Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action Gamer Level 2

Release Date: March 2017 (3-pack), April 2017 (Individual)

RRP: 15,768 yen (3-pack), 5184 yen (Individual)

Bandai Tamashii Nations have made some rather unexpected decisions with the mainline Kamen Rider S.H. Figuarts lately. Not only was there a surprising lack of Kamen Rider Ghost figures, but seemingly obvious mass releases like Kamen Rider Drive Type Trideron ended up as web exclusives. When it came to announcing Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Figuarts Tamashii Nations had even more surprises up their sleeve, revealing that Kamen Riders Ex-Aid, Brave and Snipe would initially be released as a 3-pack set going by the name of the S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action X Beginning Set. Those not interested in buying all three need not panic though, as individual releases were announced to be following shortly afterwards. 

This overall review of the set begins with the title character of the 18th Heisei Era Kamen Rider series (27th overall) – S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action Gamer Level 2.

First Impressions: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid

When early rumours suggested that the newest Kamen Rider would be a wearing a bright pink bodysuit and a helmet that sported moulded pink hair and cartoon-styled eyes, most dismissed it just like they would any earlier Rider/Sentai rumours. But when Kamen Rider Ex-Aid was fully revealed to the public those rumours turned out be true, unveiling a video-game themed Rider that’s quite unlike anything seen in the franchise’s 45 year history. Forget ghostly hoodies and Eyecons, now comes the time of gaming and Gashats. Written by Yuya Takahashi (Drive’s Type Tokujo specials, Lupin III Part 4), Ex-Aid is the 18th Heisei era Rider series and the 27th overall.