INFINITY REVIEW

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line.

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m reviewing the new Infinity June releases. Illness followed by an injury kept me from completing this post last month, but I’m recovering and finally feel up to it. This month we have new models for Yujing, Ariadna, PanOceana and a Wulver character that shows up in multiple armies! Lets take a look!

Wolfgang Amadeus Wolff (Ariadna/Nomads/NA2)

Javi Ureña

Design (8): I talked about this guy a little when we first saw the renders a few months ago. I thought he looked pretty good, but seeing him painted up really brings him to life and changes my opinion. He’s great! Amadeus seems to be wearing a  standard Nomad suit, complimented by a sleeveless jacket and a bulky right shoulder pad. The lack of sleeves shows off his big hairy arms along with some interesting arm bands. His bald head and sideburns, along with that huge scar, really stand out both among other characters and other Wulvers. Its a little unfortunate that his big claw weapon is kind of lost in the bot, and the bot itself is pretty difficult to read.

Sculpt (8): Wolfgang’s face is really worth drawing attention too. We see a lot of great faces in Infinity, but so often those are limited to a small range of human expressions. This model presented the opportunity to show a snarling bestial face and the sculptor really embraced it! The over-sized exaggerated mouth, with it’s huge teeth, contrasts with the furrowed brow, scrunched nose and huge plain of the forehead to create a face that is unforgettable. Wolfgang’s fury and rage is palatable! I love the creases of the cheek and brow, details that so often aren’t so exaggerated on other models. They make Wolfgang’s expression both believable and subtly beyond human.  The hair on the arms really stands out as another nice detail which gives Wolfgang a distinctly non-human look. This is more than just hair, its fur! The only detail I don't care for is the wrecked remote at the base. While I appreciate scenic base elements that aren’t just rocks, its really hard to tell what the remote is, even from multiple angles. In fact, the only reason I’m guessing its a remote is that it’s painted in 0-12 colors and has mechanical parts. This element might be more recognizable to people who own this particular remote or play against it a lot, but to me it looks like Wolfgang is smashing a random pile of junk.

Pose (8): A very nice pose which really contains a lot of energy. Even though I’m having trouble reading the details of the remote, Wolfgang’s movements here are very clear and easy to see.

Overall score: 8/10

Tiāngǒu Orbital Activity Squad (Yujing)

Sculpted by Javi Ureña and Raúl Tavares

Design (8): These are neat! Yujing has always had great looking AD units, going back to the original Tiger Soldiers. The Tiangaou are probably the most complicated looking  Yujing AD unit, with an abundance of hoses, straps and plates that give it a unique look but also make it visually difficult to read. The Hacker is the more cluttered of the two sculpts, and shares a problem with the recent Morat Hackers. Its absolutely covered in extra parts, and that abundance of parts comes very close to looking jumbled. Thankfully the symmetry of of the tubes helps preserve the model’s shape and silhouette. The Boarding Shotgun version is much easier to read, with a very clean helmet. Overall I like these designs quite a bit, but I also feel like less might have been more. As a side note, I absolutely hate the Jammer. It looks so goofy! Why is it bigger than a human torso? In the far future of Infinity when you can record a human brain into a cube and hacking devices fit in the palm of your hand, why does the Jammer look like something out of an 80′s action film? Does Ariandna manufacture them? The Madcows are cute little bots with a fun design. Its always seemed a little weird to me that they don’t have hands. What’s the point of building a humanoid robot without hands or some other kind of functional manipulator? I guess that's not so important when clearly the goal is cuteness over effectiveness. I'm fine with that!

Sculpt (9): The very nice sculpting is doing a lot to keep this complicated design from looking messy. The under suit is really clear and well rendered, which gives the complicated gear sitting on top of it a solid base. I really like the details of the collar of the Boarding Shotgun model, which reminds me of something from a diving suit or space suit. This is obscured on the Hacker model by tubes protruding from the helmet, but the alternate helmet itself is finally detailed. The smooth surfaces of the helmet provide a nice focal point for the otherwise busy models

Pose (7): Neither pose is particularly exciting, but both are completely functional. I really like the way the Boarding Shotgun model’s weight is on it’s right foot, with it’s gun tucked across the body. This really gives a sense of hesitation and caution, as if it just noticed an enemy. Unfortunately the enormous Jammer mars the whole pose, obscuring too much of the model. The Hacker has a completely acceptable hacking pose that isn’t too exciting but also isn’t too overdone. The Madcows are, of course, cute.

Overall score: 8/10

Uxía McNeill again (Ariadna) Sculpted by Antonio Moreira

Design (5): Another Uxia. Jesus. From what I remember this is the 6th Uxia? Or 7th? She’s a fine looking model, but so was the one before that. And the one before that. And the one before that. And the one before that. Did we really need another? Design wise, Uxia is pretty boring. Like most of Ariadna, she looks like she escaped from a toy line for a late 80′s action movie. Her GI Joe aesthetic isn’t particularly eye catching or exciting, but I do like the design of her pants, with the harder fabric giving away in favor of softer and more flexible material around the knees.

Sculpt (9): As boring as her design is, her sculpt is very nice. Her face is fantastic, with a  characterful expression. We’ve had a lot of Uxias, but this one’s expression is probably my favorite. Other details to note are her boot laces, shotgun grip, the corded texture of her sweater and her really nice hair. This is a good example of how a dull design can still result in a very nice looking model.

Pose (8): Suitably aggressive for a stealthy model making their way toward the fight! I think the previous Uxia was holding her shotgun in both hands in a firing position, so this is at least a new pose for her. I can’t wait to see what they do with the next Uxia.

Overall score: 7.3/10

PanOceania Headquarters Pack (PanOceania)

Sculpted by Javi Ureña, Antonio Moreira and Raúl Tavares I’m going to do two separate reviews here. The first is for Kyle Hawkins.

Design (7): Kyle is a pretty generic PanO Knight, and most of what is cool about him is what's already cool about all Knights. He has that trademark great looking super smooth PanO armor wrapped in a anachronistic tabard. As for unique features, I love his gun, and I appreciate that he has his helmet slung on a strap. That's always a nice touch. Otherwise Kyle seems pretty generic. He looks like a normal Knight who just happened to take off his helmet. At a time when we have SO MANY amazing knight models (many out of print), did we really need another that doesn’t stand out at all?

Sculpt (7): While the detail of the armor looks just fine, the head look very off to me. Kyle has a constipated blandness that I'm more sued to seeing in Games Workshop models. 

Pose (6): A very 90′s Games Workshop pose to go with the Games Workshop face. Waving around a sword while shooting with one hand often looks awkward, but doing it with one foot placed triumphantly on a rock is peak 2nd edition 40K. As silly as this pose is, at least its well done. The weight distribution is very believable, and it does look better from other angles. I know some people like exactly this kind of pose, but I think in combination with the super bland character design and weird face it comes off looking very poor.

Overall score: 6.6/10 Now lets talk about the Curator and Grand Master! Design (9): Wow! I didn’t love all of the recent Military Orders models, and in some cases I felt like they veered into a semi-fantasy area that looked out of place in Infinity. These two models live in that same space as well, but I absolutely love their design. I think it helps knowing that neither of these are traditional combatants. One is a commander, meant to be used as an HVT, who likely never leads troops into battle (at least dressed like that). The other is a support technician who seems (at least to me) to spend more time behind the lines than on them. Both have a ceremonial look that I really like, with distinct cloth elements that are different from anything we’ve seen in military Orders but clearly attach them to the sectorial. In fact, they would look out of place in any other part of Infinity, but fit perfectly along side the Knights!

Sculpt (7): I love the design, but some of the details are... not great. In particular, the cord fastening the Grand Master’s cape around her neck is just comically thick, and the pointy elements along the trim of her tabard look straight off a Dark Eldar model. The capes and robes of both models also look VERY thick. I know there are casting limitations at play and the sculptors are probably doing the best they can, but the Grand Master especially looks like her robes are made out of cosplay foam. On the other hand, both faces are very well done, and I love the Curator’s hair.

