Review – Gundam Converge MSM-08 Zogok

One of the biggest problems with going to Hong Kong is that Gundam toys (Amazon.com search*) are everywhere. This may sound like a good thing, but it’s actually a problem since Gundam toys are not everywhere in the US . . . which means that when I go to Hong Kong I’m led down a path that’s tough to follow once I’m home.

Gundam Converge Candy Toys

The Gundam Converge series of toys (Amazon.com search*) are boxed with candy. These aren’t blind box toys — you can see what you’re getting — but at about 2-inches tall they’re definitely from the same family as the blind boxed toys. And they’re fantastic little toys that I wish were in stores here at home.

Sculpt

Excellent! These SD — “super deformed” — little robots look great, with adorable sculpts that are tight and professional. The MSM-08 Zogok here is a little front heavy the way he leans forward, but the clear plastic support helps hold the toy upright. All Gundam robot designs are fairly neat, but the Zogok’s cyclopean design really stands out and makes me happy; I’m a sucker for robots and this is one incredible robot.

Stabby!

The MSM-08 Zogok toy comes in three pieces that you assemble together. The figure, the base, and the sword. And the sword snaps right in, as you can see in the above photo. I shot pics both with and without the sword so you could get a closer look at the toy; it’s clearly better with the sword in place.

Articulation

The Gundam Converge series toys (Amazon.com search*) don’t have a lot in the way of articulation, but there’s enough going on to make them at least a little poseable. The Zogok features swivel joints at the shoulders and wrists; a total of four points of articulation! I was hoping the waist would swivel, but no such luck there.

Paint

Minimal, but well-executed. The toy seems to be cast in the reddish-orange color that dominates the design with all of the other colors painted details. Clean work, perhaps best shown by how sharp the paint is on that red eye. Excellent work by Bandai’s factory!

Closing Thoughts

In Hong Kong, I can walk into ToysRUs or one of seemingly hundreds of stores and find the Gundam Converge series (Amazon.com search*). Not so in the US, which means that now that I am happy with this little guy I’ll have to explore the web or get lucky at a convention to grab more of them. But maybe it’s best that I don’t see these when I go into Walmart or the grocery store; just imagine how many of the little robots I would have if these were as common as Hot Wheels toy cars.

A great little toy that makes a fun decorative piece or even an enjoyable desktop toy. Excellent work by Bandai and I’m looking forward to popping open the second Gundam Converge toy that I bought while I was in Hong Kong last week.