This has been one of the most hyped action figures of the last year. Ever since people first caught a glimpse of the prototype, they've practically (and in some cases I'm sure, literally) salivating over his release. Keep reading to see if he's worth all the fuss, because I spotted four at my local Wal-mart, and I'm pretty sure he's finally striking cities around the country, so yours might finally be in reach! 

Name: Snake Eyes (City Strike)
Line: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Released: Fall 2009
Price: Retail: $5.00-$8.00, Online: $10.00-$35.00
Scale: 3.75 in.
Accessories: Sword, sheath, knife, small backpack, crampon feet attachments, harness and backpack with grappling hooks, assault rifle, small machine gun, pistol, and figure stand. 
Sponsor Listings: Amazon-$14.95

     This version of Snake Eyes was released under the GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra banner, but actually has closer ties to the popular animated movie, GI Joe Resolute. He was originally going to be released under that banner instead (like the previously reviewed Duke, Cobra Commander, etc.), he just took too long to get out, and was instead moved into this line and called "City Strike". So basically you can stick him in with your movie figures and that should be fine, and also feel free to plop him into your Resolute display, because that works too. Either way, he's still going to look awesome.    

     I'm always impressed with how cool GI Joe figures end up looking, and Snake Eyes here is one of the best I've seen. His sculpt follows the animated character model rather well, meaning he's some sort of slick combination between a ninja and paintball player. All the costume elements really add to his look, with belts and buckles galore, armored patches in key areas, and loads of pouches holding who knows how many dangerous weapons and high-tech gadgets. Sometimes adding belts and harnesses is just an attempt to flesh out a wonky looking base body, but in Snake Eyes case they all add to his design, making him look like the well-prepared ninja that he is. This is further aided by how well they fit his body, not hanging loose or awkwardly, and not like they were designed for a different Joe and then just thrown on this fellow (which occasionally seems to be the case with other figures). I will mention one potential downfall: Snake Eyes is short. Keep scrolling for group photos of him alongside other Resolute figures, and you'll see he's a fair bit shorter than his companions. I don't mind a little variety in my toys' heights, since it only makes sense, but it could be a problem for someone.
     His proportions are all reasonable; he doesn't have tiny feet or a puny head, and his muscles all look ripped, though not overly exaggerated. His posture appears quite natural in a variety of poses, so despite being a ninja, I still feel like there's a realistic vibe coming from him. That's tough to accomplish with such a small figure, so it's a testament to how much time they spent in the design stage. He may not come off quite as smooth and straight as the animation model, but I prefer this more physical real-life interpretation to the stylized anime direction they could have taken him. Instead of being smooth all over, he's loaded with textures and crisp details that don't come from the animation model. For instance, his hip pouch is wrinkled and rough looking, not the near-perfect box from the cartoon. These details continue all across the figure, cloth segments of his costume being sculpted to bunch and wrinkle splendidly, armor patches featuring a lined texture, boot bottoms with deep treads, and even dimples in his kneepads. This is an intricate figure, featuring tons of small attention to detail that even figures in much larger scales don't receive. You can see this especially well in his face, which has amazingly tight lines and shapes, topping the figure off wonderfully. 
      The accessories aren't any different, looking like real guns under the influence of a shrink ray, perfect in both scale and detail. His blade has a very nice subtle curve and isn't too long, though the knife might be just a bit too big to look normal. There's also a small problem with his ability to hold the weapons, because they tend to fall out of his loose hands pretty easily. You can get them all to stay with patience, but it's not easy and a tighter grip would have been swell. The huge grappling hook backpack does fit nicely, even when he's equipped with other gear (the image before his final score shows him wearing/holding every single item he comes with at once), and the crampons are secure on his feet as well. You should probably be aware that the stand included with Snake Eyes is in the Rise of the Cobra style, so it won't fit in perfectly with the Resolute figures if you display your Joes on their stands. Nonetheless, it's a well made stand (that doubles as a dog tag) with some nifty details front and back. Snake Eyes isn't perfect thanks to some small problems here and there (did I mention I still loathe the screws on the inside of his thighs?), and still yet, he's a fantastic physical representation of the character, especially at this size. 

