Review: Alien Resurrection Ripley 8 and Xenomorph Warrior Figures

Alien Resurrection is not anyone’s favorite Alien movie; probably not even director Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s. Even Alien 3 has some retroactive fandom thanks to David Fincher’s later career and an improved “assembly cut,” but Resurrection has had no such love. However, even viewers who have problems with the story can appreciate the designs, and that’s what NECA counts on. Their Alien Resurrection series consists of a giant boxed queen, an oversized Newborn Alien, and two regular figures: Ripley 8 and Xenomorph Warrior. These are the two I was sent for review.

The Xenomorph Warrior is the same alien that came in the Comic-Con exclusive two-pack with Superman, but with a clear dome on its head and brown highlights rather than purple. It has the same issues with standing, as its feet are small and legs filled with joints. You can balance it on its tail or find a stand; I suggest the latter, but the former works meanwhile.

Parts of its joints are loose, but you can move some past the loose parts and compensate with others, because there are so many. Five ball joints alone in each leg. Four in each arm. Hinged forefingers. Ball mid-torso. Ball neck. Opening jaw with extending inner jaw. Cut joint at the top of a bendy tail. There may be even more that’s hidden.

Ripley may not be everyone’s favorite version of Ripley, but she’s the most badass. An eighth-generation clone, complete with figure-8 tattoo, she comes packing two pulse rifles with straps. The Sigourney Weaver likeness is solid, though the flash blows it out a bit in some of these pics.

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Ripley has ball-jointed knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, waist, elbows, neck, and cut wrists. Part of the reason for the wrists is that her hands can be switched out and replaced with baller hands. Yes, that’s right, this Ripley comes ready to play basketball. And one is included.

Though some of the folks at NECA used to work at McFarlane Toys and hated the pivot to sports, they may have missed something. McFarlane’s basketballs always came with a tiny translucent clip that would attach to a figure’s fingers. If this basketball had one, the figure’s potential poses could improve. But no. So you may have to get creative with putty.

Aside from that, the only real issue with Ripley is the softer crotch piece designed to give her legs more movement. It doesn’t quite color-match the legas as it should, so rather than uniformly colored pants, she has what collectors call the “granny-panty” effect. From a distance it’s not noticeable, but once seen, cannot be unseen.

Most people will probably check out her big guns first though.

Ripley and the Xenomorph are rare non-Ultimate figures from NECA nowadays, and should run about $22-$25 most stores. Although some stores charge needlessly more. The Alien mold has already been reused once and probably will be again, so feeding scalpers can be avoided. Ripley figures tend to sell out fast, so if you want her and the mark-up isn’t too bad, don’t pass it up.

Check out our full gallery below. Do you think Resurrection gets a bad rap? Will you buy the toys regardless? Let us know in comments.