GI Joe Classified Night-Viper Review

There are certain figures in the Classified line that make you stop and say, “Why mess with perfection?” The G.I. Joe Classified Series Night Viper is absolutely one of those figures.

From the moment you pull him out of the box, it’s clear Hasbro understood the assignment. The Night Viper largely sticks to what made his original O-ring release so distinctive — the lean build, the specialized sniper role, the sleek Cobra aesthetic — and in this case, that faithfulness works beautifully.

I’ve had issues before when Classified updates feel too safe or overly reliant on nostalgia. But here? It feels intentional. Purposeful. The Night Viper design was already strong. This release respects that legacy while refining it for the modern 6-inch scale.

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Accessories – Sniper-Ready Loadout

The Night Viper comes packed for the mission:

• Two serrated knives with detailed handle sculpting
• A new pistol with an extended grip and blast effect port
• A large sniper rifle with removable magazine and pliable sling
• A detailed backpack with antennas
• Helmet with movable visor and silver lenses

Let’s talk about that sniper rifle first.

The sculpt is excellent. It features a large scope and a futuristic range-finding/spotting module that leans into the Night Viper’s advanced reconnaissance role. The sling is a nice touch and just serves to remind you how ahead of the curve the original o-ring figure was at the time.

The backpack is detailed but unpainted — which is par for the course in the line. I’ll admit I’m generally not a fan of backpacks unless they something creative or intesensly compliment the figure (such as Hit N Run) but what we have is serviceable. I’ll probably be displaying my figure with his.

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Helmet & Head Sculpt – Mean and Tactical

Under the helmet is a fantastic balaclava-style head sculpt. It’s sharp. It’s intimidating. It screams bad guy. It looks like someone you don’t want lining up a shot from 800 yards out.

The helmet itself includes a movable visor and silver-accented “monocular” scope. It fits snugly — maybe a little too snug — but it stays secure and looks great in both raised and lowered configurations.

The overall silhouette remains faithful to the original O-ring version, with subtle modern refinements that make it feel premium without straying from the source material.

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Sculpt & Paint – Classic Cobra Energy

This figure keeps that iconic green Night Viper look intact — and it absolutely works.

Highlights include:

• Red paint apps on the shoulders
• Sculpted skull patch
• Moon, eye, and star insignia patch
• Cobra logo on the armor
• Integrated knife sheath in the boot
• Drop-leg holster
• Separate sculpted ammo detail

There are some small sculpted flares on the legs that are a bit mysterious in purpose, but they don’t detract from the overall presentation.

The build is lean and athletic — not overly bulky, which suits a sniper/recon specialist perfectly.

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Articulation & Posability – Elite Tier

This is where the Night Viper really shines.

You’re getting:

• Butterfly joints
• Bicep swivel
• Double-jointed pinless elbows
• Ab crunch
• Waist rocker
• Drop-down hips
• Thigh cut
• Double-jointed pinless knees

The figure hits a perfect T-pose. It can crouch, kneel, sit, run, and even balance in dynamic sniper stances. Despite the backpack weight, I was able to get him into convincing firing positions without much frustration.

If posability matters to you (and it should in the Classified line), this figure delivers.

Final Thoughts – Buy One… Or Two

The Night Viper is an extremely cool figure. He captures everything that made the original memorable while enhancing articulation and sculpt detail for the Classified era.

This is one of those releases where sticking close to the source material was the right call. The design was already strong. No unnecessary reinvention needed.

I’m genuinely tempted to grab another. Maybe even more. He looks that good on the shelf — especially paired with other Cobra specialists.

If you’re a Classified collector, this is an easy recommendation.

Sometimes perfection doesn’t need fixing. It just needs updating.

And the Night Viper proves that.

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