21 replies to this topic

[ironmask]

So, it finally happened. I finally hunkered down and got myself the Impel Down diorama set from Bandai's One Piece offerings... And holy shit, this thing is glorious.

 

This guy was sold as five different boxed sets, with each specific set printed on the front of the box in full color glory. There are instructions printed on the inside for the plebeians that bother with that shit... I shamelessly went commando on the construction of these guys, and really it wasn't too bad. The pieces easily snap together, and you can pretty easily surmise what goes where from the box art. 

 

Once completed, this hefty bastich stands at just over a foot tall, and has the exterior of the prison nicely rendered on the outside of the set. 

 

Each set comes with two nicely painted micro figures, representing the main players from the Impel Down story arc. Level one ( the entry level of the prison) came with Boa Hancock of the Kuja Pirates and Hannybal (the vice warden). Level two ( actually levels 1&2 of the prison) comes with post-gear 3 Luffy and Buggy the Clown in prison gear (with a goofy ass dragon just chillin' in the background (Nice touch, Bandai)... Level three (levels 3&4) comes with Luffy versus Chief Warden Magellan. Magellan isn't to scale, but honestly, I love the preposterously small warden. Level four (levels 5&5.5 of Impel Down) comes with Bon Clay and Ivankov figures, and level five (ironically level 6 of the prison) comes with Crocodile and Jimbei.

 

The painted details on the prison are pretty spot on, and the paint on the micro figures is impressive for figures so small. I have grown super partial to the tiny Magellan, but there really isn't a weak figure or level in the set.

 

Value: I was able to get this guy for under $40, prior to shipping, and shipping was less than $10. For how much is involved in the set, I feel like that was a steal. It is oddly reminiscent of the Dragonball Muscle Tower set, and I mean that as high praise.

 

In closing, I loved the storyline from the comic, but was unsure as to how well the set would hold up to the production sample pictures... It exceeded my expectations, and is likely my favorite toy purchase of the last few years. It's a pretty remarkable piece, and I'd urge any fan of the property to at least take a look at it.

 

10/10

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[plasticfiend]

That looks like such a fun playlet... I like how tall it is, and how many levels.

 

PF

[ironmask]

I forgot to mention, that all of the levels just slide/lock into position when you stack them... BUT, it's easy to slide them apart, if you wanted/needed them to be displayed side by side.

[Rubberhammer]

I pity the dude locked on level four pink with Dr. Frankenfurter.
That's some scary-ass prison shit right there!

[ironmask]

Haha, yeah, Ivankov is pretty freaky

[Draznar]

This is a nice playset, man!

How are these scaled up to, say, Mario Microland stuff?

[ironmask]

Ask and ye shall receive!

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•  DSCN2589.JPG   48.76K   12 downloads

[Draznar]

Y'know, I'm getting pretty jells about this playset here.

Anybody want to fund my move to a bigger place so I can buy cooler toys? (Anyone?)

[ironmask]

For posterity:

[plasticfiend]

I forgot to mention, that all of the levels just slide/lock into position when you stack them... BUT, it's easy to slide them apart, if you wanted/needed them to be displayed side by side.

 

That's super cool... I don't even know the series, but I love the playset!

 

PF

[plasticfiend]

I don't recall if I already asked this in the past - but have you played this?:

 

http://www.nintendo....y0_whwL_txaYElU

[Ridureyu]

Dude, that is an AWESOME prison!!!!

[ironmask]

This Magellan level has got me sprung

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•  DSCN2601.JPG   128.6K   0 downloads

[bigazzhead]

That is pretty cool.It reminds a little of the Muscle Tower from Dragon Ball that came out years ago. 

http://vignette2.wik...=20121207223531

[ironmask]

That is pretty cool.It reminds a little of the Muscle Tower from Dragon Ball that came out years ago. 

http://vignette2.wik...=20121207223531

 

I agree... That's why I mentioned it in the original post

[TinyPink]

The anime-influenced Bandai Teen Titans playset is also a tower.  Is this typical among Japanese playsets or just a coincidence?

 

Come to think of it, that Go-Bots (Machine Robo) playset is kind of tower-like, as well.  (The large gray one with the legs and goofy face.)

[redspook]

For posterity:

i'm not sure what i just watched, but i am intrigued. i am definitely going to read up on this series/manga and i'm not into this stuff at all normally. 

[ironmask]

Yeah, it's pretty atypical for anime/manga. I'm a reader, so I only watch the arcs that I love in animation, but I have been reading it religiously since about 1999. It's really neat, when you read something for so long, and you find moments where you realize that the author really had all of this shit planned all along. Eichiro Oda, I guess, was an assistant on Rouroni Kenshin, which is kind of neat for those who give a shit.

[typicalstereo]

In the second picture, there a two little purple figures.  Are they One Piece characters, too? 

[ironmask]

Yeah. They're from the Amazing Log Collection mini boxed figure line.

[bigazzhead]

I agree... That's why I mentioned it in the original post

Ha Ha. How the hell did I miss that? That's what I get for reading toy reviews at work.

[GasBash]

That's a great set! I've been on a one piece kick as of late.