The Desert Viper(Desert Assault) features a mix of parts from Snake Eyes, Elite Viper, and other figures. Possibly an homage to the vintage Desert Scorpion, this is one of the few desert themed figures in the line so far.
This figure is the only army builder in wave 5. Is it worth troop building? Hit the discuss button to find out!
Steel Brigade says
ROC wave 5 singles follows a trend that Hasbro does with Star Wars only they do it one better with GI Joe. Where Star Wars usually has straight repainted waves, the ROC line offers more reconstructed figures, & actually an all new figure with City Strike Snake Eyes. One of the best of this Wave though is the appropriately named Desert-Viper. It's a newly named viper constructed of previously released parts, yet has a freshness about the build w/gear that provides for a great combo.
The body itself is a straight Elite Viper construction, but the additions in equipment make the Desert-Viper look fully loaded. Of particular note on this figure is the wonderful dirty dry-wash on the character's limbs, as it gives him a very rugged & "sand-blasted" look that we have not seen previously executed this well on modern GI Joe.
For gear he has a MARS Trooper tact vest, that is painted in a bland yellow/tan-striped almost wasp-like fashion. For head gear he comes with newly fashioned goggles & BeachHead's/Major Bludd's scarf (which maybe excess for a masked trooper, but still breaks him out of the basic Elite-Viper look & into a well-equipped desert fighter). Also, he comes with the same pistol, belt, & backpack as the Elite-Viper, but additionally comes with 2 of the hatchets & 1 spear that Crimson Neo-Viper came with, plus ROC Zartan's bayonet rifle, Helix's machete, ME "animated" Snake Eyes's Arashikage (unemblemed) sword & a ROC stand. Most of the bladed weapons fit in the backpack's holder/opening. Since this figure has an amazing arsenal of firepower & melee weapons, there is no spring loaded missile launcher included.
To me this guy has a very similar vibe to one of my oldskool favorites, the ARAH Desert Scorpion (91') and easily fits that slot in my ROC universe. You'll be happy to add him to your Cobra desert ops, as he is one of the best ROC troop builders yet.
Recommended.
MrClean says
Great review! Thanks!
I switched the head from this one and the Red Fang ninja to make both of them a little better. And give the goggles a purpose.
The vest is a repainted MARS Trooper vest. I also think the goggles aren't Snow Jobs, but the upcoming Arctic Destro's. They're much thinner and more flexible.
Trooper618 says
Picked this up the other day i like it alot gave it a 9
Joecom says
Great review! I gave it a 9
It is a really cool solid figure
Tankster says
i like it accept the yellow on the vest yuck!
manic mailman says
i put the aquaviper head on him with the goggles and scarf loooks pretty dope
zedhatch says
I was really disapointed when I realized this was just the Elite Viper with different gear. A new head would have made it go miles better.
Funnel Rat says
Looks amazing! No giant plastic scorpion though...weird.
CrimsonGuard101 says
This one gets a 10 from me, even though he is a definitive reapinted frankenjoe and looks like Maya the bee-Viper....
However they do not GOOO with Dookie Vipers from Kamrt! Arrgh that makes me wanna hurl!
Wish they had dry brushed his helmet took more like his card art...
Got me 5 of this guy and I am done with him thankfully...
Last troop builder I need now is the mythical Jungle Assualt Night Viper if he ever comes to pass...
Steel Brigade says
The vest is a repainted MARS Trooper vest. I also think the goggles aren't Snow Jobs, but the upcoming Arctic Destro's. They're much thinner and more flexible.
Thanks buddy, I fixed it.
Keep reading: ROC DESERT-VIPER review & pics!! - Page 2
Not a member yet? Join HissTank Now!