Final Fantasy Cold Cast Collection

Final Fantasy Cold Cast collection is another limited edition collectible which was released in 1999. It consists of 5 statues from Final Fantasy IV to Final Fantasy VIII. These statues are unique because they are diorama i.e they depict memorable scenes from the respective games, while most Final Fantasy figures often focus on the characters or the summons. Only 3000 figures were made for each statue. Each figure comes with a card with a serial number although unfortunately the serial number is not indicated on the base of the figure itself. Each figure also come with a unique "holder" to hold the serial card for display.

I am not sure about the original price (it was nowhere printed on the box) but I read somewhere that it was about 3500 Yen each. FF V and FF VI statues are the most commonly on sale and the price can go up to 300-400 USD on eBay for mint-in-box figures. Yup that is almost 10x of the original price!! FF VII statue could go up to 700 USD on eBay even for a damaged one -_-" However, for once, FF VII is not the rarest. I have never seen FF IV statue being sold and have only seen FF VIII statue being sold once on eBay with final bid close to 600 GBP. Wew..

I only own FF V, FF VI, and FF VII figures. I don't know whether I will ever be able to complete the set seeing how rare they appear on the resale market. I bought FF V and VI on impulse with a combined price of 18500 yen. I said it on impulse because I did not really scrutinise the photo to realise that the items were without boxes, serial cards, serial card "holders", and worst part was damaged. Haiz.. Well, comparing to 300-400 USD each, seeing a bidding price of less than 20000 yen for both just knocked my senses away.

My FF VII figure is complete with everything, except for 1 part broken. I bought it for 21000 Yen and that was together with an FF Chrome Lenna figure (FF Chrome is another FF collection which I am not so interested in collecting). Considering FF Chrome is usually sold for more than 5000 yen each individually, the "package" that I got is not too bad, especially considering I saw one damaged FF VII figure alone sold for 30000+ Yen in late 2012 or the usual 600-700 USD on eBay.

Final Fantasy V: Butz and Boko

Can't remember the scene (perhaps I need to replay the game? Haha) but I think it could be at the beginning of the game. The figure represents Butz and his faithful chocobo, Boko, setting a campfire and relaxing in the woods. It is about 11cm wide and 9cm tall.

I absolutely love the details of the forest, complete with the canopy and the "shadow" effect. Suprisingly, Boko is more outstanding in appearance than Butz here. Haha.. The "holder", which I did not have, is actually the nicest among the five figures because it is a tree-trunk to match the forest theme. Initially, I was excited when I found that "Damn cool.. Boko can twist around" but the excitement turned into tears when I realised that this was because his legs were broken T_T

Front view

Aerial view

Back view

Close up of Butz

Close up fo Boko.. Love the canopy but the shadow makes Boko ugly in pictures!

The base.. Grr.. I prefer serial number to that "made in China" tag!

Boko's broken legs T_T

Final Fantasy VI: Opera House

This depicts the scene of Celes, as Maria, throwing away her bouquet in the Opera Maria and Draco. The top of the left tower was chipped and I did not realise it in the seller's pictures :( Cries.. I only feel "so-so" towards this figure. Haha.. Not really a fan of FF VI or Celes. The figure is 7cm wide and 13 cm tall.

"Default" display pose

If I move Celes around

Close up of Celes

Aerial view.. Look at THAT bloody broken spire on the left!

The details of the bricks are nicely done

The base

Final Fantasy VII: Forgotten City

I am usually an anti-overrated FF VII but I have to admit that this figure is dead gorgeous!! It represents perhaps the most "memorable" event in the whole FF universe: Aerith's death. The branches are extremely fragile and it will be so lucky to have none broken. Luckily, I can glue mine perfectly and it still looks perfectly okay. Take a look at the pictures below and try to guess where the broken branch is. Instead of the chibi version of the characters like what they do with FF V and VI figures, Cloud and Aerith look more human and I have to say they resemble the in-game sprite very closely. They look gorgeous and the part of dipping into the water is just brilliant! No wonder the price is like that..

The box is surprisingly huge at 22cm (L) x 19.5cm (H) x 17cm (W). The figure itself is about 13cm tall and 12cm wide.

The box still looks pristine

The full set

Nice stone.. But I still prefer FF V's tree trunk (which I don't have!)

Now you know why the branches are brittle.. Even the tree trunks are also brittle.

Aerial view.. The water effect is nice, isn't it?

Back view

Close up on Aerith

Close up on Cloud

I have no memory on this structure in the game..

The base

Can you tell which is the broken branch?

Since I doubt I will get the other two, I will just say what they are. FF IV figure displays the scene at Mt Ordeals where Dark Knight Cecil turns into Paladin. FF VIII figure displays Squall & Rinoa "Waltz of the Moon" at Balamb Garden scene (T_T I am dying to get this as an FF VIII fan!). Wish me luck to get this two!