Courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent a toy from Victory Gundam to review. Specifically, the Robot Damashii V2 Assault Buster Gundam. In addition, to give the toy some context, we’ve also linked some anime and gameplay footage of it in action in Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus at the end of the review.

The base V2 Gundam is the obligatory unit upgrade the main protagonist, Usso Evin, receives midway through the series. Like all the other mecha in the show, it was penned by then relative newcomer Katoki Hajime. It was also a sleeker departure from his earlier and grittier work on Gundam Sentinel. After all, Victory Gundam was in many ways a swansong for the Universal Century timeline – so the streamlined design was done to imply the technological advances since the events in Gundam F-91, thirty years earlier.

Victory Gundam is a brutal yet poignant series however and very much in the mould of Tomino’s “Kill ‘em all” style. What’s surprising, despite the young age of many of the main characters (which actually drew parallels with Ginga Hyoryu Vifam in many ways), was that much of the characterisation was very subtle for a Gundam show. Now, Gundam is by no means overt to begin with but Victory was even more pensive than usual for the saga.

Despite being a widely loved show, Victory Gundam hasn’t actually been featured in that many games over the years. It barely had even one Super Famicom tie-in (which was pretty awful too), let alone any kind of real featuring in Super Robot Wars. Even the relatively recent Gundam Climax UC and the various Artdink Gundam Battle games have omitted Victory (bar the recently released Assault Survive obviously).

It was only until Capcom featured Victory in their Gundam Versus games that the series has seen more gaming representation. With Gundam vs Gundam Next Plus being the most recent to feature the V2 Gundam and its Assault Buster upgrade.

The Assault Buster is effectively the ultimate incarnation of the V2 Gundam. Comprised of both the Assault and Buster packs, it’s a truly formidable mobile suit in the series. It’s also one of our personal favourite Gundam designs of all time, so bear that in mind when you read the rest of this review.

Toy: V2 Assault Buster Gundam
Price: 5000 yen
Size/Weight: 23.2 x 19.5 x 7.5 cm / 330g

Like almost all the other toys in the Robot Damashii line, the Assault Buster is incredibly well articulated and the sculpt (for the size) is remarkably accurate. What’s slightly different about this entry is that you’re not just buying one toy, but actually four. This means that you’re given all the parts to assemble the Assault version of the V2 Gundam (see below).

As well as the Buster variant (seen below).

If that wasn’t enough you also get to have the original V2 Gundam, along with its signature “wings of light” spawned from its Minovsky drive at the rear.

For the money, this has to be the best Robot Damashii toy by quite a margin. Especially if you have any fondness for the series that birthed it, the sheer amount of options for one toy is impressive. It’s also a toy that’s meant to be played with. Despite all the quite delicate elements of the designs, the manufacture is very sturdy and assembling the different versions isn’t an ordeal (compared to something the Gundam FIX Figuration range, where you’re often terrified of inadvertently breaking parts during their assembly).

Compared to the other toys in the Robot Damashii line, with the 00 Raiser pictured above for comparison, the Assault Buster (fully assembled) is really quite beefy.

Finally, it’s worth clarifying to gaming throng here that whilst I’m mentioning “assembly” this is by no means a kit in any way. The respective parts available are there to build the different variants of the V2 Gundam and it’s all very straightforward indeed.

As such, we can thoroughly recommend this toy to anyone that likes uber Gundam designs and/or has a penchant for Katoki’s aesthetic leanings.