Thursday 5 December 2019

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo

SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 01

Release Date: August 2019
RRP: 6600 yen

There aren't many S.H. Figuarts out of the 100+ I own that I can honestly say I outright hate, but S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo is definitely one of them. Between the poor ankles, gummy plastic and just general cheapness of the figure it ranks pretty highly as one of my least favourite entries in the line (second only perhaps to the dreaded Kamen Rider ZX). So imagine my joy when Bandai Tamashii Nations annouced the base form of Kamen Rider OOO's titular Rider would be the next character receive the prestigious S.H. Figuarts –Shinkocchou Seihou- treatment – hot on the heels of Kamen Rider Wizard's equally needed glow-up and the long awaited arrival of Kamen Rider Kiva. But on top of delivering the usual high quality the line usually strives for, S.H. Figuarts –Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo also comes with a few other surprises up its sleeves – teasing more articulation than ever before as well the surprising implementation of the show's much-loved gimmick.

SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo Box 01

SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo Box 02SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo Box 03SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo Box 04SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo Box 05

S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou boxes have barely changed since the line first landed back in 2014 – in fact they haven't changed at all other than the addition of the blue "Bandai Spirits" logo and the foil Tamashii Nations authenticity sticker. But if it isn't broken then why fix it? Kamen Rider OOO comes packaged in the standard two-piece box, with the lid featuring a stylised image of the figure on the top of the lid with the name of the figure written along the matte black sides in silver foil lettering. The underside features a number of images of the figure in various poses along with a closer look at the accessories included, and then inside the figure and accessories are spread across two moulded white plastic trays with clear plastic "lids". The deeper top tray holds the figure, while all of the accessories are stored on a thinner tray underneath.

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SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 03SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 04SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 05SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 06

SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 07SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 08SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 09SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 10

Not that there isn't a lot of repetition when it comes to reviewing S.H. Figuarts anyway, but it feels particularly repetitive to stress just how good these Shinkocchou Seihou figures are. Every single one Bandai have released blows the main line away when it comes to sculpting, proportions and paintwork – so of course Kamen Rider OOO is absolutely no exception. Despite not being an especially detail-heavy design there are a lot of details on the TaToBa suit that need to be perfect in order for a figure to look good – most significantly the head sculpt and chest emblem. Everything here has been scaled down and replicated in perfect detail, but it's the finish that makes it work just as much as the sculpting and paint. Whereas OOO's body is pristine and unpainted matte black, all of the paint detailing has been done with a glossy coat. So even on the areas where there isn't much paint your eyes are immediately drawn to it, which then goes double for those previously mentioned areas of note. The chest emblem is just flawless, and the head sculpt piercing with metallic red face and striking compound eyes.

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SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 12SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 13SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 14SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 15

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The comparison with the original figure just says it all really. In addition to its flimsy ankles and gummy joints the original figure had terrible proportions, washed out colours (particularly the red) and was just all around a pretty bad figure. I have absolutely zero love for it, and a figure that really captures how striking and colourful the Kamen Rider OOO suit is is well overdue.

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One of the key features of S.H. Figuarts since around the time of Kamen Rider Fourze has been the inclusion of scaled "gimmick" accessories that fit into the each Rider's respective Driver, and with the likes of Double's Gaia Memories or Kiva's Fuestles the Shinkocchou Seihou line has really pushed just how small they can make these functional accessories. OOO is perhaps the most ridiculous example yet, coming packaged with small scale versions of the Taka (Hawk), Tora (Tiger) and Batta (Grasshopper) medals that can fit into the OOO Driver. In package the medals are attached to a model kit runner and ideally will need cutting with sprue cutters to remove, which was a sensible idea on Bandai's part because these would be SO easy to lose. Simply holding onto them tightly to slot them into the Driver feels stressful enough. But thankfully once you've manged to slot them into places there's very little chance of them falling out again – so much so that a special tool has been included to help slide them out should you ever need to. On top of being able to house Medals the OOO Driver is also fully functional in that it is able to tilt diagonally as it would during Eiji's transformation sequence on the show itself.

