The Watcher is another new enemy from Halo 4. In the game it’s small and annoying like flying bugs, which is much what it is like. The little face on the character is eerie. The sculpt of the toy matches that quite well, in a good way of course. Read on fellow Halo fans to see what I think about the Watcher figure from McFarlane Toys.

The sculpt is amazing as always. Would you expect less from McFarlane? The figure is a bit small and there isn’t much articulation to speak of, but that’s not really something important with this figure…except for it’s ring wings. This version of the Watcher has just one solid ring that sticks out from the back. In the game they are deployed to the sides almost all of the time. I researched this a bit and found that the way the toy looks is much as it was in the concept stages of the game. So it’s likely given that toys take 9 months or more to make from concept to shipping that this is what McFarlane had to work with.I can’t knock them for this version of the Watcher.

I DO hope though that they come out with a version that has deployed wings. Fully poseable so that you can have them out to the side or position so they are swept back behind the figure. If you look at the pic above in the top right section, you’ll see where there is already a “ball” near the middle back of the figure. This could easily house the two wings. So here’s hoping we get another more game accurate version of the Watcher down the road.

The plastic stand that this figure comes with is a little disappointing as you can’t really hide it. But then if you look at the figure itself, it would be kind of hard to make a stand like this and be able to hide it. That’s why I hope when/if the figure is revisited, McFarlane will have a simple metal rod/stand like the ones that came with the Guilty Spark figure from an earlier release. That would be sturdy enough and able to give the Watcher more a look of being in flight.

So final thoughts.

This is a one-purchase for me until/if it gets redone with poseable wings. It IS a great sculpt so I do recommend getting the figure. It’s not high on the action part of action figure, but given what this figure does, I’m fine with it.

I give this 7.5 out of 10 medals.

The Crawler is one of the new enemy types found in Halo 4. I’ve given it the nickname of “Didact Dog.” I love the design of this character from the game. So I was excited to see it in toy form. Read on to see if that excitement continued!

This figure is fantastic. The sculpt is ridiculously good. The articulation is hidden well, except possibly for the mouth, though that is to be understood if you want that kind of articulation. (And I certainly do!)

The Crawler has the following points of articulation:

Head-Ball Joint
Jaws-Swivel
Shoulders- front are swivel, back are DOUBLE-ball joints!
Knees-No front knee articulation, back have limited swivel joints
Ankles-swivel

As you can see from the pics above the figure has a fair good amount of articulation. I’m VERY happy with the outcome of the toy and can’t wait for the other two versions of the Crawler, especially the “Prime” or Alpha Crawler. The hardlight spikes coming out of this figure will look SICK! (And I mean that in a good way)

So should you get this? I say hell yeah! Even without accessories, the sculpt and poseability totally make up for that. Knowing that we’re likely to see the other two variations makes me happy and wanting more!

This figure can be found in the slender Gamestop packaging, the normal large card at big retailers as well as in both the Target and Toys R Us 4-pack boxed set.

If I could get more of this figure I would….darn being strapped for cash.  🙁  It’s an army builder for sure.

I give it 9.5 out of 10 medals.

Ah the wonderous AI of Halo. Cortana is a great character. McFarlane Toys has again brought her to life, so to speak, with another action figure. Here is a compilation pic and a review of the toy.

Okay, first I’ll state that I got mine from Gamestop, that’s why it’s in the slender packaging. I’m not sure about the included Master Chief micro ops figure being included with the larger card, so check that.

I think it is very cool that we get that micro Chief. It’s a little funny too as normally Chief is the big fig while Cortana is mini (well in the games anyway).

Now to the accessories given. The screen with hand (permanently attached) is a very nice add-on. The issue I had though was that when I tried to take Cortana’s hand off from the figure to replace it with the screen/hand, it wouldn’t come off easily. So, rather than break the figure, I opted to leave it as is. That’s a bit disappointing though as I REALLY wanted to display her with the screen.

As well you get this large almost half spherical base, which is the top of the plinth she stands above in the game. Looks like it could have been ready for electronics like the Halo 3 version. I guess McFarlane took that out. Shame too as it would have helped.

However, given that this version of Cortana is solid instead of translucent like the Halo 3 version. So having lighting wouldn’t have mattered so much. The figure comes with limited articulation. Normally I would say the more articulation the better. In this case though, I would actually have preferred less. Since she can’t really sit or be posed any other way that makes sense or looks good, there really wasn’t much reason to have hip joints. Her head is in a downward looking pose and can’t be positioned upward. Darn…

With such a classic and iconic character of Halo, I was hoping for a little better here. While the paint apps are good, the fact that I can’t switch out hands for fear of breaking the fig, as well as not being able to pose her more dynamically, especially with her head being able to look up (as if to look at Master Chief) this figure is lacking.

I do appreciate the micro Chief and it will look great in my growing collection of McFarlane Micro Ops, which I hope continues to be produced. I wants my Scorpion and Pelican! LOL (and Mantis too please)

Overall this figure looks fine if you keep her in the static pose it’s meant for. That means though that there isn’t much action, in this action figure.

Thankfully though, she doesn’t require much “action” posing.

So, final thoughts…

Sculpt is great as always.
Accessories make sense and look great (though I wish I could switch out the for the screen hand)
Worth the purchase? Depends. I’d love to say yes without question, but I’m just hesitant to do that here. If you love the character then absolutely yes. If you’re looking for something very poseable, then no. Where am I specifically? I’m on the yes side with some slight reservations.

Since I know that I’ll likely jut be displaying her as a statue, she’ll do just fine. Just bummed about that screen hand…

I give it 7 out of 10 medals.

-Sal