Pose (8): Neither pose is particularly eye catching, but both are subtly dynamic and speak to each model’s character. The Grand Master’s raised glass, supported by her left arm, and her posture that puts her weight on her left leg gives her a distinct look of bored arrogance (which matches her great expression). The Curator’s walking pose is calm but attentive. She doesn’t appear to be in the heat of battle. Instead, she’s looking for a problem and on her way to fix it! 

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line. 

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m reviewing the new Infinity May releases. This month we have new models for JSA, Aleph, 0-12 and PanOceana. Plus the Combined Army Bultrak, which I reviewed in a separate post. Lets dig in!

Bluecoats Adhesive Launcher (0-12/Starmada)

Design (9): The Bluecoat’s design is weird and great. I really like it! Its part space-train conductor and part ninja, with sexy garters just for fun. I imagine the Bluecoat is supposed to look like naval officer, and it does. But he looks so much like a train conductor I can’t get the image out of my head.

That's fine though, its still cool. What I admire about this design is it really looks like nothing else in Infinity. Even within 0-12 the Bluecoat is pretty unique. That said, he definitely fits right in. The faceless mask looks straight out of Corregidor, and the sleek plated legs could belong to a Ninja, Hexa or a dozen other sneaky operators. Its a great design that expands the Infinity universe while being deeply rooted in it. 

Sculpt (9): Typical high quality Corvus Belli sculpting. Everything is sharp and easy to read. I think its worth noting that the smooth surfaces of the mask and leg armor really contrast well with the folds of the coat and the many belts and straps.

Pose (8): The Bluecoat as a pretty typical actiony pivot-at-the-waist-and-shoot pose. It looks just fine, but we’ve seen it so often it no longer stands out. What does stand out are the two enormous guns! Having the Bluecoat hold a giant ADHL in each hand is certainty a statement. It doesn't look bad, but its also... kind of silly? Why does he have two? Is that the kit he chose to bring with him into battle? Did he run into the ship armory and think “one of these just isn’t enough!” With the extra gun on his back, these two huge weapons just look like overkill. But its certainly cool.

Overall score: 8/10

Nokken with Spitfire (PanOceania/Svalarheima’s Winter Force)

Design (8): PanO has an interesting design lineage. More than any other army, you can trace every PanO design back to those very first releases, Fusiliers, Orcs and Akal Sikh Commandos. The Nokken has a lot of elements that would make her fit in with those classic models, like her distinctive PanO boots, chest plate, pants and helmet. The more “winterfied” elements like the jacket, larger backpack and heavy gloves give the Nokken a thematic look that fits in well with the similarly garbed PanO units like the Nisse. Its a simple but attractive design. Plus, the ponytail is a fun addition that adds a little character!

Sculpt (7): A lot of this model’s major elements, like the excellently detailed armored boots and the soft fabric of the pants, look really great. There are several details of the coat that I think just look too chunky. The coat itself is fantastic, with a realistically puffy look that fits well around the model’s body, and provides a great sense of motion that matches the pose. However, the ribbing around the front of the waist just looks too thick to me, and the teeth of the zipper are just too big. I’m sure these elements have been exaggerated both for visibility and ease of painting, but enlarging them makes the model look less realistic and more like toy like. Additionally, many of the fasteners that connect the straps on thighs and jacket look soft and partially formed to me, although that may be a result of the paintjob.

Pose (9): This pose is sharp! The Nokken has a real sense of weight and movement in a pose that isn’t particularly similar to anything we’ve seen recently (as far as I remember). The flaps of the jacket clearly show that the Nokken is rearing back, perhaps ducking around a corner and readying her weapon. The ponytail shows that this is a VERY recent action (Its still catching up because of its weight and length)! Such a great and subtle posing detail that really brings the model to life!

Overall score: 8/10

Marut (Aleph/Cute)

Design (9): I’m a big fan of the original Marut, and I honestly wasn’t sure if a new one could be an improvement. While I don’t think this new design is BETTER than the older version, I do think it stands on its own as a great TAG, and as a sometimes Aleph player I’m excited to have two cool designs to choose from!  The new Marut has a clearly anime inspired look (it reminds me of the mechs from Xenosaga) that manages to be pretty distinct from the game’s other anime-inspired TAGs. Its a great complex design, with clear joints connecting solid but elegant limbs to a sleek torso.  Four arms and wing-like protrusions from the back give the Marut a distinct silhouette. I really appreciate how the model alternates between sharp edges and smooth rounded surfaces, punctuated by seams and recesses for lights. The only element I really don’t love is the head and the syringe like barrels for the Multi-HMG. Both are FINE, but the barrels look just a little weird and the head looks just a little plain. The gold collar seems out of place to me, like it belongs on another model. Maybe I just miss the old model’s bunny ears?

Sculpt (10): As I said above, the juxtaposition of crisp edges and soft curves really makes the Marut stand out. Something I love is looking at the places on a  model where different elements meet and seeing how they fit together. The Marut is full of clean and sensible junctions, and the end result is a highly stylized TAG that still looks like it could believably inhabit its fictional space.

Pose (8): The pose is... fine. The set of the Marut’s shoulders, the turn of it’s head and its slightly lifted knee give it a subtly menacing look, which I think is great. I really wish that something interesting had been done with the Marut’s arms. The model has 4 arms, and that is by far it’s most distinctive and interesting feature. The previous version of the model also had one set of arms clutching its gun, but the other were raised in a close combat pose. This Marut’s second set of arms are just hanging there. While the pose is solid, it’s simplicity feels like wasted opportunity for such a unique model.

Overall score: 9/10

Shinobu Kitsune (JSA)

Design (9): Infiniti’s JSA faction has a history of great designs going back to their early days as part of the Yujing army. This new version if Kitsune preserves some of the very best elements of traditional JSA, even though it doesn’t bring much new to the table. That's okay! This is a banger of a design, even if its mostly replaying past hits. Kitsune looks great with even baggier pants and the addition of the leg armor seen on the Domaru heavy infantry. The big features of this new model are her giant sword and optional hat. I think both are great additions, although I’m pleased to say I think she looks good both with and without the hat! 

Sculpt (10): Kitsune is a showcase of great sculpting. Beautiful flowing hair and fabric, finely detailed clothing and a variety of interesting textures. I think the variety of texture really helps this miniature stand out. The armor of her vest and boots are small seam lined surfaces, contrasting with the larger plates of her hip armor. The fiber-muscle of her arms offers a more complicated texture, while her hair stands out as a flowing feature. A variety of texture like this helps a model appear more realistic. Well, “realistic” is not the right word. What I mean is that models that look like they are made out of a variety of things are more often convincing to our minds than models that look like they are made out of one thing. For example, a plain space marine kind of looks like a plastic toy. A space marine with his helmet off exposing his head, or with leather straps holding his gear in place, or with a big felt cape, looks more like an actual thing that might exist. A variety of texture more convincingly places Kitsune within the fictional world of Infinity.

Pose (10): This is a ridiculously awesome pose. Its the kind of pose that gets you to start a whole new army (and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bunch more JSA armies on the table this Summer). I’ll certainly be using Kitsune as an inspiration to finish up my last few JSA models! The full tilt run, combined with the twist at the waist and the model’s flowing hair and pants gives Kitsune an impressive sense of motion. So much that I’d be desperate to get my models oot of her path even if I didn’t know what she was capable of! 

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line. I've been away for a few years, but now I’m back!

