Halo Toy Review: Mattel Halo 12 inch UNSC Marine

Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Neck
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Hinge/Swivel Joint Elbows
• Swivel Joint Wrists
• Ball Joint Hips
• Ball Joint Knees
Accessories: ARC-920 Rail Gun
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.
With the UNSC Marine, comes a Rail Gun. It’s hard to see through the front panel but, is clearly shown on the back of the box.

In the box you get UNSC Marine and a Rail Gun. This is the FIRST time we’ve ever had a 12 inch scale Rail Gun!

Here’s a close-up of the marine’s head. Decent bit of detail there.

Here is the marine 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. However, since they are very affordable toys, I’m willing to overlook that. (A correctly proportioned 12 inch figure would likely cost $30-40 US each, whereas the slender versions are $8-10. Much more affordable toys!)

The articulation of the 12 inch Mattel figures in comparison to the 6 inch figures is definitely less. However, the 12 inch figures cost less than half of the 6 inch ones. Due to this, less articulation is acceptable, in my opinion.

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

As well, the marine has a hole in the back to attach the Rail Gun when not in use.

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. 9 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: That this figure is mostly all green, whereas the in-game model has a bit of tan or brown, I find the paint a little lacking here. However, the helmet/head is pretty decent. 7.5 of 10 medals
Accessories: The marine comes with the first ever released Rail Gun! It’s a great sculpt and accurate to the game. I just wish it had some more color. 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? Yes. Especially if you are getting this for a kid. The lack of color in the uniform is the only real detractor here for me. Otherwise, it’s a solid entry in Mattel’s 12″ affordable Halo figures, directed toward kids (not necessarily adult collectors).

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]

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-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