REVIEW: Bandai's Robot Spirits "Beast Mode" EVA-02

[JeffSaylor]

Crimson mech goes berserk...

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Bandai's "Beast Mode" EVA-02 is IN-STOCK NOW at BigBadToyStore.com and HobbyLinkJapan.com.

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One of the top lines of robot figures coming out of Japan is Bandai’s Robot Spirits (Read our introductory review HERE). Whether it’s the multitude of Gundam-related mechs or figures from more unique source material, the toys feature great sculpts and articulation without breaking the bank.

One of the biggest licenses within the Robot Spirits line is that of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the anime and manga series that tells the story of a post-apocalyptic Earth in which young pilots operate giant robots known as Evangelions to stop a flow of invading monsters called Angels. The Evangelions (or "Evas") are massive humanoid cyborgs with tremendous speed, agility, and destructive potential through the use of a wide range of weapons. Today we’re going to take a look at Bandai’s take on the unique “Beast Mode” of the EVA-02!

Under normal operation, the EVA-02 is a bright red and yellow robot piloted by Asuka Langley Soryu. It looks similar to the other EVAs, with some specific design elements like its four eyes. In the film Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, the EVA-02 takes part in a pitched battle against the Tenth Angel. The pilot in that encounter was Mari Illustrious, who activates the secret “beast” protocol. Releasing the EVAs innate animalistic soul, the Beast Mode features elongated limbs, a hunched stance, bestial face, and more than a dozen back-mounted pylons.

The EVA-02 Production Model comes packaged in a standard Bandai Robot Spirits box. The front panel is divided into sections with the line’s logo on the left and a window showing the figure on the right. Below the window is a close-up of the figure’s face along with its name. The side and back panels have photographs of the figure in multiple poses and showing off its accessories, while there’s also a bunch of Japanese text and “product specs.” The dark background and vivid art look really nice, and the box is definitely displayable on its own.

The Beast Mode EVA-02 requires some assembly in the form of its back modules. Packed along with the figure are three sprue trees; simply pop off the pylons and plug them into the ball sockets along the figure’s back. The instruction sheet lets you know which ones go where and while they take some careful pressure to install it’s not very difficult. Once they’re in, you’ve got your berserk giant robot ready to go! This version of the EVA-02 has a somewhat deformed humanoid shape, with a long hunched over torso and long, thin legs. The figure can be posed standing up, but it’s really designed for cool crouched poses.

Continuing the trends in the Robot Spirits line, the EVA-02 has a very good sculpt. This version of the robot trades in most of the heavy armor plating for smoother limb sections, but there’s still a lot going on to enjoy. The arms and legs feature lean musculature that’s eerily human-like as well as shoes and gloved hands. The torso has tons of sculpted detail with V-shaped armor on the chest and the pocked surface of the back. The pylons themselves also look great, with their own sculpted surface pattern and capped ends. EVA-02’s face was unique even in the regular form, but this one is pretty incredible. The four beady eyes are joined by a horned forehead piece and a skull-splitting mouth packed with needle-like teeth. The ensemble is completed by a long jutting chin, and looks quite cool.

Paint applications are top-notch as well. Again, this bestial form isn’t the usual allover bright red, but a mix of reds with dashes of brown, white, yellow, green, black, and gray. There’s sort of a transition with legs in solid red with yellow details, then the torso with a darker base and alternating colors terminating with the arms in gray. All of the apps are spot on, with hardly any bleeding or smudges. Shiny metallic paint is used on the blue back pylons, adding a glint to an otherwise solid matte paint job. The palette is unique and full of clashing colors, but it looks good and just like the animation.

The figures in Bandai's Robot Spirits line are almost all what you might call "super articulated." Each feature ball joints from head to toe, and the engineers at Bandai have crammed them in even where you wouldn’t expect them! The EVA-02 has tremendous poseability thanks to those joints, and hardly any of the articulation points aren’t ball-jointed. Most notable is the series of large ball joints in the torso enabling the crouched stance AND a good range of motion, but worthy of mention to are the swiveling shoulder joints, poseable back pylons, and of course the double ball-jointed head with full neck movement and a crazy opening jaw!

When it comes to berserk beast mode fighting, there aren’t a whole lot of weapons involved, and so this figure doesn’t have the usual wealth of weapons. Instead, the EVA-02 comes with a second pair of grasping hands, a switch out larger protruding tongue, and a surprisingly fun quartet of blocky buildings! With two low/wide buildings and two tall ones you can create a little scene, or combine them like Legos for a skyscraper attack.

Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion are going to want to grab this guy at once, but I think it definitely has a broader appeal for robot collectors. You aren’t going to find a lot of really unique designs like this with the combination of the great look, superior articulation/poses, and moderate price point of the Robot Spirits line. For around $35 this is a great addition to any robot display!

FOR OVER 30 NEW PHOTOS OF THE EVA-02, CLICK HERE!

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Bandai's "Beast Mode" EVA-02 is IN-STOCK NOW at BigBadToyStore.com and HobbyLinkJapan.com.

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Review and Photos by Scott Rubin

Review Sample Courtesy of Bluefin

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[wesitron]

Looks awesome! I've got the Blu Ray coming Tuesday for the second movie, really can't wait to see what they've changed. Figure looks really fantastic though, Bandai's come a long way in their history of making awesome Eva figs

[JeffSaylor]

Never seen the anime, though I am quite familiar with the EVAs... or so I thought! Never seen this one and I gotta say it does look awesome! It's VERY refreshing to see something new from Neon Genesis Evangelion in figure form - the sea of EVA-00s, EVA-01s, etc. was growing quite stale.

[StrangePlanet]

Nice review and some great pictures, Jeff.

Can you tell me how tall the toy is is stood up?

[Malevolus]

Originally Posted by StrangePlanet

Can you tell me how tall the toy is is stood up?

Standing up straight (well, as straight as this guy can get) he's about 6 3/4 inches. He looks fairly awkward that way though, really designed to be crouched or hunched over.