In 2013, NECA released a 7″ scale action figure based on Gordon Freeman from the insanely popular video game Half-Life 2. The figure has been out of production for the last five years, but fans and collectors can once again get their hands on him. NECA has reissued the Gordon Freeman 7″ Scale figure (who will be joined by Portal 2’s Chell very soon). While the original figure came on the standard clamshell card back, the re-released version is packed in a collector friendly window box.
Toyark sponsor Entertainment Earth sent along the figure for us to check out. After the jump, you can see a few quick thoughts on the figure, as well as a full photo shoot.
Related Entertainment Earth links: Gordon Freeman Figure, Portal 2 Chell Figure, NECA Video Game Figures
Half-Life 2 – Gordon Freeman 7″ Scale Figure by NECA
Pros
- Really nice sculpt
- Decent articulation
- Great accessories
- Second chance for those who missed it
Cons
- Range of motion is limited by armor
Overall
The figure is packed in a collector friendly window box. It includes a set of interchangeable hands, a crowbar (obviously), a Gravity Gun, a bug bomb, and a Head Crab. The figure sits on a plastic tray, and a simple cardboard backdrop is included.
For a five year old design, this is not bad at all. The sculpt still holds up nicely, with solid work on the armor, texture and skin. Gordon Freeman stands about 7″ tall and has roughly 20 points of articulation. Range of motion is okay, but hindered a bit, especially in the elbows, by the armor. Joints themselves are solid, with no paint locking and nothing that jumped out as loose. Hands swap out easily, with a nice solid wrist joint used. The included accessories are still excellent inclusions. The crowbar is the weapon of choice for Gordon, and the gravity gun, bug bomb and Head Crab make for an overall nice package here.
While I don’t have the original figure, everything looks mostly the same when viewing older photos. the most noticeable difference is likely in the paint used for the head sculpt. Here there is a bit of digital printing used on the beard. But, otherwise, this looks like a straight re-release, and that’s not a bad thing. Paint work is overall pretty solid, with an assortment of paint washes and weathering on the armor.
If you missed out on the original release (as I did) then this is a really welcome reissue. There’s probably not much reason to double dip for those who already own this. Newcomers will find a solid figure, with a good sculpt, fun accessories and a collector friendly packaging. Check out soem highlight photos below and the full gallery after that.
Some of the backgrounds featured in pics below are from Extreme-Sets.com. Enter code TOYARK at checkout and get 15% off your order!
NECA Half-Life 2 Gordon Freeman 7-Inch Scale Figure Reissue - Toyark Photo Shoot
I like the Half-Life games, but Gordon Freeman reminds me of when developers stick staff members in their games as cameos(like the enemies, civilians, and scientists in Goldeneye).
My Freeman's on the way via BBTS preorder! Super excited for this fig... would you believe I almost spent about double the price for one on the secondary market just a couple weeks before the reissue was revealed?
Depending on how much I like it, I'm all set to get a Chell to display next to it. (It'd be great to eventually get an Alyx Vance figure, too. :P)
Great photo shots! Only down side as you listed as a con being the articulation I would've loved if they would've updated it with no sculpt then just reissue some stuff here and there still definitely worth picking up for anyone who is fan of the series or just want some scific guy in an armored suit with an alien crab creature.
Yeah, I have the original Gordon figure and this re-release looks identical in terms of paint work...great if you missed it, but no reason to buy if you already own it.
BTW, Joe, are you aware that the mouth on the Headcrab is actually removable so you can put the Headcrab on a 7-inch scale figure's head to create a *gasp* Headcrab Zombie? It's not mentioned in your review, unless for some bizarre reason NECA removed that feature from the re-release.
BTW, Joe, are you aware that the mouth on the Headcrab is actually removable so you can put the Headcrab on a 7-inch scale figure's head to create a *gasp* Headcrab Zombie? It's not mentioned in your review, unless for some bizarre reason NECA removed that feature from the re-release.
i hope neca can release some combine soldier one day
by the way,we still don't know why there is a hole in gordon's waist.
Saw this and the Chell re-release at retail today. While Gordon is almost identical to the original release (except for the HEV suit looking a bit 'dirtier'), Chell is actually cast in flesh-colored plastic this time around. Unfortunately, despite that upgrade, the Chell figures otherwise looked worse than the original release due to numerous QC issues. There was an entire case on the peg and every figure had mis-aligned paint apps, bleeding (especially on the white tank top and the hair), noticeable facial scratches, weird bugged-out eyes (she seriously looks like she's on coke), and globs of glue on the hairline. Some of the figures also had slightly 'squished' plastic where the forehead meets the hair, as if someone at the factory pushed down way too hard when gluing the hair down.
Hopefully this just affects this batch and not every figure released. I'm looking forward to Joe's upcoming review to see if he runs into these problems as well (I hope he doesn't).
In case anyone was interested, after some looking I finally found a "good" Chell figure. If you can find one without any of the aforementioned QC issues, you'll see that the change to flesh-cast plastic is a nice upgrade over the original figure. Also, the portal gun light seems brighter this time around as well.
Full Thread: HL2 Gordon Freeman Reissue - Toyark Gallery
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