I love the vehicles. But the figures I treat as a separate line of mini statues. These things just don't have the playability of the Joes that came before them and I feel in some cases even the new sculpt stuff looked better. My main gripe is and has always been that they are not in scale. Terrible decision on Hasbro's part. As it is I have about 35 25th figures. i am far from being a completest. I do like some of the direction they have gone with the 25th line however. Such as making new Cobra troop types that are just blue shirt variations. Wish Hasbro would have done that with RAH.

Hisstank seems to be mostly newbie collectors, people who jumped on the "new" nostalgia train that 25th started. Really, the turn-over rate for GI JOE collectors seems pretty high, maybe because of the format changes or lack of media that Transformers and Star Wars have. The number of active long time 3 3/4" collectors online seems pretty small, really. And it's a pretty fractured "community" from what I see, both in terms of cliques (message boards, clubs) and preferences (RAH, new sculpt, toon, comic, 25th...).

Not that any of that has to do with 25th figures.

I can't vote in this poll with only the one option of unconditional love and five options of hate.

I find the whole O-ring/25A argument very strange. One side is blind to the 25A flaws and the other side refuses to acknowledge the improvements. I think people need to take another look at the line from an objective point of view.

Difficult to pose, fragile, too large for many old vehicles, ugly chest join, heads that look like aliens when seen in profile. I dislike them intensely and will never ever waste money on the figures (most of the vehicles so far have been okay). Hasbro takes away the o-ring Joes that I love and replaces them with a different toy altogether, and wants me to buy the Joes I already have all over again? I'm insulted and angry and refuse to give in to their greed and arrogance. Does that state my point of view clearly enough? :mad:

Craig, don't be a hater :p

"What? More Repaints?" option is a moot point, because Hasbro's been all about repaints since 1993! Part of the design on the 25th, for better or worse, is generic bodies that can be recolored and reused again and again. The cobra trooper has been recolored 20 times now...not including parts reused on non-Cobra trooper/officers.

I think you hit the nail on the head there.
I am not above saying that the 25th line has flaws, it obviously does. But some of the flaws that are mentioned here and in about 1000 other discussions like this are based on personal preference.

For example - I've lost count how many of the ARAH figures I've had (and still have) that got their thumbs broken or crotches broken as well as their o-ring ripped in twain. - Right now, I only have 1 broken 25th, and that was just a lemon - Beachheads foot has come somewhat loose.

All in all I think its starting to be pointless to debate this as people have made up their mind about it a long time ago.

I'm going to keep buying 25th because they are more poseable and look better in pictures then the old and dated lines, however nostalgic they might be.

As someone else pointed out as well - now I get to finally find the characters that I never had (nor knew of) when I was a kid. - All the vehicles I have now, I never had as a kid, which gives me much satisfaction now (I can finally get all that I want on my own paycheck :) )

Winning post on all counts, though I do lean towards the second option because of the endless repaints.

"NO-RING" FIGURES

The Good
Overall, great facial sculpts
More articulation points - Ankle joints are especially useful in pictures
Separate belts, harnesses and holsters
"Man boobs" give more realistic movement
Less brittle plastic so thumbs and waists don't snap off
They have duller paint, meaning less glare for taking pictures
Look great displayed
1:18 scale, meaning they can fit in well with all other 1:18 lines

The Bad
Elbows and diaper crotches - What good is more articulation if they can't use it? Some of the O13 and Gen. Hawk upset me the most about this
Not easy for kids to customize - If they don't know about "boil and pop", they can break their figures just trying to switch hands.
"Man boobs" aren't done well on several figures
REPAINTS - And as a result, far fewer characters
1:18 scale, making them impossible to fit in with older figures - To me, this is easily the most valid point AGAINST these figures. I totally understand the anger for all of you who kept your old figures.

O-RING FIGURES

The Good
Terrific for customizing, even for kids
Because of the harder plastic, they feel more durable
So many figures already available
The nostalgia factor
Elbows and waists that allow terrific movement
Great size at 3 3/4" making them perfectly sized for every vehicle out there

The Bad
Facial sculpts not as realistic until after ARAH
Broken thumbs and crotches
Very gimmicky
Don't look as good as the "No-rings" when displayed

Whoa... after all that analysis, I may need to take a nap.

Here's the thing: I don't have much of my old collection left, so it doesn't tick me off as much that the 25th isn't in scale with the rest; but as I said above, I COMPLETELY understand what you guys are saying. I'd be mad, too.

Like Thinktank, the 25th brought me back. I think they're better for pictures, which is pretty much what I do with them; so for me, the 25th wins. And hey, you'll still catch me using post ARAH figs with the o-rings because of the duller plastic, so you don't all have to hate me :D

Everybody wins!!!

Have fun, gang!

Edit: The writer understands that his views may not gel with the views of others on this forum. Please don't kick him.