To commemorate the release of Armored Core V today and courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent the Nineball (Armored Core Ver.) kit from the original Armored Core. Our review is also of the kit in its unpainted form. In addition, to help give the kit some context, we’ve also included some video footage of it from the original PSone and PS2 games at the end of the review.

Following on from our Revoltech Jehuty (Anubis Version) review, our good friends at HobbyLink Japan have sent us the Revoltech Anubis (from the game of the same name). Now, whilst we aren’t huge fans of the Zone of the Enders series, we’ve always loved the designs that Yoji Shinkawa penned for the games. We’ve also included some game footage at the end of the review.

Those who follows the creator of Metal Gear’s Twitter feed (his main Japanese one, not the English language version) is well aware of his affinity for taking and sharing iPhone pics. And earlier morning, instead of his latest meal like usual, Hideo Kojima chose to highlight what appears to be a completed (or nearly so) version of threeA’s mammoth rendition of Rex.

In addition to being able to admire the product’s finish, one can fully comprehend its ginormous size, mostly via the pictures featuring Yoji Shinkawa, like a proud father holding up his newborn child. But the most noteworthy image is the close up of its left leg.

As Kojima notes in the accompanying tweet, it (along with the detachable rail gun) is designed to give Rex the same beat-up appearance he sports in Metal Gear Solid 4. I almost fainted when I saw the image, no joke. As for when it’ll be available, later this month is apparently the answer. But no word yet on the final price.

Following on from our previous Revoltech Jehuty review, our good friends at HobbyLink Japan have sent us the latest version of Jehuty (specifically that of the version shown in Anubis). Now, whilst we aren’t huge fans of the Zone of the Enders series, we’ve always admired the designs that Yoji Shinkawa penned for the games. We’ve also included some game footage at the end of the review.

Following on from our preview a while back, Griffon have finally displayed their upcoming Nineball figure from Armored Core Ninebreaker. This is not to be confused with the already released Kotobukiya kit nor the upcoming kit of the original Nineball from the PSone games. We’re not sure how good this figure will be, as there’s no mention of diecast and Griffon aren’t exactly renowned for their quality either. The use of the stand in some shots is also pretty worrying too, as it shows a potentially weak form of articulation. In any case, this new figure will retail at 7,800 yen in April of next year. You can pre-order the figure here.

One of the next Super Robot Chogokin from Bandai is one of our favourite super robots. That of the mighty Zeorymer. One of Yasuhiro Moriki’s most iconic designs, the mecha actually originated in a pretty pervy hentai manga by none other than Yoshiki Takaya (of Guyver fame). Though Moriki’s anime version has quite a different aesthetic, something that would go on to be used on the rather awesome looking RX-105 Xi Gundam. In gaming terms, Zeorymer is possibly one of the most poweful units ever to grace Super Robot Wars. Appearing in both J and MX it basically pwned pretty damn hard (and let’s not even talk about Great Zeorymer). Whilst there have been a few Zeorymer toys over the years, from Gigabrain and Yamato, they’ve all been pretty disappointing. This, on the over hand, will be properly good. For those that want this, it’s set for a February release next year.

At the 51st All Japan Model & Hobby Show it seems that Kotobukiya have finally shown their kit for the Vic Viper LEV from Anubis. No word on price as yet but it’s supposedly meant for release in Spring of 2012. Whether the kit will feature the transformation, as seen in the game, remains to be seen though but it looks possible from the pictures of the above prototype. Whilst this is not the first kit of the design, as Authorize already did a garage kit, this will be the first injection plastic kit ever made for Vic Viper. Admittedly there’s a toy on the way as well but this will be a fiercely sculpted kit, as per all of Kotobukiya’s output, so we’re pretty happy to see this.

As we’ve mentioned a few times already, the lovely Cloud Breaker 01 from the Xbox game Murakumo is now set for release in January of next year. Whilst the game was a bit bobbins, the mecha designed by Takayuki Yanase were beautiful to behold. It seems that PLUM have done an exemplary job too. You can also pre-order the kit here.

Update: GA Graphic has a nice update about the kit as well.

What with this year’s Tokyo Game Show in full swing, Konami aren’t missing a trick and have surreptitiously displayed some new Revoltech figures from Anubis (as captured over at Gigazine). Namely an updated Jehuty, with a new colour scheme and additional parts, but also of the game’s namesake; the beastly Anubis itself (shown above). As we often say, we’re not fond of the games but we adore the design-work. The new Jehuty will be released this November for 2,980 yen and Anubis will be out in December for 3,480 yen. You can buy both toys here and here.

Over at the Kotobukiya site, the next Armored Core kit on the way finally got a listing. The kit being that of the first Nineball, not to be confused with the version from Ninebreaker or even the epic Nineball Seraph (the latter you can still nab here). We still have fond memories of taking on Nineball in the first Armored Core game, and this kit looks amazing. It will be released in December this year for 5,670 yen, you can pre-order it here.