Kamen Rider New Den-O Strike Form

Before reading this review, it is highly recommended that you read the review of SIC Vol.42 first(which you can read here) as there are some similarities of this figure with the figure from that pack so I’m not gonna talk much about the same thing but I will highlight what the differences are :).

Greetings my fellow brothers and sisters of toys collecting or whoever it is that is reading this. Ghost_XIII here, reporting in to bring you yet another review. For this time around we will be looking at the new Kamen Rider Den-O, the SIC New Den-o Strike Form.

This movie exclusive rider made his debut in the Den-o movie Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O:Final Countdown which turns out to be Nogami Kotaro, the grandson of the original Den-O, Nogami Ryotarou. Quite weird we never knew who his parents are(Kotaro that is). Anyway……….

Like most movie exclusive Riders, Strike is an exclusive release thus he has the old, windowless and boring box encasing him. But the gold foil used for illustration on the box does surprise me a bit.

Inside the box, laid out on a single layer of plastic tray. You will be getting:

-the figure itself
-a rider pass
-den-gasher piecesX4
-left hand for holding the rider pass
-splayed open hands(left and right)
-right holding things hand
-Teddy machete(that’s the sword official name)

Out of the box, you need to attach all 4 den-gasher parts to complete him.

Right out front, I really, really dislike the actual design of Strike. The previous Den-O suit design didn’t win me and this is even worse. From the waist up, he looks really wacky with the BIG eyes and those railways sticking on his shoulders. After having the SIC version in hand, as usual, I actually like it. Those railways reminded me of thrusters on a Gundam and the metallic blue used on him is just gorgeous. The details, also as usual, are really nice.

The diecast on this release is exactly the same as Sword Form.

Articulation wise, he is 93% the same as Sword Form with the differences of a swivel-able den-gasher holster and a bit more limited arm raise which I don’t really mind.

The obligatory Iron Man pose.

Moving on to accessories, he is already equipped with the den-gashers which are 100% identical to the one on Sword Form. Plus this figure doesn’t really need it so I’m not talking about it here.

His rider pass is also the same as Sword Form and a specialized hand is included for him to use.

The last of his accessories is his signature weapon, the Teddy Machete.

It’s a gun X sword deal with a nicely detailed body.

Teddy’s mouth is movable but very minimal plus you gonna need something very thin to pry it open.

Despite the weapon’s size and solidity, it’s surprisingly light thus Strike has no issue at all wielding it.

One little nitpick I would like to make, there is no left holding things hand. Sure, not many would have their Rider portrayed as lefties but I would like to have it nonetheless. The holding hand for the Rider pass does the job well though.

So, should you buy this?

Usually it’s the price that’s in the way for one to purchase an SIC but I am glad to inform, that is not the case. Despite being an SIC and an exclusive to boot, Strike is cheap. Almost dirt cheap sometimes. Bought mine for a measly USD25(exclusive of shipping from Japan :p). What might get in your way is the very design itself. Like I said, I really, REALLY dislike the suit design and I like the SIC version just after having him in hand after years of knowing his existence. If the aesthetic just don’t jives with you, I don’t blame you and not much I can say to convince you to pick this guy up other than the fact that the toy itself is AWESOME. The details and articulation is a thing of beauty. The abysmal accessory is a little disheartening but that’s really what he came with in the show. The Episode Red, Blue and Yellow are made after the release of this guy so harping about the absent of the Imagin weapons is a little unfair.

With that, it’s the end of this review. Hope you enjoy reading it and as usual, any comments or critics(positive or negative) are always welcomed to improve my review for the next time around. This is Ghost_XIII, reporting out :).