Halo Toy SNEAK PEEK: Halo Mega Bloks Last Man Standing Zombie Pack

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I only just saw this yesterday and had to pass it along…Last Man Standing Zombie Pack
I found this image on the bloks forum. It’s easy enough to decipher at least some of what is coming in this set.

• At least two zombie Spartans
• At least two “GREEN” energy swords
• one of the Spartan Zombies is a CQB (look at the chest piece, I believe that is the CQB)
• Last number in the set number is a “9”

Since this is a “Last Man Standing” set, you’d have to think there would be at least one more Spartan who is NOT Zombiefied…

I’ll report back more on this as I find it.

-Sal

Toy PRE-view: Mega Bloks Halo UNSC Red Spade

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Coming exclusively to Wal*Mart is the UNSC Red Spade. The Spade has only ever before been available in a orangish color. In-game it’s seen in Blue or Green. I don’t recall red, though I could be wrong. Still, red is my favorite color, (then lime green). So I’m looking forward to this set.

Red Spade Wal*Mart

The set includes:
• Buildable UNSC Red Spade
• UNSC Soldiers: UNSC Spartan Mark V and Spartan in Hazop tan armor
• Covenant Soldiers: Grunt in Spec Ops x2, Jackals x2
• Weapons: Focus Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Pistol, Needler

Here’s the toy description: Two UNSC Spartans in desert camo armor take control of a multi-purpose Spade to quickly attack an unsuspecting Covenant strike team of Jackals and Spec Ops Grunts. Ambush the Covenant threat with the Mega Bloks UNSC Red Spade.

This set comes with a whopping SIX minifigs. Two of which are Jackals! (I for some reason really like this alien race.) Also, two grunts which are always nice to army build. As well, the Spartans are in a nice desert deco which can be added to your desert troops. And if you don’t have any desert troops yet, then here’s a good set to start with!

Since this is exclusive to Wal*Mart expect this set to be a little more expensive than the first Spade set. (The first set only have 3 1/2 figures, so yeah, more expensive.)

I can only hope that this set sells well enough that we finally also get it in game accurate blue and/or green! (I want my car lot of Spades! LOL)

-Sal

Toy PRE-view: Mega Bloks Halo UNSC Anti-Armor Cobra

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Coming to major retail stores like Wal*Mart, Target, and Toys R Us for the first time is the UNSC Cobra! (I’ve been wanting and waiting for this one!) AND it’s ELECTRONIC!

Cobra

The set includes:
• Buildable UNSC Cobra with in-game lights and sound
• UNSC Spartan in MK VI yellow
• Covenant troops: Elite Storm in crimson, Brute Stalker in blue
• Weapons: DMR, Plasma Rifle, Mauler, Spike Grenade

Here’s the toy description: The UNSC Cobra is a surprisingly agile and fast 6×6 dual-mode battle tank. While in mobile mode, the Cobra can quickly cover long distances and launch a powerful offensive using its twin 30mm light rail guns. It can also transform into lock-down mode, and deploy a huge turret mounted 105mm light railgun that can punch through most Covenant shields and vehicles with ease. Featured with dual transformation, lights and in-game sounds, the Mega Bloks version of the Halo UNSC Anti-Armor Cobra lets kids create the battle like never before!

Dimensions in Inches: 18.0L x 2.5W x 11.5H

This set is just plain AWESOME. Not only is it electonic, but it transforms from a mobile vehicle to a Rail Gun platform. The Spartan included is if I recall, only the second one to have a blue visor. We get an ALL NEW Brute Stalker in this set. (I hope that Brute sees a rerelease in the blind minifig packs or another small set so they can be army built.)

Also coming with a shade turret and Red Storm Elite. Those are both nice additions to an already stellar set.

This is easily a must have!

-Sal

Toy PRE-view: Mega Bloks Halo UNSC Hornet vs. Covenant Vampire

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Coming to major retail stores like Wal*Mart, Target, and Toys R Us is the Mega Bloks Halo UNSC Hornet vs. Covenant Vampire. Both have been released before, but never together. If I’m correct, these are both revised builds from the previous releases.