Sculpt Score: 9 / 10

 

     If you have watched GI Joe Resolute, you may have already noticed that Snake Eyes colors don't exactly match up to the movie. He's more consistently gray in the cartoon, without the various shades of black that are present on the figure. I'm not holding that against the toy, because this is still an attractive paint job and stylish color scheme. Sure it's not colorful or eye-popping, but the contrast created by the differing shades of gray is probably easier on the eyes (and easier to photograph (although still difficult)) than the solid gray version would have been. I probably shouldn't call this a "paint job", as most of his parts are just cast in the appropriate colors, and there are just a few costume details painted on. Those do look great though, for instance the gray armored plates on his gloves are clean, the details on his face are near-perfect, and the Arashikage emblem on his arm is crisp and clear. It's the stretches of his black pants beneath the kneepads that are the big problem areas. The black there is painted onto gray plastic and looks sloppy around the edges, also fading into gray rather obviously in spots. Snake Eyes' accessories are all cast in black plastic, and only his sword, sheath, and knife have any applications to liven them up, each with an appropriate silver color accenting the black. I realize that this is actually a pretty solid piece of work in this scale, yet something about this toy just looks wrong, and I can't figure out what it is. He might just be too shiny, have subtly mismatched colors, or even something else, but whatever it is, it's bugging me. You might see him suffering from the same unknown affliction too, though I'm guessing you probably won't.

Paint Score: 8 / 10

 

    Snake Eyes is blessed with what is pretty much the norm for modern GI Joe articulation. There are a lot of points here for a toy at this scale, and as such Snake Eyes can pull off a number of interesting poses, twirling swords at awesome angles or firing bullets in any direction. I do wish some extra points were added in (like rocker ankles and a thigh swivel), however I'm quite content with what's offered. All of the joints are working wonderfully, and even the usually weak wrists are holding up well. Similarly, each joint has a great range of motion, without a single excessive sculpt limitation in sight. Snake Eyes is easy to play with and can be displayed in lots of dynamic ways, especially when paired with his accessories. Articulation doesn't mean anything if you can't make the most of it with fun stuff, and Snake Eyes has all the fun stuff necessary to make the points really worthwhile. Most of the articulation isn't too terrible looking, as sculpt elements like knee/elbow pads and belts/harnesses do a great job of hiding unsightly points and gaps. I say most, because the hips are hideous, helped only by the dark black color that washes away some of the horrible shapes present in that region. I just loathe the visuals on these hip joints, and probably always will. It just makes the legs look too wide at the top (or the hips too thin, whichever), and creates a deep socket wall that's way too visible. Despite that snafu, Snake Eyes is still a pretty cool looking toy, so I can't fault him too much for it, as this is primarily a fun articulation model that's free of problems. 

Articulation Score: 9 / 10

     This is one of the most fun toys I've purchased in quite a long time. Just go look at the list of accessories that he includes! Not only is he a high-tech ninja, but he comes with an army's arsenal of stuff to haul around and slaughter unsuspecting troopers (see comic). Whether you like your Snake Eyes with guns or swords, you're covered with this fellow, and he can even stash many of them away on his costume (if you're creative). The fact that he's based off possibly the best GI Joe animation of all time is just a bonus here. He's got a great design that will catch the eye of any testosterone-filled male (much like Scarlett). The surprise entertainer for me is the big grappling hook backpack that's included. There is a string running through it, with a grappling hook on each end of the string, and with a little coaxing and tugging, Snake Eyes will actually ascend short distances up the rope. Kids are going to love this, hooking him between two high points and watching him slide down the rope (see below), or actually trying to make him climb his way up the wall with the crampons on his feet and grappling hooks lodged into a shelf. Did I mention he has a sword? A sword, which is an instant plus in my book. The articulation isn't quite perfect, but it's loads of fun for play, allowing him to kick and punch his way through Cobra foes, while also making for a positive experience in the display department. Snake Eyes is totally free of frustrations and any kid or collector will absolutely enjoy the hell out of him. 

Fun Score: 10 / 10

     Although technically this toy might cost you $8 or more, depending on when and where you can find him at retail, I've spotted four or so in the last week at $6 or less due to numerous sales on GI Joe figures right now. Even at $8 I think this figure is a really strong value, thanks to the great design and plethora of accessories. And at $5 (what I paid), he's an unbelievable bargain. There is so much fun to be had with this figure that $5 seems like virtually nothing. Combining that with the quality of his construction and popularity of the character, and you've got to consider this one an instant purchase. Even if you're not a GI Joe fan or can only find him for $8, I'd still encourage you to consider him. It felt like I was never going to stop pulling accessories out of the package, and I could have posed him all week for photographs. I've spent more time with this figure in a week than I have with many others in months, further supporting just how valuable he really is.  

Value Score: 10 / 10

9 / 10 - An interesting looking figure with few flaws.

8 / 10 - Something's not quite right regardless of his many positive attributes here. 

9 / 10 - An enjoyable and diverse articulation model with one ugly set of hips.

10 / 10 - Expect hours upon hours of real entertainment from this guy.

10 / 10 - A great deal even at his regular retail price, but a veritable steal at current sale prices. 

92 / 100 - This is a Great Toy

There was a lot of hype about this figure, and try as I might not to buy into it, I've been convinced that he is actually an incredible toy. Hasbro has made a fine GI Joe here, and the next time you're in the aisles, you should shuffle through the pegs in consideration of this potential addition to your collection.

-The Articulated One

This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment on this review for a chance to win!

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