Toy Bender

It was only a few weeks ago when I asked the question of just who might make toys based off of the upcoming Halo 3 after I learned that JoyRide Studios had been shut down. Now my friends, we have an answer!

After some speculation that this might happen, Todd McFarlane has swooped in and saved the day for those wanting to get some Halo 3 toy action. Here’s what he had to say on the subject:

“Halo is one of the top video game franchises of all time,” says McFarlane Toys CEO, Todd McFarlane. “We get to put our company’s touch on a sci-fi epic that is visually and thematically stunning. Through its game-play, Halo has been able to attract a very large and loyal audience, most of whom happen to be our customers as well, which makes this an excellent partnership.”

The figures are expected to hit store shelves Spring 2008, so not quite when Halo 3 will be on almost every 360 in the universe, but close enough. I expect to be well into my obsession with the multiplayer aspect of the game by then so the toys will be a nice extension of the near drug-like habit I’ll be mired in.

Don’t worry those of you who are not fans of McFarlane’s more statue-like approach to toys, these puppies will sport articulation, decent articulation. Master Chief has 18 points to be exact.

The first five figures in the line up are:

* MASTER CHIEF — The protagonist of the Halo series stands at 5 inches tall, and has more than 18 points of articulation. Equipped with his trademark assault rifle, Master Chief’s mission is to protect Earth against the Covenant, an alien empire threatening the world in the 26th century. Biological and cybernetic enhancements and rigorous military training have resulted in Master Chief’s unquestioned status as the finest soldier mankind has ever produced.

* BRUTE CHIEFTAIN — The highest rank in the Brute hierarchy is the Chieftain, whose articulated figure is the tallest of the series at 6 inches. Belonging to the Covenant, the Brute Chieftain carries the gravity hammer, a close-range weapon with the ability to alter gravity at a local level and crush his enemies and surroundings.

* CORTANA — Developed by the United Nations Space Command (UNSC), Cortana is a smart A.I. with the ability to project herself as a holographic image and be transferred between computer systems, including the cybernetic armor of Master Chief. This figure’s base features an LED light that illuminates her 4.5 inch-tall figure.

* JACKAL SNIPER — To the benefit of the Covenant, Jackal Snipers have incredibly sharp reflexes and deadly aim. Standing at 5 inches, the Jackal Sniper is equipped with its signature beam rifle, which has the ability for long range shooting and a high degree of damage.

* GRUNT 2-Pack — At 3.5 inches tall, the Grunt is a menace to the human race, and represents the vast majority of the Covenant infantry. The Grunts are the lowest tier of the Covenant hierarchy, and move in packs. They are expected to unquestioningly obey the commands of their Brute commanders. Outfitted with weapons including the Plasma Pistol and Needler, the Grunts may not seem much more than cannon fodder, but in groups, they can be deadly.

If you want vehicles there will be a few, but they’re not going to be that big. At three inches the five inch Masterchief will have a hell of a time getting into the Warthog and if you can get him to fit in there, I’ve got some coal I’d like you to make into diamonds.

* WARTHOG — As the most widely recognized vehicle of the UNSC, the Warthog is a ground vehicle capable of carrying up to three soldiers. Known as the best all-around vehicle for its power, adaptability and toughness, the Warthog measures 3 inches in length and is built of die-cast metal and plastic.

* GHOST — The Ghost is a single-seat, anti-gravity vehicle used by the Covenant. Mounted with twin plasma cannons, the Ghost is a rapid-attack vehicle designed for speed and maneuverability. The Ghost is 3 inches long and made with die-cast metal and plastic.

* BRUTE CHOPPER — The Brute Chopper makes its debut in Halo 3. A single-wheeled vehicle, the Brute Chopper will prove invaluable to the Covenant’s campaign against humanity. With a length of 3 inches, the Brute Chopper will be made of die-cast metal and plastic.

toy, toy collecting, action figure, Master Chief, Halo, Xbox, McFarlane Toys