I've been waiting to talk about this one for a long time. Y'all should know by now that 'The Return of Godzilla' is one of my favorite Godzilla movies and it features one of my favorite designs for Godzilla. So needless to say, my expectations for the NECA figure were pretty high. I could almost ignore the fact that it was being marketed as "Godzilla 1985" instead of 1984.
Now anyone who collects toys knows the feeling of thinking initial pictures of the figure in question may look iffy, but actually having the figure in hand dispels those worries immediately.
Unfortunately, that was not the case here...
The overall detail on this figure is pretty good.
True to their work, NECA did improve the figures head greatly. Unlike the prototype, you can look at this head from any angle and know right away it's the 84Goji head.
The inside of the mouth looks great too. I especially love the nicely sculpted, evenly painted teeth.
The skin detail and color is absolutely on point. The blue wash over the charcoal black body really helps the figure stand out and accentuates the finer details nicely.
HOWEVER...
This figure has a few design choices that I just cant get behind.
The inside of the mouth looks great too. I especially love the nicely sculpted, evenly painted teeth.
HOWEVER...
This figure has a few design choices that I just cant get behind.
Looking at this figure head on, from the knees up, it looks like a great representation of the 84Goji.
If you go below the knees, that's where the problems start. Godzilla's calves look like they need a bit more fat in order to be proportionate with the thighs.
If you go below the knees, that's where the problems start. Godzilla's calves look like they need a bit more fat in order to be proportionate with the thighs.
Then there's the feet, WAY too small for this Godzilla. Even the claws are disproportionate. The claws on the left foot are fine enough, but what is with the oversized nail on the right foot? How did that slip by?
84Goji has a very distinct Dorsal Fin pattern and if there is one thing that can make or break a Godzilla figure in my opinion, it's the fins. The fins on this figure are absolutely pitiful.
Wrong size, inconsistent color and NECA didn't even bother sculpting an outer row.
Not much to say about the tail, it's just alright.
At least this Godzilla's articulation is still up to par.
Not much to say about the tail, it's just alright.
His head can rotate, look down, very high up and tilt side to side. Godzilla's mouth can't open very wide in a standard position, but if you have him look up all the way then his mouth can open up even more and it looks like he's letting out a mighty roar.
Arms move in/out and rotate at the shoulder. The extra bicep rotation from the 1994 figure has been done away with. Elbows can bend and rotate. Hands can rotate/pivot at the wrist. Curiously, this is one of the few NECA Godzilla figures that don't include hinge jointed hands.
The waist can rotate, lean forward and side to side.
Legs can rotate at the hip and can sorta move in/out. Knees can bend and rotate. Feet can rotate and pivot.
The tail joints can all rotate, bend, hold their pose and the bendy wire piece does it's thing...
No accessories.
The tail joints can all rotate, bend, hold their pose and the bendy wire piece does it's thing...
No accessories.
As it stands now, this is my least favorite NECA Godzilla figure. It could have been so much better, but this is a case of hitting second base and then tripping hard before even beginning to go home. This was only the third NECA figure released and it really made me worried about future figures coming out. But then the 1954 figure came out and all was forgiven.
There was a part of me that hoped beyond hope that NECA would take criticisms of this figure to heart and at some point in the future, go back and retool their 84Goji figure and make it better than ever.
Well they would re-release the 84 figure...just not how we were expecting...
VIDEO GAME APPEARANCE GODZILLA
In a move that I don't think anyone saw coming, NECA announced a figure based on Godzilla's look from the 1988 video game released for the Famicom as simply 'Gojira' and the NES in 1989 as "Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!"
It's a pretty good game, not perfect but still fairly enjoyable.
And right away reactions to this were mixed, for the obvious reason that the figure was a modified/repainted 84 figure.
It's a pretty good game, not perfect but still fairly enjoyable.
And right away reactions to this were mixed, for the obvious reason that the figure was a modified/repainted 84 figure.
In the game, the sprite used for Godzilla more closely resembles the 1964 MosuGoji design.
But to play devil's advocate, This figure does have it's own charm to it that I can't help but like.
It's even more mind boggling now that we finally do have a NECA 1964 Godzilla, the figure stands out like a sore thumb. The problem with the legs is still present which doesn't help matters.
The colors on this figure are great. The different blue shades with the addition of pixel like squares applied to the body resemble the games sprite very well.
Of course the Dorsal Fins are changed to the more exaggerated design from the game and they look great as well.
I guess the other unique thing about this figure is the box which features the same box art as the video game. The flap shows the grid map of the Earth level and the inside of the box features an image of the Earth level and can be pulled out as a display background.
On it's own, the figure is not bad and well worth adding to your collection.
But oh, how I would love to see this figure redone using the 1964 sculpt. On the chance that any custom figure makers are reading this, that is my challenge to you.
2020 REISSUE
Of course the Dorsal Fins are changed to the more exaggerated design from the game and they look great as well.
But oh, how I would love to see this figure redone using the 1964 sculpt. On the chance that any custom figure makers are reading this, that is my challenge to you.
As with most of NECA's Godzilla figures, the 1984 figure would see a reissue with new packaging featuring the poster of the movie the figure was from.
But this was a special case, NECA revealed the reissue of their 1984 Godzilla would have an improved sculpt. I was already gonna get the reissue purely for the box, but this just made it all the more sweeter.
But is the overall figure better? The answer is yes and no.
But this was a special case, NECA revealed the reissue of their 1984 Godzilla would have an improved sculpt. I was already gonna get the reissue purely for the box, but this just made it all the more sweeter.
But is the overall figure better? The answer is yes and no.
One of the more obvious changes is with the paint. The body of the figure now has a more solid, dark grey color. I like the color very much. I did notice that the cheeks have random black splotches on them, it does look a little distracting.
The claws are also a different color.
The overall sculpt is more or less the same as the first release and the new paint may help some of the finer details the figure stand out more.
The Dorsal Fins are where this figure improves on the sculpt from the original. They are sculpted with some great details, painted nicely, pretty much the right size and you can see a small row of outer fins this time!
The claws are also a different color.
The improvements we get would be more than enough to make this a solid 8/10 figure, but unfortunately, the second biggest flaw with the original figure remains. The legs.
If you must have a NECA 1984 Godzilla, go for the poster box reissue. It may not be perfect, but it's practically the best we have in terms of an articulated 84 figure.
That being said, I hope the moment comes when Bandai announces an SH MonsterArts Godzilla 1984. You best believe I'll hit the preorder button without question.
That being said, I hope the moment comes when Bandai announces an SH MonsterArts Godzilla 1984. You best believe I'll hit the preorder button without question.
Till next time, I have been your host Gryphon
and thank you for joining me here in my lair.
So long...
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Thanks for reading!
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