CY GIRLS (also known as CY Girls or Cy Girls, and as COOL GIRL in Japan) is an
action figure
An action figure is a poseable character (arts), character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game or television program; fictional or historical. These figures are ...
series by
Takara Tomy
is a Japanese entertainment company that makes children's toys and merchandise. It was created from a merger on March 1st 2006 of two companies: Tomy (founded in 1924 as Tomiyama, changing the name to Tomy in 1963) and long-time rival Tak ...
and Blue Box Toys under the brand bbi collectible (an official bootleg), featuring an elite unit of female crimefighters, combining the elements of both a
doll
A doll is a physical model, model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and ...
and an action figure. A ''Cy Girls'' video game adaptation (known as ''Cool Girl'' in Japan) was developed and published by
Konami
, is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company, video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machin ...
for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
in 2004.
Action figures
The original variation of these action figures (ver. 1.5) features 16 points of articulation (joints) that allows the arms and legs to move out to the sides into a spread position, with movable shoulders, elbows, thighs, knees, ankles, wrists and a neck, featuring interchangeable hands, a detailed nude torso, and pivoting ankles. These figures are featured in ''Action Girls: 12" Female Action Figure Guide Book'' .
In Cy Girls' fictional futuristic universe, the Cardinal-Garrison paramilitary group is an elite all-woman team comprises experts in various fields chosen from around the world. It is a secret global fighting organization established to combat criminal conspiracy and activity, rumoured to have come into existence during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Their vehicles and other equipment witnessed at the scene of the incidents in which they went into action bore the Cardinal-Garrison 'CG' logo, and since the existence of Cardinal-Garrison was unknown, the group became known as the "Cy Girls".
The CG characters series includes the following characters:
*CG-01 Sky a.k.a. Ice (also in the versions CG-EX1 Special Branch a.k.a. Ice Black Unit, CG-1 PS2 Ice, PS2 SE Box Ice and Cardinal Garrison Ver.)
*CG-02 Jet a.k.a. Raven (also in the version CG-EX2 Law Enforcement (a.k.a. Raven Police coat))
*CG-03 Kat a.k.a. Ash (also in the versions CG-EX3 Martial Arts (a.k.a. Ash Wild Wamp) and Alternative Ash)
*CG-04 Blaze a.k.a. Flame
*CG-05 A.J.McLeod a.k.a. Lightning
*CG-06 Shadow a.k.a. Aska (sometimes referred to as "Asuka") (also in the versions CG-06 PS2 Aska and Aska Non Adopted Design Ver.)
*CG-07 Nikki a.k.a. Harley (also in the version Alternative Harley)
*CG-08 Ebony a.k.a. Coffy
*CG-09 Aurora a.k.a. Artemis
*CG-10 Destiny a.k.a. P.A.S.
*CG-11 Revenger a.k.a. Ray
*CG-12 Electra a.k.a. Ruby (also in the version Alternative Ruby)
*CG-0 Silver
*X-Borg X01 Colossus
*X-Borg X02 Spectre
*X-Borg X03 Fireblade
*XX-01 Bloody Rose a.k.a. Xixox (also in the version ComicCon Xixox)
In addition to the Cool/Cy Girls line, Takara and BBI released figures available under the Cool Girl brand name with the same trademark logo. This line includes the following licensed ("tribute") characters:
*Akiko Fuji and Annu Yuri from ''
Ultraman
''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...
''
*Anna Ishikawa from ''
SHI
Shi or SHI may refer to:
Language
* ''Shi'', a Japanese titles#Shi, Japanese title commonly used as a pronoun
* ''Shi'', proposed gender-neutral pronoun
* Shi (kana), a kana in Japanese syllabaries
* Shi language
* ''Shī'', transliteration of ...
''
*
Asuka Langley,
Misato Katsuragi
is a fictional character from the Gainax-created media franchise ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''. In the eponymous anime television series, Misato is head of the operations department of the special agency Nerv, and is in charge of directing and ...
and
Ritsuko Akagi
The Japanese anime television series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' has an extensive cast of characters that were created by Gainax. The show's protagonist is Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy whose father Gendo recruits him to the shadowy organizati ...
from ''
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. ''Evangelion' ...
''
*
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
and
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Debuting as "the Cat" in ''Batman'' #1 (spring 1940), she ...
