ALL72039

This fantasy set from the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., a Ukrainian computer game based partly on an earlier novel and film, portrays humans that inhabit an area where the normal rules of nature do not entirely apply, and people go round seeking 'artefacts' and, of course, shooting others, since this is a first-person shooter game. A reviewer with the necessary knowledge of this subject has already described this set in detail, and this article can be found at Dark Alliance Stalkers 1 and 2, so here we will keep our comments brief. The set contains a collection of figures with a very mixed appearance. The game is set in the present, and the clothing reflects that, though much of it is not what you would expect to see on the street on an average day. There is an array of weapons, some recognisable as current models, while others are much more sci-fi, which will greatly limit the use of this set for anything other than the intended purpose. However there are also some random elements, such as the female figure in our bottom row, with pistol in each hands, who looks like Lara Croft from a very different game. So whether the figures are directly related to the game or not, they are really quite specific and have a post-apocalyptic look to them.

Looking at these figures as pieces of art we find them quite pleasing, with good detail and fair proportions. Several are wearing goggles, respirators or other specific items of equipment, and these are all clear and well done. Weapons too are well-detailed and look good, which is just as well as there are a lot of them here - several characters have positively festooned with firearms and blades. The poses include several that are more heroic than believable (e.g. those with a weapon is both hands), but as a fantasy set this is perfectly fine. We particularly liked the first two figures in our second row advancing with weapons at the shoulder, but all of them are anatomically comfortable and do not seem at all flat, though they have been chosen to avoid any excess plastic. Whether they are all appropriate for the game is something for others to judge, but we found none that seemed wrong to us. Our review sample was pretty clean, though there were a few tabs of flash in places, but for someone looking at these figures without the knowledge of the subject they look well done and, well, unusual, which is what you might expect of fantasy figures!