Hiden Saiseito Shinkenmaru (2009)

As is fairly common, the hilt is scaled well and the blade is scaled poorly. This means this is the base you'll want to use for cosplay customization. If you want a proportional representation for a shelf, get a Spin Sword from the Samurai line. This absolutely makes the requisite noises and even has the Origami cries from the Shodophone. They play randomly, so don't expect to hear them on command. You can purchase this a few ways and you'll probably want to base that decision on the discs included with each. This release has the normal Shishi Hiden disc. The combo pack with the buckle has a translucent version of it and a slashing disc that doesn't appear in the show. The Toys R Us Exclusive Inroumaru set seems to have the regular one according to the box (and logic).

 

 

If you've got a large collection of hiden discs, you'll likely want this or Kyouryuu Origami to 'play' them on. Unless you've specifically sworn off role-play toys (like me), having one or the other will lead to good times.

3 Mightier Swords Created By Pens out of 5

Hiden Kaisekiki Inroumaru (2009)

In the show, the Inroumaru allows one Shinkenger at a time to power-up and perform stronger 'true' versions of their individual attacks, as well as single-handedly control all of the Origami. This is what allows those that are newly created (Ebi) and forbidden (Ushi) to integrate with the mecha system in place as the series begins. The hiden disc that facilitates the combination with the former (Shin Samurai Gattai) is included with the pictured release, as well as the requisite Super Disc. However, this can read all of the discs produced, including those that are toy exclusives. Basically, it provides a call-out and various additional sounds for each. This attaches to the Shinkenmaru and if you have reason to own one of those, you also have reason to own one of these. You'll need both if you want to make the Super Mougyuu Bazooka.

A Toys R Us Exclusive packages the two together.

The BoA version is covered here.

3 Claps for the Only Red Who Knows How to Properly Share out of 5

Skull Magnum (2010)

In terms of functionality, this differs from its mold-mate the Trigger Magnum in that the normal shot is a single burst, instead of a rapid-fire barrage. That's actually appropriate for something designated as a magnum. When you insert the Skull memory, it activates the Maximum Drive, so you can fire even 'larger' single shots. I don't recommend this for a few reasons. The first is a pragmatic safety reason. If you live in the US, you're going to have to put some thought into how this is going to leave your possession. I think you can imagine why you wouldn't want to drop something like this off at a thrift store. Sell it to adults through forums or ebay. Though, I honestly wonder how any of these ever got through customs to begin with.

The second reason is that you can get the Skull memory a few different ways: there's one retail gashapon out there (Set #2) and another version is in the Complete Selection Set 2. A third variant comes with the CSM Lost Driver.

The audio was rerecorded for the Korean release of the W line.

2 Chances to Ask for Trouble out of 5

Chibi-Arts Shoutarou & Philip (2010)

The ONLY negative I can bring to bear with these is that they were exclusives. Chibi-Arts CycloneJoker was a regular release and that seems a bit backwards considering that their base Rider form is available a ZILLION different ways. Philip is now represented in my collection in a way that I find emotionally appropriate, but damn do I miss this incarnation of him. I'll list the accessories they include below the cut, but I'll tell you right now that the Kamen Singer faces are the best inclusion, hands down. If you're down with the chibi aesthetic and can find them for a price you're willing to pay, put your finger on the trigger and pull.

5 Retroactively Uncomfortable Squeals of Joy out of 5

Super Legends Extreme RPM Eagle Ranger Figure (2009)

In terms of leg articulation, this figure is as weird as I've ever experienced. The tops of his legs are molded in such a way that they can't be brought together into a regular standing pose. He's always going to be very open-legged. It's dynamic as hell, but it limits your options SEVERELY. Luckily, Sosuke is a pretty hyperactive guy and does stand as such for some of his attacks. The arms are pretty much all I could ever desire on a figure with no hand-swaps. Speaking of which, the Road Saber and Mantan Gun are painted exquisitely for a BoA release. Wait, um, Street Saber and Nitro Blaster! I held onto the Mantan Gun to represent Bomper on my shelf, since I didn't want to get his special Engine Soul.

As long as you don't need him to be standing still, this is a pretty great figure for your Go-Onger or RPM shelf.

3½ Hectic Trips Down the Road of Justice out of 5

Heshin Keitai Go-Phone (2008)

Nope, even I don't feel comfortable labeling this as DX. It's a plastic shell, but that demonstrates the commitment they had to the line's gimmick. Instead of Engine Souls, the series' changers come with, fittingly enough, Change Souls. These manage the henshin and provide a few sound clips from the Engines associated with the Senshi that use each respective henshin device. It's usually one line of dialogue and then a blast of their individual horns. It is themed as a racing series, after all. It's cute. Sosuke, Renn, and Saki use this one and the top and bottom complete the steering wheel of the Handle Blaster (discussed here). The buttons function in two large clumps (or in tandem) to activate the buttons on DX souls, and while this is honestly a clunky thing, I am strongly biased to it.

