We praise the PC-08 for providing Optimus Maximus with a solid torso that supports his ability to stand - and look good while he's doing it; for now having a nice looking back where you can mount weapons, and; for maintaining the articulation of Optimus Maximus despite having his legs splayed open. We also praised it for providing the Combiner Wars Optimus Prime with a nice "jetpack" in robot mode, and a make-shift "gun-carriage" in truck mode.

We cited it however, yes, leaving Optimus Maximus with her legs permanently open, and for the "gun-carriage" not properly aligning with Optimus in truck mode.

Combiner Wars Optimus Prime Perfect Combiner PC-08 upgrade
LIGHT UP THE DARK!
Marvel Legends Rogue
Built to fly
Marvel Legends X-Men Series Rogue

Featured in September. The Marvel Legends X-Men Juggernaut BAF series action figure is loved for how beautiful she is; Her high articulation - we're particularly fond of the way Marvel designed her knees and for the fact that her hair did not really affect her articulation; Having a spare "bare" hand that allows collectors like us to have her use her powers, and; for looking really, really good with the other X-Men action figures.

She's practically perfect. The only thing we really did not care for was the fact that her wrist rims sometimes move out of place and there's the possibility of losing the wrist rim when you remove her hand in order to install the "bare" hand.
Marvel Legends Rogue
Come here if you dare!
WFC Optimus Prime ITF01 Abyss Red
A Red Day!!!!
WFC Optimus Prime ITF01 Abyss Red

Featured in October. The ITF01 Abyss is the Red variant of a knock-off (KO) War for Cybertron (WFC) Optimus Prime. The original one released was blue.

We loved Abyss for looking exactly like the Takara WFC Optimus Prime. Faced with pictures you would never actually be able to tell the difference - which is just size. We love the fact that the manufacturers decided to fix the WFC's tendency to fall over backwards by simply adding a tab to the back of both legs. We love the fact that he comes already armed with a battle axe - we had to purchase the Corbot V Battle Axe separately for our WFC Optimus Prime. We love how his eyes just glow and we love the metallic sheen of his outer shell.

We hated how his joints started out practically frozen and how they loosened and continue to loosen after that. Continued play should result in a figure that just flops around. There was also a problem with his rifle. It was the same size as the Takara version and refused to stay locked in place without blue-tack.
WFC Optimus Prime ITF01 Abyss Red
Look into my eyes!
Assassins Creed Altair Ibn-La'Ahad
The original Assassin
Assassins Creed Altair Ibn-La'Ahad

Featured in November. Altair is our favorite Assassin from the Assassin's Creed game series - also the best of the game series in our opinion (Except for the inability to kill two people at the same time and the inability to do a death from above).

McFarlane's take on Altair was heavily criticized for being an incomplete incarnation of the character: He lacks the short-blade; several throwing knives, and; his crossbow.

The biggest draw-back of this figure though is his virtual inability to move thanks to all the hard-plastic clothing. A big let-down considering that the character is a parkour master. Big let down given that McFarlane's HALO figures come with high-levels of articulation.

We love the detailing though.

Assassins Creed Altair Ibn-La'Ahad
Quiet killer
SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime
Big Daddy!
SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime

Featured in December.  Shigeru Ningyo Do - SND-01 Primo Vitalis Combiner Wars Optimus Prime in our opinion is one of the best ever - if not THE BEST upgrade kit to enter the market as of today.

We've had our share of upgrade kits over the years but nothing like this. Upgrade kits in the past have always served to enhance the toys they were made for. SND-01 created an entirely new toy over the carcass of an already great toy - the CW Optimus Prime. We also loved the SND-01 for remaining solid in all three forms, and for maintaining the high-articulation of the CW Optimus Prime.

However we did hate it for its truck mode and for its Optimus Maximus mode which we felt was too big for its own good (In fact without the PC-08 upgrade feet, it would have even more stability problems).


SND-01 Primo Vitalis Optimus Prime
Too cool for school

THIS YEAR'S DARK LORD DUNGEON 

TOY OF THE YEAR IS:

The Star Wars Black Series Ahsoka Tano

Dark Lord Dungeon 2016 Toy of the Year
Thank you but something tell me I shouldn't have this Holocron
Thank you for a wonderful 2016 and we look forward to having you here with us in 2017! Happy New Year!!!! 

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