(also Comic Ver.) from ''
Batman Returns
''Batman Returns'' is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and written by Daniel Waters. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to '' Batman'' (1989) and the second installment in the 1989–1997 ''Batm ...
'' /
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
*Beka Valentine from ''
Andromeda''
*Casshern, Casshern Sin Project and Kamiko Aso "Luna" from ''
C A S S H E R N''
*Deunan Knute from ''
Appleseed''
*Doronjo from ''
Yatterman
is a Japanese anime television series broadcast from January 1, 1977 to January 27, 1979, comprising 108 episodes. It is the second and longest show in the ''Time Bokan'' series by Tatsunoko Productions. The series succeeded ''Time Bokan'' a ...
''
*Honey Kisaragi (CG-SP1 Cutei Honey, Ex and Alternative versions) from ''
Cutie Honey
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...
''
*
Joanna Dark
Joanna Dark is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''Perfect Dark'' video game series. She debuted in the Nintendo 64 first-person shooter ''Perfect Dark'' and is a player character in all the games of the series. Outside of vid ...
(Black Suit and Armor Suit versions) from ''
Perfect Dark
''Perfect Dark'' is a first-person shooter developed and published by Rare for the Nintendo 64 video game console in 2000. The first game of the ''Perfect Dark'' series, it follows Joanna Dark, an agent of the Carrington Institute research c ...
''
*Jun (CG-SP2 G3 Jun Gatchaman Princess, Jun G3 Alternative and Dark Jun G3 versions) from ''
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
is a Japanese animated franchise about a five-member superhero ninja team created by Tatsuo Yoshida and produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The original anime series, which debuted in 1972, was eponymously entitled ''Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman ...
''
*Kai Tetsuro, Kouchi Todome, Midori Washio and Souchiro Toribe from ''
Kerberos Panzer Cop
''Kerberos Panzer Cop'', also known as , is a 1988 to 2000 ''Kerberos Saga'' manga written by Mamoru Oshii and illustrated by Kamui Fujiwara (Studio 2B) with mechanical design by Yutaka Izubuchi. This comic series tales events prior to thos ...
''
*
Mai Shiranui
(alternatively written しらぬい まい) is a fictional character in the ''Fatal Fury'' and ''The King of Fighters'' series of fighting games by SNK. She has also appeared in other media of these franchises and in a number of other games since ...
from ''
The King of Fighters
''The King of Fighters'' (''KOF'') is a series of fighting games by SNK that began with the release of ''The King of Fighters '94'' in 1994. The series was developed originally for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware. This served as the main plat ...
''
*
Motoko Kusanagi
Major , or just "Major", is the main protagonist in Masamune Shirow's ''Ghost in the Shell'' manga and anime series. She is a synthetic "full-body prosthesis" augmented- cybernetic human employed as the field commander of Public Security Section ...
(Ninja Suit Ver. and Op.ver.) from ''
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex''
The second type of Cy Girls figures is known as the Perfect Body Female. These dolls molds were not based on the ones produced by Takara Tomy and instead they were manufactured and produced independently by Blue Box Toys, featuring 26 points of articulation based on the basic design of the
Ultimate Soldier
{{Unreferenced, date=July 2020
The Ultimate Soldier was produced by the company known as 21st Century Toys. It was founded in 1997, and began making 1/6 scale figures and uniforms, and now mostly makes 1/6 scale weapon sets as well as 1/18 and 1/32 ...
. This double-jointed feature on the knees and elbows enables them to be posed in the
lotus position
Lotus position or Padmasana ( sa, पद्मासन, translit=padmāsana) is a cross-legged sitting meditation pose from ancient India, in which each foot is placed on the opposite thigh. It is an ancient asana in yoga, predating hatha ...
and any other conceivable position the human body is capable of. There are two interchangeable busts of medium and large sizes with nipples molded on them (the large bust was discontinued and replaced with a much smaller one that was almost flat chested), pivoting ankles and interchangeable hands, designed to hold any weapons or accessory. The products are packaged in a transparent box with a silver painted plastic strip covering the extra bust and the doll is dressed in a grey work-out
sports bra
A sports bra is a bra that provides support to the breasts during physical exercise. Sturdier than typical bras, they minimize breast movement and alleviate discomfort. Many women wear sports bras to reduce pain and physical discomfort caused b ...
with matching shorts.
