Friday, September 10, 2010
Review: [Bandai] S.I.C. Limited Kamen Rider Kiva Emperor Form
Figure Info:
Manufacturer:
Bandai
Series:
Kamen Rider Kiva
Scale and Height:
Non-scale approximately 18cm tall
The Emperor
Emperor is Kiva's Ultimate form, accessed by using the mini dragon Tatsulot's feustle. Upon summong, Tatsulot opens up various parts of Kiva's chained armor and then quickly attaches itself to Kiva's left arm, thus revealing Kiva's full power as Emperor Form. Emperor is said to be Kiva's True form and thus allows Wataru to henshin into it directly in the later episodes. Emperor also obtains the sealed Zanvat Sword later on but the power is too strong for him that he needed aid of the Armed Monsters to control the sword by making a limiter for him which ridiculously looks like he's pumping the sword everytime he attacks. Anyway, that's it for Kiva Emperor's bio. Below is his show appearance.
And despite how weird it is, I'm reviewing him first before Kiva Form :)) But of course, it was a requested review by fifthStitch, so here it is.
Box/Packaging:
As you can see in the box shots, there are two of them. This is usually the case when Tamashii releases something exclusive, I call it the brown box of exclusivity. It's more of an outer protection and proof that your item is an exclusive but anything else after that, it's nothing more than a brown box. Emperor's real box is just as what you can see, a red themed box with his logo and name saying that's it's a web limited while the back has one picture of Kiva Emperor's SIC based from the official pic shown at Tamashii web. It's actually a little big compared to other SIC boxes but still since it doesn't have those excess cardboard, it's easier to store.
Details:
Well what can I say, it's the typical S.I.C. Impression that you get an over detailed version of the character, his armor is well-detailed while his cape can be removable, it's made of rubber-like material which allows a little bending for it but it's not as weak as the material used for SIC Knight's cape. His fuestles are transparent while the edges are colored helping you identify the fuestles easier if you can't read kanji. Kivat is just a bit repainted from the original release, enough to make it blend with Emperor's colors so it'd not look ugly. Also his left arm where Tatsulot is attached is just done really really well; as such, Kiva Emperor is indeed a work of art since his SIC rendition did get a major make over making it look way cooler than he was in the show and I never did like the Emperor's design in the show. But this rendition is pure awesome. One minor nitpick though would be that his knee pads are ridiculously loose, I dunno why but it kinda makes the detail less attractive XD
Though not a little noticable, Emperor's eyes are the same as Kiva's such that when you view it complete sideways, it'd look odd XD But still, even his head is spammed with such level of detail, just great.
Paint:
I have to say one of Emperor's biggest appeal would be his paint job, Emperor in the series was too bright IMO, though he had royalty colors, it feels to childish but this baby, it's covered in royal red and gold chrome making the heavy design really really look nice by all means. I mean yeah, SIC often uses dark colors but this one is just insane, since it is using shiny gold, something even King Form wasn't able to pull off. And take note that it's the majority of emperor's color scheme and bandai wasn't cheap at all.
Accessories:
Well, Emperor has quite a number of them, the Kivat bat in his belt can be replaced by a flat kivat bat to make it steady and make it look better actually, but I used Kivat as a whole since that is the case in the show. Emperor has enough hands, a pair of gripping hands, a pair of open hands and of course, his trademark "rock" \m/ hands as well as the default fists. Some more accessories would be 2 extra fuestles intended for Vol. 50, Kiva's use. Of course, the emperor wouldn't be complete without his Zanfapvat sword, and it's complete with the pump action, the limiter can also be attached by a fuestle like part which makes the bat look like it's wearing a helm. Last but not least, we have a miniature Tatsulot intended for fun shots with Vol. 50 or with Kivat Bat.
Poseability:
His articulations are just fine taking on from the Den-O line, it has improved with Den-O's weak feet and heavy weapons, Zanvat is made of plastic now thus, allows you to pose Emperor with Zanvat properly, the cape can also be swung upwards and sidewards so you can really pose him well, the only limit would be the typical shoulder pads but that doesn't affect much at all. One thing that's really notable would be how well balanced the frame is, heck he can stand on one leg doing a kick pose. I dunno if it's only with me but his Zanvat limiter is too loose making it quite a little annoying to some poses with the sword since the limiter slides by itself from time to time.
Overall:
Well, being an exclusive, he sure was quite expensive but that's only if you live outside Japan, if you live there, then this insanely well-detailed and colored Rider is a steal already. Though as limiteds, they don't usually have part swaps but still the figure itself especially this since it wasn't a repaint of anything AND it's actually a complete new mold which was later on reused for Dark Kiva as a regular release, he's too much worth what you pay for already.
Remarks:
Details - 9/10
Paint - 10/10
Accessories - 10/10
Poseability - 9.5/10
Price - 10/10
Overall: 9.7/10
Anyway...
Beware! that Sword pumps! =))
Well, I have to say, I'm totally impressed even though when this was released, I was completely thinking of passing on it but thanks to Decade, he made me get this (yes, seriously, this is Decade's fault) And now, he's one of my grails, the Kiva SICs are really pretty much a good line to complete since by far, I've been contented. Emperor is, as I mentioned in Kabuto's review, one of the best Ultimate Forms in SIC rendition. I'd say it is one of the must haves in the entire SIC line.
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I say, the suit design is more regal than the one in the show, although you can't really take an SHF design and create a heavy duty, set and actor friendly suit that would endure all the amazing action stuff from the show. Damn it, I wanna see this suit design go Wake-Up Fever though.
ReplyDeleteHmm, just to add, you may have failed to point out that the designs on this guy's armor plates are based on the Fangire motif in the show when they're in their weakened state, which in turn is based on stained glass. I pointed that out cuz I find that awesome the most, hehe.
Really great buy! I hope they make Kiva suit designs in SHF, I'd certainly get a Kiva Emperor too, hehe.
cool
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