SDCC 2009 NECA

NECA continues to fasten its articulated grip around many cool videogame properties and turning them into quality action figures. Their biggest reveal of the show were their fantastic BioShock and BioShock 2 figures.

BioShock: NECA's BioShock figures look amazing. On display They had prototypes of every Big Daddy, the Big Sister, Little Sister, and a creepy female Splicer. I would assume that the articulation would be rather limited on the Big Daddies, given the sheer bulk of their design. A possible lack of articulation doesn't bother me too much, though, because as you can see from the photos, these figures are gorgeous. My one concern is that the Little Sister figure will either be sold separately or packaged with the Female Splicer. For one, the Little Sister figure is tiny compared to the others, so paying a full figure price for her would be way out of line. Secondly, I don't want a Splicer figure of any gender or style. The Splicers are hideous enough in the game; I don't have a need of a figure of a butchered and grotesque human. The smart thing NECA should do is package a Little Sister with EVERY figure. The Little Sisters are an integral part of the games with Big Daddies and Splicers always trying to protect or capture them, so it would make perfect sense to include a Little Sister with each figure. This way they could also have slightly different Little Sisters with an alternate floral pattern on their dress or something. I wouldn't mind paying a few dollars more per figure if it meant a Little Sister with each Big Daddy. Make this happen NECA! The other BioShock item they had on display was a life-size Adam Extractor. In the game, the Little Sisters use these to extract the Adam element from people. I wonder if this was something NECA just made for display purposes, or if they will be doing the same thing as they did with the life-size Gears of War 2 Lancer and include it as an exclusive item with BioShock 2. That would be one bizarre bonus item. Look at the size of that needle! You could kill a man with that!


Would you kindly not look the Big Sister directly in the eye? She's a little self-conscious.	This is you in BioShock 2, the original Big Daddy.	This Big Daddy still remains to be the awesome with his drill arm.

Street Fighter IV: I was hoping NECA would have on display some prototypes from their third series of Street Fighter IV figures, but all they had were repaints. Lots and lots of repaints. There is a third color for each figure from series 1 and 2, which you can see in the photos. The least they could have are some more alternate costume figures, like Guile as Charlie. I don't know if NECA will be for sure releasing the third color of each character, but it's probably good possibility.

Gears of War 2: Like previous years, NECA had a cool diorama with lots of gears figures. Most of the Locust figures look too similar to me for me to know which ones are brand new and which are from previous series. The Marcus and Dom in Theron Guard armor, however, are some fine looking figures. These hail from the Dark Corners DLC level (now available on Xbox Live).

Rayman Raving Rabbids: I didn't know NECA was making Rabbids figures. Are these out already? They're small, but super cute. Plus, two of the figures are the Rabbids in Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed costumes, making them extra cool. I'm not sure what the bigger Rabbids are, though. Hand puppets, maybe?

Exclusives: NECA had some decent exclusives this year with Dead Space's Isaac in the Unitology suit, Guile as Charlie, Gears of War 2 Lambent Locust, a blue jumpsuit April O'Neil with Mousers, and a star-spangled sweater Coraline. I never downloaded the Unitology suit for Dead Space, but the intricate writing on it made it a winning purchase. Guile as Charlie was a refreshing change from "normal" costumed Street Fighter characters. Since NECA are not jerks like Mattel, there was a limit of 2 of each figure per person, meaning that hopefully most of the fans that wanted an exclusive figure actually had a chance of getting one. Thanks, NECA, for setting a reasonable limit.

Check out and click the photos below of NECA's BioShock, Street Fighter IV, Gears of War 2, and Raving Rabbids figures, along with various dioramas.


Oh Rosie, you've really let yourself go.	A Little Sister with every figure please, NECA. Thanks.	It's hideous, but still looks better than that G.I. Joe movie Cover Girl figure.


Please tell me that this won't be some kind of a pre-order bonus.	A Fontaine Futuristics globe would actually be a cool accessory.


Beach bum Akuma, Chun Li in sparkly gray-green (or green-gray), and brown Guile.	A standard Ryu Vs. Ken match. On the side are Chun Li in black, old man Guile, and old man Akuma.

A standard Street Fighter IV match-up. Those dragon statues are really nice.	Guile and Akuma battle for control over the cargo plane.


Ryu in black, old man Ken, and Crimson Viper lives up to her name.	A close look at Chun Li in black. You know, I really like that color scheme.	Ryu is not amused.


Your upcoming Street Fighter IV repaints.	Ah! Raving Rabbids figures! In Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed garb!

Uh oh, it doesn't look like there is any cover to hide behind...	...how are Marcus and Dom going to get out of this one?