Monthly Archives: February 2012

Halo Mega Bloks Covenant Shade Turret – Toy Review

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Covenant Spade Turret: Set number 96949

Build Time: 2 minutes sorting, 5 minutes build. Total 7 minutes.

Set Piece count: 68
Minifigs, Weapons and Accessories: Green Air Assault Spartan with 2 Frag grenades and Assault Rifle, Grunt (Major) with Plasma Pistol. Also a circular stand and clear bar for the Spartan to attach to by the jetpack (to appear as if flying-very cool!)
Dimensions: Height 4 inches, width and length 3 inches minus forward turrets. Add 2 inches for those to length.
Price/Value: $11.99 US

The set has 68 pieces, The set was an extremely quick build. Be careful of the small pieces. I thought I had lost on of the turret handles, only to find it on the table rolled away.

This is a great little set and relatively holds it value at the normal retail price of $11.99-12.99 depending on store. We get two minifigs that we’d pay $3.50 each for if single packed. So for an additional $5-6 we get the turret, UNSC crate, and jet pack, plus an extra Spartan Helmet. I think it’s worth the cost. WE’ve seen the Air Assault Spartan before, but not in this color. I happen to like the color choice. The grunt is an all new sculpt using the Halo Reach Major template. It’s bigger than any previous grunts by about the height of it’s head. It’s also wider by one whole stud so it fits on a 1X3 tile instead of the smaller grunt’s 1X2 stance. Excellent execution and upgrade to the Grunt mold and I look forward to getting a lot of them when they hit late in the Series 5 single packs.

I find no fault with this set other than I wish Mega would give us different weapons. I have plenty of ARs and Plasma Rifles. I’d love to see more Battle Rifles/DMRs and Needlers. Only for this reason did it not receive a perfect 10 out of ten.

Overall Rating: 9.5 out of 10 medals.

Here are the images of the build in progress as well as views of the minifigs:

Click on images to see a larger version.

The box front:

What you get in the box:
The pieces sorted:
The base being put together:
The turret being put together:
Completed set:
A couple of close-ups of the turret gunner area:

Minifig views:

The Spartan had a fleck of paint missing from the helmet. Unfortunately.
All in all a great set. I highly recommend getting it!
-HFFL

HaloFanForLife’s First Giveaway/Contest.

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Okay the giveaway/contest is simple. To enter you need to be a member at any of my three outlets. That being here on the blog, my twitter (https://twitter.com/#/HaloFanForLife) and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/halofanforlife11). You must post a response to the outlet you are a member of:
• This thread saying why you like my blog
• tweet @HaloFanForLife why you like my blog
• reply on the Facebook post why you like my blog

If you are a member of all three outlets and post a response to all three you will get an extra entry (total of four entries).

I’ll select the winners at random for each outlet as well as one for any members of all three.

The winner will receive a NEW Halo Reach copy WITH Recon code (for Reach) (courtesy of Mega Brands Inc.), plus a random sealed Mega Bloks Minifigure. Limited to U.S. and Canada residents only (sorry elsewhere folks, but due to regional coding, I do not know if the disc will work outside of the U.S. or Canada).

Winners will need to supply a valid shipping address. If you are under 18 years of age, please get permission from your parents. HaloFanForLife will not assume any liability for lost or damaged packages. Entering the contest specifically implies you’ve read the rules and will adhere to them, including if you are under 18, that you have received permission from your parents to enter.

Contest starts now and runs through March 5, 2012. 

I look forward to your replies. Please keep them civil and safe for work. Any rude comments will be deleted.

-HaloFanForLife

What came before the Spartan II Project?

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A question was brought up on HaloWaypoint.com about who created the Spartan I project. The following was my answer to that question. I hope you find it insightful.

The Spartan I program was originally called the Orion Project and only in later years was it called the Spartan I project. Halsey called her program Spartan II after the Orion Project had been commissioned and before Orion had been referenced as Spartan I. She felt those people were the first Spartans even though the program was not called that. ONI was the department in charge, specifically ONI Section-III (the Special Projects section of ONI Beta-5 division).

The Orions however were under the command of Naval Special Warfare command. A specific person running the program has not yet been revealed. Sergeant Major Johnson was an Orion. ONI talked of a disease called “Boren’s syndrome” that made people immune to the flood, though it was really a cover up for those who were Orions. This is why Johnson was not converted to a flood.

You can read much more on wiki, though how much of that is “true” you’ll have to read for yourself and check all of the references.
Here is that link: http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/ORION_Project

Considering the Orion Project started much earlier in Halo-lore, we may never know, unless a prequel game comes out and the info revealed then. (Halo: Insurrection?) Anyway, it’s likely a team effort and credit not given to any one person, though that is just a guess at this point.

