Halo Toy Review: Mattel Halo 12 inch Spartan Buck

Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Head
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Hinge/Swivel Joint Elbows
• Swivel Joint Hands
• Ball Joint Hips
• Hinge Joint Knees
Accessories: Assault Rifle
Cost: $8-10 (US)
Availability: Mass Retail I got mine from Wal Mart for $8.44 US before tax.

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)
Each of Mattel’s 12 inch Halo figure is in a tall slender box with the top half of the figure showing through a window. Several of the other figures are shown on the back of the box.

In the box you get the Buck and an Assault Rifle.

Here is Buck in orthogonal views. The figure is a little stretched height-wise. This the only thing I’m disappointed with with Mattel’s 12 inch Halo figs. I’d rather they be bulkier and not stretched tall. Since they are very affordable toys however, I’m willing to overlook that.

The articulation of the 12 inch Mattel figures in comparison to the 6 inch figures is less. The 12 inch figures cost less than half of the 6 inch ones. Because of this, less articulation is acceptable.

Speaking of, I haven’t shown a comparison shot of the 12 inch and 6 inch figures. As you can see, the 6 inch figure is nearly the same width as the 12 inch one. The proportions are correct for the 6 inch figure. Again, however, note that the 12 inch figure costs less than half of what the 6 inch one does. This is the big reason why the 12 inch is less detailed, less articulated and thinner. If a 12 inch figure were in proper scale and had the same articulation as the 6 inch one, we’d be looking at a $50 figure. That’s not something retail stores would carry as quickly. Simply put, they wouldn’t fly off the shelves so fast. The current version of the 12 inch figure is $8-10. It’s a LOT more affordable, even if not so accurate.

Though the 12 inch Mattel Halo figures have less articulation than their 6 inch counterparts, they can still be put into some cool poses, as seen below.

Evaluation
Sculpt: Good, though the figure is stretched to fit the box and is compressed at the torso to be thinner than it’s in-game model. 8.5 of 10 medals!
Articulation: While somewhat limited, there’s enough to get the figure into some cool poses. Articulated ankles would have really helped with this (and all of the other Mattel 12 inch figures). However, I’m keenly aware that the point of these figs is to put affordable toys into the hands of kids and collectors alike. 8 out of 10 medals
Paint Application: There isn’t much paint detail here. The figure is mostly a greenish dark grey with black. There is a small decal on the chest that reads “Buck”. 8 of 10 medals
Accessories: Buck comes with an Assault Rifle. It’s a good sculpt and accurate to the game. 9.5 out of 10 medals
Playability: This is marked 4 years and older. Given the large size of the figure and accessory, I agree with that. However, the nature of the toy itself, being modeled after a mature rated game, is better suited for older children, in my opinion. I suggest 8 years minimum. For kids it definitely makes for a fun toy. If you’re an adult collector, it looks good on display, whether in or out of the box. 8 of 10 medals
Overall: 42 medals out of a total 50 medals. Affordability here is KEY.

Do I recommend this product? Well, for one, it’s Buck! He’s a fan favorite. So most certainly if you’re a Buck fan. It’s not a bad figure to pick up at any rate. 
Though the 12 inch Mattel Halo figures are stretched to meet that height and a bit thin front to back, they are still fun toys. They would be great for kids to play with and make for nice display figures for collectors. The cost is very low for these (again I only paid $8.44 for mine from 
Was Mart), which is a bonus!

If you have any questions about this figure that I didn’t cover in the review, please do not hesitate to ask me. Either reply below or e-mail me at [email protected]

If this review gives you an informed decision on whether to purchase the toy or not, please consider a small donation (50 cents) to the blog.You can donate via PayPal to [email protected]. Or just click the paypal link at the right on the main page of the site.  It’s much appreciated and helps ensure that HFFL stays registered/active on the internet. Thank You.

-Sal

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About Sal

I’ve got tons of experience with Halo gaming and collecting. I feel I have something to offer to the greater Halo fan community. Posts along the way will be about tips and tricks in the games as well as collecting and many more Halo related things. I’ll also repost interesting articles from the official site, Halowaypoint.com, or from fellow Halo fan sites. As I continue this blog, I hope to help gamers who want advice on the games, as well as any collectors with regards to where to find collectibles as well as deals, coupons and so on. You can also follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/HaloFanForLife or Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/halofanforlife11. Welcome to my blog and I hope you’ll come back again and again. -Sal