Hornet vs Vampire

The set includes:
• Buildable UNSC Hornet with in-game lights and sound
• Buildable Covenant Vampire
• UNSC Troops: Spartan in Recruit maroon, Spartan in Engineer green, Spartan in Soldier green
• Covenant Troops: Elite Storm in copper, Grunt Storm in copper, Elite Zealot in silver

Here’s the toy description: The UNSC Hornet is a versatile UNSC aircraft with a nose-mounted heavy auto cannon. The sound of the Hornet turbines roar to life as two Spartans prepare for take-off. Engage the heavily armed Vampire and strafe its Covenant assault unit with the new UNSC Hornet, now with motion-activated lights and authentic in-game sounds!

Getting SIX figures in a set is always cool. Three being Spartans? Better yet! I like that we also get a Storm Grunt, Copper Storm Elite and a Zealot Elite (especially that it’s in silver). I don’t really have a need for another Vampire though. Personally, I’d rather have had the Covenant Sniper tower instead with a Jackal or two. Still, for those who never got the Vampire (which was only previously available in the ODST Scorpion/Vampire set), then this is a good alternative.

-Sal

Toy Review: Mega Bloks UNSC Ammo Pack I

My wife and I were out today for a memorial day drive. (I being in the Navy formerly.) She decided to take me for a drive and a very informal dinner at Micky D’s. We stopped by a Wal*Mart and I found this. She bought it for me, “for Memorial Day.” Isn’t she a peach!

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UNSC Ammo Pack I: Set # 97037

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 1 minute

Set Piece Count: 23
Minifigs: Halo 4 style Marine, full goggles (Black/grey deco)
Weapons: Assault Rifle, Battle Rifle, Rocket Launcher, 2X Frag Grenades
Accessories: Traffic Cone
Special Features: None
Price: $6-7 depending on where you buy it from.

And on with the pics! (Click to make bigger)

97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I BOX
Sorry about the flash there. I like these ammo packs. Compact enough and you get to see almost everything that comes with the set through the “window.”97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I BOX back97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I ContentsAbove shows you everything that comes in the box. The bag is hidden from view. When you open the box, it’s within a white cardboard sheath at the bottom of the box.97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I TrayAll the stuff that was in the tray. I really like that the weapons are painted in this set. Plain black or grey weapons are just that, plain.97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I BagAbove shows the contents of the bag. To note you get a traffic cone, which has been a source of humor and frustration for years in Matchmaking. Getting a kill with a cone or being killed by one is always film clip worthy! I also like the small baseplate. It can be placed along side larger ones seamlessly. (I’ll try to get a pic of that up later.)97037 UNSC Ammo Pack I FinalFinally, here is the complete set built. Not much to building this. The Rocket Launcher is too large to place in one of the holes as the set is built, though you can easily reconfigure this to accommodate that if you so choose.

Summary: The set is quick to build and can be displayed nearly anywhere. The weapons are better than average due to being painted. The figure is excellent even though it’s mostly an overall black/grey deco. There is just enough variation in the paint application on it. The cone is a nice little addition and the baseplate is good.

So is this worth $6? (I got mine at Wal*Mart for $6, I think it’s $7 at TRU) I have to say a resounding YES. Think of it this way, were you to get one of those blind pack minifigs, you’d get a fig, one weapon and either one blok or plate to stand it one. So for the additional $3 for this set you get 2 more weapons, 2 frag grenades, several blok and tile pieces and a very cool baseplate. Were you to compare the cost at custom minifig weapon sites, you’d easily pay $1 for each of the weapons, so that’s $2 of the $3 right there. For that last dollar you get the nades, baseplate, and bloks. Oh…AND THE CONE!

Yeah, this set is WORTH IT!

Overall Rating: I give this set 10 out of 10 medals. For the price, you’re getting a nice set. I definitely recommend getting it. No complaints what-so-ever!

-Sal

Toy PRE-view: Mega Bloks Halo UNSC Pelican Gunship

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Coming to major retail stores like Wal*Mart, Target, and Toys R Us is the ELECTRONIC Pelican. YES, I said electronic!

