Before the dawn of Tamashii’s SH MonsterArts, Bandai produced a line of die-cast metal figures. This line usually released mechanical characters such as Kiryu and Gigan of the Godzilla series, along with a few others from various anime and even Ultraman-related material. In 2005, they released the 1975 version of Godzilla’s notorious doppelganger. This figure set the standard for articulated kaiju for quite sometime and still holds up today. So let’s take a closer look at Bandai’s Chogokin Mechagodzilla 1975.
Details
First and foremost, it stands at 7.5 inches tall. This size does make it stand out when against other figures of its time, being too tall to stand alongside the likes of Bandai’s Titanosaurus vinyl figure. On the opposite spectrum, it’s not tall enough to fit in with Bandai’s eight inch line. It does, however, fit in pretty well with the MonsterArts released nearly a decade later. Newer and naïve fans may even confuse this release with a MonsterArts. As well as they should.
For the detail here is pretty amazing. Mechagodzilla is made almost entirely of die-cast metal. It is extremely high quality and has a pretty hefty weight. The only part of it that is not die-cast is its hands, which are made of a softer material. Its head(s) and feet are also made of plastic. However, the entire figure is sculpted beautifully and looks as if it walked straight out of the film. There are countless bolts sculpted in place and the majority of its joints are put where they can’t distract from the great sculpt.
Accessories
The figure does come with an assortment of accessories. Firstly, there’s a set of alternate hands that appear as if it had fired off all of its trademark finger missiles. It comes with two alternate heads as well. The first is its cybernetic brain, exposed by Godzilla after tearing its primary head off in the 1975 film. The second is a flight mode head in which is always staring upwards. This head is to be attached on should you want to display it flying. And lastly, the figure comes with a replica of the Space Titanium piece that was featured in Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). If there is one criticism to be made about its accessories, it is the lack of a flight stand to display the machine in its flying mode. Personally, I would have rather had that than a piece of Space Titanium.
Articulation
As for articulation, this figure really does shine as well. If you’re spoiled on MonsterArts, you may be a bit disappointed. While it has over fifteen points (around 20 by my count), it can not pull off the extreme poses the Monster Arts can. The elbow joints are also a little wonky and look off when bending them. However, the rest of its pretty amazing for its time. You have your typical rotating legs, knees, swivel joints, etc. Mechagodzilla’s mouth can open and its head can rotate completely around. There is also a nifty little button on the back of its neck that, once pressed, makes the head spin on its own to replicate the scene where it activates its shield in the 1974 movie. Its tail has three separate joints that allow it to move up and down but not side to side. Additionally, its chest can be opened up to reveal its hidden laser cannon.
A major aspect of this figure’s articulation selling point is the ability to make it turn into a flying mode. To do this, all you do its bend the legs back, arms against the body, stiffen the tail straight out, and swap its head for its alternate one. I do feel this could have been avoided by putting in some more articulation joints in its neck, but I suppose this is just me being spoiled by MonsterArts. Sadly, the figure does not come with a proper stand to display it in this mode.
Paint
Its paint scheme looks very accurate as well with a solid gray across its entire body. Where color is needed, it has been applied. Not only to its eyes and MG2 arm logos, but also inside of its mouth and chest cannon.
Overall
In the end, is it as good as the later released MonsterArts figures? Yes and no. The detail ranks right up there, but the articulation isn’t nearly as fine and smooth. However, this figure predates that line. So while comparisons can be made, it’s not really fair to judge it against those. The Chogokin is a very solid release and can be found at pretty decent prices if you know where to look or can play patient on E-Bay. It is a very solid figure and easily the best non-X-Plus Showa Mechagodzilla figure release out there. Until Tamashii gets around to doing this guy, I highly suggest picking one up. It is a very nice figure and well worth its price tag.
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