Making of Mega Bloks Halo Universe

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HaloWaypoint.com has released a video with Andrew Sparkes, Vice President of Mega Brands, Boys Brand Toys, explaining the new Halo Universe (Die Cast) line and more.

http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/detail/making-of-mega-bloks-halo-universe/d1ea377f-0700-4b85-9b50-4fa5574ab4d0

Sparky, as he is known, is the gentleman I met at Toy Fair and had an exceedingly fun time viewing the Mega Brands booth with, not to mention gaming with at their LAN.

My haul from Mega Bloks at New York Toy Fair.

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I was extremely fortunate enough to even be able to attend this event. It was even more a surprise that I was given some of the following, let alone be able to win some at the Mega Brands LAN party.

First here is my haul, minus another copy of Reach, which I gave to my brother-in-law. As well minus the minifigs and prototypes (you will see those below).

Here is all of the die cast sets in a micro diorama:

Here is a look at the base plates combined:

Minifigs, translucent weapons, and prototypes!

She’s only one of two from what I’m told.

You can see to the right of the pic, the sprue on her head where she was attached to the completed mold.

Brute coolness! The headdress is a flexible plastic. The final will be sturdier, yet still somewhat flexible so it won’t break as easily.

 

For those wondering, the die cast line is about 1/4 the size of the regular bloks line. See in this comparison shot between the older Scorpion and the Die Cast one:

Thanks for checking out my blog as always, more to come!

Mega Bloks Die Cast Toy Review – Scorpion

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Microfigs: 2 Green Spartan Mark V’s, Purple Elite, Purple Grunt, DieCast Spartan Mark V
Accessories: 3 Base Plates (each approx 3 X 2 1/2 inches)
Special Features: tread sections move independently, actual treads move, cannon turns 360 and pivots up and down, cannon shoots “missle” (which is front of cannon), front driver hatch opens/closes
Dimensions: Length 4 inches (body only), Width 2.75 inches, Height 2.375 inches (not including antenna)

Price: $15.99 US (unconfirmed)

A well made set from the die cast line. The microfigs do not have any articulation, however that doesn’t deter me from owning the set. This set holds true to the larger set, with the exception of the missile button on the back of the cannon, which is a necessity. This Scorpion comes in green, which I think is a little strange since we haven’t been able to buy the full sized one in that color yet. Hopefully that will be made. The two top antennae are rubber so you won’t break them off easily. Likewise the tip of the cannon is rubber so it shouldn’t break anything, nor hurt you (just don’t shoot it straight into anyone’s eye). It doesn’t have enough force in the shot to go far, which is a good thing, so you don’t lose it.
With all the articulation the Scorpion has you can position it in many poses. Each tread section pivots up and down independently. The treads are rubber so no scratching up surfaces there (great!). The Spartan in the driver’s area can sit low and be covered up by the hatch or (as I’m doing), you can keep the plastic piece it sits on, under it, so that the microfig shows with the hatch open. I’m a solid fan of this die cast line from Mega Bloks, and highly recommend getting it. It’s a great set to further fill out your UNSC vehicles and ranks of figures.
Overall Rating: This set is fantastic. I wonder if it will come in tan or grey as it’s larger brother set did? This is a great micro version of the larger set.
I give this set a 10 medals out of 10.
And now onto the pics…
The packaging:
Instructions and contents:
The series of pics of the hatch show it opened, opened with the spartan all the way in (the plastic piece shown that it was previously sitting on), and hatch closed with spartan inside.
In this series of pics you can see how the cannon can turn and pivot. Also the button I’m pointing to is the button you push to launch the cannon missle:
These next two show how the tread sections can move independently, as well that the treads are rubber (and can move as well):
And finally the complete display (die cast figure not shown):
I hope you enjoyed reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope you found it informative.

All in all a great set. I recommend getting it!

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Mega Bloks Die Cast Toy Review – Warthog

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Microfigs: Red Spartan Mark V driver, Red Marine Gunner, Die-Cast Elite Minor
Accessories: 2 Base Plates (each approx 3 X 2 1/2 inches)
Special Features: Independent all wheel suspension, turret turns 360.
Dimensions: Length 3.5 inches, Width 1.5 inches, Height 2 inches