Pelican

The set includes:
Buildable UNSC Pelican Gunship with in-game lights and sound
Promethean Knight Battlewagon that lights up just like in Halo 4, w/Binary Rifle
UNSC Troops: Spartan Operator Covert Ops (Steel blue color), Spartan Pathfinder Covert Ops (Steel Blue color), Spartan Scout Silver (This one could be a stand in for Spartan Commander Sarah Palmer!) The two Covert Ops Spartans can easily stand in for Spartan Hoya and Spartan Grant of Fireteam Majestic from Halo 4’s Spartan Ops!!! (Now here’s hoping we get the other three from that team.)
Weapons: Shotgun, DMR, M6D Pistol x2, Frag Grenade x2, M6C Socom x2

Here’s the toy description: The Pelican Gunship is a multipurpose space-to-surface UNSC gunship with a new sleek design and enhanced weapons. The Mega Bloks version of the UNSC Pelican Gunship now includes light-up auto cannons, in-game sounds and comes with a light-up Knight Battlewagon figure! With an opening hatch for interior play, hidden weapon compartments and dual opening cockpits, the Mega Bloks UNSC Pelican Gunship lets kids build the battle like never before!

Dimensions in Inches: 24.0L x 30.0W x 14.0H (I think the width listing is incorrect. I just copy/pasted it here)

There’s all sorts of cool stuff going on with this set. Not only does the Battlewagon Knight light up (which is AWESOME), but the Pelican itself has sounds and the forward guns rotate. There’s plenty of other moveable parts on the ship like the dual cockpits, wings, etc. I’m excited to see this set! The Pelican is one of my all-time favorite vehicles/ships in Halo.

-Sal

Toy PRE-view: Mega Bloks Halo UNSC ONI REAP-X Light Assault VTOL

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Coming to major retail stores like Wal*Mart, Target, and Toys R Us is one of Mega Bloks new Halo sub-line. This is the REAP-X Light Assault Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL).

REAP-X VTOL

 

The set includes:
• Buildable ONI REAP-X Light Assault VTOL
• UNSC Spartan in MK VI navy blue with DMR
• Covenant Jackal w/Yellow energy shield and Beam Rifle

Here’s the toy description:
The UNSC Light Assault VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) craft is a heavily armed, full mobility combat flier designed to operate in confined environments. It has three turbines that allow the vehicle to quickly and deftly navigate narrow spaces. Below its flanking turbines hang twin autocannons (GAU-10/A HAC) and a pair of rocket pods (M302 Class-1 GMLS), both of which are extremely competent arsenals when providing ground support or engaging in air-to-air combat.

Dimensions in Inches: 12.0L x 2.0W x 11.5H

I’m very happy that this set has the Halo 4 style Jackal. The red visor on the Spartan throws me off a bit as it’s the first Spartan mini fig to have a red visor. Then again, this is a sub-line, so some liberties have been taken and that visor color is in Halo 4.
I for one am excited to see what else this sub-line is going to bring us. New and fantastical designs. Will these be part of a new game? Perhaps part of the newly announced Halo TV show for XBOX One? Regardless, look for this and other REAP-X MEGA BLOKS Halo toys soon!

-Sal

 

The Halo 4 Essential Visual Guide redux

First, thanks to Halobungie.org for posting the link to this on Twitter.

Check out some new images from the book by DK, due out October this year:

Click pics for bigger pics.

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Here’s the ISBN: ISBN: 9781409334828

Here’s the link from the UK site.

This is a MUST buy for any Halo fan if you’re into knowing more of the lore.

-Sal

 

Halo: Oversized Collection [Hardcover]

So while reading e-mail this morning, I got a notification from Amazon about this book.

Halo Oversized Collection

This is essentially a graphic novel that is a compilation of three earlier Halo comic book titles: Uprising 1-4, Blood Line 1-5, Helljumper 1-5

I enjoyed all three of these titles. If you’ve never read them, then I highly suggest getting this book. It’s not due out until October 15 this year. So of course you can hunt down the individual comics. Having these all in one place though is very convenient.

If you want to take a look at the Amazon listing just click here Halo: Oversized Collection.

-Sal

The Halo Bulletin 5.22.13

halobulletinheader_5-22-13Well, it’s that time of the week again when we get some news from 343 regarding our beloved franchise.

BS Angel starts out with a warm regards to Steven Spielberg and let’s we fans know that it’s going to be awhile before we hear anything else on the TV show.

Next up a Weapons Tuning discussion.

The Matchmaking Playlist update is next.

Finally, what I consider to be the best Screenshot spotlight to date: Incineration! The effects you see when someone is dematerializing after being shot with an InCin cannon are just SWEET!

Want to read the full Bulletin? Well just clicky right here!

-Sal