Due to all the bad reviews on the playart square enix figures, I wanted to buy one to open. This figure was cheap enough and little popularity to catch the eye of bootleggers. But, that is not a guarantee it would be genuine.After opening the figure, I looked for several things that should warn of items being a fake. Again, no guarantees, but, definitely some good guidelines to follow.The first sign that you MIGHT be looking at a fake is price. Obviously, there are bargains out there, and getting a $100 item for $50 or less does not mean it is a fake. It is a good indicator.The second indicator is quality. Having never seen an open package of a playdate figure, I wanted to see and feel one.Several complaints are about the quality control. Heads and appendages falling off. This is a very good indicator of a bootleg.Buying from reputable sellers is another thing. Buying a Rolex from the trunk of a car in a back alley is not the best place to buy a watch. Going to a jeweler, with a reputation is a better way to go. If course not a guarantee, but your chances greatly improve when buying from a more reputable dealer.Paint quality and accessories are next issues to watch for. Now here's the problem i have: if I have never seen one before then how do I compare? Further, I have seen genuine items that had paint jobs that I could have done better. Generally these were DC Collectibles and the WB Studio Store statues. Usually the high end retailers tend to ensure perfection. Again, I have seen horrible quality items from high priced companies (eg. The Spider-Man chess set, circa 2005-2007). Retail was $500. But, the set was worse than bootleg quality.A few head smacking "why didn't I think of that" idea. From the From Japan website, they demonstrate Japan/anime figures having imprints, usually in the foot, and official deals or serial numbers on the box.I'm convinced this genuine, so now for the figure and it's review.I have seen this figure previously, in hand. Quite heavy. This figure has the same or similar weight to the one I held previously. The box itself is a piece of art with square enix. The window panel is painted with "kneel", making it an awesome means of displaying the figure.The plastic/material used is definitely a high quality material. The joints are not stiff, and move quite nicely. They are tight so as to be able to pose the figure but not so tight as to break off. This is what we want them to be. So, if the appendages fall off, easily, time to get some intervention, I would think. IThe paint job is about as perfect as I have ever seen. Consider i have purchased from sideshow, gentle giant, hot toys, kotobukiya and several others over the past 20 years, and have reviewed for several websites, that is saying something.Overall, I find these figures some of the best i have come across.Likeness. I have to say as far as I can can tell (mostly from memory) and a picture from IMDB.com, it's pretty close. But the face and the nose is thinner than Michael Shannon's. The clothing is tighter as well. These are nit picky flaws, but worthy of mentioning.There is a downside to these figures, in my opinion. That is price. Unfortunately, retailers shrink items and raise the prices. Considering they pay the Chinese toddlers pennies a day to make a zillion of these, the price tag seems high to me. If course, collector demand forces the prices even higher. Collector value does not seem to be there as of now. But, perhaps as Square Enix becomes more popular, who knows?Bottom line: a very excellent figure. One worthy of being set in any Superman or DC comic display. Grade: 95/100.