#morats

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! 

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