Review – Glyos System Gobon
Manufacturer: Onell Design * Year: 2009
When it comes to the designer toy market, is there anyone as friendly as Matt Doughty of Onell Design? Maybe, but no one else in the designer toy market has shipped me a box packed with Glyos System toys, some Z.O.M.B.I.E.S. (by October Toys), and four MOC stormtrooper action figures.
Those are just some of the goodies that were riding in a massive box that was waiting for me when I got home yesterday. Hidden deep, deep inside the box — wrapped in newspaper — was a Gobon of my very own.
Standing 3.25-inches tall, Gobon is the tallest figure in the Glyos System series of toys and is, at the same time, the heaviest and broadest of the Glyos figures. Constructed of 13 different parts — all of which are completely compatible with other Glyos System figures — Gobon’s new components greatly expand the variety of parts available to those who love to create their own designs by using the Glyos toys like Lego bricks. To me, the feet and body (made of two pieces) are the most useful new components, but I can see where the arm/leg components would also prove useful. The fists are just a little too large to use with guys like my Rothan Pheyden (reviewed here) but that’s a personal choice (though I guess they could represent massive power gloves or something).
Gobon’s plastic feels a little softer than some of the earlier Glyos toys and the peg/socket connectors — the heart of the Glyos System that is beautifully illustrated in this Buildman review at Rockettubes — are very easy to connect. Some of the toys have taken some effort to snap the pieces together — the trick, children, is to rotate a piece as you push two parts together — but Gobon pops right together without any serious muscle. This has got to make it easier for the younger fans of the series to build their own designs.
Shiny
My Gobon, as you can see in the photos, is painted with a silvery/cloudy design. Or maybe it’s the plastic and part of the casting process. Either way, it looks great and the entire figure is encased in a clear gloss finish that really makes the silver pattern look shimmery and neat. The only other paint on Gobon is some red on his eyes (and the detail on the back of his head) and black paint in the sculpted details (including a black ring around the red eyes that does a great job of making Gobon’s eyes pop). Overall, the paint is fairly simple in design but very well executed.
Secret Head!
Much like Buildman (I swear, people, I will get around to reviewing Buildman), Gobon has a hidden head. This time, though, the head is very well hidden since the only way to find it is to pop Gobon’s body apart. The extra head — shown in the photo above — is between the two halves of the body! This head is much neater than the basic head (even though the basic head is the cuter of the two), with the secret head’s mouth adding a lot of character to the Gobon design.
Gobon Hits the Gym!
By simply flipping the body upside down, and shifting the arms from connecting on the main body to the secondary disk component of the body, you can drop Gobon’s belly and give him some broad shoulders. This is a simple change that gives the figure a different look. And if I had two of these guys, as well as some Phase Arms in the same color, I bet that something even bigger — and tougher-looking — could be devised. I can’t wait for these to hit release because I want at least two more of them.
Playability
While the Buildman is the best Glyos System toy for customization, Gobon — at least, in my opinion — is the figure most suited to a younger audience. The combination of cute design, softer plastic, and fairly large parts makes him very kid-friendly. I wouldn’t give a Gobon to a very young kid, but any child about four or older should have a blast playing with Gobon. After all, there are days when four or five is pretty much my age and I’m having fun with Gobon, so I should know what little kids want.
Closing Thoughts
The guys at Onell Design have done it again, creating a designer toy with more play value than any other designer toy on the market. Durable construction, a great paint job, and a very cute design makes Gobon a great toy for playing with or decorating the desk at your office.
I’m not sure what Gobon’s final retail price will be, but for his bulk and size — and the no doubt limited run that will be made available once he launches — I’d expect $12 or $14 for one Gobon figure.
If you wanna watch for Gobon’s release then I recommend keeping your eyes on the Glyos Transmission Web Log.
Win Beanbots!
I told you Matt threw goodies into my box. Well, it’s time for me to share the wealth. On June 12th, 2009, I will randomly select three names from everyone who comments on this review. Each of the three winners will be shipped a MOC Beanbot. What’s a Beanbot? Well, these are produced by Beantown Toys and use the Glyos System plug and socket system. That means you can snap a Beanbot apart and find useful new pieces for your Glyos designs.
So let me know what you think of Gobon, Glyos or battlegrip.com and next week we’ll find out who won toys.
And don’t forget to enter to win a free Glyos Alien head from Godbeast. Today (June 4th) is your last chance to enter. So get to it, people!
