NECA Crash Bandicoot – Toyark Photo Shoot

In 1996, the original PlayStation received one of its most iconic games in Crash Bandicoot. The game was a 3D platformer that Sony hoped would be their Mario 64. While it never achieved the acclaim of Nintendo’s now legendary game, Crash Bandicoot became a staple on the PlayStation, launching multiple sequels and spinoffs, and eventually landing on additional game systems. Last year, Activision brought the Bandicoot to modern systems with the release of Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy. This was a complete remaster of the original three games, giving them each a gorgeous visual overhaul while still keeping the challenging platforming of the now classic games. As with anything new, licensed merchandise was soon to follow.

A series of Crash Bandicoot Action Figures are being released by NECA. The first figure, a basic release featuring Crash himself, is in stores now. Coming soon are three additional deluxe versions. One features a jetpack, one a hoverboard and a third with Scuba gear. Today we’re taking a look at the initial release, courtesy of sponsor Entertainment Earth. After the jump, check out my thoughts and a full gallery for the figure.

Related Entertainment Earth links: Crash Bandicoot Figure, Crash with Hoverboard, All Crash Bandicoot Items

Crash Bandicoot 7″ Scale Figure by NECA

Pros

• Excellent sculpt
• Good articulation
• Detailed paint work
• Articulated eyebrows are a great touch
• A solid base Crash figure

Cons

• Some accessories would have been welcome

Overall
The Crash figure comes in the classic NECA plastic clamshell. You will need to cut it open to remove the figure. The backer card includes a single photo of Crash and a little info on the figure itself. Crash sits on a plastic tray held in by a single twist tie. Inside the backer, you will find a cardboard crate from the game.

With their first Crash Bandicoot figure, NECA modeled their sculpt on his look in the new N. Sane Trilogy, which looks very much like his classic promo art. Crash stands about 5.5″ tall and has about 16 points of articulation. The sculpt work here is excellent, with some nice detail in the fur, and an overall look that captures the 90’s attitude that Crash is known for. Range of motion is ok, with the shoulders giving you the most range. There’s a surprising amount of poseability in the torso and neck, which allows for some good running poses. The articulated eyebrows are definitely a welcome addition. They sit on a ball joint, and aren’t hindered by any of the sculpted details on the face. With each Crash release, the portraits will have a unique expression. For this one, you have a standard smiling Crash. Paint work is handled well, with a nice highlight wash over the fur. There’s smooth transitions between the lighter yellows and the darker oranges, with mostly clean lines between areas like the eyes, mouth and clothing.

There are no paint locking issues here. Joints were fairly tight and allowed Crash to hold just about any pose I wanted. The figure is a little top heavy, but the larger feet and strong joints help with stability. The only thing really missing here are just some accessories. An Aku-Aku mask, a pair of swap out hands (maybe with a thumbs up), or even a few small apples to go with the cardboard crate would have really been welcome.

This is a solid first entry in the Crash Bandicoot line. If you just want a base Crash figure to go on your game shelf, or don’t have room for the larger accessories that will come with the deluxe versions, than this is a worthwhile purchase. It’s a great take on the character, and an overall nice figure. for fans who want a little bit more with Crash, I would check out the upcoming deluxe releases, which looks to have some fun additions. You can see some select photos below and our full gallery after that.