I don’t typically review all the exclusives in the various Halo figure lines, but I realized this morning I’d already reviewed every single figure in Halo Reach Series 6 by McFarlane Toys (and you can find all the reviews in the Toy Reviews Index), so I said “What the Hell” and started a write-up for the exclusive Red Recon Spartan to complete the set. This isn’t the first Recon Spartan released in the Reach line, nor is it the first time we’ve gotten a Red Recon Spartan at retail. In fact, McFarlane Toys just released a Red Recon Spartan in the Halo Anniversary Preview series in the fall. But this is the first Red Recon Spartan released in the Reach scale of Halo action figures. Does that make it worth buying? The answer is a definite affirmative…

The Right:

Back in the good ol’ days (if you can call them that), McFarlane Toys was bent on making collectors jump through hoops if they wanted the coveted Recon armor. I had to clip out dozens of proofs of purchase UPCs off the backs of Halo figure cardbacks and mail in “Halo Points” just to get the Recon helmet, chest, and shoulder armor in various colors (figures not included). Someone at McFarlane Toys must have realized that that approach was logistically insane, and now we get Recon Spartans sprinkled throughout the various Halo lines at retail. This is the first and only single-packed Recon Spartan released in the Halo Reach action figure line, and I’m glad we got at least one Recon packed this way before the line’s end (even if it is as an exclusive). I’d rather hit Target three dozen times a week than cut out another cardboard UPC code, so bravo to McFarlane Toys for this move.

While we just got a Halo 3-styled Spartan Recon (Red) action figure in the Halo Anniversary Preview series last fall, this figure improves upon that one is every possible way. While the paint applications on that figure made it look cheap and toy-ish with its bright red and under-detailed paintwork, the Reach version of the figure has a nice dark paint wash that adds depth and detail to every centimeter of the figure. In addition, the Recon armor permutation itself has changed drastically in Reach for the better, and now sports more practical additions such as storage pouches on the front and a more intricate helmet. And while the Halo 3-style figure had the same “fragile” feel to it as if it was going to shatter every time you moved it (and it really might!), the Reach Recon Spartan action figure is much more solid-feeling.

This Spartan Recon figure has the typical multitude of articulation points, as he’s loaded with the same 28 points of articulation all Reach Spartans are packing, including: a ball-jointed head, ball-jointed upper torso, double-jointed ball-joint shoulders, double-jointed ball-joint elbows, double-jointed ball-joint wrists, swivel hips, ball-jointed thighs, double-jointed ball-joint knees, double-jointed ball-joint ankles, and swivel balls of the feet. This is the standard we’ve come to expect for Spartans since the Reach line began, and with a wide range of motion this Recon Spartan is prepared for any battle-ready pose you want to set him up in.

The Red Recon Spartan action figure includes a frag grenade and one rare and beloved accessory: the UNSC Rocket Launcher. While McFarlane Toys cheaped-out on the Halo Anniversary line and included Reach-scale figures with reused Halo 3 weapons a couple times, they did right by the Reach-style Rocket Launcher. The Rocket Launcher is much larger and noticeably more detailed than its predecessor, and the result is a better-looking weapon that makes any Spartan holding it look cool and lethal.

The Wrong:

As noted in my White JFO Spartan Review, I believe that the Reach Spartan mold is degrading and as a result the figures in this last series of Reach are commonly having super-loose joints (or even severe breakage, as in the case of my poor Rust HAZOP Spartan). The Red Recon Spartan didn’t break at all (thankfully), but he does have an incredibly loose left hip joint. It makes it tough to hold a pose, and at this point all the poor quality on the Spartans is getting a little ridiculous. I’m glad that this is the last series of Reach figures and this mold is being retired, because I’m frankly getting tired of paying for expensive figures that are littered with quality-control issues.

“Where Can I Buy It?!”

The Red Recon Spartan is the last Target exclusive figure in the Halo Reach line. The Target Spartans have always been some of the hardest exclusives for me to find, so this figure will be trickier to find at retail than your average Spartan. Supposedly this variant was supposed to ship to Gamestop and Wal-Mart as well, but my stores didn’t receive it.

As far as online options go:

Amazon has the Halo Reach Series 6 Red Recon Spartan exclusive in-stock from a variety of sellers at right around retail price (and some even below retail price!), many of which are offering free shipping.

And if you want to try your luck, there’s always ebay, where you very likely can get a good deal on the Halo Anniversary Mickey action figure. You can check out the current listings for the Red Spartan Recon on ebay by clicking here!

Overall: The Spartan Recon (Red) action figure is about what you’d expect from the Halo Reach line at this point: a highly-detailed, extremely poseable toy with great sculpting and paintwork. What sets this figure apart is the always-welcome large and awesome Rocket Launcher and the fact that it’s the only single-packed Recon armor in the Halo Reach line. If you want a Reach Recon Spartan without buying an expensive set, this is your Spartan. While it’s nowhere near as troublesome as the terrible quality on the Halo 3-style McFarlane Toys Halo Spartans, the loose joints (due to mold degradation or poor quality-control) are becoming more than tiresome. I really do like the design and engineering of this figure, and it still earns a recommendation, but be aware that at this point the Halo Reach Spartans are quickly dropping in production quality.