I had somehow managed to avoid buying into the Good Smile Company’s line of Nendoroid figurines, I knew that if I bought into one of them I would need to complete the set and quickly fill up my shelves. Twice now I’ve added the Nendoroid Yami Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh to my cart and barely resisted temptation. But with the release of the Yusuke Urameshi Nendoroid figure I was left with no other choice but to take the plunge into the Nendoroidverse. We’re a Yu Yu Hakusho fan site after all so I’m just doing my duty, right? Or perhaps I’m just justifying my new obsession.
Being in Japan I was lucky enough not to experience as many of the delays faced by those in Europe and the Americas who need to wait a little longer to get their hands on the figure due to the pandemic. Fortunately, RightStuffAnime reports that they will be ready to ship out their orders by the end of July.
Unboxing a Spirit Detective
Being my first Nendoroid, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the unboxing experience but I was pleasantly surprised. The external packaging was well padded and the box itself was protected from minor blemishes with wrapping paper. Opening the box, you find that everything is a snug fit and all the pieces are individually protected by a layer of plastic film.
What's in the Box!?
It should be noted that the packaging of Yusuke here in Japan differs from that of the figure you’ll find elsewhere. For one, the Japanese box art features Japanese text whereas the international release will not. If you want to collect one version over the other, the text is a major giveaway but that’s really the only big difference.
In the box, you’ll find:
- Yusuke's body, because I guess Yusuke got his body back
- Three faceplates - exited, angry and commanding
- Two sets of hair - the familiar slicked back and the fan-favorite bangs
- Two Spirit Energy attack effects, the Spirit Gun and Spirit Shotgun
- Puu, because where would Yusuke be without his pint-sized companion
- Six arms, one performing the Spirit Gun
- Four legs with detachable feet
- Base stand and supports, required for the figure to stand up
I had always wondered why Nendoroids carry a higher price tag than many models of the same size. After seeing how many parts are included and the overall level of quality achieved I can understand the price tag.
At $56.99, for the Yusuke Nendoroid, you’ll still be getting bang for your buck.
Swap between faces to set the tone you want. Choose between Yusuke’s happy/ exited, angry, and his commanding/ smug faceplate.
Bangs or no bangs? A question which has divided the fandom for 20 years. Nendoroid plays it safe and lets you decide.
If like me, you keep yourself awake at night asking yourself the question “Why doesn’t Yusuke use his Spirit Shotgun more”? You’re in luck, because effects for both the Spirit gun and Spirit Shotgun are included.
What I liked
Aesthetics and Style
Nendoroid figures usually follow the same pattern, a small body and a huge bulbous head. Yusuke is no different yet despite this, The Good Smile Company managed to portray Yusuke true to the original manga and somehow still manages to capture that smooth 90s vibe. Both Yusuke and Puu are colored to match their anime counterparts and are surprisingly detailed.
Versatility
With the number of parts you get and the modular nature of Nendoroid the possibilities are endless. So naturally the first thing I did was setting up Puu to lauch his own Spirit Gun (Spirit Wing?) attack.
Some collectors want a rugged looking figure which looks like its ready for fight, others want an adorable Spirit Detective to idolize. The Yusuke Urameshi Nendoroid does both.
What I Didn't Like
The worst point of this figure is that now I’ll have to buy more of them if and when more Yu Yu Hakusho Nendoroids are released. The mighty yet adorable Spirit Detective isn’t complete without the rest of the gang after all. There’s no sign of future Yu Yu Hakusho Nendoroids yet and suspect it will come down to whether or not Yusuke is popular enough to justify the production of more.
My next gripe with the figure is not really an issue with the figure itself but with the base stand and supports. Adversely to the figure, the supports seem flimsy and weak. I’m hesitant to change its configuration too frequently because the joints can only just hold up the heavier components as is, with a little wear and tear I expect that they will eventually droop down and limit possible poses. Unfortunately for our big-headed Spirit Detective, these stands are required for him to stand.
The Final Verdict
If you like Nendoroid design and Yu Yu Hakusho I consider this a must buy item, especially if you want to see more Yu Yu Hakusho merch produced. The bubble-headed design may not be to everyone’s taste but the high build quality and potential for variety cannot be denied. I consider this figure to be a good investment and look forward to picking up and reviewing any future pieces.
If you have any comments or questions, or would like us to review something else, let us know down in the comment section below.
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PRODUCT DETAILS:
Product Name: Nendoroid Yusuke Urameshi
Series: Yu Yu Hakusho
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Category: Nendoroid
Price: ¥4,727 (Before Tax)
Release Date: June 19 2020
Specifications:
Painted ABS & PVC non-scale articulated figure with stand included. Approximately 100mm in height.
Sculptor: Shichibee
Cooperation: Nendoron
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