Well, we looked at the "regular" bootleg minifigures I own last time, and, needless to say, there's really no reason to get any of them when you can just get the real thing. ...But I have one more minifigure set, and one that ISN'T just a straight-up mold copy of the real thing. Is it something to actually seek out? Well, let's finish up our look at bootleg & knockoff Minecraft figures with Sheng Yuan's "Tall" My Space Figures.
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Name: "Tall" My Space Figures
Distributor: Sheng Yuan
Model: SY270
Pcs: N/A
There are basically three flavors of bootleg. First, there's the straight-up mold copy that would probably fool most people who don't look too closely at the differences in paint job and plastic quality. These are boring and you're better off finding the real thing.
Then there are the even cheaper than usual mold copies, where the paint and molding is so bad, you have to wonder why they even bothered trying to fool us. These are a little more interesting, but still pointless in the long run, especially since they have even less use than the regular mold copies.
And then there's what we have today, where they tossed out the mold, cobbled together their own with random designs and paint jobs they found lying around, gave it the slightest amount of relation to the original source, maybe threw in a few copies of official accessories, and put them on the same shelves as the more subtle copies, hoping people wouldn't notice. ...These are what I LIVE for!
I'm always thrilled when I find original designs for knockoff figures, things that would never in a million years be considered for the official product, but somebody somewhere thought that they could slap a similar paint job on the pieces, call it some generic name that has only a slight relation to the actual name, and think that we'd be fooled into thinking it was real!
It's these sets that show the bare minimum of effort, that somebody was willing to take the extra step to make their product stand out among the legion of bootlegs and knockoffs also trying to make money off of someone else's idea. And I LOVE what they come up with!
It's one of the reasons I'm always on the lookout for knockoff Pokémon brick sets. I mean, what they officially release is still cool and I highly recommend getting them.
But the imagination shown on the unofficial side of things is just as brilliant, giving us creative ideas that you couldn't get anywhere else. Where else are you going to get a set of Pokémon creature minifigs bundled with Ash characters in multiple outfits? It doesn't even matter the quality of what the set's going to be. As long as the creativity and uniqueness is there,
But we're not talking about Pokémon this week. However, we ARE looking at probably the weirdest and most creative set of Minecraft minifigures in existence. ...And I don't know if most of them are even FROM Minecraft!
These figures come to us from Sheng Yuan, represented by this sort of amalgamation of an S and Y. ...Though you'd be forgiven if it looks more like the combination of an S and a Z, or some cheap toy racetrack, as I had to do some searching to find what this symbol actually stands for...
This is one of those low-key knockoff companies with no website or company information. For the most part, they're another bootlegger, churning out mold copies of already existing minifigures and sets.
However, they HAVE produced their own stuff for some of the lines they pirate, including this Pokémon set featuring a Charizard and Blastoise battle that I would KILL for!
They've even made their own (relatively)original Minecraft sets, which mostly seem to be based on real sets, just rebuilt with different parts and tweaked minifigure designs. ...Unfortunately, these sets seem long out of print, as I haven't been able to track a single one down that's for sale. ...At least, one that can be shipped to this country...
I was also unable to track down boxes for these brick figures, but thanks to other Lego knockoff collectors like My Brick Store, I know they exist, hence how I found the sole model number used on every single one of the boxes and how I know this is one of the "MySpace" lines.
There's really nothing to comment on with the boxes. They're just the minifigures redrawn in action poses most likely lifted from other Lego artwork set in front of locations from the game. And on the back, you have the instructions and the lineup of the minifigures in the set. Admittedly, I like that they actually drew the figures on the front instead of Photoshopping a picture of the actual figure onto the box, but there's just not enough wackiness or Engrish to set them apart from most other minifigure boxes featured here.
And since the picture is too small to tell if there's a "0-3" or an age recommendation, I guess I'll skip my sarcastic threat for this week.
Brick gets off easy today!
Right off the bat, one cool thing about these minifigures is that they come with base plates that have a rotating disc in the middle, so you can twirl them around to get them in that perfect pose you can't usually accomplish with a regular base. ...At least not securely. Maybe I should have done the rotation video with these instead of the regular turn table I use? ...Nah.
They make some pretty decent fidget spinners with these things attached. ...Wish I could have featured these in the Fidget Spinner Showcase I did a while back.
Since there aren't any individual numbers associated with these figures, we might as well start with the regular starting point of Steve. ...And you can probably tell why I included the "Tall" descriptor in the description to set these minifigures apart.
These brick figures are at LEAST a head taller than the regular size, towering over most other figures in my collection! ...Well, that's one way to set your minifigures apart from all the other copies.
