Reviewing reviews
As mentioned in an earlier note, Fanmode is keen on honest, thorough and insightful reviews of interesting toys for our review roundups published on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’ve stated why we’ve flat-out rejected some reviews; here’s where we state what we consider when appraising a review.
Although it might come across as such, this is not meant to dictate how you should write your reviews. This is merely what Fanmode is looking for when we scour the web looking for suitable reviews for our roundups. You may have different criteria, your site may have a different slant and your readers may expect different things from your reviews. We’re deeply sympathetic to the fact most toy reviewers are doing this in their free time with no compensation other than the satisfaction of sharing their passion for their hobby.
Still, you gotta have standards.
“But it’s a toy …”
So why bother reviewing a toy?
Well, there are precious few well-written reviews of action figures. You can get dozens of movie or game reviews but you’d be lucky to find one comprehensive review of a hundred dollar figure.
But even a review of a ten-dollar figure matters. That ten-dollar figure may cost thrice that (or more!) for someone who has to import it, pay dealer mark-ups as well as customs fees on top of the shipping costs.
Bear in mind a lot of toy fans buy their figures online these days and don’t get the opportunity to study the figure closely before clicking Buy It Now. The information you provide in your review will be invaluable to someone making a purchasing decision.
However, the main reason Fanmode does these toy review roundups is because it falls under the purview of toy appreciation. A good review can help you appreciate the artistry and the clever engineering of a great figure. A good review can explain precisely why a mediocre figure deserves criticism and how it could have been better. A good reviewer can make you look at your toys in a whole new light.
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Toy links
Groovy.
“I’ve always loved this character, ever since I was young, and I just had to make one that was more articulated than the original toys that where produced by playmates.”
Start up.
A chibi-style Kamen Rider Faiz (Accel Form) Lego MOC by Moko. (Check out the rest of his Kamen Rider Lego MOCs.)
Acrosniper.
“A kitbash of Microman Military Force, BJPM Gene Block parts and a McFarlane Toys Phantom of the Opera mask.”
Everything is fodder.
(See also.)
The Blythe Before Christmas.
By Faustoy Gretchen.
To the Mothmobile!
“The wheels are even unique all the way down to their Mothcaps.”
My Little Emperor.
A custom based on a Final Fantasy XII character.
G.I. Joe bad for body image.
“There was a time when the G.I. Joes had relatively normal, healthy bodies, but now they are unrealistically muscular, teaching men early about a warped image of masculinity.” Cut down on those pork chop sandwiches and work on your swivel-arm battle grip.