【Kojima Productions】 Symbol character Ludens amazingly turns into a 3D model! Packed with customization elements compatible with 4 types of wrist parts, M.S.G series, and Frame Arms Girl series!

“Is this really a plastic model?” What makes you want to gaze thoroughly at the moment of looking at the completed figure is the plastic model of Kojima Productions' symbol character “Ludens.” An item commercialized in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions led by game creator Director Hideo Kojima, with Katsuhiko Hori handling the sculpting. And with the background that Art Director Yoji Shinkawa completely supervises, it holds a background that fans cannot miss. Being able to complete the futuristic design fitting the words “FROM SAPIENS TO LUDENS” as a 3D object with your own hands, rather than just looking inside screens or illustrations. That alone seems to become a major reason to assemble this kit.

When making plastic models, you might feel “Once the face is decided, I feel like approaching completion at once,” but in Ludens, interesting options are prepared around the mask as well. In addition to parts with printing applied to eyes in advance, unpainted parts with eyes themselves sculpted are also included. In other words, you can either assemble as is to enjoy a neat finish, or paint by yourself to pursue the atmosphere of facial expressions. Having a structure enjoyable for both people saying “I am not yet confident in painting” and people saying “I want to finish down to details to my liking” is a delightful point. Not deciding the completed form as one, leaving options on the builder side lets one feel model-like fun too.

In the flag, which is one of the items symbolizing Ludens, 2 different types, black and clear green, are prepared. You might think “Isn't it just that the flag color is different?”, but in 3D objects, such differences sway overall impressions surprisingly much. If selecting black, it is easy to produce a heavy and tightened atmosphere, and if selecting green with transparency, the futuristic design will look even more prominent. Furthermore, because 4 types of wrist parts are attached, you can add changes to poses while combining with arm positions and items to hold. Rather than ending by merely completing according to the instruction manual, room making you want to modify saying “Today let's display in this form” is firmly left.

Important in bringing out the charm of the futuristic suit are markings arranged in details. In this kit, decals to reproduce caution marks of each part, Kojima Productions logos, etc. are attached. By having such fine information added, mechanical persuasiveness different from simply color-separated models is born. Adding decals to where you thought “Even this is sufficiently cool” while gazing at the assembled state increases information amount further and changes the impression. It is likely a part where you can enjoy the process of finishing itself unique to plastic models. Because you can make while thinking how far to modify, I feel it is a specification with good compatibility even for people who want to enjoy model building thoroughly.

What I personally feel interesting are 3mm holes provided in various parts. Through this, you can utilize armaments of the Frame Arms Girl and Frame Arms series, starting with the existing M.S.G series. Not to mention the way to enjoy saying “Because it's Ludens, I want to display it in its figure as is,” but you can also play saying “Since it's a plastic model, I want to try my very own equipment.” Changing armaments to change silhouettes, thinking of combinations with parts on hand, play continues even after completing once. While being a model enjoying official designs, it is an interesting existence even as a customization base receiving the builder's ideas.

Ludens' plastic model born from the milestone of Kojima Productions' 10th anniversary cannot have its charm fully explained by words like a mere commemorative item alone. Enjoying sculpting supervised by Yoji Shinkawa, selecting eye specifications, swapping flags and wrists, finishing details with decals, and even combining armaments of other series. Differing from “buying finished products and gazing,” the interest of this product lies in one Ludens being completed including up to the time you moved your hands. Not to mention Kojima Productions fans, even for people who like mechanical characters or model lovers who want to continue customization after assembly, is it not a plastic model you want to face thoroughly?