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October 2005 Donation Item Critique |
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This month's donation items are the CoCo Kitty Plushie and the Wind Security Blanket.
 Must Have Rating: 4 out of 5
Comforts of Childhood
What first struck me as odd is that they released a blanket. I mean, why now? Why not as a store item? Then I noticed the whirlwind standing between the two figures. It looks like the new trend to do with donation items is to replace the avatar entire! Then I saw the black KiKi called CoCo, and I knew then that this would be a strange critique. Little did I know that I was in for a big surprise.
That Darn Black Cat
So we have a black version of the KiKi Kitty. Or do we? At first glance, this is just another clone of the ever popular plushie of Gaia. But there's something not right about CoCo. In fact, there's something evil about this little guy. Maybe it's the eyes, maybe it's the way the preview picture looks in VO's announcement.
Or maybe it's because one of its modes is where it is clinging onto your face for dear life. I kid you not. The last mode this little devil has is where CoCo attacks your face. Now, even though I don't own a pair, this mode is probably best combined with the shocked-eye glasses you can win at the Casino for that extra comedic boost. With normal eyes, it just looks like your avatar is used to this kind of behavior.
The other modes are rather quirky.
You have your default mode, which is the same as KiKi where it just flops down on top of your head. You even have a Cuddle Mode, where CoCo sits nicely in your arm the same way Kiki does. So, in other words, nothing new here other than the fact that the cat is a different color.
The second mode here is called Charge! Here, CoCo starts to come to life in ways KiKi never did. Coco sits upright on your head and points out into wherever like a general leading his troops into battle. Best seen from the front, as it doesn't look to be that obvious from behind.
Probably what will be two of the more popular modes of this plushie is the Feline Influance mode and the Look Out mode. In Feline Influance mode, CoCo sits on your little shoulder and whispers bad things in your ear. Well, okay, not really, but it does sit on your shoulder. This mode looks better from the back. The front view just doesn't seem right visually, as half of your face is blocked by the cat. In Look Out mode, CoCo keeps guard as it looks over your shoulder. This mode is actually kind of cute. However, I couldn't help but notice how simlar CoCo clings to the shoulder in the same manner I've seen a certain electric rat cling to his owner's shoulder.
The last mode to meantion is something know as Kiss Kiss mode. This mode just looks odd. Although if you can get the right arm settings, it won't look half that bad. Like the name implies, CoCo in this mode gives you a big ol' smooch on the lips! What looks odd about this, from most any angle really, is that it doesn't look like CoCo is kissing you at all. In fact, it just looks, I don't know, bizarre.
Still, for what it's worth, CoCo has some cute modes that is bound to appeal to fans of KiKi.
I am a good Wind God... I am a good Wind God...
Powerpuff Girls referance for those of you that know what I'm talking about.
Probably the first in a long line of items that look like they came straight out of the baby cribe, the Wing Security Blanket is actually really impressive for something that older kids would tease you about for simply admitting you still own it.
 It's default mode is your avatar carrying it around as if you are Linus from the Snoopy comics. Heck, you could probably look like Linus if you found the right shirt and shorts combination! Thankfully, you can't make your avatars suck their thumbs.
By the way, anyone wanting to Gaia Cosplay as Linus, here's what you'll need. A red or blue shirt with strips going horizontaly, black shorts, and a pair of brown or white sneekers. You're on your own as far as finding hair that looks like his. Refer to the photo here for potential canidates. My best bet would be with the Sleep Head Brown style found at the Salon.
The second mode of the blanket is known as Shawl Mode. While impressive, there is just one thing that bothers me about this mode. You can see the little cloud character on the blanket. If this doesn't bother you, then you could use this mode to create a great preist or preistess costume. With the right items, you could even make it look like you are some kind of mystical being. You could even make it look like youre a boxer that is getting the sweat towelled off after a big fight. There's a lot of possibilities as far as costumes go for this mode.
The third mode is known as Covered Mode. This mode seems very timely. From the front, it looks as if you are covered in your blanket because you got scared of something that went bump in the night. If you have a pair of the aforementioned shocked-eyes glasses from the Casino, you cold wear those with this mode to make you look like you are even more scared of the dark. From the front, I find this mode very cute and affective in the sitting position. However, from the back, the Covered Mode looks more like a giant blue hooded cloak than a blanket. That is, if it weren't for that silly looking cloud on it. If you dont mind that, then from the back you could make a very impressive mystic costume with the right items.
The last mode is the Kamikazi Mode. Here, that goofy little cloud disappears and is replaced with a rather evil looking face that reminds me of those little ghost costumes you would see kids make from their own blankets. This mode is more impressive from the front than it is from the back, especially if you have long hair that interferes with the layering of this item. Noticably absent is the whirlwind cyclone underneat the image. Judging from the preview image, this could be one of two things. Either they will add the whirlwind later as they forgot to do so when they uploaded the data for this item or thie whirlwind is how this mode "walks" when in Gaia Towns. We won't know for sure until Gaia Towns comes back online later this week.
The only bad thing I can say about the Wind Security Blanket is that it is blue. Baby Blue at that. It's going to be hard to find items that match it and make it look nice that are not blue or in the cooler color range. However, I'm sure someone out there will be able to pull that off no problem.
Bed Time
If you have a KiKi already, I don't see much of a reason to get CoCo outside of the whole "complete set" angle. Sure, it has some new modes, but CoCo's modes take into account several slots that may or may not replace other items you will want to wear with it. If this isn't a factor with you, then get it.
But for my money, I recommend the Wind Security Blanket. It may have less modes, but it is still more impressive than the black cat. Provided you can get it to match well, that is.
 Zeek Slider · Mon Oct 24, 2005 @ 02:16am · 3 Comments |
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