Review – Aliens: Colonial Marines “Xenomorph Lurker”

From the Aliens: Colonial Marines video game (Amazon.com search*) comes one of many 3.75-inch scale Alien action figures by Hiya Toys. Looks awesome, but unfortunately once you get up close and personal with the toy you quickly discover that it’s not as well-crafted as we had hoped.

Packaging

Quite attractive, and shows off all of the extra hands and the facehugger accessory quite nicely. The box is much larger than necessary, but it’s attractive enough (and the toy fragile enough) that fans of displaying packaged toys should be happy with this design.

Display Stand

The Lurker action figure* comes with a small and simple display stand that’s vital to displaying the toy. Those weak, fragile joints just can’t support the toy easily and the stand at least helps the toy to stay standing for more than fifteen or twenty minutes.

Sculpt

Okay, I may be about to say “don’t buy this toy!” BUT that doesn’t mean I cannot admit that the Lurker action figure* features a great sculpt. Lots of awesome details in the sculpt, and I’d happily compare this positively to NECA’s 7-inch scale Xenomorph action figure sculpt (review here). Unfortunately, as great as the sculpt is it cannot make up for those fragile joints.

Articulation

Hiya’s 3.75-inch scale Lurker action figure* has enough joints to give the toy decent articulation. My complaint, though, is that many of the joints feel as if they’re going to snap any moment when I try and pose the toy. Everything about the various hinges and swivels feel cheap; I suspect the plastic is just way too thin at each joint and that’s what makes this feel so fragile.

Point by point we get:

• Head – A ball-jointed neck. Maybe. The joint is actually sunken deep into the head, and the range of movement suggests there’s a ball joint in there.
  
• Torso – Ball-jointed abdomen. This may be the strongest/best joint on the toy.
  
• Arms – Swivel-hinge shoulders and elbows, swivel wrists. (And the plug/socket combo on the various hands are really tiny. Get ready for something to break!)
  
• Legs – Ball-jointed hips with very limited range, swivel-hinge knees that want to break, and swivel-hinge ankles.

Do Not Buy

Everything about the toy outside of the sculpt and paint is a disappointment. Those joints are terrible, the balance is off, and the plastic feels flimsy and cheap. This toy was a serious disappointment that’s only made worse by the fact I pre-ordered a few releases in this line and now have other Aliens action figures I don’t want to open. Do not buy this!