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m looking at the Bultrak, a new TAG for the recently reimagined Morat Aggression Forces. The first images of this model (above) were released about a month ago, and if you’ve been hanging around the Infinity community you may have seen some very negative comments about it. Including mine. I usually  try to save my criticism for my reviews, but I was struck by how much I REALLY disliked this design, despite some very compelling elements. In fact, I think its probably the worst Infinity design in recent memory. Debate over this model has been fierce, and there are certainly people who seem to like it quite a bit. With that in mind I want to once again say that taste is always subjective, and just because I give something a poor review doesn’t mean you’re wrong to like it. Now that painted photos are available and the model’s release is imminent lets dig in for a full review!

Bultrak Mobile Armored Regiment (Combined Army/Morat Aggression Force) Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ??? Design (2): I have a lot to say about the Bultrak’s design, so lets start with what I like. First, I really want to congratulate Corvus Belli on trying something very different with this design. CB has a history of taking design risks and trying new things, but when it comes to TAGs they often stick with relatively conservative designs. Infinity TAGs nearly all look fantastic, so why deviate much from the formula? Especially when there's so much to explore within that formula. The Bultrak is one of the few TAGs that strays away from they typical humanoid form, which gives it an immediately distinctive silhouette. Its STILL a humanoid shape, but its clearly not meant to be just a big human (or in the case of the original Raicho, a big Morat). What the Bultrak does resemble is a very large Hungry (the Alien species composed of Gakis and Pretas), and this resemblance gives the TAG both an immediately distinctive identity and suggests an obvious role on the battlefield (although that suggestion is misleading). The Bultrak LOOKS like an Alien machine, a feat that the otherwise excellent two previous Morat TAGs were unable to accomplish. It’s most distinctive features are the two enormous mantis-like close combat blades mounted to the TAG’s arms, but the distinctly hunched posture, low set head and thick legs all lend to the image that this is an enormous mechanical Hungry. The arms and legs of the Bultrak are especially nicely realized. I've noticed that many of the new Morat designs have an almost industrial look, and while the Bultrak is explicitly a military weapon it’s limbs have a clear mechanical functionality that makes it easy to imagine how they work.  Unfortunately, there are several elements that sabotage what could have been a really great design.  First and most obviously, the pilot harness. The pilot harness is ridiculous! A number of people have compared the Bultrak with the Nomad Lizard, since both TAGs feature a pilot harness that is very visible. However, the Lizard’s harness is a full enclosure that forms the body of the TAG, with limbs connected to it. The harness makes the operator’s shape plain, but the pilot is fully protected and inside the TAG.  In contrast, The Bultrak’s pilot isn't located in the center of the TAG. Instead he’s hanging off the front. The pilot’s head is lodged inside the TAG’s chest, and because of the model’s hunched over posture the harness hangs straight down from the chest between the TAG’s legs. This creates a bizarre appearance where the pilot looks like its hanging from the TAG’s chest like a partially detached baby carrier*. The harness has the unfortunate side effect of making the TAGs head look like its actually the pilot’s head. I mean, it obviously isn’t, and I don’t think anyone would think so, but because of the position the pilot looks like he’s wearing an enormous bobble-head helmet. It just looks silly. So does the harness itself. The pilot’s head is the only part that’s actually inside the TAG, and he’s gripping a pair of control bars that very much make him look like he’s using a periscope. That would be an interesting idea if the pilot wasn’t hanging out of the TAG. Unfortunately the harness’ foot rests and the column that connects them to the rest of the harness makes the pilot look like he’s riding on a Segway scooter or a giant mechanical pogo stick. The combination of the dangling pilot and the periscope pogo stick looks incredibly silly. What's even more jarring is that this is a TAG that leaves it’s pilot completely exposed. Unlike the Lizard, the the Bultrak’s pilot is totally unprotected by the TAG, except for his head. TAGs are described as mobile armored weapon platforms, but as far as I know this is the only one that doesn’t let the pilot benefit from that armor. In another army that might not seem so strange, but in MAF where every Morat looks like they’re wearing armor stripped from a tank having an exposed pilot seems incredibly out of character. Especially for what appears to be a close combat oriented TAG**. Its not hard to imagine a Shaolin Monk, Knight or Morlock easily stabbing the exposed pilot to death the moment it got anywhere near them. What good is armor if you’re not actually inside it? Several other small details stand out as weird or unsatisfying. The TAG’s main gun looks like a prop from a low budget 60′s sci-fi movie or an 80′s GI Joe toy. It’s overly simply boxy design bears no resemblance to any other Morat weapon, and the way it’s mounted onto the TAG’s back seems extremely awkward, as if it were an afterthought to the design. The gun is accompanied by an interesting looking ammo cannister. Or at least that’s what I assume it is. It’s also very awkwardly mounted to the TAG’s back, and the two elements are connected by a somewhat primitive looking hose. The hose is kind of novel and unique, but the combination of the three elements looks like a random pile of discarded home appliances stacked on the TAGs back. While I do like the overall design of the Bultrak’s arms, the built-in pistols and their ammo cylinders seem really silly to me. The positioning makes it look like they’d be difficult to actually aim, and difficult to use along with the giant blades. The blades themselves are very cool, but they also seem awkward to use. The Bultrak LOOKS like a Hungry, but it doesn’t really have the body shape of a Hungry that would allow these weapons to really work. Or that’s how it seems to me. I’d be curious to see how this TAG actually moves and fights. Speaking of moving... The biggest problem with this TAG’s design may not be obvious at first, and you’d probably have to look at all three of the photos I’ve posted here to notice. The TAG doesn’t appear to be able to walk. You’ll notice that its legs are spread out very wide in a pretty cool action pose. That's because it can’t actually close its legs since the pilot harness is in the way. Looking at the model from all angles, its clear that the upper thighs would knock into the pilot every time it took a step.  Its hips aren’t wide enough to walk with the pilot between its legs. I don’t even think it can waddle.

Sculpt (8): As much as I don’t like the Bultrak’s design, I’m fairly impressed by it’s sculpting. There’s a LOT going on here! The Bultrak has several different interesting textures, included smooth rounded mechanical plating, soft flexible tubing and hard edged perforated blades. Nearly every bit of this model is well sculpted! I’m not a fan of the pilot harness, but it’s placement does create an interesting depth and volume that I don’t think I’ve seen in any other TAG. I really do wish the sculptor had been able to do something with the TAG’s main cannon. It’s so generically boxy and dull, and looks so poor compared to the nicely designed range of Morat weaponry. There is an odd omission on the back side of the TAG’s right leg. The left leg has a recess that the cannister protruding from the model’s heel can fit into. The right leg is missing this recess. That's hardly worth mentioning, but its the one flaw in an otherwise nicely sculpted model.

Pose (8): What a nice pose!  A lot of TAGs get stuck with a pretty generic “dude with a  gun” pose, but the Bultrak actually look like its about to jump into action or is in mid swing with one of it’s enormous weapons. The wide stance, with one leg up on the rocky scenery element  looks great, even if it was necessitated by the mode’s inability to close it’s legs. I’m not a fan of the pilot harness at all, but the pilot’s slight body twist, mirrored in the TAG’s head, gives the whole thing a great sense of motion. Just this little detail makes the head look extremely animated, and enhances the idea that this is a giant Hungry. This is a great example of how a good pose can add character to something like an expressionless robot.

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review miniatures from the excellent sci-fi tabletop game Infinity by Corvus Belli. Today I’m doing something a little different, and taking a look at Takkure, a cyberpunk rugby game by Ramper Designs and published by Zenit Miniatures. In this review I’ll be looking at just the miniatures and physical components of the game. I’ll talk about gameplay in a future post. You can find out more about Takkure and purchase the game on their official site. My first introduction to Takkure came with their 2020 Kickstarter, which offered their box set. The game’s overall look is very obviously inspired by anime and manga, with a feel that calls to mind the classic manga Battle Angel Alita.  The game’s overall aesthetic reminded me very much of 2nd edition Infinity, an era in that game which I really enjoyed. I supported the Kickstarter based on that  similarity, and its because of that similarity that I’m writing this review.

