Cherudim Gundam Saga
The last decade has witnessed a fundamental shift in the type of toy Japan produces, even those targeted towards an older audience. The deluxe playset is largely a thing of the past, relegated to the tiny niche market of well-heeled adult collectors (though the Sentai properties still boldly sprawl, albeit with ever diminishing returns). A very Japanese drive towards smaller, more intricate playthings has prevailed, and this trend shows no sign of abating. Revoltech, Figuarts, Figma, Robot Tamashii, and GFF products are the toys of our time, for better or worse.
Bandai’s Robot Tamashii, or Robot Spirits series has exploded in the past few years. The sheer quantity of releases is overwhelming. Gundam fans seem to have a bottomless appetite for every conceivable iteration of every Mobile Suit, and Bandai is happy to oblige.
It helps that Robot Spirits is supposed to replace and drastically improve upon the previous small-scale Gundam figures, those released in the Mobile Suit in Action (or MSIA) line. MSIA’s popularity always mystified me, as I found the toys to be sloppy and soulless, dumb rubbery action figures rather than proper robot toys. Has Bandai finally nailed the robot action figure?
The Cherubim Gundam SAGA is a heavily-armed Mobile Suit from Gundam 00. I have no familiarity with the source material, but I find the design direction of the series appealing, with its leaner, more angular suits.
The CGS, comes in a sharp looking box.
Plastic clamshell with accessories within.
The base figure immediately exudes quality. The fit and finish are impressive. Most of the pieces are molded in their final colors in high-quality ABS and polypropylene. Paint apps, particularly on the head, are sharp.
The design is impeccable. The Cherudim is dynamic as hell. Every pose looks good. Articulation, even with the additional accessories, is buttery. Nothing feels fiddly.
Thoughtful details and accents abound. I’m a sucker for transparent plastic.
Accessories include a ton of extra armaments.
I like how the smaller guns fit smartly into the skirt armor.
A clear visor attachment utilizes two arms which cleverly fold out from the boosters.
The Cherudim is everything a posing figure, or a robot figure for that matter, should be. It’s a faithful representation of the source material which retains its essential mecha flavor while still being a fun toy. I look forward to picking up more of the Robot Spirits line.
