It’s not entirely fair to handwave constructive criticism. As I’ve repeatedly said, it’s the 5th time, from the same company, and it’s still got issues that are either new or repeats from ten years ago. If someone is new to the hobby and DX19 will be their first Baleman figure...sure, you’re technically right, it is a great figure. But for those such as myself that has collected every version of this character since the first MMS, hoping the next one will be “it”, don’t wanna break out the knives, epoxy, paint, hair dryer for the FIFTH time.
If you’ve been collecting for as long as I have (please don’t take this as a “flex”), then you would have definitely seen and engaged in debates/arguments about striving for perfection. let’s not kid ourselves here, there’s no such thing as the perfect figure...BUT, they can come pretty damn close.
I’m not one to spot errors immediately. At times I don’t even notice them unless they’re pointed out to me. But if those mistakes are repeated FIVE times in a row, even untrained eyes like mine will pick up on them. So yes, this figure is FLAWED.
Is it atrocious like some would have you believe? NO. Of course not. That’s going too far.
Is it an underwhelming and uninspired release? YES. Absolutely.
It's not that I disagree, my striving for as close to perfection is towards JND. Because I want realistic portraits and real materials etc. I think I've come to understand, due to very little we know in the R+D and technicalities for making these figures, but I've no doubt in my mind that some decisions are as an affect due to articulations, due to the scale and also just due to artistic interpretation, and probably a combination of it all. There isn't ever going to be a spot on 1/6 figure, there just isn't. So for me then it comes down to well is it close enough... and yeah this is.
I understand it's frustrating in other areas, for example cowl shape or something similar - why can't it be nailed? I don't know, got to be some reason, I really find it hard to believe that they don't have good technical artists in this aspect. But even companies like JND at a much larger scale and being able to afford better materials without worry of articulation still get aspects wrong. These are artistic toys, it's fun to analyse every single aspect, and as much to a certain degree I understand an annoyance of not hitting enough of a perfection for some people... well, like I said, can't see the forest through the trees (lol got it the wrong way 'round earlier).
Guess it comes down to point of view. For me, scale, articulation etc. with what we get from most of these toys at the price they are, I'm not really going to complain. Thing's like likeness etc. sure, but other than that, nah. I'll venture elsewhere for a more realistic interpretation.
Completely disagree with underwhelming and uninspired. Again, we've been in this for a long while, we're used to seeing a lot, and not a lot has changed. You can argue the same thing with video games now, for example I find the majority of them boring and lacking in comparison to 10 years ago. My hayday of gaming was the bridge from PS2 to Xbox 360 and some extent just after that, all of the big graphical changes and technical changes were very noticeable, very wow. Now hardly any of it is noticeable, doesn't mean great stuff isn't coming out. We're just used to it, been in the game too long my friend.
And just to touch upon again, with Inart they're creating a new market. Consider then a next gen upgrade as a console. You'll see minor upgrades like rooted hair and unarticulated arms with magnets, but at the expense of being more. Anyway, shame we can't all see things with brand new eyes.