Takkure is a science fiction sports game with individual themed teams. The box set comes with 2 teams of 4 miniatures each, as well as a board, dice, tokens, booklet and other odds and ends. Lets take a look at the miniatures of each team! The Yamato are one of the two teams included in the base set. They have a strong Japanese cyberpunk theme, with Geisha, Sumo and Samurai inspired characters. The Yamato reminded me VERY MUCH of Infinity’s early Japanese Sectorial Army models, although Takkure’s miniatures certainly aren’t a copy. They have their separate style, with flowing cloth, armored plates and plenty of complicated looking cybernetics! 

The starter set comes with 4 Yamato players, with two more available as separate purchases. I really love these designs so much. The miniatures capture the cyberpunk Japanese feel so well, and the poses are dynamic and full of energy without being too outlandish.

The Teriomorphs are the other team in the starter box, and depending on your tastes their animal theme may seem either a little goofy or really awesome. I usually don’t care for animal themed designs, but the Teriomorphs alternate between very sleek and suitably chunky, and their animal aspects are much cooler than I expected. As I’ve assembled the models they’ve quickly become my favorite team, at least visually. Their poses are as dynamic as the Yamato team, but they also have a solidness that makes them very intimidating. Boar has quickly become my favorite, although all 6 members are great miniatures.

The Dorikin are the 3rd team, available as a separate purchase. They’re a youth motorcycle gang team, an obvious and well done homage to the classic manga/anime Akira. Dorikin team members look more youthful than the Yamato and Teriomorph players, and dress in more casual outfits instead cybernetic animal and samurai costumes. This helps them really stand out and have their own unique character. The Dorikin team includes the largest miniature in the game, a bulky mech suit that looks like it will be a blast to paint.

So are the miniatures any good? Yes, they are! The miniatures are all cast in metal, and each are multipart. For Infinity players, I would very much compare these miniatures to original Human Sphere/ mid N2 era Infinity, and I mean that as a compliment. The miniatures are dynamic and well sculpted, with loads of well rendered details, including very nice faces. The designs are attractive, and each team has a distinct aesthetic that makes them easy to identify, even unpainted.  The casting is very good. I didn’t find any miscasts in the 18 models I purchased, and mold lines were very easy to clean. Each model is multipart, and like many N2 era Infinity models they can be a little tricky to assemble. To be clear, some of the models are VERY easy to assemble, but a few others have some tricky bits that will take a little patience. If this is your first time working with metal models be prepared for a little frustration. But if you’re reading this you’re probably an Infinity player, and you shouldn’t have much trouble with anything in this box. The one exception is Kai, the mech suit wearing Dorikin player (pictured above). He took a little extra filing in order to assemble correctly, and I ended up scoring the individual parts with a hobby knife to provide a better surface for teh glue to adhere to. For me this extra effort was worth it for a great model. Should you buy Takkure? If you’re looking at Takkure as just a painting project, I think its a great buy. The models are very attractive and I expect they will be very fun to paint. If you’re looking at these models as a source for conversions or proxies for Infinity or other games, I think they’ll fit right in with your Infinity miniatures. Although a few of them are holding footballs! If you’re interested in trying Takkure as a game, its certainly an attractive package with great looking models. I can’t (yet) tell you if I think the game itself is any good, but the models and components are all great.

Warcrow is the new fantasy universe by Corvus Belli, makers of Infinity. Warcorw was only recently announced, and we haven’t yet seen a game from this setting. What we have seen is a handful of fun videos introducing the setting featuring developer Laura Hoopee. In the latest of these videos we also get to see Warcrow’s first miniature.

The first miniature from Warcrow is a female Dwarf named  Zsoka Isimun. We get two see two images of Zsoka, some art and a render.

My honest first impression? Zsoka is pretty boring. While she certainly isn’t the kind of generic Tolkien inspired fantasy dwarf that we’ve seen thousands of times over the last 30 years, she does very much remind me of a more modern generic aesthetic. Zsoka looks very much like a character from World of Warcraft, League of Legends, DotA2, 5th edition D&D, Age of Sigmar or countless other modern fantasy ranges. In fact, if she had shown up in this weekend’s list of Games Workshop announcements as a new Sigmar character I doubt anyone would have batted an eye. “Generic” certainly doesn’t mean bad. Zsoka has a solid design. But her design space has already been well explored by many other modern properties. I know many gamers LIKE “generic” and prefer things that are familiar over things that are new. I would personally rather see things that are new or novel, or at least try to explore new ground. What attracted me to infinity all those years ago was a science fiction game that was trying very hard to bring something new to the wargaming space (even if the ideas they were exploring and inspired by weren’t new overall). Zsoka isn’t anything new, and that's disappointing to me. Why bother showing us something we’ve already seen so many times before? I don’t want to be TOO critical here. One miniature doesn’t  indicate what an entire game will be like. Zsoka may be a familiar concept in a game full of new ones. There may also be more to her than we can initially see. So rather than condemn Warcrow for being unoriginal I’m going to patiently wait and see what the setting has to offer, and what the rest of the miniatures look like.

Some photos of the fully painted new Marut are out, and wow do they look great! I have a small Aleph force, but I’ve never owned the Marut. I have, however, played against it many times. While I’m a big fan of the old model, I also like this new one quite a bit. I’m looking forward to comparing them in detail!

Today’s Studio Update showed off some cool new renders, concept art and some fully painted models! Lets take a look! (I’ll do full reviews as these models are released).

This new Shikami is pretty sweet! The other two Shikami models from 5 or 6 years ago were both great, and this one fits right in with them. I really love her huge glaive! I have mixed feelings about the roof terrain. I do like scenic terrain, but I sometimes feel it takes the model out of the game space, where it can be in any place on the game board, and locates it in a very specific space. On the other hand, I usually think of models as a snapshot in time, and not representative of the character/individual at all times.  Anyway, she’s very cool! Apparently this is a limited edition model that will be available at some events this year and through the Corvus Belli store on Black Friday in November. 

I really loved parts of last year’s Military Orders releases... but other parts left me cold. I thought the updated Knights, Black Friar and the new Infirmarer, looked great, but I didn’t care for the Trinitarians at all, and the Crosairs were a mixed bag (although I loved the head sculpts of each). I think this Grandmaster and the Curator are really great designs that really lean into an aesthetic that is unique within the world of Infinity. I know Military Orders get compared to Games Workshop’s 40k stuff a lot, and while I don’t usually think that's a good comparison, in this case its easy to see. These models look like they would be right at home in a Black Templars or Adepta Sororitas army. Except they’re MUCH better designs and sculpts than what you would expect to find in either (and I say that as an old school Sisters of Battle player who is currently painting a new army). 

On the other hand, I don’t care for Kyle here at all. He’s a generic looking Knight, which is fine. Knights have a great overall design. But the pose in combination with his armor gives him a very hunchbacked look that I find really unappealing. Last year’s Padre Mendoza stood out a lot more as a character. Kyle is just immediately forgettable. However, I do appreciate that he has both his helmet and rifle stowed on his back. That's something I always like o see.

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line. I've been away for a few years, but now I’m back!

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m reviewing the new ITS Season 13 Tournament Pack, which contains 2 new models cast in Corvus Belli’s new plastic material and one model that has been available for awhile but that I haven’t yet had a chance to review. You can order the box from the infinity site. Please support the game and pick it up!

Note: Since I don’t actually have a copy of this ITS box I won’t be reviewing the non-model content. However, I recently was gifted the Aristeia! Tournament Pack which includes Fiddler, and I was very pleased by the contents of that pack! Back when I was a Warcor I used to regularly buy ITS packs to host events at my local game store. While those packs were always stuffed with Infinity swag, I was never particularly impressed by much of it. In fact, very often after an event I’d end up with lots of extra items because my players weren’t particularly interested in the random assortment of posters, buttons, acrylic tokens and weapon packs that came with each set. This new pack is full of high quality items, and I’m both impressed and surprised!

