{"id":29891,"date":"2018-07-11T11:14:12","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T16:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=29891"},"modified":"2018-07-11T11:14:12","modified_gmt":"2018-07-11T16:14:12","slug":"halo-toy-review-mattel-halo-12-inch-spartan-athlon-red-and-blue-variants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=29891","title":{"rendered":"Halo Toy Review: Mattel Halo 12 inch Spartan Athlon (Red and Blue variants)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-27705\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-300x298.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-768x764.png 768w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-600x597.png 600w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel-302x300.png 302w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Logo-Mattel.png 982w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Technical Specifications:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Articulation:<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Ball Joint Head<br \/>\n\u2022 Ball Joint Shoulders<br \/>\n\u2022 Hinge\/Swivel Joint Elbows<br \/>\n\u2022 Swivel Joint Hands<br \/>\n\u2022 Ball Joint Hips<br \/>\n\u2022 Hinge Joint Knees<br \/>\n<strong>Accessories: <\/strong>Battle Rifle (Red Athlon), DMR (Blue Athlon)<br \/>\n<strong>Cost:<\/strong>\u00a0$8-10 (US)<br \/>\n<strong>Availability:\u00a0Mass Retail\u00a0<\/strong>I got mine from Wal Mart for $8.44 US before tax.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And on with the pics!\u00a0<\/strong>(Click pics to make<strong>\u00a0BIGGER<\/strong>)<br \/>\nEach of Mattel&#8217;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.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29884\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX-600x427.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX-600x427.jpg 600w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX-422x300.jpg 422w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-BOX.jpg 936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a>Don&#8217;t worry, one isn&#8217;t taller than the other. That&#8217;s just the way these two were packaged. They are the same height. Also, strangely enough, the Red Athlon has it&#8217;s weapon showing partially in the window, while the Blue one&#8217;s rifle is further down in the package.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In the box you get the figure and a Battle Rifle with the Red Athlon and a DMR with the Blue Athlon.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-contents.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29885\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-contents-444x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-contents-444x600.jpg 444w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-contents-222x300.jpg 222w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-contents.jpg 692w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A closeup of the heads reveal that their visors have not only the lined indentations to them, but also a hexagonal pattern. This is one detail I&#8217;m glad Mattel included!<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29886\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets-600x364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets-600x364.jpg 600w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets-495x300.jpg 495w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-helmets.jpg 1008w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are the Spartans in orthogonal views. They are a little stretched height-wise. This the only thing I&#8217;m disappointed with with Mattel&#8217;s 12 inch Halo figs. I&#8217;d rather they be bulkier and not stretched tall. As they are very affordable toys however, I&#8217;m willing to overlook that.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29887\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO-600x242.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO-600x242.jpg 600w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO-300x121.jpg 300w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO-768x310.jpg 768w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO-500x202.jpg 500w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-ORTHO.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Articulation_sm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29890\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Articulation_sm-544x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"544\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Articulation_sm-544x600.jpg 544w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Articulation_sm-272x300.jpg 272w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Articulation_sm.jpg 751w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Each Spartan Athlon can hold their weapons and be placed into some minor poses.<a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Blue.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29888\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Blue-364x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"364\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Blue-364x600.jpg 364w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Blue-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Blue.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Red.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-29889\" src=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Red-466x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"466\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Red-466x600.jpg 466w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Red-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Mattel-12-Athlon-RvB-Action-Red.jpg 699w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Evaluation<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Sculpt:\u00a0<\/strong>Good, though the figure is stretched to fit the box and is compressed at the torso to be thinner than it&#8217;s in-game counterpart.<strong> 7.5\u00a0of 10 medals!<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Articulation: <\/strong>While somewhat limited, there&#8217;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&#8217;m keenly aware that the point of these figs is to put affordable toys into the hands of kids and collectors alike. <strong>8\u00a0out of 10 medals<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Paint Application:\u00a0<\/strong>There isn&#8217;t much paint detail here. The figures are their base color (either red or blue) with Black. There are definitely some details here I wish Mattel would have included. Specifically the &#8220;8&#8221; on the head, as shown on the front of the box. <strong>7.5\u00a0of 10 medals<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Accessories: <\/strong>Each Spartan comes with it&#8217;s own Rifle. They are good sculpts and accurate to the game.\u00a0<strong>9.5 out of 10 medals<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Playability:<\/strong>\u00a0This 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&#8217;re an adult collector, it looks good on display, whether in or out of the box. <strong>8\u00a0of 10 medals<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Overall:<\/strong> <strong>40.5 medals out of a total 50 medals.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I can only imagine what a proper sculpted and articulated 12 inch figure would cost. If I had to guess, its would be in the $40-50 range. That&#8217;s not so affordable and likely would have those expensive figures sitting on store shelves. That&#8217;s not something stores want. And&#8230;believe me, you wouldn&#8217;t want that either as it would mean a very slow roll out of other new 12 inch figures or the end of that line.<\/p>\n<p>With that thought, I&#8217;m rather okay with the 12 inch figures as they are. The affordability here is KEY.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do I recommend this product? <span style=\"color: #00ff00;\">Sure. If you&#8217;re looking for Matchmaking Spartans to display, these would be a decent acquisition.\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #00ff00;\">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\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #00ff00;\"><span style=\"caret-color: #00ff00;\"><b>Was Mart), which is a bonus!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions about this figure that I didn&#8217;t cover in the review, please do not hesitate to ask me. Either reply below or e-mail me at sal@halofanforlife.com<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">If this review gives you an informed decision on whether to purchase the toy\u00a0or not, please consider a small donation (50 cents) to the blog.You can donate via PayPal to jedisalpitt2002@yahoo.com. Or just click the paypal link at the right on the main page of the site. \u00a0It\u2019s much appreciated and helps ensure that HFFL stays registered\/active on the internet. Thank You.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>-Sal<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Technical Specifications: Articulation: \u2022 Ball Joint Head \u2022 Ball Joint Shoulders \u2022 Hinge\/Swivel Joint Elbows \u2022 Swivel Joint Hands \u2022 Ball Joint Hips \u2022 Hinge Joint Knees Accessories: Battle Rifle (Red Athlon), DMR (Blue Athlon) Cost:\u00a0$8-10 (US) Availability:\u00a0Mass Retail\u00a0I got &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=29891\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mattel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29891"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29893,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29891\/revisions\/29893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}