The topic centers on the Figma Samus Aran Prime 3 by Max Factory/Good Smile, exploring its design, articulation, value, and how it compares to previous Samus figures, particularly in the context of a Nintendo lineup and Metroid admiration.
Overview of the figure and design language
Max Factory/Good Smile absolutely nailed it. The proportions, the colors, the way everything moves - right out of the box this Figma exudes motion. It isn’t what I’d typically associate with deep, metallic/reflective paint - and while that’s exactly what I’d expect out of Samus’ armor, whatever Max Factory/Good Smile did here still looks perfect in this application. The underside of the arm cannon is almost hyper-detailed compared to the rest of the figure.
Ahem, okay, I’ve sung this thing’s praises for long enough. Onto the not-so-great now. For starters, this Figma looks great, poses great, and did I mention how great it looks? This is really a minor nitpick in the grand scheme of things, but nevertheless it was something I noticed the moment I took this Samus out of its box - it feels almost hollow. I doubt people complain about figure weight and feel often (at least, I rarely see it mentioned), but for this Samus it’s accentuated by the fact that the previous Samus Figma felt as though it was much more solid.
Contents, value, and packaging considerations
Another point of contention I have is with this thing’s value - I mentioned earlier that it starts with a pretty hefty tag right at release, as far as Figma go. Unfortunately though, you don’t get much in this package. You get an optional missile-firing arm cannon tip, three extra left hands, a morph ball…and the standard Figma stand. Maybe Samus’ base body was just that much more expensive to produce, but it’s still a tough pill to swallow when TP Link gave us an entire armory. But Max Factory decided to add insult to injury here - see that little black dot at the center of the arm cannon barrel? When I first opened the figure I was disappointed to see that - what an out-of-place eyesore. Hah. No. What’s most interesting is that the instructions for this Figma make no mention of this feature, and it’s really just left up to intuition for those who’ve owned the previous Figma Samus. So, even if you had the original Figma and unlocked this “bonus” feature, it still wouldn’t be accurate.
Beam effects, accessories, and omissions
Which begs the question - why didn’t Max Factory just include Prime-accurate beam effects for this Figma? I’m also still a little tilted that we’ve gotten two Figma Samus’ (Samii?) at this point and still no missile effect. I’m also of the opinion that the missile open mode for the arm cannon this time doesn’t actually look that great - the barrel tip is way too shallow, it needs to be black and go deeper the way the regular beam option does. Oh right, you get a morph ball too. Don’t get me wrong, I love the morph ball as a power up and I think it’s a timeless upgrade and vital aspect to the Metroid games, but in figure form I discovered long ago that it’s extremely underwhelming.
Comparisons to Other Samus figures
I already mentioned how they differ in feel above, but in terms of looks I think the Corruption version is the clear winner, repaint or not. The articulation range between the two is also very similar, nearly identical. This version has a little more engineering in it to allow it to move more, but it ends up being about the same amount as the previous Figma because the Prime armor is more bulky, thus requiring some clever work-arounds to achieve the same level of movement as the much sleeker Other M suit. Also, yes she can ball up for some classic fetal position Screw Attack action (now that I think of it - wouldn’t some effect parts to emulate the Screw Attack be so cool?!
Aesthetics, motion, and overall impression
In total, I think my feelings here are clear - I love this Figma for what it is. It’s beautiful and I can’t get tired of admiring it, but I hate it for what it could’ve been. My gripes with the figure itself are minor, but that’s it - there’s nothing else to gripe about except that there’s not enough in the box, especially for the money paid.
Practical notes for collectors
Overall it’s a strong addition to a Nintendo Metroid lineup, and it’s a standout piece for display and poseability, even with the noted omissions. The Prime armor’s bulkiness informs the engineering choices, and the result is a figure that captures motion well directly out of the box, with room for enhancement through future accessories or variants.