Sargosh Special Tournament Exclusive Edition (Combined Army/Shasvastii)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (9): All of the Jayth share a design that I find very appealing. The standard new Shasvastii details combine with some bulkier and boxier elements like the boots and chest armor to create a really appealing look. The Jayth appear intimidatingly brutal. Sargosh is a pretty standard Jayth, with what appears to be a slight variation of his armor/harness and a partially exposed face. The lack of the full Jayth visor allows us to see most of Sargosh’s face, which both gives him character and sets him apart from the other Jayths. His standout feature is of course his enormous drill weapon. Mounted on his left arm with a complicated servo harness that connects to his back, the giant weapon is unconventional and intimidating.

Sculpt (9): There’s so much good sculpting here, but lets focus on two areas. First, Sargosh’s face is just really nice. New Shasvastii faces are complicated and detailed, and very, very alien. Sargosh’s face is actually understated, with a simple expression that relays determination and intent. He stands out among other Shasvastii as a unique looking individual. His expression is subtle instead of overblown, but that works just fine! The second area I’d like to point out is the drill weapon and it’s harness. There’s so much going on with this complicated piece of kit, and it would be easy for it to become a jumbled mess of conflicting details (like the recent Morat hackers). Instead, the elements of the weapon and harness are built in a believable way that makes it immediately obvious what we’re looking at. The weapon itself is bulky, but its bulk is made out of fine interlocking parts that detail a tool that looks convincingly industrial and functional. The harness includes an exoskeleton element, muscle fiber and connection points that work with the body’s form to create a readable silhouette. This could have been a complicated mess, but instead the weapon (and entire left side of the model) is a trove of interesting detail that really makes Sargosh stand out.

Pose (7): This pose is certainly just fine, and matches Sargosh’s subtle expression. However, the version of Sargosh that came in a Dire Foes pack awhile back had such a great pose that this one kind of pales in comparison.

Overall score: 8.3/10

Zeta Unit Special Tournament Exclusive Edition (0-12)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ??? Design (8): The Zeta unit is, in a lot of ways, a very standard (and even generic) Infinity TAG. In the old days of 1st and 2nd edition Infinity we used to think of the Armored Calvary (we call it the Squalo now) and the Guija as the generic TAGs, and the Zeta fits right in with them appearance wise. Generic does NOT mean bad in this context. Not at all! Rather, the Zeta Unit is an attractive design that I think has a broad appeal, and can make a great centerpiece for an army. It’s blockish geometric shapes are a great contrast to the smooth lines of PanO and Yujing TAGs. It is exactly the kind of design that I think of when I think of a TAG, and while I enjoy TAGs of all shapes and sizes, I appreciate that the Zeta fills it’s visual niche so completely. I especially enjoy the bulky elements attached to the back of the model. I’m not sure what those are meant to represent (extra ammo?), but it very much makes the Zeta Unit look like a front forward facing war machine that hides vital equipment on it’s back behind the bulk of it’s armored torso. Sculpt (8): The Zeta is full of blocky hard edges that curve into peaked surfaces. Small details like under-armor plates and the piping found around the ribs and lower torso could easily become messy and difficult to read, but the sculpting is so nice and clean here that these features are easily distinguishable without standing out and drawing attention from the overall silhouette. Pose (8): A very generic pose for a very generic TAG. Again, generic isn’t a bad thing in this context. The Zeta’s pose is very much a standard attention-getter, with a wide stance and raised second gun that make it a nice centerpiece. The stance is powerful, but still slightly dynamic, with the model’s weight nicely shifted to the right leg. Overall score: 8/10

Fiddler, Aristeia’s Ex-Toymaker Tournament Exclusive Edition (NA-2)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line. I've been away for a few years, but now I’m back!

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m reviewing the new Infinity May releases. Since most of them are repacks of models we’ve already seen, the only release I’ll be looking at is the Morat Tarlock Pack. This is a pack of 3 Morat miniatures, including two Yaogats and one Vanguard. You can pre-order the box from the infinity site. Please support the game and pick it up!

Morat Vanguard Infantry with K1 Sniper Rifle (Combined Army/Morat Aggression Forces) 

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (7): Last month I reviewed the new Vanguard Infantry, and this is basically the same model. I think these new Vanguard have a solid design. Their combat armored jumpsuits have an all-purpose look, and their bare arms make them appear very aggressive. I really like the addition of the over-the-shoulder bag on this model. It gives the impression that the sniper hasn’t just been handed a special weapon, but is a dedicated specialist combatant with a specific role to play and the equipment to be effective. Sometime its small details like that which make the model. 

Sculpt (8): The sculpting here is very nice. I particularly enjoy that each of the new Vanguards has a unique expression, even if its only a small variation. I loved the older Morat models, but too many of them had the exact same face and expression, making them look like one dude who had posed for photos in several outfits. I’ve seen a lot of people complain about the Vanguard's extremely thick wrists. While the new Morat’s arm’s are almost comically bulky, I think I can accept that as alien physiology, and it certainly makes them look huge and menacing. However, it is very strange that the armored Morats (like the below Yaogats) seem to actually have less bulky arms and thinner wrists. More consistency would have been appreciated!

Pose (8): While this isn’t a particularly interesting pose, the sculptor did a great job of making the Vanguard look like he’s actually a person and not just a mannequin. Notice how the right foot is raised up on the debris, but the Vanguard’s entire weight is on his left foot? His head is turned in that direction, and his shoulders are squared that way too. This kind of subtle pose makes the model feel like it’s moving within the world around it, even if the pose itself isn’t particularly dynamic.

Overall score: 7.6/10

Yaogat Strike Infantry with Spitfire or Multi Sniper Rifle (Combined Army/Morat Aggression Forces)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ??? (I’m going to score these two models together since they are so similar)

Design (7):  I’m just not a fan of this new Yaogat design at all. Both previous versions of the Vanguard were excellent designs that each had some really nice features that made them stand out among other Morats. This new design abandons all of that for something that looks distinct in it’s own way, but also looks like it would fit right in along side Nomad, 012, Haqq, Yujing or NA2 forces. It’s easy to imagine these Yagats as a generic Mercenary HI unit. This Morat no longer looks like a Morat, or an alien at all. * That’s not to say the Yaogats don’t have some interesting features. The new pseudo-helmet, which combines an armored hood, a high armored collar, and the “gasmask” seen on some new MAF models gives the Yoagat an interesting domed silhouette, which reminds me a little of the X-Men villain Juggernaut. The backpack that sits high on the back adds to this look. The overall effect is more unique then the painfully generic Rasyat and Kyosat, who otherwise share many of the same design elements.

Sculpt (8): While I’m not a fan of the design, the sculpting is great. There are a lot of hidden and subtle details that I’m eager to see closer in person. Rhe ribbed undersuit looks great, and the armor plating is crisp. I wish we had a better look at the faces and one-eyed visor.

Pose (7): The poses for the Yaogat’s don’t quite work as well as the Vangaurd Sniper even though they are very similar. the Yaogat Sniper is the better of the two, with it’s weight clearly on it’s raised foot. That gun looks heavy! The Yaogat Spitfire’s firing pose is very generic, and since it’s armor is too bulky to bring the gun into a suitable aiming position it just looks awkward. 

A friend pointed me toward Roberto Zoreda’s awesome concept art for Anyat, whose updated model comes in the new Dire Foes box. Zoreda has done a lot of great work for Infinity, including the recent fantastic Karakuri and Jing Qu. I’m sure you've seen Anyat’s art from the dossier, but if you look at the rest of the concept art you can actually see a lot of variations, as well as one sketch that shows Anyta’s full face! 

In the new Infinity Studio Update video Bostria shows off a whole bunch of renders presented at Adepticon. You can watch the full video here. Lets take a look, and I’ll tell you what I think!