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SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 28SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 29SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 30SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 31

SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 32SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 33SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 34

Articulation has remained largely the same on the Shinkocchou Seihou figures for some time now, which makes sense since Bandai seemed to have cracked it when it comes to providing both flawless sculpting and a sturdy, articulated figure. However OOO is a rather special case because this time they have added something new to the mix. To start with you have all the usual joints you'd expect the figure to have – a ball jointed head, neck, waist, torso, wrists and hips, ball hinge shoulders (with levered, ball jointed shoulder pads), double hinged elbows and knees, bicep and thigh swivels, swivel hinge ankle rocker joints and a single hinge at the end of each foot. What's new here though is the addition of a further swivel cut in the elbow joint itself – just above the hinge connection. This tiny little implementation adds a whole new dimension to the arms, allowing them to twist and contort more than any Figuart has previously. Amazingly the joint doesn't feel any less flimsy or secure either, which definitely could have been a concern given issues the line has had with joints on certain figures in the past. Regardless that Shinkocchou Seihou articulation is as smooth and flexible as ever, and any worry of another set of OOO figures having weak ankles has been completely obliterated.

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A functional Driver isn't the only gimmick Bandai have surprised us with either, as for the first time an S.H. Figuarts is also able to faithfully recreate the primary gimmick of the Rider himself – in this case, the combo change. As per the design of the suit itself, the Shinkocchou Seihou OOO mould can split into its three distinct sections (the bottom third of the chest emblem can also unpeg from the torso, though not shown here). Then once further forms have been released, these parts will be able to mix and match to recreate the hundreds of three-animal combos OOO is capable of (most of which of course didn't appear on the show). Even though it's such a simple gimmick it's pretty shocking to see it fully realised on an S.H. Figuarts, providing more play and display options than ever before. Though pulling the middle section away from the waist/legs can be a little tight, generally separating the figure isn't all that hard nor does the gimmick seem to impact on the overall sturdiness of it in any way. If you're not much of a form collector the gimmick may not have all that much to offer, but for hardcore OOO fans planning to get them all this is a pretty huge addition. Also makes you think Bandai are probably kicking themselves for not doing the same thing with the Kamen Rider Double ones a few years back.

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If you're familiar with the original TaToBa figure then most of the accessories included here won't come as much of a surprise. As well as the previously mentioned Core Medals OOO also includes 11 swappable hands (including closed fists, weapon gripping hands, medal gripping hands, two pairs of open posed hands and an additional right hand to hold the O Scanner), O Scanner, a pair of alternate forearms with deployed Tora Claws and his Medajibur sword. When not in use, the O Scanner can be slotted into its holster on the right side of the belt. As for the Tora Claws – where on the original figure they were done as swappable wrist cuff pieces, here they are completely separate forearms. The longer claws are hinged so can swing backward, but only a certain amount so that hands can be connected easily. While it might have been nice to have functioning claws that could swing forward from their stationary position, it makes sense not to overload the figure too much with gimmicks and this way the claws can be longer in attack position. Swapping pieces at the elbow can always be a little frustrating since the replacement parts never seem to fit quite as tight as the original ones, but even so it's a pretty effortless swap that adds even more character to an already fantastic mould.

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The Medajibur has also received a rather significant upgrade, now sporting better proportions, sharper detailing, a moveable Medalever on the hilt and even a swappable Crystal Unit piece housing three Cell Medals. Simply remove the blank piece off of the blade and replace accordingly, which will result in the Cell Medals being displayed through the transparent window piece on the other side. So while the accessories that come with this new OOO may be essentially the same as the ones included with the original, every single one has been reworked and significantly improved – almost making them feel like whole new additions.

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SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 67SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 68SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 69SH Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo 70

As if Kiva finally getting released after ten years of waiting wasn't enough to prove that 2019 has been the best year for the line yet, S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider OOO TaToBa Combo has now come along and provided one of the best glow-ups yet. With the exception of Kamen Rider Wizard, at least all of the other original counterparts to the Shinkocchou Seihou "renewals" either had their age as an excuse or worked as perfectly functional toys. TaToBa improves on the highly disappointing original in every single way, finally giving OOO the kind of quality action figure he deserves. As if the usual high standard of Shinkocchou Seihou sculpting and articulation wasn't enough, the newly added joints and implementation of the combo change gimmick are all-new surprises for collectors who by this stage might feel like they've seen it all from the line. With OOO's other forms releasing in the near future and hundreds of potential combo changes at their disposal, Kamen Rider OOO fans might find themselves handing over a lot more cell medals to Bandai than they initially expected. About time things started comin' up OOO.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love how you recreated the crossover movie shots and seeing the difference between Shf generations is pretty wild. Ghost really looks out of place lol.

Alex said...

Thank you! Yes Ghost definitely needs an upgrade soon. Wouldn’t say no to a new Fourze either 😁