Legend of Zelda action figures! Jakks Pacific and Good Smile

http://needlessessentialsonline.com/world-of-nintendo-series-1-link/

Looking for an online retailer to purchase a Legend of Zelda, Goodsmile or Nendoroid item? I recently placed a purchase with Tokyo Otaku Mode http://otakumode.com/ and was very pleased with their shipping costs (free for my order) and their authentic product guarantee. They have warehouses in both Japan and in the US so shipping should be fairly quick for those in the US in most cases.

Please consider helping me buy using my invite link that should give me $5 for inviting new members and save YOU $5 as well. Here's the invite link (hope it works) https://otakumode.com/invite/32909c
 


Let me begin by saying that I do not yet own any of these so all images were borrowed from others which I will attempt to give credit to the links that I took them from.

I am a HUGE Legend of Zelda fan. I haven't played all of the games and probably never will since I simply don't have the time. That being said though Link has always been one of my favorites characters from any video game.

There have been a few Link action figures and merchandise produced in the past but I either discovered them after they were being produced (higher than retail prices) or they simply weren't that well done.

http://www.hiddenlevel.org/2014/10/top-30-toy-finds-of-september-2014-16.html

Recently I discovered THREE link action figures that are still in production and are well done! The most affordable option can be seen in images 1-3. Jakks Pacific has created a "World of Nintendo" line which includes a 4 inch version of Link that retails for $8.99.

Here is a link to Jakks Pacific Nintendo products click here for Jakks Pacific . I've been told that he can be found at Target or Toys R Us but I don't have either in town so the few times that I have ventured on a road trip Link was not in stock (Mario and Yoshi were). He can be found on Ebay but usually for a price that is double the retail.

The figure comes with his sword, scabbard  and shield (shield is the "mystery item"). All of the accessories can be carried on his back (sword in scabbard and the shield). For $8.99 he looks amazing and according to my sources has 13 points of articulation. I found a great photo of the action figure taken apart that makes it easy to determine what sort of joints are used. (Thanks http://smeagol92055.kinja.com/ for the great photo!).

http://smeagol92055.kinja.com/world-of-nintendo-skyward-sword-link-review-1658563726

The Japanese company Good Smile has released two versions of Link. There is the Toon style Link also known as Nendoroid Link The Wind Waker Version and the more realistic version figma Link.

I absolutely love the Nendoroid Link! I've always loved the Toon style Link and this one is very well done! He looks great and can be posed/displayed several different ways. I've never owned a Good Smile product but I did recently buy one for my son (the Nendoroid Sonic the Hedgehog). While they don't have lots of articulation points they often come with multiple parts that can be changed to change the poses. For example in the first photo (sword slashing pose) Link's left arm (his left.. not yours) is straight. In the third photo his left arm is bent.

I'm 99% sure that this works the same way as my son's Nendoroid Sonic in which there is both a straight and bent arm. Also there should be multiple hands that can be swapped out (holding sword, wand or open hand). You can read more about this figure at the Good Smile page link. His face also can be removed and swapped out with other faces (included with the figure). Based upon the poses shown on the Good Smile page I see four different faces.

Good Smile figures usually come with great display stands similar to the one shown in the photo's that make displaying them in various poses easier as well. 

I'll definitely be saving up for this little guy.



A word of caution:

When shopping for Good Smile products (figma or nendoroid) you will encounter bootleg versions. I spent a lot of time trying to find a Sonic Nendoroid for my son for a decent price that was the official product. Most bootleg versions have looser parts (parts fall off easily) and the paint application isn't as good. Shopping online can be very difficult because one has to rely on the seller's photo's. Whenever possible contact the seller before making the purchase.

I thought that typically an official Nendoroid figure retails for about $50 US dollars but according to the Good Smile link this figure retailed for 4,000 Japanese yen ($33.20 US dollars). 

Looking for an online retailer to purchase a Legend of Zelda, Goodsmile or Nendoroid item? I recently placed a purchase with Tokyo Otaku Mode http://otakumode.com/ and was very pleased with their shipping costs (free for my order) and their authentic product guarantee.

They have warehouses in both Japan and in the US so shipping should be fairly quick for those in the US in most cases.

I think this will be my first stop for hard items to get in the US.

Please consider helping me buy using my invite link that should give me $5 for inviting new members and save YOU $5 as well. Here's the invite link (hope it works) https://otakumode.com/invite/32909c

Figma Link

 Finally we have Good Smile's figma Link. Like the Nendoroid Link he comes with a stand. In regards to style and accessories this one is similar to the Jakks Pacific version (first shown). He has what appears to be the master sword, shield and scabbard. He stands about 5.5 inches tall. The details and paint of the Good Smile figma figure are better than the Jakks Pacific version (to be fair though I'm comparing a $9 figure to a $30-$50 figure).

The figma Link has two faces that can be changed (calm face and action face). He has very good articulation AND has parts that can be swapped out (face and hands) to help with different poses. Some hands are open and others are closed to hold accessories. Even the toe of his boot is articulated and can be bent. Also the back of his "cap" can be rotated to be trailing behind in any direction. 

Figma Link

Figma Link

Figma Link

I'm still learning about Good Smile products and retailers. Here is a direct link to Good Smile's order closing dates click here. I'm assuming that one can purchase directly from Good Smile IF ordering before the closing date (much like a pre-order?)

At the moment (creation of post) it appears that both Good Smile versions of Link are only available from 3rd party vendors.

I have NEVER made a purchase with the following two vendors but I'm told that these are reliable vendors that deal with Good Smile products. In the future these will be three sites that I will consider (shop at your own discretion):

• http://www.amiami.com/
• http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/
•  http://otakumode.com/

If making a purchase from Tokyo Otaku Mode Please consider helping me buy using my invite link that should give me $5 for inviting new members and save YOU $5 as well. Here's the invite link (hope it works) https://otakumode.com/invite/32909c
Closing:

If you have more news of Legend of Zelda merchandise feel free to comment or message me.

 Thanks to the following people/sites for use of photo's:

•  http://needlessessentialsonline.com/world-of-nintendo-series-1-link/
• http://www.hiddenlevel.org/2014/10/top-30-toy-finds-of-september-2014-16.html
• http://smeagol92055.kinja.com/world-of-nintendo-skyward-sword-link-review-1658563726
• all photo's of Good Smile figma and nendoroid Link from Good Smile official page http://www.goodsmile.info/en

More info in regards to Jakks Pacific World of Nintendo Line can be seen at their official page http://www.jakks.com/nintendo-products.html

I hope to acquire at least one of these Legend of Zelda Link figures. When I do I hope to share photo's and more information.


Update:
Several of the Good Smile figures are available online from Target

• Target figma Link 
• Target Wind Waker Nendoroid Link (toon link) 
• Target Metroid Other M Samus figma 

ToysRus:

• TRU figma Link 
• TRU Metroid Other M Samus figma 
• TRU World of Nintendo Jakks Pacific Link 

Kmart:

• Kmart figma Link 
• Kmart Wind Waker Nendoroid Link (toon link) 
• Kmart Metroid Other M Samus figma

If ordering from Tokyo Otaku Mode http://otakumode.com/ Please consider helping me buy using my invite link that should give me $5 for inviting new members and save YOU $5 as well. Here's the invite link (hope it works) https://otakumode.com/invite/32909c They have warehouses in both Japan and in the US so shipping should be fairly quick for those in the US in most cases.  

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