NECA Toys is constantly breaking barriers with their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, as we are getting a lot of firsts and never before releases in this line. This set is part of this and a perfect example of this, and defiantly long overdue to be released as figures. With the use of today’s photorealistic and digital scanning technology that companies have been using, NECA is able to give us these movie-accurate figures like never before, with accuracy to how the actors looked in the film. This set includes Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki from the flashback scenes from the film, and includes weapons, swap out parts, a rat cage, and two small pet Splinters. The set will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores. This 2-pack between $49.99 – $52.99.
Thank you to NECA Toys for providing their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Movie – Shadow Warriors 2-Pack Figures for review.
Availability: September 2021
Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki are packaged in a window box, with artwork inspired from the 1990 movie. The sides include images of the figures, and the back includes additional images, and a description from the film. Both figures are packaged in a plastic tray for safe keeping, along with their accessories.
Both Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki share the same sculpts, robes, interchangeable arms, hands, and most accessories. The sculpt features a lean muscular tone as seen in the flashback scenes from the film, showing Hamato Yoshi, Splinter’s Master and Oroku Saki, whom would become the evil Shredder years later. The attention to detail and the sculpt is outstanding work, and NECA’s team deserves a pat on the back for making such incredible figures with great likenesses that has never been done before in the franchise. The paint washes, skin tone, heads and the deco on the robes, is just perfection, and the sculpt easily works great for both of these characters while keeping true to the actor likeness. The heads sculpts are obviously unique for the actor likenesses, which is given nicely done facial details, washes, and sculpted hair. The robes are removable by first removing the arms, and slipped it over the head, and the arms are swappable with the interchangeable bare arms that are also included for each figure. Oroku Saki is given an additional head sculpt with the scar that Splinter gave him, showing red blood and given a different facial expression.
As the sculpt is the same, they are given the same washes and attention to detail you see here, with some slight differences on the back as you can see, as the washes on these samples are a tiny bit different that was likely not intentional and done at the factory. Hamato Yoshi also has some of the plastic rubbed on his chest that looks like it was done with sandpaper or something, and one this particular sample, this also wasn’t intentional as yours would be different.
Each is given three sets of interchangeable hands, and since they share the same sculpt, it doesn’t matter which one’s you give them. The hands include closed fisted, karate chop and open grip, and each give them multiple poses and display options as you can mix and match to your delight, while using the open grip to hold the accessories.
The cage and stand is one of the primary accessories included in this set, and also a key piece offered in the entire line. This is also from the flashback scenes and you see Splinter learning martial arts by mimicking what Hamato Yoshi does. The cage and base are painted in a metallic silver deco with a rustic wash to make it look worn and old, and the stand is painted in black. The bottom of the cage opens and Splinter can be removed, and there is a peg for both versions of him to be placed on.
Both Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki are also fully articulated, including a ball jointed head, ball hinged shoulders, double swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged wrists, ball jointed torso, ball hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, hinged and rocker ankles.
This is a first for the brand to get Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki as they appeared in the film into a Turtles line, as getting these characters has never happened before. NECA continues to do a lot of firsts in the Turtles lines while setting the bar high for future offerings and either from their company, and someone else whenever this line ends and someone new gets the license. There is so much to love about this line right now I don’t even know where to begin, and all we can do is looks forward to what’s to come in this line as it’s been one spectacular offering after another.
Overall, Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki are long overdue to get the figure treatment and these flashback figures make great additions to the line. This offering is for the most die-hard of fans that want everything, and this is an offering that will surely be remembered decades from now and will hopefully continue to allow NECA to make even the most obscure or unlikely character you never thought you’d see made as a figure. If you see it, grab it and you surely won’t be disappointed.
Purchase:
Additional figures are available on Entertainment Earth, BigBadToyStore, Things From Another World, Zavvi – U.S./Canada and Zavvi – U.K.
