Action features - Yes or No?

[acroyear]

With a few exceptions (namely some of the Japanese toys), I never cared about figures that have "battle punches" or shot "sparks" out of their mouth if you press a lever in their back. These gimmicks distract from the toys and can look awkward. Figures that when you press down on their head, their arm spirals around, for example, or 'super punching action' always seemed so cheesy to me.

Take a look at that R5D4 from 10 years ago: the toy split apart and shot a missile from it's innards. What were they thinking?!

[10incher]

I totally agree. All the levers and things can really detract from the figures. Super Powers did however successfully pull it off. The action features were really well hidden in the figure.

[vintagenate]

Super Powers are pretty much the only line so far that's pulled it off. I guess Kenner's Indiana Jones "quick draw" was cool, but other than that, I tend to hate action features. The Saga collection for modern Star Wars really got out of hand with them. That was one of the worst in recent times.

[WishItWas1984]

vintagenate said:

Super Powers are pretty much the only line so far that's pulled it off. .

I don't know. I think MOTU did a great job of it. Sure it was basic, but it was cool that every muscle bound guy had the ability to twist, and then let fly to knock the crap out of other toys in their way

2 Transformers had a cool action figure. One of which I had (and thanks to eBay, have again). His name is Twin Twist. A simple Transformers, but the idea was you pulled it back on a flat surface, let it fly and at a certain point it snapped open, flung itself into the air and "transformed" into a standing robot all by itself.

I always thought that was the coolest ever. Especially because it worked damned near every time when you got the hang of it.

Nothing did match Super Powers though. It was pure genius to use the same mechanism to tailor the action to the character.

[jeffcorrell]

Although I think the tigersharks figures look a tad ackward because of the flipping head feature. ( added bulk to the chest area)I really think they did a nice job of using the arm to make the head flip over and change. Keep turning the arm and the head keeps uh changing fun for hours

[10incher]

Sadly, I still don't own any Tigersharks figures, damn tough to find and expensive. It is pretty much the same mechanism as Silverhawks MonStar right?

[jeffcorrell]

Yeah they are tough figures for sure. That's totally part of the appeal for me though. Yeah it's similar to the way mon*star works but unlike mon*star you can keep rotating the arm around to make the head keep changing from human to shark. This works for Dolph and Mako at least that's the only "good guys" I currently have. I'm sure Lorca, Doc Walro, and Bronc are the same way. They also incorporated little fins that can sink into the arms and legs or be pulled out, I guess to further help with the morphing effect.

[captmiloman]

vintagenate said:

Super Powers are pretty much the only line so far that's pulled it off. I guess Kenner's Indiana Jones "quick draw" was cool, but other than that, I tend to hate action features. The Saga collection for modern Star Wars really got out of hand with them. That was one of the worst in recent times.[/quote

That's why I learned to avoid any first wave figures from the prequel movie years(2002 & 2005). The stuff from 1999 weren't too bad. Now that the prequels are said and done, Hasbro will more than likely concentrate on the collectors for the foreseebale future(they hold the license until 2018). Of course, there's a live action TV series in development now. They've had a pattern over the last couple of years I've noticed.

[WishItWas1984]

captmiloman said:

Of course, there's a live action TV series in development now.

Don't forget the CGI animated series based during the Clone Wars. Which is supposed to hit before the live action show.

[10incher]

I also think the Thundercats action features worked out fairly well. Very similar to Super Powers. It is annoying though when you come across a figure these days and the feature is broken.

[adam03]

admin said:

I totally agree. All the levers and things can really detract from the figures. Super Powers did however successfully pull it off. The action features were really well hidden in the figure.

It really sucks when the figure looks looks crap but has an awsome action feature and yer I think action features take away from the fig!

[scareglow]

glow in the dark figures are rather nice, scareglow and monsters in my pocket especially, although the thundercats punch mechanism and the lion-o/mumm-ra glowing eyes were fab as kid too but were bit of a pain to play with while having to hold ring to keep the lit.

[gort]

What's your opinion on action features on figures?

Personally I'm not a fan. To me something like a lever operated arm feature just means I've got a figure with a lever sticking out of it's back who's arm won't pose where I want it.

The more complex the feature, the worse the articulation. I can cope with subtle stuff like a well disguised button for lights or sound (although I'd happily live without them) but once features start affecting the look or movement it's a complete turn off for me.

[10incher]

I agree with you Gort. I do like the Super Powers action features, but never really like the ones on Thundercats as they seem to always break.

[clambo]

As a kid, I hated action features. It was always a bitch to get there arms or legs to do what you wanted. Now I could care less, as long as they stand up and display.

I did like the German Mechanics' action feature (from the Kenner Indiana Jones line). I thought it was cool that he would bash people with a wrench. Now that's good toy design.

[clambo]

Didn't like Steppenwolf (Super Powers) though. Not much different from the German Mechanic feature wise, just not as cool. Plus, his axe was crappy and big.

[zinggia]

I'm usually the lone voice of decent on this, but I actually like action features [i[if[/i] they're done well. I've purchased many figures who I have no other interest in other than the fact that they can do some really cool little trick. All those old Kenner movie figures (a lot of the ones done for the Ghostbusters line come to mind) keep me endlessly entertained. Maybe I'm weak-minded or maybe I just never grew up, I dunno...

[drbo]

I remember that even as a kid I didn't like them much, depending on how they were made.

The whole Super Power style squeeze the legs so the figure do something is cool, but usually ended in carefully squeeze the leg or the figure break.
I think I haven't digested my Brainiac leg breaking as a kid...
The nice part was that they were hidden, and on some figure they managed to be sturdier and thus were pretty neat.

I really liked Masters of the Universe action feature do, as they were part of the figure and didn't have it break by using it, like the twist punch action, Mekaneck arm, Fisto and Jitsu karate chop, Rokkon and Stonedar tranformation and so on.

Like most of you I didn't liked the one with peg button, they usually clashed with the figure look and weren't that effective. For some do it worked well, like on Bravestarr figure.

Rambo figure line had simple ones witht the weapons but they did work well. Fire Power Rambo flame-thrower and Mad Dog quick action shotgun are pretty nice!

Sectaurs companion insect action feature were simple but effective. Who can resist make Bitaur bite when having him nearby? The thin plastic wings on the flying ones were a major flaw, do, since they broke all too easily.

[anna]

well in the 70s in MY day we didnt have action features(sure on some dolls we did buuuut) not on nor on star wars but when that ev 99 came out i thought it was so cool so im all for action features if the A: makje sence(glow in the dark is cool but do we really play in the dark usually) and B: dont retract from the play value.

[captmiloman]

The only action feature I want on my figures is articulation. Although the button on the SW Saga Bespin Duel Luke wasn't too extreme. I hope a SA Bespin Luke will be part of another VOTC collection(I've read reports that Bespin Han and Luke are supposedly on their way next year). My imagination has always and will continue to do the rest. Yes, I'm 40 years old and I still play with my figures. If I'm writing something, I sometimes need inspiration for the story.

[shaxper]

Action features can be a plus, but not when they infringe upon the overall quality of the toy. My mind always goes back to the 1990s X-Men Banshee -- the one with a giant whistle in the middle of his chest. I really could have done without that one.

I look back fondly upon series like Super Powers, MOTU, Thundercats, and even Silver Hawks, all of which built action features into their figures without negatively affecting the overall figures. Some of those features were damned cool!

So I'm pro features when they're done right, though I don't think they're always obligatory. It depends upon the toy series.