Review: Tsume HQF Street Fighter IV Ultra - Chun-li

What's up guys. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Just really needs a lot of stuff to take care of on my daily life. But I'm back now, and to follow-up my review of Tsume HQF Street Fighter IV Ultra - Vega, here now is Street Fighter IV Ultra - Chun-li, also from Tsume's HQF product line.

It's really a great privilege that we got to check-out and review these awesome and rare products by Tsume. That's thanks to Figmation, one of the distributors of Tsume products here in Asia. Those who are following Tsume probably already knew that Tsume products are really hard to find as these are very limited releases and there are only few distributors of their products, specially here in Asia.

So fans of Street Fighters, let's go and check out this figure of the kick-ass lady of the popular fighting game series. 

Unlike Vega, these were shot in my usual indoor setup. I wasn't able to get a chance to go outside to do the shoot, or I'm probably just to lazy to do it outside :)

About the character, does any of you don't know Chun-li? If you don't, it's either you're a baby or just someone who doesn't really care about pop culture. Well here's a brief intro about this character. Chun-li is a mainstay character of the Street Fighter franchise. As far as I know, she appears on every version of Street Fighter since her debut in Street Fighter II in 1991. She's like the female counterpart of Ryu.

In the game storyline, Chun-li is a Chinese expert martial artist and Interpol officer who seeks revenge for the death of her father at the hands of M. Bison, the main antagonist and the final boss in the Street Fighter games. She already appeared in some anime and a couple of live action movie adaptations of the game.

Tsume HQF Street Fighter IV Ultra - Chun-li is one of the first two Street Fighter character releases by Tsume, though it was released on the same month as Vega, Chun-li is numbered as the 05, meaning the 5th release under HQF product line, Vega was numbered 06. In that sense, Chun-li is planned and developed earlier than Vega. These two were specifically based on the latest incarnation of this popular fighting game, Street Fighter IV Ultra, as the title name implies.

Chun-li was released last September 2014, same month as Vega, both having a price tag of 119.90 € (inclusive of tax), about $ 150.00 USD, that's is if you're getting it directly from Tsume's online shop. If you're living outside Europe and can't get it directly from Tsume, you'll gonna have to pay more. Find it too expensive for a 1/8th scale PVC? Then continue reading and help me find out if it's worth the price.

The figure stands about 285 mm and weighs 1.5 Kg. That includes the base which is kind of heavy due to those clear effect parts. Below is the height comparison against Vega.

Tsume HQF Vega and Chun-li

Box Art and Contents

(click any photo to launch the images in Lightbox)

Just like that of Vega, the box art mirrors the art design of Street Fighter IV, with pop-out colors and paint splashes here and there. The box dimensions are 260 mm x 260 mm x 370 mm and it weighs 3 Kg. A smaller and lighter box compared to Vega's, but still bigger and heavier than most 1/8th scale figure. That alone gives you an idea about the steep price. It's not your usual 1/8th scale figure.

Same as Vega's, the box design is windowed with the front and right in one continuous window so you can see most of the box contents while it's still inside the box.

Front has the HQF 05 label, an artwork and the name character, and the franchise title Street Fighter IV Ultra. Nothing much on the right part of the box as it's just a continuation of the main window.

The back part of the box has some official promo photos in different angles, the product description and some introduction of the character and franchise. Some serial numbers and warning labels. Notice that even if it's a European developed figure, it's also "Fabrique in China" (Made in China) as the label tells, just like most of the anime scaled figures.

On the left, a small window on the upper portion and a promotional photo of the HQF Vega with the words "Here comes a new challenger".

On the top is simply a Tsume logo.

Out of the box, the contents are protected with the usual figure clamshell.

Inside, there are only two items, the figure itself and the base. No alternate parts nor any other removable parts, just two solid and heavy chunk of PVC.

All About That Base (and the knee)

(click any photo to launch the images in Lightbox)

After the items were freed from their prison, here's a closer look at these items. Looks at that base, clearly a work of art by itself alone.

Do I need to tell how to put these two together?

Personal Impressions

Like Vega, this figure looks absolutely amazing and very well made. But don't just take my word for it, join me and let's check out the details of this figure.

Pose wise, Chun-li is in her frozen-in-air Tenshokyaku attack ("Ascension/Heaven Rising Legs"), also known as the Spinning Air Kick. As I mentioned on my Vega review, it's best that these Street Fighter figures should be in their dynamic fighting stance.

Tsume did the right thing of giving her one of her famous Ultra/Super combo attack for her pose. That pose is supported by an intricate base with effect parts that is pegged to her right knee. And it's a very sturdy base, you wouldn't feel any shakiness on the figure when it's on this base. Very solid build.

She is on her body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress knowin in Chinese as qipao (read as chipao). A classic costume of Chun-li that never changed since Street Fighter II. It's in the default blue for this figure, but in-game, there are color variations for 2P or some other colors of players preference. Tsume can easily milk this figure by making a special edition pink colored outfit like what Kotobukiya did with their Bishoujo Chun-li, but I hope they won't. They should keep this figure as special as it's already is.

Chun-li's face has some subtle changes on every Street Fighter iteration from time to time. So you couldn't really tell if this figure really looks like Chun-li. But there are some specific features on her looks that should made a figure looks like Chun-li. This figure certainly catches those features.

Tsume not only got those features right, they also got the facial expression right. That open mouth shouting-like facial expression matches that attacking pose very well. Unlike some other Chun-li figure that is attacking but is cutely smiling (yes, I'm looking at you Kotobukiya).