The arms are also slightly longer than a regular brick figure, stretching about a quarter inch further than the normal mold. ...Maybe the NBA should consider drafting Steve?
The extra height comes from the more uncommon "six stud" legs they used for this figure.
I'm assuming the arm and leg molds were copied from the Lego Toy Story Woody figure, as, since he's the tallest of all the toys, he was also given longer legs to keep the scale of the figures consistent. Another figure may have used these arms and legs, but this is the only figure I know of that has these same proportions.
Probably because the longer legs makes it more difficult to use with vehicles and other areas meant for standard-sized minifigures...
And yes, Toy Story has been remade in Minecraft. ...But at this point, more stuff has been remade in Minecraft than Lego, so that's no real shock.
Besides the heightened stature, would you believe that this is the most game-accurate Steve figure we've seen yet?
One major factor is that the head, instead of being a custom square mold, is a regular 2x2 brown brick with the face printed on one side. And believe it or not, that's actually the best portrayal of a Minecraft character's head for a brick figure!
Seriously, just compare the two and tell me which one looks more like a Minecraft character in both shape and detail! ...Almost makes me wonder if Lego even needed to make a head mold for Minecraft figures.
Unfortunately, both heads share the lack of any features on the sides, so we're still stuck with minifigure that aren't quite "ear-y" enough.
And since the head is just a brick, that means the top is a flat brown plate that can be taken off.
Which gives this figure another advantage over Lego, since the hairpiece can be taken off and stuff can be stacked on top of his head!
PLUS, since the head is just a brick with no neck mold, it gels up better with the skin at the top of the shirt! ...Not perfectly, since the torso is still a regular Lego mold, but it's still in a position that makes much more sense than the Lego heads with necks! ...It's amazing how this company is just doing the bare minimum with standard bricks, yet their method for creating Minecraft brick figure heads is far more accurate and efficient than Lego's unique molds that they probably spent thousands on designing and producing! ...You see why I LOVE collecting these unofficial sets?!
Even the texture on the clothing is more accurate to the game. Heck, it HAS texture, so it wins by default! Even the green pixels on the shirt bleed onto the pants, which also have their own pixels of color! It's not as varied as the real game, but it's there!
The pattern is even continued on the back of the shirt, an area most other knockoff companies don't even bother continuing designs on bootlegs of OFFICIAL minifigures!
AND they gave him shoes! ...Using a color that's so similar to the leg color, you have to look closely to notice, but it's there! In nearly every single way, this figure has managed to top Lego's attempt at Minecraft minifigures, AND for less than half the cost!
It's just a shame this Steve has more difficulty with passageways...
Unfortunately, the creativity given to the figures doesn't carry over to the accessories. The pick-axe he carries is just a regular Lego pick-axe. They didn't even color it silver or light blue to mimic an Iron or Diamond pick-axe. ...Whatever works, I guess.
The rock he comes with is just a standard Lego boulder as well, most well known as a part of the short-lived Rock Raiders line from the late 90s.
Still, at least they copied the kind that opens up, unlike the one-piece mold from the Ionix Eevee & Pancham set.
And, until recently, it was what I used to store all the spare hands I get from the knockoff minifigures I order. ...Gotta get me a bigger boulder...
Moving on, we next have the Zombie. Again one of the taller minifigures, and also equipped with a regular Lego pick-axe.
But again, MUCH more game accurate than the official minifigure, with the knockoff even having a darker green plate to simulate the zombie's dark green hair! ...Just... Wow... All I can say...
The rest of the outfit is the same as Tall Steve's, save for the hands and the color swap for the skin patch, but, again, these zombies are supposed to be undead previous player characters, so that works just fine.
Even the shirt bleeding onto the legs makes more sense for the zombies, as that's accurate to the game's portrayal, and something I mentioned in my look at The Cave I wish they did with the official minifigure! ...I'm seriously not looking for reasons to praise these unofficial figures and bash the real thing, they're just popping up left and right as I go!
Despite also wielding a standard Lego pick-axe, the zombie DOES come with some copies of Minecraft accessories: a torch and Redstone Ore. Since these are made with standard bricks, I'm assuming they went ahead with recreating these elements and not more accurate Minecraft tools. It would have been nice to see their take on a Minecraft torch and ore, but I guess all their creativity went into designing the figures. I can't really complain, though, as it's nice to have some familiar Minecraft elements with this set.
Next is the Skeleton. And look at that! It's an actual Skeleton body and not that cheap costume variant from last time!
What's weird is that they gave him two different arms, one with both claws sideways, and one with one claw sideways and one vertical. And it's the latter arm that's the only one that can hold accessories correctly.
