The Night Viper was first released in 1989 and sold throughout 1990. There have been 3 versions since then. In 2006 with Operation Flaming M.O.T.H. (set 1 of 4, the Jungle Theater set) by the GIJCC, and then again in 2008 with the 4th wave of DTC figures released by the GIJCC. The Retaliation version seems to be a mix of the original ARAH with some of the DTC version thrown in.
Courtesy of YoJoe.com.
From the original filecard:
Code Name: Night-Viper
A Night-Viper’s helmet is a miracle of electronic-miniturization. Aside from its wide-angle, third-generation, image-intensifier, directional sound amplifier and laser range-finder, the helmet boasts a passive infrared detector that can spot the body heat of a squirrel at 100 yards. The Night-Viper’s helmet, combat suit and weapons are mostly made of synthetic composites that reduce the wearer’s own infrared signature and defy most ground radars.
“Night-Vipers are always in training and never see daylight. They live in windowless barracks with no interior lights. They spend most of their time trying to sneak up on each other. All you have to do to knock one out is to shine a flashlight in his face and burn out his sensors. The problem is, you have to find him first.”
Courtesy of YoJoe.com.
From the Retaliation “filecard”:
Night Vipers stalk their prey in the dead of night. They specialize in nighttime fighting and blend into the shadows until it’s time to strike. The use high-tech night-vision optics to see clearly in no-light conditions, and they can hit their target even in total darkness.