Action Figure Review: Akuma from Ultra Street Fighter II: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

   We are getting close to completing the classic Street Fighter II roster and while we're now only two figures away from the main roster of 16 characters (I now have Balrog and E. Honda in hand and they're scheduled to be reviewed) Jada Toys has also added in Akuma. Akuma appeared as a secret character in 1994's Super Street Fighter II Turbo and has been a mainstay of the series since. I actually received Akuma back in February and it's just taken me a bit to get around to checking him out. While I'm familiar with the main sixteen World Warriors from Street Fighter II from playing the games as a kid, collecting the Hasbro action figures, and being an unabashed fan of the 1994 film, my first impressions of Akuma come from the 1998 Electronic Gaming Monthly April Fool's joke where they claimed that 
he was an unlockable character in Resident Evil 2. Through a difficult series of challenges, the prank claimed that Akuma would be unlocked as a playable character who could plow through the hordes of the undead in Raccoon City. It's an infamous prank in gaming history and while it's just a footnote in Akuma's history, I'm sure there are some collectors who want to display him with their various Resident Evil 2 action figures. Ready to check out Akuma? Then join me after the break...

 

The Facts:

Height: 6 1/8ths inches

Articulation: Midfoot hinge, swivel/ hinge ankles, shin swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed hips, ball jointed waist, balljointed mid-torso, swivel/hinge shoulders,  ball jointed pec hinges, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 4 swappable hands, 2 wrist cuffs, 2 swappable portraits, gi, belt, prayer beads, hadoken, and 2-piece display base.

Non-Scalper Price: $30 dollars

 

The Positives:

* Akuma dresses in a similar style to Ken and Ryu, though he does have a different mold. Akuma's gi is dark blue and the sleeves are very torn, much more tattered than Ryu's sleeves. He's also wearing a rope belt, apparently a detail similar to some depictions of Japanese deities who use rope belts to keep their powers in check. The gi and belt are separate pieces are completely removable, which you'll see in a moment. He's a muscular guy and is noticeably a bit bulkier than more average guys like Ken and Ryu. 

* On the back of Akuma's robe there is a kanji character for "Heaven" on his back (apparently it can also mean "Sky") . Apparently he wears it to demonstrate how far above mere mortals he has progressed. It may also refer to his being immortal. It's printed quite nicely and it looks pretty cool. 

* Not only are Akuma's gi and belt removable, allowing you to see Akuma's physique, but Jada Toys has also added some nice shading to his musculature. It's a minor thing, sure, but it's something that really elevates the sculpt. It's a little extra that makes these figures more impressive than you might initially notice. 

* Akuma is a tough looking dude. I mean, I could see someone initially thinking that he looks a bit like a Troll doll, but when you really look at him he's a pretty fearsome looking guy. Check out that wild hair, almost like a flame, and his features which definitely show that he's not just a regular guy. His sharp features, pointy ears, and red eyes definitely depict someone who has gone beyond just being a normal human.

* Akuma's second portrait doesn't just look mad; he's full on pissed! Check out him baring his teeth; this guy is ready to tear some warriors up. The work on Akuma's brow and narrowed eyes is impressive and definitely conveys some serious emotion. 

* Akuma has a hinge join in the middle of his feet which keeps his sandals flat while his feet are bent. It's a cool detail and something I can only recall seeing on the S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy figures. Fighting with sandals would be tough, sure, but Akuma isn't just a normal man. 

* Akuma's articulation is excellent. His joints are all nice and tight and there's a great range of motion. He even has more articulation than most other figures in the line due to the hinged toes/ sandals and his pectoral joints aren't just butterfly joints; they're more like ball joints. They look impressive and move really well, allowing for some extreme arm poses, especially the ability to put his hands together when launching a hadoken. 

* Four swappable hands are included: A pair of fists and a pair of open palms for strikes or hadoken launches. Everything swaps easily so you can swap them in and out for whatever pose you're going for. 

* Akuma's energy effect/ hadoken is pretty large. It's actually a larger version of the Tiger Shot included with Sagat. It's a pretty nifty looking effect that seems like it would pack one heck of a punch. I wish the colors were a little different (I've seen some folks paint it and it impressive) but it's still a cool effect.

* The effect is held up by a two-piece stand. The base is a simple flat disc and the rod has two round hinges so you can change the height of the projectile.

* Interestingly, Akuma comes with a set of prayer beads. These are individual beads on a bit of stretchy filament. They apparently belonged to Akuma's master, Goutetsu, who Akuma challenged and killed Goutetsu, so he now wears them as a reminder of his master. There's even a sculpted kanji symbol for "Heaven" on the center bead.

The Negatives:

* The beads seem like they don't sit quite right. They look OK, but I think with a softer string, they would lay better around Akuma's neck. They feel like they're on something more like fishing line which gives them an unnatural appearance. 

* Akuma's effect is pretty large and heavy, so it's all to easy for it to cause the display rod to tip over. There's really not an easy way to tighten the hinged in the rod that I can tell (it's not as simple as using a screw to tighten things up) so you just kind of have to balance things carefully. 

   Akuma himself is excellent. He's a phenomenal figure with impressive articulation that punches well above his price point. He looks excellent on display or in nearly any battle pose you can think of. The only flaws come with his accessories. His beads are really cool but they're just a bid oversized and don't lay around his neck right. The same goes for his hadoken; it's a neat piece but it's too heavy for the stand. He's still a Great and a 1/2 figure, adding another impressive warrior for your shelf. This line is still cooking and it feels like Jada Toys is still dedicated to excellence here, even with the small flaws on Akuma's accessories.




This is the first figure of Akuma I've reviewed. For more Ultra Street Fighter II: The New Challenges figures check out the following:

Blanka

Cammy

Chun-Li
Chun-Li (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive)
Dee Jay
Dhalsim

Dhalsim (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive)
Fei Long (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive)
Guile
Ken
M. Bison
M. Bison (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive)

Sagat

Vega
Violent Ken (Deluxe)