Ninbeats

Introduction

If you've ever been forced to save the love of your life, Bandage Girl, from the Evil Dr. Fetus, then you know what it's like to be Meat Boy. Super Meat Boy is a popular downloadable game for Windows or Xbox Live Arcade that has over 300 levels for Meat Boy to traverse, some quite difficult.
Symbiote Studios is producing two versions of the Meat Boy character in a designer vinyl style. These are quite large, coming in at a full 8' tall and chunky enough to fill some serious volume. One is a normal, undamaged, happy dude, while the other is beat, smacked, but generally still happy dude. Each come as a limited edition of just 250 each, and they retail for $40.

Packaging - **
The packaging is very, very basic. The exterior has some nice graphics, and includes basic text on the back explaining the figure. There isn't an edition number though on either the box or the figures, although they are quite limited.

Inside the box, the figure roams free. There's no insert or tray, which is quite cost effective, I'm sure, but which I fear leaves the figure open to damage if shipping is too rough.

Sculpting - ***1/2
If you need someplace to set your beer, the top of Meat Boy's head is a great choice. Flat, wide and smooth, it can easily double as a drink caddy.

The figure is hollow vinyl, with sculpted eyes and an inset mouth.. The teeth and scars aren't sculpted, although there is a thin line through the center of the smile.

One hand is in a basic relaxed pose, while the other is giving the old thumbs up sign. The figure is largely a big hunk of meat, although he does have nicely sculpted buttocks. Clearly, running the levels in the game is a great glute exercise.

Paint - ***
The large red body is cast in the color, and it's fairly consistent and clean. It is prone to rub marks if you smack it around, but you have to rub it pretty hard to alter the finish.

The mouth and eyes are a little sloppy - no major slop, but there's some poor cut lines. The teeth and damage look more like tampos, which is good...and bad. They are very clean, but lack depth.

Articulation - **
Let's face it - any articulation on a vinyl figure is more than you expect, even on one this large. The basic designs are usual such that joints are physically possible or sensible. That means anything over a Bupkis here is a positive thing.

Meat Boy has cut shoulders, which means at least he can give you the Fonzie pose.

Value - **1/2
This is a very large vinyl figure, as vinyl figures go, and the edition size is very low, with just 250 produced in each style. Forty bucks ain't cheap, but considering the usual price tag on this type of designer figure, the value seems reasonable.

Overall - ***
Fans of the game should love this guy, and I'm impressed by the size. It's also nice to get the cut shoulders and two versions, because some folks will prefer one over the other. Personally, I like the uninjured a smidge better, but your mileage may vary.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - **
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***
Articulation - **
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***

Where to Buy
Online options include these site sponsors:

- you can snag either of these direct from Symbiote Studios for $40 each.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Symbiote has done a variety of interesting goodies -

- there's the Zombie Head Cookie Jar.

- don't forget the Monkey Island statue.

- and Dr. Tran, of course.

- and my favorite, the Sam and Max statue.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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