This new Vanguard sniper is pretty sweet! While the new Vanguard designs are really nice, I personally prefer the more military and armored older versions. However this is a really solid looking model. The pose is a HUGE improvement over the previous version (even though it is very similar), and the bag is a nice addition that helps balance the whole model out. 

I’m really not a fan of these new Yaogats. Both the previous versions are classics, and this one just abandons everything that made those great for something pretty generic looking. It doesn’t look like a Morat at all. This really, really looks like a 40K T’au model to me. it is also absolutely massive for an ARM 3 MI. And the gun is absurdly big, even for a Morat. All of that said, the helmet and collar areas are pretty interesting looking, and I like the big pack. 

Yikes. This pretty cool looing TAG is ruined by the ridiculous pogo stick periscope riding pilot sticking out of the bottom. What were the thinking??? First off, the idea that a Morats would leave their pilot unarmored like this is ridiculous. Look at the absurd armor they put on their ARM 1, 2 and 3 troops! Second, for a close combat focused TAG, it looks ridiculously easy to just punch the pilot. He’s just hanging  at waist height, completely unprotected! It also looks like the TAG wouldn’t be able to walk forward with it’s knees bumping into the pilot, and its thighs crushing him.  

Otherwise the TAG is pretty okay. I believe its designed to look like the Hungries, which is pretty cool.

Oh geez I just noticed its awful gun! Sigh.  Maybe we’ll get a redesign in 5 years that fixes all this? or maybe someone will just do a good version we can all 3d print?

Sargosh looks pretty cool. I really like the designs for the Jayth Cutthroats already, so I’m not surprised I like this too. The pose isn’t particularly impressive or attention catching for a character, but the the elements look nice. 

I guess this and Sargosh are “tournament editions” of the existing models? The Zeta Unit seems fine. Big and nicely detailed. I seem to remember people really not liking the original model, but I’m not sure what the problem was. leave a comment if you know. 

Another Uxia?  This one doesn’t seem to be a particular improvement over the last 3 or 4, design wise at least. The sculpting is nice though. 

The image says this model has an ADHL. I can’t tell if that's the weapon slung on his back, or if he’s dual wielding them. The weapons in his hands look like grenade launchers to me. Anyway, the coat and hat make this a pretty fun design.

Wow! I own the older Shinobu, but I never got around to painting her for my JSA. I haven’t used that army in a few years, but Ill probably pick this model up just for the fun of painting her. She looks great! The pose is really weighted to show off the heft of that enormous sword. And the hat looks great!

I really like the pose on this one, and his extra details really compliment the standard Nomad outfit. Great expression, too!

This is a really neat design, with lots of interesting elements. But like the recent Zerat, it just seems too busy.  

I really like a lot of the recent Military Order models, and this one is another good addition. Her collar and jacket really play up the religious look, and her eye piece is great. She’s cute too!

This is a really great extreme action pose, and a great overall design. I really like her!

Welcome to Infinity Review, a blog where I review new Infinity miniatures releases. I’ve been playing Infinity and collecting and painting the miniatures for about 10 years, and I love talking about them! I started this blog both to share my thoughts and encourage more discussion about this great miniatures line. iv’e been away for a few years, but now I’m back!

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Today I’m reviewing the new Raveneye Officer. This is an exclusive model that comes with the new Raveneye book, which is available for Preorder now. Please support the game and pick it up!

Raveneye Officer (0-12/Starmada) Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (8):  I’ve been away from infinity for a few years, so I missed the chance to review the huge amount of 0-12 miniatures that were released in that time. I have kept up with the line though, and I’ve mostly liked what I’ve seen. The Raveneye Officer features a number of design elements common across 0-12. His uniform combines somewhat generic (but nice) looking plates on the shins and shoulders with a stylized uniform that looks like it would be at home on a futuristic naval vessel (from what I understand Raveneye is a space station, so that makes sense). Combined with the prominent helmet and backpack this creates a nice silhouette, and the model has plenty of eye catching details. The helmet is probably my favorite part. Its unconventional shape and prominent tubes are really neat. 0-12 is full of a lot of cool helmets, actually!

Sculpt (9): The Raveneye Officer is a busy model, with lots of details to draw the eye. Fortunately the sculpt is grounded by the relatively clean surfaces of the uniform, which gives details like the various belts, buckles, trim and holsters a chance to shine without overwhelming the eye. The back of the model is more cluttered, with a slung rifle (always something I love to see), a complicated backpack and wires feeding from the helmet. But because the Officer’s details flow cleanly from the front to the back and from the top to the bottom this mass of details seems less like clutter and more like purposeful density that gives the model weight and draws the focus of your eye to the front (and especially the hand and helmet). Well done!

Pose (8): There’s nothing particularly exciting about this pose. Like many Infinity models, the Raveneye Officer is posing in a fairly generic forward stride. Its not a standout pose, but it shows off the model nicely and will look good on the table in any context

Overall score: 8/10

Welcome back to Infinity review. Its been a minute. Life has kept me away from Infinity the last few years, but even though I haven’t been able to play the game since before N4, I’ve kept up with new releases and still enjoy painting models when I have time. With the release of the brand new Morat Aggression Forces set I’ve decided to step back in for a new review!  As some of you may know, I’m a huge Morat fan. I started playing Infinity shortly before the original Human Sphere book, and my first force was a Morat themed Combined Army consisting of all 10 Morat models! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this new MAF since it was announced a few months ago and have a LOT to say about the new models. However, because of my history with Morats I think I’m pretty biased. So I’m going to split this review into two posts. This first post will be a standard review focusing on the new models without the context of the old. I won’t be comparing them to previous Morat models. instead I’ll be judging them on their own merits. The second post will discuss the new set in the context of the older line.

If you’re interested you can find my review criteria here.

Morat Aggression Forces Action Pack

This new “start collecting” set contains 9 Morat models, reviewed below. Also available is the Dire Foes: Slave Trophy set containing 3 models and the limited edition Tyrok Hunter. All 3 products are available for Preorder now. Note: At the moment I do not know which sculptors and painters worked on these models. As that information is made available I’ll come back and update this review.

Morat Vanguard Infantry (Combined Army) Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (7):  Lets gets started with the basic Morat Line Infantry! This is the 3rd iteration of the venerable Vanguard, and these guys are as beefy as ever. Vanguard are lightly armored infantry, but they’re still big and tough, and this new design sells that aspect well. Their new jumpsuit gives them a sleek look, with minimalized but still functional looking armor around the chest, neck, lower legs and knees. The bare arms are impressively bulky, and along with the model’s overall large size, give the distinct impression that the Vanguard are very tough. Morats have always seemed very relatable to me because even though they are aliens their characteristics and motivations are distressingly human. Infinity players often like to compare them to Klingons, but really Morats are closer to Modern humanity’s worst military impulses. Design wise, the Vanguard’s sensible and rugged combat gear, tied back hair and bushy beards seem instantly familiar. The faces of these models are what I really want to pay attention too.  While the Morats are certainly more Human-like than the Shasvastii, their enormous tooth filled mouths, oversized jaws and horns give them a distinctly inhuman look. in some ways they’re more unsettling than Shavastii simply because they’re more familiar looking.

Sculpt (9): In the past I’ve said that scoring the sculpting of an Infinity model is often very boring, because nearly every Infinity model is sculpted so well. That is certainly true with these models, and most of the models in this box. The details of the the Vanguard are fantastic. Their armor is a combination of sharp corners and smooth curves, and their jumpsuits show off convincing creases and folds beneath straps, buckles and pouches. Their arms are beefy without looking cartoonish. The real star of the show is their extremely detailed faces, with gaping detailed mouths, neatly tied back hair, full muton chops and threatening eyes. I appreciate that each model has their own facial expression, which gives them their own sense of character

Pose (8): Line Infantry often get stuck with basic poses, and I’m afraid these vanguard aren’t an exception. But there's a big difference between basic and bland, and the Vanguard’s manage to look natural and mildly dynamic. Of the three, my favorite is the one with his foot up on the debris. With his head and shoulders thrown back and his mouth open wide he looks like he’s issuing orders, calling out enemies or letting out a battle cray. This is a great example of a simple pose that adds so much character to a model. 