There's a lot of things that could make an open mouthed figure to look really unattractive, but Tsume gave it good amount of attention to it's detail. The sculpt of the nose was done right, and even the paint on the eyes looks alive. The overall sculpt and the paint application on the face is close to perfect. A a dangerous but feminine warrior look. 

This shot alone gives you a look at the nice details of this figure.

The hair strands was given a proper sculpt with nicely black shaded paint brown paint. They also got those hair buns right, with all that white ribbons with golden trims. I love how the ribbons are swaying, adding to that dynamic look.

You could also get a good look at the details of her ears as well as that huge pearl-like earring. You may notice a very subtle seam on the earring but it's only noticeable when you zoom in. 

Notice those large spiked bracelets that she wears on her wrists, nicely sculpted and painted with metallic color.

A good look at the back part of the head. Again, lot's of amazing details in this shot. 

A nice view of the overall outfit. The light blue colored dress was given a dark blue color shading to give more emphasis on the cloth creases and dynamism. The bubble sleeves were nicely sculpted giving that realistic look.

Those gold trims on her blue clothes really look gorgeous. It's really amazing to think that it was painted by hands. Believe me, I know how hard it is, because attempted to hand-paint my MG Sinanju's gold trims like these. And it's really pain in the butt even if you know what you're doing. You may notice some excess paints here and there, but again, but it's only noticeable when you zoom in. Not a dealbreaker.

The lower part of her qipao looks closely like loincloth due to the large slits on the side. I guess this modifications on the qipao were done to Chun-li's dress to allow her to have a far wider range of movement for combat. The front an the back of these... I don't know if you can still call it skirt... is flowing in mid-air. Again adding that dynamic look that I really love in a figure/statue.

A slightly overhead shot. You will see that her legs are covered in brown/reddish tight-fitting legwear. It's so tight that it's almost like a second skin, so in this figure. It's just a paint applied in different color.

You can still see the full shape of her legs which is really sculpted in a perfect shape of a strong female legs giving emphasis on her kicking moves. It's also shaded to accentuate the curves of the muscles.

A nice view of the chest and neck part of her dress here. You'll see those gold trims on the neck, really detailed nicely.

Though her dress is only one piece, the upper and lower portion of her outfit was segregated by a white cloth on her waist, giving her body a sexy shape.

Funny that in this shot, her thighs are almost the same size are her waist, but it doesn't really look out of proportion. It's just that they gave a her a very muscular legs. These legs are Chun-li's fighting assets after all.

I'm not sure how you look at this shot. It actually showing her crotch as well as it's full shape. If she's not wearing tights, this would look really NFSW. Though that's the case here, it's still really uncomfortable staring at it without getting malicious. Well, that's because Tsume gave a realistic sculpt on this part of her body. This probably helped Chun-li defeating her enemies. "Yatta!"

A good look a the back part of the figure. No shortage of detailing here.

Check-out the spiked bracelet on her left wrist. Her arms are also nicely sculpted and painted poperly with some shading. It doesn't really looks so strong but that's because of the character's design. 

Those fingers are sculpted nicely as well.

A shot that shows the right palm and a look at more details.

A full shot of the left leg in tights.

Chun-li is wearing a pair of white combat boots complete with laces. As you can see here, the sculpt of the boots are unbelievable. With all those paint details, grooves and the rubber-like sole, it's almost as if  you're looking at a the real thing. That clear effect part just gave it away. I'm not saying that the effect part is bad though. It actually adds to the dynamic look of the figure, giving that "swoosh" effect.

A close look at that "swoosh" effect part. Simply amazing.

A close look at the right foot and the knee attached to the base.

Again, nice boots you got there, Chun-li.

The base as I mentioned earlier is well detailed. It adds to the overall look of the figure. It consist of two parts, the dust cloud effect part, and the stone-paved floor with round black plastic underneath. The parts of the base are actually glued together so it's just one whole solid base.

The dust cloud effect part mostly made of clear effect parts that were used in the "swoosh" effect on the left foot. But the lower part are painted in blue/white/purple colors to give that dust cloud hurricane-like effect.

The actual base depicts some yellowish brick ground with some realistic texture.

A look at the base from another angle. A really cool looking base.

A shot of Chun-li in action against Vega.

Just like Tsume HQF Vega, Chun-li is a very well made and amazing figure. Tsume is really faithful to the character's design and details. I love this figure as much as I love Vega. There's no such thing of praising this figure too much as the positive features of this figure are endless.

I don't really play Street Fighter that much, but when I do, and if I felt like choosing a female character, I usually choose Chun-li. She's a characterization of a strong female character with a good heart. Tsume got it all on this figure. I don't remember seeing a better Chun-li figure other than this. Kotobukiya doesn't really count as I don't really see a warrior in that cute face. That figure is probably aimed for a different purpose other than depicting a Street Fighter figure anyway.

The pose, sculpt and paint application of Tsume HQF Street Fighter IV Ultra - Chun-li are all top-notch, giving Street Fighter fans a figure displayed on their shelves to be proud of.

So far, only two Street Fighter figures were released under HQF (High Quality Figures) product line of Tsume. As far as I know, there aren't any announcement for future release of Street Fighter characters. I hope they continue making more Street Fighter characters in the future.

There maybe lack of Street Fighter characters under Tsume HQF, but there's already four Fairy Tail characters under this product line, Natsu, Gajeel, Erza and Gray. And for my next review, we will be talking about Erza Scarlet followed by Gray Fullbuster. So keep an eye for that.

Well that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this review and help you decide on getting this figure. Thanks to Figmation again for a chance to review this amazing figure. Thanks again and till next time.

For more photos, check out the photo gallery below.

Photo Gallery

(click any photo to launch the images in Lightbox)