Toy Pictorial: The Nintendo Trinity

In this dark time of reduced articulation, shelf-warmers, novelty gimmicks that don't work and G.I. Joe not really doing anything despite being on an anniversary year, it's comforting to know that the Japanese specialist market is still churning out some gold, provided you've got the money.  Which is a needlessly grim way of saying I've got the leads of the 3 best Nintendo franchises (no I do not rank Kirby or Donkey Kong up there, thankyou) in posable figure form and I could not be more happy about it.

More pics after the jump.

Both the Link and Samus figures are from Goodsmile's Figma range, and will set you back $49.99 apiece.  Both come with the clear display stands visible in various shots, plus an assortment of swappable hands and extra accessories.  I'm more happy with Samus on the whole since she's got basically everything I could ask for except maybe a tiny Metroid to shoot at, while Link - though cool - could've used another weapon, like his bow or boomerang.

Mario is from Bandai's S.H. Figuarts line, and the core figure pack is priced at $24.99.  This includes the man himself, one '?' block, one coin with its own stand, and a super mushroom (not seen in the pics).  Additional accessories are split between two 'play sets' each costing $19.99.  Both contain an extra coin + stand and a Goomba; play set A also features the green display base, one '?' block, two brick blocks, a crane-arm support to pose Mario in mid-leap, and a floating support to let the blocks hover; while play set B contains the warp pipe with both shallow and deep top pieces, a green Koopa shell and the swappable open hands to let Mario hold the shell.  The figure's good enough on its own, but you do really need set A at least to make a good display piece out of it.

J'ACCUSE!!

Oh, and Professor Layton here is number 086 from the Revoltech Yamaguchi line, but good luck finding him anywhere (and expect to pay through the nose if you do).