Philip Reed is going to say that he doubts he can give an unbiased review of any Glyos System toy. Matt’s too nice a guy, always shoveling bonus stuff into shipments, and has too much love for his toys and customers, for that to not affect Philip’s reviews. It helps that the toys are great and that Onell is dedicated to quality and selling toys at as low a price as possible.
I’m almost positive that the silver color is cast in, as matt has stated in earlier blog posts that he aims for as-cast color, as opposed to painting.
I can’t wait for to pick up a few to make a glyos boss borot!
Great review Phil, I love the look of Gobon when you flip his body round, he looks pumped haha I really cant wait for this figure he looks like a lot of fun!!
Seriously. You really do an awesome job on every review. I love that you pay it forward also.
Great review Phil. I am so excited about yoru comments regarding playability for the kids. we are still waiting on a box that my boys bought with their own money so hopefully Matt sends us one as well. If not, maybe we win one of your extra Beanbots. Keep up the great work. I love it.
Another Great review, I love the hidden head in the Gobon’s belly! Onell allways seem to produce great toys and they just keep getting better. I think that when the Gobon is finally released for sale it will be one of the quickest “Sold-outs” that we’ve seen so far. I know I’ll be ordering atleast 3 or 4!
Nocturin
Actually, you should do a (perhaps smaller) review of the Beanbots while you have them. Given that those figures fall into a different aesthetic (and aren’t actually O’Nell pieces), it might be worth a shot.
Also: I’m glad that someone finally did the upside-body thing! Try swapping out the “cute” head with the “chomper” head, though, for that nice, retro sci-fi feel…
Another great review. I think the “gone to the gym” configuration of the Gobon is my favorite one. Good stuff
In other news, please enter me in the Beanbot contest. thanks
I need to start reviewing these guys.
Great review Phil! Gobon looks like fun! I agree with you that one will not be enough to own. Gotta at least have two to build a four armed automaton badass!
Great review dude!
Hopefully I’ll get a gobon in my order i made yesterday. This thing looks like it rocks and I reaaaaaly want one now.
Also, that’s awesome of you to give away free stuff, I hope I win haha!
i hopes i win plus a great review man i could definitely use those bean bots 😀
Thanks, guys. I wanted to get Gobon up immediately since he’s so very, very neat and new.
I still can’t decide whether I like the “clean” metal look of your Gobon or the “rusted” one pictured here: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qFmz5vw9Bhk/SgH_5OfQpeI/AAAAAAAABaE/uFTwTTRv5i8/s1600-h/Rusted.jpg
Anyhow, great review, as always.
I have been wanting to get some Glycos ever since I read your first review. I will definitely have to get Gobon, he looks very cool (kind of reminds me of the stikfas robot) so I think I’ll wait until he is released and just place one big order.
It’s nice to see the specs. on gobon. great review.
Man, I love the look of the Gobon alt head!
Way to go Phil! I always love your write ups!
I’m super jeleous of that Gobon, Very nice in-depth review too! Goooo Phil!
great review, I’m diggin all the new stuff matt’s bringing out and this figure is no exception.
You know, I think I’m one of the few people that when the designs for Gobon first came out, actually liked it. Although I’ve never read Sidrick, he seems like a very suiting character to fit into that story. A very whacky cute kind of hero character. It’s a shame that there aren’t any of the original colors ones really, since I’d really like to get my hands on one of those. Not to say that the silver ones aren’t nice either though. Hopefully these will be more widely distributed soon though!
Great review of Gobon! I appreciate
the multiple photos and your creativity
with the various configurations you
came up with.
Well, Philip, you just hurt my wallet. I recently sold some stuff so I went ahead and made my first glyos purchase, based on how much you like them. I’ll be getting a pheyden, exellis, two buildman, a junk guy, and two phase arm sets.
@clark – Happy to help. 🙂 I hope you enjoy these figures when you receive them.
This thing is incredibly cute! I kinda wish it had better articulation, though — I could see a figure like this getting some revoltech-style joints while totally preserving the design.
Woah. Gylos figures generally look pretty similar to me, but this is a refreshing change! A robot! Quite impressive.
This review ALSO made me check out Z.O.M.B.I.E.S. Damn, awesome stuff.
@Samm — I’m gonna get around to a Z.O.M.B.I.E.S. review. They’re neat little guys that remind me of M.U.S.C.L.E.s.