Video game
Plot
''CY Girls'' the game tells a
spy-fi story of CG-1 Ice (voiced by
Michelle Ruff
Michelle Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games. In her early voice acting career, she used her mother's name, Georgette Rose, as a pseudonym. Some of her roles include Fujiko Mine in ''Lupin the Third'', C ...
),
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110615070707/http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/cygirls/cg_insider_01.html] the genius
hacker
A hacker is a person skilled in information technology who uses their technical knowledge to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle, within a computerized system by non-standard means. Though the term ''hacker'' has become associated in popu ...
and firearms expert on the mission to destroy an information file in the highly secure corporate building in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
(where she is navigated by her partner Sancho), and CG-6 Aska (voiced by
Mari Iijima
is a Japanese actress and singer. She writes and produces most of her own music, and plays the piano and other instruments. After being signed to JVC Victor in 1982, Mari first became known for her voice-acting role as Lynn Minmay in the anime ...
),
a master female ninja with astonishing athletic ability attempting to avenge the death of her father in a secret village in Japan (where she is navigated by her brother Kogetsu).
While only Ice and Aska are made available as player characters, other CG members also appear in the game. Aska is also a hidden character in the 2003 video game ''
DreamMix TV World Fighters
is a crossover fighting video game developed by Bitstep and published by Hudson for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in Japan on December 18, 2003. The game features characters from Hudson and Konami's video game series and Takara's toy lines.
G ...
'' for PlayStation 2 and
GameCube
The is a home video game console developed and released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, and in PAL territories in 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 (1996), and predecessor of the Wii ...
.
Gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pla ...
for ''CY Girls'' combines puzzle-solving with two distinctly different combat styles: ninja-oriented melee combat and stealth for Aska, and firearms combat for Ice. Essentially, the game was two different games depending on the character choice, as the game was released as a 2-disc package, containing Aska's data on one disc and Ice's data on the other. After completing the main story on a disc, additional characters from the story were unlocked, as well as an 'Extra Mode', where players could choose any combination of weapons, any unlocked character, or any outfit.
In addition, all unlocked characters had the ability to 'dive' into the world of
cyberspace
Cyberspace is a concept describing a widespread interconnected digital technology. "The expression dates back from the first decade of the diffusion of the internet. It refers to the online world as a world 'apart', as distinct from everyday rea ...
(referred to in game as Cyber Dimension, or Cy-D). Within Cy-D, standard moves were disabled, forcing all characters to resort to using punches and kicks to defeat enemies within the domain. In addition, players would have a maximum of 10 minutes within Cy-D before reaching game over (explained in-game as being the amount of time the character could remain within Cy-D without suffering a complete mental breakdown.)
Development
The game is made up of two discs. Disc 1 is for Ice's scenario while Disc 2 is for Aska's scenario.
Reception
The game received "mixed" reviews according to the
review aggregation
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
.
[ In Japan, '']Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the fo ...
'' gave it a score of 26 out of 40.[
Ice and Aska were featured in ''Play''s ''girls of gaming'' special in 2003. In 2009, '']GamesRadar+
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
'' counted ''Cy Girls'' among the games "with untapped franchise
Franchise may refer to:
Business and law
* Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees
* Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...
potential," commenting that the game "failed in many ways, with half-formed ideas and shoddy level design that had the player incessantly backtracking through levels." It also included the game on its list of the top shower scenes in games in 2012.
See also
* ZC Girls
References
External links
CY Girls product line on the bbi collective website
*
Official CG website by Takara
The Cy Girl/Cool Girl Collector's Guide to Ebay
Video game
*
*
* {{IMDb title, 0412605
Cy Girls
at ''Giant Bomb
''Giant Bomb'' is an American video game website and wiki that includes personality-driven gaming videos, commentary, news, and reviews, created by former ''GameSpot'' editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis. The website was voted by ''Time'' mag ...
''
2004 video games
Action figures
Action-adventure games
Fictional law enforcement agencies
Konami games
Video games about ninja
Playscale figures
PlayStation 2-only games
Stealth video games
Science fiction games
Third-person shooters
Takara Tomy
Takara Tomy franchises
Video games based on Takara Tomy toys
Video games featuring female protagonists
Cyberpunk video games
PlayStation 2 games
Video games developed in Japan