Godzilla with Heat Ray

I love Godzilla, but I was spoiled by the Bandai America vinyls and the great NECA toys. Playmates Godzilla VS Kong line just seemed like a letdown. But at ten bucks a pop I figured I should pick some up. And to be honest, I didn’t like them at first, and I still don’t love them, but I can see the appeal at the price point.

The Godzilla with Heat Ray seemed like a good choice, because I love the translucent back fins. But overall I was not initially fond of this look.

The tail is a bit tough to get in, and once attached the connection the only articulation in the tail. The toy looks like its an unpainted black color, but it actually has a subtle wash over it. I think this is supposed to represent a “night” Godzilla, with the clear scales representing the glowing effect.

The head paint is very heavy and imprecise. The teeth are this big solid band of white with no discernible teeth, and I think it’s what bothers me the most.

Godzilla has a battle damage panel on his chest made of soft vinyl. It’s a snug fit, and I needed to use something to remove it.

The body and legs are hard plastic, and the feet, arms, and spine being a softer PVC. The toes and claws have some paint applications, but they are subtle and you don’t notice them at first. At a glance, the entire thing looks plain and unpainted, but look closer and the paint is there.

Godzilla comes with an effect part for his Heat Ray, and this is one area that I think the figure does really well. The jaw opens to allow for the part, and a slight ball joint fits into the roof of the mouth and actually holds in securely.

What it is is a kids toy, and in that regard it is great. It’s durable, has a couple cool gimmicks, and it looks pretty good, especially for ten bucks. Between this one and Kong I’ve been converted, and will be picking up the rest of the line.