Sanada Yukimura is a playable character from a series of PlayStation 2 games called Sengoku Basara. The games are set in the Sengoku Period of Japanese history wherein Japan was split into many minor states who warred together for power and land. In the game you can play as a number of characters from Japanese history. Sengoku Basara was also made into an anime wherein Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune are the two main characters and rivals, but who form an unlikely alliance in order to take down the Devil King Oda Nobunaga.
Sanada Yukimura is one of the most distinguished warriors from the Sengoku Era who wields two jūmonji-yari. Sanada is very hot-blooded and is very loyal to Takeda Shingen, who he often gets in brawls with. Sanada is also often depicted in rivalry with Date Masamune.
In real life Sanada Yukimura was a Japanese samurai, his proper name being Sanada Nobushige, named after Takeda Shingen's younger brother. Sanada and his father were known as being excellent military tacticians and even thought their army was very small they won many battler in which they were outnumbered. Sanada was often called 'A hero who may appear once in a hundred years' and the 'crimson demon of war.'
Packaging:
Sanada comes in a standard Revoltech Yamaguchi box.
On the front is a window for viewing the figure, on the side of the box is a picture of the figure, on the other side is information on the Revoltech joint system, all in Japanese, on the back there are pictures of the figure in various poses and of the accessories, also some more information on the figure, and on the bottom is more relevant information, all in Japanese. Also take note that all figures you purchase have the correct authentication printed or stickered on the box.
Inside the box the figure is held between two pieces of moulded plastic, with spaces for their accessories. The stand is stored in plastic bags taped to the back of the main plastic packaging. Figures are usually wrapped with plastic in certain areas to protect the paint. Some figures are even held in place with twisty ties and double layers of moulded plastic are placed behind the main piece holding long accessories that don't fit in the first piece of packaging.
Revoltech's also come with a little orange box for storing accessories in, a special coin is also included, which can be used towards purchases from Kaiyodo affiliated shops in Japan or directly from their website, however this offer only works for people living in Japan.
Packaging = 8/10
Stand:
Sanada comes with the standard Revoltech Yamaguchi stand. Made of clear plastic it has two points of articulation, two Revoltech joints which allow movement forwards and back and turning. The main piece of the stand plugs onto the V-shaped base, a Revoltech joint is then attached to the end, a bent pole is then attached to the other end, and another Revoltech joint to the end of this. The articulation of the stand allows the Revoltech to be posed in a variety of dynamic poses, and to gain some nice height for jumping poses, it is overall a very well designed stand.
The Revoltech Yamaguchi stand also has another feature, it has one small raised peg on one side of the base so that you can plug one of the figure's feet into the stand's base, this is a nice touch by Kaiyodo as it gives the figure added stability and/or another posing option.
The Revoltech Yamaguchi line also now comes with an extra base piece or effects piece which can plug onto the foot of a figure so the figure can stand without use of the main Yamaguchi stand. A very nice and photo-friendly idea by Kaiyodo.
Stand = 8/10
Sculpt:
Sanada's overall design is awesome, he is definitely a warrior, and I love the modern take of traditional clothing and armour. The look of the Sengoku figures are what originally drew my attention to them, they just look so bad-ass.
Starting from the top, his hair is sculpted very well, nice short and sharp, very cool, his pony-tail is wind swept and can be plugged in or unplugged from the back of his head, his red headband also can be removed and is long and windswept. His jacket is awesome and they have used soft PVC around collar and sides so that it does not restrict movement or break easily. His arms and muscular and have bits of armour on them. His torso and chest look great, nice rippling muscles and a necklace. He actually reminds me of something my brother told me, that when he was at school he used to wear a jacket with no shirt underneath because it was cool and bad-ass, and here is Sanada with a jacket and no shirt I can't help but laugh. Anyway I digress, his belt and back skirt armour is one piece of hard PVC, but his side and front skirt pieces are made of soft PVC so that they do not restrict movement.
Sanada then has billowy fire pants and very cool styled lower leg armour and then lastly traditional sandals and socks. So overall a very awesome sculpt.