Meaning that switching accessory arms literally means switching arms.
Though I guess you could have him hold it gangster-style. ...May look cool, but makes firing it a lot less accurate. ...Seriously, don't actually hold a weapon like this in a fire fight unless you're Marvel's Hawkeye.
The bow is obviously another standard Lego accessory and not the Minecraft variant. ...Though I will admit it's a much nicer compound bow mold than the standard bow you usually see in Lego sets. I'm not entirely sure where they lifted this design from.
However, I DO know that this piece of ground with the carrot sticking out of it is taken directly from the The Farm Minecraft set. ...Why they decided to bundle a skeleton with a carrot, we'll never know.
From here, the designs just get... Weird. To the point I'm not sure if they have anything to do with Minecraft! Here, we have another Zombie. ...I think. The greenish-gray skin and glowing red eyes suggests some member of the undead, but this is where the paint job that mimics a low-res design starts being to the detriment of the figures. I have NO idea what I'm looking at here!
So we have this monster-thing wearing a blue shirt and a... Red bowtie? Cross? Does he have a red torso and a bit is poking out through the shirt? I've never seen this guy before! And he's carrying a big honking scimitar with rough edges, like he made it in his garage with some sheet metal laying around! ...Seriously, who is this guy?!
This is also where the "Tall" descriptor falls flat, as beyond Steve and the first Zombie, the rest of the minifigures have regular-sized legs. ...But I can't just call this lot "Weird" Knockoff MySpace Figures since that's too generic, so I'm keeping the Tall part for the title.
But even though he seems to have nothing to do with Minecraft, he DOES come with a Minecraft-style pig. Specifically the one from the Minecraft Micro World The Village set. ...Because I guess they have to include SOME sort of Minecraft accessory to keep people thinking this set is relevant!
In fact, that's what they do for the rest of the figures in the line. They have nothing to do with Minecraft? Just bundle them with little Micro World figures! Like this pirate, which also carries one of the big honkin' swords. Again, it's a nice design, with a pixelly red beard, an eyepatch, and clothing that looks like he's wearing armor. ...But what does this have to do with Minecraft?
Quick! Focus on Micro World Steve here before you ask too many questions!
As well as... Whatever this thing is. If I had to guess, it looks like they printed out a picture of an Iron Ore block from the game, added their own pixels, then slapped the design on a gray brick. ...This is where the game accuracy just makes the item look awkward. Especially since there's already a copy of the Lego version of an ore block in this line...
And like the heads, the design is only on the top plate and one of the sides, making it even more confusing what this is supposed to be! A little consistency is all I'm looking for here...
And seeing how I was praising these figures earlier for being consistent with their paint jobs on the front and back, it's a little disappointing that the belt on this figure doesn't continue on the sides...
Then we have a knight, accompanied by a Micro Enderman. The knight is holding a positively tiny claymore compared to the enormous swords the last two figures had! ...I dunno, I just figured that the figure actually meant for combat would be the one with the larger sword.
Of course, with that visor, maybe this is actually a prototype of the Cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica? ...As good a guess as any with these figures...
Then there's... This guy. Apparently, it's a scientist who's spent too much time around the silver compounds in his lab and is currently in the early stages of Argyria.
Either that, or this is their take on a Minecraftian Brainy Smurf.
He also apparently has two noses. Or the white was meant to be used for stereotypical taped nerd glasses and they missed the frame when they were painting the face. ...But seeing how his eyes are a sickly yellow, I can believe that he's been using himself as a test subject.
If he offers you a drink from this cup, don't take him up on it...
Maybe this Creeper is here just in case something goes horribly wrong and he needs to be put out of his misery? ...Well, I give this guy credit for coming up with the first USEFUL use for a Creeper. As opposed to trolling players...
And in case you were wondering where the legs I use for those The Brick comics I sometimes do came from, here you go. ...I need to start doing those again, don't I?
And finally, we have... This guy again.
Yeah, the yellow crystal guy from the Dargo line from last time? Apparently, this is where the design originated. ...Still doesn't answer the question of WHO IS THIS GUY?!
At least they gave this version a few more details. Helmet, golden armor, magical ruby on his neck. He looks like the Prince of Atlantis with this getup.
Heck, maybe he's Namor's second cousin's half-brother? ...Given how comics work, I wouldn't put it past anyone...
But they loved this guy so much, they gave him TWO accessories: a pick-axe and his Trident of Ultimate Power! So go forth Namorssen the Minecraftian! And with your Trident of power, lay to waste all the evil in your path! ...Or is he evil? Or does he just spend his time watching reruns of Lost and laughing at Season 4 onwards?
