Metalforce Sonic is actually much better looking in person. The pearly blue paint they gave him is much better when you own the figure, and is really a good match with the black. However, from the back the white section where his tail comes out does appear like a pair of white underwear.

Here are all of the figures. Sonic gear is not currently affording all the figures, as they are repaints, and can be judged fairly well through looking at the originals, and this box back photo. You can see all the new colors for the new figures.
On this set, Shadow got a raw deal. His suit is not that impressive or different, and without his mask, his badly sculpted and poorly painted face make him an embarrassment to the line. Sonic fares a bit better in the paint department, but is still looking up. Sonic's suit is quite nice in person. Ignore the box back photo, the paint is attractive when you get the figure.

Watch for bent figures on this line!

ALWAYS look your figure over before buying it. This line can have paint spray problems, and there are reports of bent figures, such as Knuckles having a lifted spike, or Shadow having a distorted arm.

With this photo, you can get a better look at the metallic paint used on the figures. Tails is done in entirely silver and gold theme, with the only red for his shoes. Shadow is red and glitter-black, but his color scheme isn't much of an improvement. Sonics' dark blue/red is more impressive in person, and makes the figure look a bit less "power rangers" than it's Space Fighters counterpart.

In all, the metallic paint is a surprisingly nice addition.
Fans were dissapointed that the figures are not all new, but if you missed anyone from Space Fighters, this is a good chance to get someone similar. The metallic paint is a nice touch, and seems well selected and well done. Removing the helmets was a good choice on two, but it really shows the flaws on Sonic and Shadow.
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You can donate these figures to Gear, if you somehow magically have extras. If a figure is donated, it will be reviewed here with full photos.

Toys R Us has Assortment Number 37644 and UPC# 54687-37648 for Metal Force Knuckles. Other figures may have similar numbers. If you ask a clerk to look them up, use this number to help them. (Invalid 2014)

Here are all of the Metal Force figures mint in their box / on their card. You can see the box is quite a bit larger than necisary for each one. Their 'space accessory' or whatever that is...it was never labeled, is packaged beside them. Each item comes apart & fits into the top & bottom of the figure's fist.

The boxes are pretty much the same as the Space Fighters, but now are labeled Metal Force & randomly have the Sonic X logo, as if trying to trick people into somehow thinking that MF was actually a part of the show / a real thing instead of just repaints with really random items packaged in. These figures are rare in 2015, and MOC ones are highly collectible*, even though (and possibly because) the line was super strange. Photo by Max6464
*Why so uncommon?
These were merely repaints of "Space Fighters" and were released right after that line. If you as a kid, or an adult/parent were presented with obvious repaints of a figure set you just bought, even though it made no sense, you likely weren't all eager to buy the same ones again, with the same accessories. So this line didn't do too well.