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Meat and Potatoes; 4.99
Perks; 5.0
Homer Factor; 5.0
The figure a classic Gundam figure; about 5" tall with the usual shoulder-pads, good articulation, et al. However, the figure comes with enough extra armor for two modes; the standsard EXS mode, which means a pair of boosters and some energy-cannosn on the back, and the Superior mode. THIS is cool; boosters, four cannons, HUGE auxilary tanks on the shoulders, additional armor all over the place, PLUS a very, very, very large beam-cannon.
Oh, and to top it off, the figure comes with a stand so it looks like the piece is flying. Woohoo!
Now the TOYS... oh boy... I'm not sure who did the 'beat the license until it doesn't move' idea, Star Wars or Gundam, but BOTH licenses just keep going with toys. Granted, not perfect by any means, but still cool. When it's on, it can be a sight to behold. Case in point, the newest addition to the Fix-Figuration line from Bandai.
Meat and potatoes, oh, come on, you know what to expect here. For $50, you get LOTS of detail; panel-lines out of your ears, sculpting that would make Michaelangelo cry. As always, though, it's the subtle things that stand-out. For instance, look at the giant cannon this thing carries. The main handle is a classic rifle hand close to the 'shoulder stock.' But there's also a HIDDEN handle, contained in a little control-box, so the EXS can hold the cannon in the same way the Colonial Marines hold their giant machine-gun in 'Aliens.' Don't like the handle? Just put it back into it's little case and close the panel. It's little details like that which push the figure over the top.
Perks? Well, this thing technically has three levels of armor; nothing, the lightly armored version, and the 'let's get ready to rummmmmmbbbbblllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' armor. Fully loaded, the figure has additional leg armor, chest and hip piece (Ok, technically it's a codpiece... and if you don't know what that is, ask your history teacher, and hope they don't blush), some huge fuel-tanks on the shoulders, and a pair of giant rocket engines with energy cannons you can stick on the back. Oh, and don't forget the BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG beam cannon and the usual beam sword.
Oops, almost forgot a very nice perk; the thing comes with a stand. The stand is designed so the figure appears to levitate off the shelf and put into assorted flying positions. It gives the figure a very dynamic look when it's displayed.
Um, one small problem; the armor is a liiiiiiiitle loose. This might just be the piece I have, but since the armor is held only by friction, not by tiny pegs or anything, the armor pieces can slip off rather easily. As long as you don't move this thing around too much, the armor does stay on well, but if you have visions of having this figure take on the Sazabi a' la WWE Raw, forget it. The piece is more for display then playability.
Home factor? Over-all, very, very high. If you're a Gundam fan, you're drooling just to get your hands on a 'Gundam Sentinel' piece. If you're looking for just butt-kicking figures, you're STILL drooling. An why the big deal about ANOTHER Gundam figure? Remember when I said about Burning Gundam? Each figure is UNIQUE, not simply a re-paint, creating a totally new character, and a completely new toy.
In the end, this is an amazing piece of work. Not quiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite as incredible as the HWS Gundam piece, but just the same, it's an amazing piece of work. You wanna look like a butt-kicking toy collector? Go for it.