And just like the Skeleton, instead of a Micro World figure, they gave him a plant literally ripped from the The Farm set. ...Seriously, they just dug it up out of the ground of that set, gave it to Namorssen, and said "Ok, your majesty. Here's a flower. Now go do whatever you usually do and please don't kill us." And he, with his majestic voice and Trident of Ultimate Power, replied "Yeah, dude, whatever. Hey, when's Star Wars Battlefront II coming out?"
And that's the set of Minecraft figures. ...Or MySpace figures. ...Or whatever they're calling them this week. We had some recognizable, some obscure, some well painted, some not as well, and overall, I think the Angry Video Game Nerd summed it all up just perfectly when he said
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Quality: The quality is actually REALLY good for knockoff figures. ...At least compared to a lot of other stuff I've featured here. The paint jobs are professional, I didn't notice any splotching, the hands don't have obvious seams, everything fit together just fine, and the plastic feels real and not like that cheap, greasy stuff cheapo companies usually use. There is still obvious joint stiffness, but it's still not as bad or unmanageable as most other figures and you could probably work it loose by bending the joints enough times. I also didn't notice any overly loose joints in the arms or legs, so that's a major plus for knockoff figures as well. Overall, great care has been put into making each one of these and they could easily be mistaken for Lego.
Design: The designs for these figures(at least the ones I could recognize) are INCREDIBLE! They even beat out Lego's design for THEIR minifigures! It makes a huge difference that they used standard bricks for the heads and plates for the hairpiece, as not only do they look much more accurate than Lego's custom job, but the piece can be removed to allow stacking, which Lego's figures can't do! Then, of course, there's a lot more detail in the paint jobs, giving each one a very 8-bit pixelly look and each outfit and face some texture. They even added that slight touch with the fragment of shirt over the pants that I wanted to see with the Lego zombie back in the The Cave review! And considering the amount of knockoff Skeletons that just used the regular body mold, I have to thank them for using the standard skeleton body. Admittedly, I have to question why they gave two of the figures taller legs than the others, and I'm not too happy that they skimped out on the designs of the tools and accessories, just giving us the standard Lego variants for most, but overall, they actually outdid Lego and I wish this is what we got for the real sets.
Creativity: ...I can't recognize 5/8ths of the figures in this line, so I'd say that's pretty dang creative! ...Seriously though, I'm thrilled that they mostly did their own thing while making these figures! Using a standard brick for the head, not copying the Lego design for the faces or detailing, and adding 5 characters that seemingly have nothing to do with Minecraft, but would fit in a Minecraftian setting anyway. Just pretend that it's all one big multiplayer party with custom player skins and the strangeness fades into normality. It's also a little interesting that they packaged the irregular figures with copies of Micro World figures, like they had to take additional steps to show that those figures indeed had something to do with Minecraft! ...But considering how bootleg figures are usually packaged with whatever's laying around, it's still likely one would think that's just the case here. So yes, this set is SUPER creative and I love every bit of strangeness they throw at me!
Readability: Well, they do include instructions on the boxes, so I guess I can't skip this category like I usually do. It's all straightforward, with no mistakes and a clear picture of what you'll be getting. ...After all, they're just minifigures...
Packaging: I don't have the packaging, so I can't judge the quality of the materials used, but I do still have the artwork, so might as well still include this category. They're pretty standard boxes, with a picture of the figure on the front and instructions and the lineup on the back. I do have to give them credit for drawing the figures in different poses instead of just Photoshopping a picture on the front, but seeing as these are stock poses a lot of different bootleggers use for their packaging, it probably wasn't that hard to do. I'd also give them more hilarity points for using MySpace instead of Minecraft, if I also didn't already see that on about a dozen other knockoff Minecraft sets. Overall, they're ok designs, but they needed some Engrished-up selling points to really make them stand out.
Compatibility: They're made with standard building bricks and comes with regular Lego accessories. They'll mostly work no problem. ...However, the long-legged figures may have trouble fitting into most standard cars and buildings, so maybe get them a change of pants for these scenes.
Overall:
I LOVE these figures and how much work was put into them! Only three of them are from the actual game, but since Minecraft is a game about creativity and customization, the other five figures fit in just fine. The quality's a lot higher than most other knockoff sets, the creativity's apparent with the strange figure additions and how they didn't just copy other bootleg sets, and the designs are so accurate and fit so well with the game's universe, they outdo the official Lego figures! I highly recommend these to anyone who wants a Minecraft set completely out of the norm and who want an authentic Minecraft building brick adventure experience! ...As long as you can find a copy before they completely disappear off the map...
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