Alpha Exosuit
Fisher Price’s Adventure People toys were things of beauty, simple but elegantly designed playthings for every interest – like an American Playmobil. Like many children of the seventies and eighties, I grew out of the Adventure People when the more sophisticated Transformers and their like seized my attention. But I have fond memories of the more innocent Fisher Price toys, and have recently taken a fresh look at the pieces, as well as their descendents, Imaginext.
Fisher Price has been quietly cranking out all kinds of great toys under the Imaginext umbrella. While I admire the designs, the toddler-oriented fare isn’t appealing to my adult tastes. However, once and awhile an Imaginext release piques my interest.
The Alpha Exosuit is part of a recent wave of space-guy-versus-buggy-alien toys which manage to reference the Adventure People, Micronauts, and Masters of the Universe. At about six bucks a pop, I couldn’t resist.
The box is dead simple. A backpack and gun are included.
Imaginext has made a handful of exosuits, but the others have been more cartoony. The Alpha has a more refined, real robot mecha feel. I like the monotone white and gray color scheme with blue accents.
Alpha’s proportions are terrific, and the visual balance between the pilot and machine is perfect.
Articulation is minimal but appropriate. The arms rotate at the shoulders, the claws open and close, and the sawblade spins. The legs bend a little at the hip.
The helmet swings up to expose the pilot, who’s held in with waist clips.
The empty suit has a surprising visual gravity.
The pilot figure is nicely detailed and articulated enough to be fun, but his sculpt is a little goofy to my adult eyes.
Luckily the Alpha fits nicely with some of my other favorite figures!
It’s refreshing to play with an honest to goodness toy, and such a well realized design to boot. Recommended.