Overall score: 8/10

Dartok Hacker (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (5):  Yikes. The Dartok takes the basic clean Vanguard design and throws a bunch of random confusing crap on top of it. Lets see what we have here. A bulky mask covering the mouth and jaw that looks to be part of the helmet we see on other Morat models. A large eye piece. Wires connected into the head. A weird set of brackets and tubes running down one arm. A shoulder pad and some kind of shoulder mounted device. plus an underslung weapon on the gun.  That's so much extra stuff, and a lot of it is confusing! I think any 1 or 2 of these elements would sell the point that this is essentially a hacking Vanguard, but together its just a mess of random shapes. The mask/faceplate/eyepatch makes the head particularly hard to read! However, I do appreciate the addition of the pony tail. it gives the Dartok a little more character.

Sculpt (7): While the details of this models are crisp and well formed, the additional hacking elements over the Vanguard body seem confusing and jumbled. This is less of a sculpting issue than a  design issue, but in this case the sculpting hasn’t helped the design at all. Pose (8): Infinity hackers suffer from  having a very limited set of poses, and the Dartok is no exception. However, his very standard “arm out” hacking pose is well done and full of energy. He looks aggressive and ready to engage in a cyber fight! Overall score: 6.6/10

Raktorak, Morat Sergeant Major (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (8):  This a very cool, but very different looking model. The large coat with the thick collar is different from anything else we’ve seen in MAF, both in the new range and old. It gives the Raktorak and very distinct look and makes him really stand out among the other troops. In fact, the coat reminds me a lot of other modern Combined Army models, and make some wonder if all Morat officers will wear something similar. The helmet  is less distinct in the current MAF line and gives the model a menacing faceless look that seems like it will be a staple in the new Morats. The tubes connecting the helmet to the backpack are very bulky, and I honestly can’t decide if I like that or not. I suspect they’ll be a divisive element among Morat fans. The large pouches wrapped around the upper arms seem a little awkward to me too. 

Sculpt (8): I think this is a really nicely sculpted model. The coat manages to look both thick and fluid. It hangs from the body convincingly. The helmet and little bit of leg and arm armor we can see looks great. The tubes are... weird. They feel too thick to me, and its hard not to see them as cartoonish. I imagine the bulk of the tubes is a casting issue, but I do wish they could have either been thinner or textured in some way. However, this may be one of those things I feel differently about when I get my hands on the model. My other issue with this model is that it just looks TOO bulky for its coat. In the past Infinity sculptors have managed to make very beefy coat wearing models that look really good. Check out the Aquilla Guard for a great example. The bulk of the Raktorak makes it look like the Hulk squeezed into a raincoat.  Pose (9): A really great action/shooting pose. However, because of the almost comical bulk of the model squeezed into a tight coat I think the model might have looked better in more upright pose? Not to say that this isn’t a well done pose, and I’m not going to dock the score because of this, but I think a pose closer to the art on the box might have suited the model more. Overall score: 8/10

Zerat Special Missions Regiment (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (7):  The Zerat is a real mixed bag. Let me start by saying that I really like that all the female Morats have been beefed up. I loved the old female Morats too, but this new bulky look really suits them. The basic Zerat design here looks pretty good. The form fitting undersuit and chunky armor gives them a bulky but still relatively sleek look, suitable for hard hitting skirmisher. The helmet is bulky, but along with the long flowing hair focuses your attention on the model’s head.  Unfortunately, I think the model is just too busy. Like the Dartok Hacker, the Zerat just has too much going on. For one thing, she’s covered in the same hacking crap that the Dartok is. Although it looks less egregious here (partially because the Zerat doesn’t have the Dartok’s weird mask), in combination with the Zerat’s other busy elements it really seems like too much. Even without the hacking stuff the Zerat still has a LOT going on. Her chunky helmet and chest plate have a lot of detail that is partially obscured by the thick tubes, similar to the Raktorak (Seeing these tubes a second time, I’m really curious what they’re actually for. Are they part of the Zerat’s Mimetism device? If so, why does the Raktorak have them?). The bulky pouches around her waist obscure detail down there too. Finally, the texture of her inner legs and arms creates patterns that compete for attention. The combination is a really cool looking model buried in unnecessary clutter. Stripping away 50% of theses elements would have looked much better, I think. We’ll have to wait and see if future Zerats look better without the hacking clutter.

Sculpt (8): Although the sculpting is well done, I think this model suffers from too much fine detail. This is more of a design issue than a  sculpting one, but I think the texture details of the legs and arms are just too busy, and get lost under the other bulky accessories. Looking at the similar Anyat model (below) I see a much cleaner surface area that creates a much more attractive model Pose (6): This is about the most dull hacking pose you could ask for. Legs spread slightly apart, hand reaching forward. We’ve seen this dozens and dozens of times before. In fact, almost every single Morat hacker has had this exact same pose (The Dartok from this box, as well as the Rodok and Vanguard). After a decade of Morat models, I would have thought the sculptors would be eager to try something new. When you can do literally anything, why do the same boring thing again and again? Overall score: 7/10

Rasyat Diplomatic Division (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (8): The Rasyat is a super bulky Medium Infantry drop troop, and it certainly looks the part. Like a lot of Morat MI, it actually looks like Heavy Infantry. The Rasyat’s torso is covered in enormous interlocking plates, and its legs are protected my some kind of banded material that might be armor too. The enormous thrusters on it’s back make its role as a drop troop clear. The Rasyat’s helmet is a little more distinct than the other models’ in this set, and his big ponytail gives him a flash of character. However, even though this is a nicely designed model, it also seems very generic to me. It really looks like it could belong in pretty much any of the human Infinity armies, which is kind of surprising for a Combined Army unit. I can see elements that remind me of Pan O, Nomads, Yujing and Haqqislam in the Rasyat, and if it wasn’t holding a Morat weapon I don’t think I would have even realized it was an MAF unit. The Rasyat is an attractive design, but I find myself wishing it looked more distinct.

Sculpt (9): The model is well defined and easy to read. I’m eager to get my hands on it to see some of the details obscured by the Spitfire. I especially like the ribbing of the pants and the details of the soles of the boots. Nice touches! Pose (8): Drop troop poses are sometimes hard to pull off, but this one looks really solid. The Rasyat’s descent looks relatively natural, and the prop connecting the model to the ground is fairly unobtrusive. The Model’s gun and eyeline line up very nicely to a target , making the Rasyat look like it’s coming in ready to fight. Good stuff! Overall score: 8.3/10

Kyosot Killing Platoon (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (8):  I think for a lot of people this is going to be their favorite model in the set, and its easy to see why. The Kyosot is a really slick and attractive medium Infantry with a cool helmet and a nasty looking sword. It appears to share a basic design with the Raktorak (minus the jacket and tubes) and the Rasyat (minus the jump pack), and that's not a bad thing at all. The armor is very sleek for a Morat unit, which I think is something we can probably expect to see more of going forward.  Unfortunately the helmet owes it’s coolness mostly to the painted on skull. In actuality it appears to be the same kind of featureless dome that the Raktorak and Zerat wear, minus the tubes (which make an appearance on the back of the helmet as dreadlocks instead, and are great). Its still a neat looking helmet, but without the skull it loses a lot of its character. Like the Rasyat, I’m kind of surprised by how much this looks like a generic human unit. I think anyone could be forgiven in thinking this was something from Yujing or Nomads, and with a different paint job it could easily fit in either army (it would also make a great Druze HI). While this is a nice design, its surprising to see MAF units take on such a generic look. 

