Minecraft - ALEX!

Minecraft:  - 3.25" Figures Craft-a-Block Series- Alex - Mojang/Mattel 2021

It's been a moment since I've reviewed a Minecraft toy, and it's fun to bring it back to the original female character from the franchise, Alex. I still don't know much about Minecraft (eight years since my first review of an Alex toy), but I've grown to really appreciate the blocky pixelated style which lends itself to fun toyetic action figures. But as fun as I think these toys are, they naturally get a little repetitive. Gender is often expressed with nothing more than a geometric ponytail, and I appreciate that simplicity. The one thing about this specific character's popularity in the toy lines is that she keeps getting released in various scales, and I just eat that up. This 2021 Mattel figure is my fourth Alex, but in a scale distinctly different than my previous three. Other than size, accessories, and the company producing them, the figures are comically similar, but the idea of lining them all up makes it totally worth the purchase to me. I get a bit obsessive like that. Let's check out this 3.25" Mattel Alex below!

Minecraft Dungeons - GRETA!

Minecraft: Dungeons - 3.25" Figures Series 02 - Greta - Mojang/Mattel 2021

About six years ago I was in a toy buying drought and on my millionth fruitless toy hunting trip I randomly ended up buying a small Minecraft figure from Jazwares. I was aware of the Minecraft game buzz among all my young relatives, but truly knew nothing about the property aside from the exaggerated pixel designs. When I got the figure in hand I found the simplicity to be quite charming and fun. It reminded me of wooden block toys I had as a child mixed with the 8-bit game graphics of my adolescence. Plus the sole female toy shared my name. All-in-all I was really pleased with my random toy purchase, but always assumed it would be my last. But then a year and a half later I saw that same character, but now with snap-on armor. I knew I would be hooked after that second purchase. However, the toy lines dried up until the recent Minecraft: Dungeons game was released - and subsequently introduced a ton of new characters. Greta is the newest lady on the shelves - let's check her out below!

The Ladies of MINECRAFT: DUNGEONS!

Minecraft: Dungeons - Valorie & Adriene and Skeleton Sets - Mattel 2020

When I was a kid my mom was always doing counted cross-stitch. It was her relaxing hobby when watching TV or sitting on the bench swing while my siblings and I played in the yard. At one point, she told me if I drew out designs on graph paper, she could stitch it for me. It wasn't long before I had stacks of paper and developed my own little cubist universe. Those memories are what attract me to the simple pixelated designs of Minecraft. But over the past five years, I admit I started to completely ignore the toys. It seemed that the token female character, Alex, was just going to rehashed over and over with only the slightest changes - and frankly I was bored. That's why I was so excited to see a new wave of toys for the 2020 Minecraft Dungeons game that included two female characters in the first offering. Of all the Minecraft players I personally know, I would say 3/4 of them are girls, so it makes sense for Mojang to try to finally repair the gender gap. Let's check out Valorie and Adriene below!

Minecraft - ARMOR UP ALEX!

Minecraft - 5" Figures - Armor Up Alex - Mojang/Mattel 2016

I'm at my parents' house this weekend and I'm surrounded by all seven of my rambunctious nieces and nephews. One trend alert that's been impossible to ignore has been Minecraft. From ages 3 to 13 they are all obsessed with it. Whether playing the game on their tablets, warring with action figure armies, or building the Lego sets, it's been the theme of the day. It reminded be that I had randomly picked up this figure months ago and photographed it. I've never played Minecraft and don't know anything about it, but I recognize its popularity and I love action figures with removable armor or translucent details. This figure combines those two with a full set of translucent purple armor - so I couldn't resist. Plus it represents two different companies takes on the same figure.  I don't know if Jazwares lost their license or not, but these larger scale figures are made by Mattel (the small ones still lining the toy aisles are all Jazwares). Let's check out Armor Up Alex in detail below!

Minecraft Overworld - ALEX!

Minecraft: Series 03 - Overworld Alex - Mojang/Jazwares 2015

I don't know a single thing about Minecraft.  Of course, the past few Christmases, Thanksgivings and Beach vacations I've lied and pretended I knew all about it to impress my nieces and nephews.  They're obsessed.  Every second of the day they're hunting, digging, and building with their adorable little noses pressed up against one electronic device or another.  I kind of hate the trend, but I try my best to be the cool uncle.  At least now I have a toy so I can speak with a little authenticity.  From what I've read right now, Alex is a female skin that appeared in Minecraft Version 1.8.  She is available to replace the main character, Steve.  These toys are simple and definitely not likely to appeal to the collector crowd.  They are, however, pretty darn popular with the kiddies.  More and more real estate in the toy aisles is dedicated to Minecraft (and its rival, Terraria) lately.  I don't think the trend will be going away any time soon either.  I think this figure is pretty cute and will definitely have a place on my hodgepodge videogame shelf (alongside diverse figures like Halo and Sonic).  Let's check out Alex below!