Price: $9.99 US

A very cool set from the die cast line. The microfigs do not have any articulation, however that doesn’t deter me from owning the set. I’d have preferred the UNSC figures to be green, rather than team color red. Hopefully we’ll get that sometime down the line. No assembly required, it’s ready to go right out of the box. The Die Cast figure is sure to be a collectible in the future, so don’t lose them!
As you’ll see in the pics, the gunner has a hole at the feet to snap into the turret. As well, the turret has a peg to snap into the hole of the warthog. No doubt the hole in the hog is there for later iterations, those being the rocket and gauss hog variants (At least I hope so!).
This is a perfect recreation of the bloks set with one major alteration, that being the wheel suspension. It work off of a small track system that each front and back wheels are attached to. This give the wheels the opportunity to turn slightly as well as move up and down, ala suspension. It’s a great solution for a micro set. The wheels are rubber, so no worries about scratching up anything with them.
Overall Rating: This set is fantastic. I look forward to the Rocket hog and Gauss hog variants if they are made. This is a great micro version of the larger set.
I give this set a 10 medals out of 10.
And now onto the pics…
The packaged hog.
Instructions:
What you get in the package:
I love how the baseplates are micro on top, yet regular blok size on the bottom! Awesome.
Here are the gunner and turret assemblies (again these are already put together in the package though).
The warthog’s peg hole and wheel suspension track system:
The display!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope you found it informative.

All in all a great set. I recommend getting it!

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Mega Bloks Die Cast – Banshee

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Microfigs: White Elite Pilot, White Grunt, Die-Cast Marin
Accessories: 2 Base Plates (each approx 3 X 2 1/2 inches), clear connecting pieces to elevate Banshee
Special Features: Cockpit top opens and closes, rear flaps fold in and out
Dimensions: Wingspan: 3 1/2 inches Length and Height approx 2 1/2 inches each.

Price: $9.99 US ??? (Unconfirmed)

A cool set from the die cast line. The pilot figure has a hole in it’s abdomen to secure it to a peg in the cockpit. The microfigs to not have any articulation. I’d have preferred a different color elite. However, that isn’t the focal point of the set for me. It’s the Banshee itself. No assembly required, it’s ready to go right out of the box. The Die Cast figure is sure to be a collectible in the future, so don’t lose them!
Overall Rating: This set is plague with the one thing that made the full blok set near perfect. That being the cockpit cover. It isn’t game accurate. However, the die cast is accurate to it’s larger brother, so no points off there. I give this set a 9 medals out of 10. I had an issue with putting the clear larger peg into the base. When I used one of the other pieces it worked fine. Just be careful putting those in.
Here’s the gallery of pics!
Now on to the pics (for larger versions of the pics, please check out my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23683004@N06/sets/72157629361859589/)

I hope you enjoyed reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope you found it informative.

All in all a great set. I recommend getting it!

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Mega Bloks Die Cast Battle Packs 2&3 Toy Review

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Since the figures are the same for both of these packs, except for the color, the review is the same for both.

Minifigs: Battle Pack 2: Blue Marine with Battle Rifle, Copper Grunt, Blue Mark V Spartan, Blue Marine with Rocket Launcher, Copper Elite, Die Cast Brute; Battle Pack 3:  Red Marine with Battle Rifle, White Grunt, Red Mark V Spartan, Red Marine with Rocket Launcher, White Elite, Die Cast EVA Spartan

Dimensions: Each figure ranges between 3/4 inch-1 inch tall.
Price/Value: $5.99-6.99 US per battle pack depending on store.

These sets are great for filler to a diorama. The added Die Cast figure is nice and if you happen to bump another die cast against it they make a nice “clink” sound, telling you they are indeed metal. The plastic figures are a little soft. That’s not a bad thing though. It means you shouldn’t have an easy time breaking those. I suspect they’ll hold up to semi-rough play, though don’t let them near baby or animal teeth… When taking these out of the package I recommend popping them out from the bottom, rather than trying to pull them out from the top. Seemed to work easier for me.

As you can see in the pics the microfigs are imprinted on the under side of the base with the Mega Bloks logo.

For the price of $6-7 these sets hold their value. At $1 or just above each, their great. Certainly the Die Cast figure will be the hot one for collectors.

There are actually 5 different battle packs. I got these two at Toy Fair. The others will be reviewed at a later date once I have them in my hands.

 Overall Rating: This is a new line and can figure in well into just about any Halo diorama as background figures or a totally small scale diorama. I like the blue set just a tinge better because it has the game accurate copper grunt. I give these sets both 9.5 medals out of 10. I just a slight bit concerned for the soft plastic, otherwise these would have received a full 10 from me.
And now for the pics:
Now on to the pics (for larger versions of the pics, please check out my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23683004@N06/sets/72157629359686467/)

I hope you enjoyed reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope you found it informative. All in all a great set. I recommend getting it!

Please sign up for my blog and leave a comment or two!