Sculpt = 9/10
Paint:
Sanada's colour scheme is red, white, black and gold, very nice and very effective. He is very appealing to the eye when displayed and just looks like and epic warrior. He is finely detailed with few mistakes. He has nice chrome black on his arms, lovely chrome red lower leg armour and gold-leaf highlights. His torso is nicely painted and shaded making his abs look very nice, and his faces are painted nicely.
Paint = 8/10
Articulation:
Sanada use’s the standard Revoltech Yamaguchi joint system. Revoltech joints are hinge joints with pegs on either end allowing both forward and back movement and rotation.
At the head a Revoltech joint is used at the bottom of the neck allowing the figure to look up and down and then a smaller Revoltech joint is used at the top of the head to allow their head left and right and look up and down more. To change the faces on Revoltech Yamaguchi figures the head is removed from the neck and the facial expression is pulled down away from the head, the next facial expression is then plugged into the head.
A Revoltech joint is used as the shoulder, which allows a full range of motion. Further down a Revoltech joint is used as the elbow and bends in and then out straight and there is some slight rotation for the lower arm to turn in and out. At the wrist the various hands plug into the end of the arm in a Figma-esq way and have a hinge joint allowing movement up and down and to swivel around.
A large Revoltech joint is then used at the waist which allows the figure to bend forwards and back and twist side to side. At the hips each leg is attached via a hinge joint and can move forwards and back, a swivel joint is then used at the upper thigh to allow the leg to turn in and out.
A double Revoltech joint is then used as the knee allowing the knee to bend backwards and then out to straight, and there is some slight rotation for the lower leg to turn in and out. The ankle also is a Revoltech joint allowing the foot to point and flex turn in and out.
Sanada also has a hinge joint at the back of his head so that he can move his head freely but his character design is not compromised.
Pose:
Sanada is therefore highly posable and can be posed in a variety of ways. With the use of the accessories supplied, his jūmonji-yari he can be displayed in a number of poses, ready for battle with fists up, ready for attack with his two jūmonji-yari, or attacking Date Masamune with his double length jūmonji-yari. However there are a few areas in which articulation is restricted, his back skirt piece is made of hard PVC and stops his legs from moving backwards at the hip, he also cannot be posed with legs together standing straight due to his overall design, instead is always legs apart battle ready, which is not that big a problem but can't help but think he may tire of standing like that, I would!
Pose = 8/10
Enjoyment:
I will break down enjoyment into two categories: Accessories and Play Value.
Accessories:
Sanada comes with two facial expressions; a plain perhaps determined expression, and yelling angry expression. Sanada also comes with an assortment of hands; a pair of hands for holding his weapon, and a fist hands.
Sanada also comes with his two jūmonji-yari and also a double length version which is twice as lethal. Sanada can hold his weapon by unplugging the end and sliding his holding hands onto the poles, however his grip is very firm and it is rather hard to get his hands on, I can foresee some potential paint rubbing as I continually want to swap his weapons.
As mentioned before he also comes with an effects base which is semi-clear red plastic. He also comes with an orange box for storing his accessories and a special coin as mentioned before.
Play Value:
I will break down play value into two categories: Compatibility, with other figures and accessories, and general play.
Compatibility:
Revoltech Yamaguchi figures are generally compatible with each other and Sanada can use Date's weapons and vice versa, also using his holding hands he can hold most Figma and Revoltech Queen's Blade items.
Next up is a height comparison, as you can see he is roughly the same height as a Figma and a Revoltech Queen's Blade, he may look smaller but that is because of his character design so he appears small looking when put next to my girls, however generally he fits in well with the other figures and now the girls have some man-candy!
General Play:
In general Sanada is an awesome figure, he has attitude and spunk. A really great addition to my figure collection. I love his design, love his articulation, and his weapons, and so I recommend him to fans of the games, fans or Revoltech, or just general figure collectors like myself.
Enjoyment = 9/10
Over all Sanada Yukimura scores 8.3/10