Sculpt (9): There’s a lot of really nice, slick detail here. I’m also surprised by how natural the armor plates seem to fit together, almost like a suit of Iron Man armor. The sculpted on slung rifle is a great touch too. Pose (8): A completely solid pose, but not particularly exciting. Morats often end up in a generic pose that I think of as “fighting game idle pose”, and the Kyosot certainly falls into that category. Overall score: 8.3/10

Kaitok Shock Regiment (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (9): This is a legitimately neat model! The Kaito is super bulky (I’m using that descriptor a lot in this review, I know) while still maintaining a clean silhouette (minus the harness and mechanical arms, of course). Past Morat HI have bene a lot boxier, and while I always liked that look, I think this looks great too. Unlike the Rasyat and Kyosot, the Kaitok actually looks like a Morat to me. I think the big difference for me is the helmet, which has a more traditional Morat look. The harness and gun arms look fantastic. They have the sturdy all-purpose look that is a hallmark of MAF equipment. This is carried over to the Kaisot’s close combat weapon and feet. Both look hardy and industrial, putting function before form.

Sculpt (9): While I don’t think the sculpting of the armor comes together as well as the Kyosot, there's still a lot of very nice detail here. The faceplate of the helmet looks especially nice. Pose (8): The Kaitok's pose is suitably low key but very effective. It really looks like its marching forward across the battlefield, shrugging off small arms fire as it makes its way into combat.  Overall score: 8.6/10

Zabuk, Morat Enslavers (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (9):  Wow! What an interesting direction for what I assume is a Morat civilian unit of some kind. The Zabuk is instantly identifiable as a Morat, but unlike any other Morat we’ve seen. Her design forgoes the sleek futuristic look we’ve seen from the rest of the new Morats and even the uniform military look of the older Morats in favor of a look that I can only describe as medieval. Her armor is almost archaic, but still has hints of modern MAF design in the boots, upper chest and helmet. Just enough to tie her into the rest of the force while still remaining very distinct.  

Sculpt (9): I didn’t notice this right away, but that chain wraps around her right arm, runs across her back and coils around her left arm before ending in that hook. That's a great detail and very well sculpted. The chain links looks threateningly thick without looking silly, which isn’t east to pull off. The model is full of great detail, from her  enormous intricate ponytail to her very weird helmet. Pose (8): The Zabuk’s pose is very subtle. At first glance it looks relatively static, but if you look closely you can see her weight is shifter forward onto her left foot and her right foot is raised as she readies her weapon. This is a great example of a lot of energy in a relatively subtle pose! Overall score: 8.6/10

Treitak Anyat (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (10): Anyat is such a nice model! just like the other female Morats in this set, Anyat is super beefy, and she looks both big and threatening. Her outfit is surprisingly different from the Zerat’s, and because of that she look less like an alternate Zerat sculpt (which is kind of what the older model looked like) and more like a unique individual with her own style and story. I absolutely love her outfit with the high collar. It looks like a cross between the new Vanguard’s jumpsuits and the Raktorak’s jacket, and it really helps tie both of those elements together. The cool mask and hairstyle work great with the outfit too! Full disclosure, I think Anyat is my favorite model in the set. 

Sculpt (10): There’s a lot of great stuff going on with this model, but let me draw your attention to a few details. Not only is Anyat’s mask cool, but it leaves her mouth and lower jaw exposed.  Her mouth, chin, jawline and neck are all very nicely detailed. Her hair is really wonderfully sculpted, and really enhances the pose. I also really like the underarm ribbing, an element we see in the MI models in this box that also looks great here.  I think its worth pointing out how much cleaner and less cluttered Anyat looks compared to the Zerat. Both models have a lot of pouches and equipment, but the Zerat is muddled with some unnecessary texture on the arms and inner legs. in contrast, Anyat’s  cleaner look makes her a lot easier to read and more visually pleasing. Its easier to look at Anyat and tell exactly what's going on. Pose (10): Everything about this pose is great! The arch of her body, her raised knee and her hair all contribute to a sense of motion that is impossible to misinterpret. This is a wonderful dynamic pose, and one of the best I’ve seen from infinity in awhile! Overall score: 10/10

Shasvastii Corax Hasht (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ??? (Not a Morat, but since he comes in the set I’ll review him anyway)

Design (9): I missed my chance to review the new Shasvastii a few years ago, but at the time I found myself very impressed by their designs. Hasht is a good example of the best of the new Shasvastii design philosophy, combining creepy alienness and stylish cool.  I’m a big fan of the line’s distinct armor, with thick thigh and chest plates covering softer fiber muscle. The addition of cool looking jackets and cloaks helps humanize characters that look anything but human. Hasht doesn’t bring anything new to the Shavastii design space, but he’s an attractive model.

Sculpt (9): I’ve found the Shavastii models to have pleasingly sharp details and really nice texture. That seems to be the case here too. The bottom of the jacket looks a little too thick, but I doubt anything could be done about that. Pose (8): Hasht’s pose is slightly crouched and looking up, with his weapons ready. This is a perfectly fine pose on its own, but looks even better when you realize he’s supposed to be meeting Anyat’s lunge.

Overall score: 8.6/10

Tyrok Hunter (Combined Army)

Sculpted by: ??? Painted by: ???

Design (9):  Like the Zabuk, the Tyrok is something new for the Morat design space. Previous Morats releases like the Daturazi and Oznats have shown us hints of less soldierly and more warrior or hunter-like Morats, but the Tyrok takes this in a new direction, giving us a Morat that looks like something straight out of a fantasy adventure.  Like the Zabuk, the Tyrok’s style is medieval, and with her heavy plate armor, giant halberd and cloak decorated with trophies she almost looks like a savage questing knight. While the Tyrok brings  a fresh element to Morat design, she’s also perhaps the most traditional of these new Morat models. Her armor looks the most like the familiar MAF armor we’ve come to know over the years, with heavy plates and a mask that are reminiscent of past Morat models.

Sculpt (9): I suspect fur must be hard to sculpt, because its so often done poorly. Corvus Belli’s sculptors get it right more often then most, and the Tyrok’s fur pelt is a great example of this. It’s realistically detailed, but doesn’t overwhelm the model. In fact, the fur pelt and skull trophies are prominent details without drawing too much away from the the Tyrok’s central focus point, it’s head and weapon. The model is full of well rendered details, like the chest armor and the pouches that stretch across them, the elaborate mask and head ornament and the fingers gripping the weapon haft. Part of what makes these details really pop is that they’re set against the Tyrok’s solid armor plates, which is in turn set against a plain black under suit. Unlike the over-busy Zerat, there's no texture on the under suit to confuse the model’s details. A solid base makes for a solid model.  Pose (9): A solid two handed-weapon pose is somewhat rare in Infinity. here we see the Tyrok’s weight is shifted to her back foot and her weapon is raised as she braces to fight her prey. This is a great subtle pose that tells a story and looks good on the table in any situation! Overall score: 9/10

Hi! I’m not sure how much you know about Infinity (so forgive me if I’m telling you something you already know), but its important to note that while Red Veil and IceStorm can be played as self contained games, they are meant to be introductions to the larger Infinity skirmish game. The two armies different that come with each set are just a small selection of models available to those factions. So if you chose Red Veil (for example) once you learned to play you could expand either the HaqqIslam or Yujing force with over 100 available models that are available for each faction.Okay, so  getting that out of the way... Both IceStorm and Red Veil are great sets. In a lot of ways they’re identical. Both come with the same starter rules for learning to play Infinity and a selection of simple missions that teach you to play. Both come with a playmat and some card terrain, a set of tokens and templates. And most importantly, both come with two 7 model armies. The models in both boxes are extremely high quality.The only notable difference between the two sets is that the Red Veil card buildings are a little better that those found in IceStorm. Red Veil’s missions are also a little more compelling. But this is a pretty minor difference.