Comparisons are below the cut.

3 Chibi Windows to the Souls out of 5

Henshin Brace Shift Changer (2008)

As much as some malign cell-phone changers, I love them. In this era, they're the most logical thing a person could ever carry on them, at all times. I can suspend disbelief to a monumental degree, but I don’t expect the people in each series’ individual worlds to do so as much as some require. Fans of brace changers aren’t the ones who have to willfully ignore them sitting on the wrists of heroes on a day-to-day basis*. If nothing else, this one is pretty slim? It comes with Hant and Gunpei's Change Soul and a brace that has a lot of velcro, but not a lot of length. It's easily modded with additional velcro, though. This only completes the bottom of the Handle Blaster (discussed here), but the gap in the top is a neat look.

I'd only recommend it to diehard Gunpei fans.

Comparisons are below the cut.

2 Trips Down the Manhole out of 5

DG (Digital Grade) GashaponKamen Rider Den-O Super Climax Form Figure (2009)

This thing hits on every level. The paint is astounding. The belt is colored when even the Figuart's isn't. The Figuart should be ashamed of itself. I don't even need it to be in any pose other than this. It's all about Sieg, baby. This is the only licensed* Den-O item I currently have and I'll tell you why: It comes apart accurate to the actual breakdown of control. Imagine (heh!) Climax Form (and Super Climax) as being a Sentai robo comprised of Ryoutarou's body, with individual parts being controlled by each Imagin. Ura's the right arm, Kin's the left, Ryuuta's got the legs, and Momo's the chest and head. Sieg is a sexy wingpack, being the glorious Sixth that he is~

That's exactly how this figure breaks apart! Arm, arm, legs, torso, wings. It's perfect!

5 Justifiably Pompous Chicken Wing Bastards out of 5
*I've got this beauty, now~

DX Kiva Belt (2008)

Ahhhh, the days when Rider belts were (almost entirely) self-contained. The best thing about this is that it's a talking action figure of Kibatto-batto SAAAAAAANSEI~ When you turn him on you randomly get one of two inflection sets. In one, he's exuberant; in the other, he's cranky! Further, the Garulu, Basshaa, and Dogga Fuestles (glass whistles, if I'm not mistaken) are nice representations of Jiro, Ramon, and Riki for your display. The others are for Wataru's Rider kick (Wake! Up!), summoning Castle Doran, and using the Buroon Booster. Fuestles were sold individually, but the additional sounds are easily hack-able, if you don't want to buy any of the other toys.

5 Perfect Renditions of an Aladdin Song out of 5

Rouse Absorber (2004)

The Rouse Absorber facilitates Kenzaki and Tachibana-san's form changes. The biggest revelation is that this doesn't have a card reader. There's simply a button in the track where you rouze the cards. It's still a solid, well-done piece, regardless. It comes with the plates for Blade and Garren's Jack Forms and the cards necessary to achieve them (Spade Jack & Queen and Dia Jack & Queen). Capricorn Undead is just the best, isn't he? Isaka is awesome, too. Oh, right. Um.....the straps are pretty short, but you can get your own velcro to lengthen them. The only REAL disappointing thing is that the pop-out card trays don't have the J, Q, and K etchings that the prop does.

This includes the blade that's used to lengthen the Blay Rouzer and give the Garren Rouzer a bayonet. The King Form plate comes with the King Rouzer. 

4½ Forms to Gaze Upon out of 5

DX King Rouzer (2004)

Kenzaki's upgraded rouzer is one of my favorite Rider weapons. Favorite Final Form weapon, without question. It's gorgeous and doesn't come off as glaringly disproportionate. Others may say the motor for the card-feed is noisy, but I understand and accept the realities of physics and mechanics. It manages the attacks that were used in the show and some that weren't. "Full House" is a squee-worthy call-out. You get the necessary plate for the Rouse Absorber and the entire King Deck. All 13 cards.

Intensely beautiful and magnificent just like the form it accompanies.

I'll talk about the sounds further, below the cut.

5 Dual-Wielding Saviors out of 5

Knight Power Kaihoki Leon Cellular (2010)

This is a changer in a more literal sense, given that Gosei Knight has no human or 'civilian' form, as it were. Appropriately, this comes with the Change Groundion card, which turns him into the Headder for....Groundion, the main component of his robo. The nice thing about this is that it's dependent on inputted codes, not the barcodes on the cards. Here's what I believe is a full list. Boom, the value of your potential purchase is instantly at maximum. It's a little odd because of the panels used to slide it into the Leon Laser, but only slightly as compared to the Keitaros Phone, which was almost completely ruined aesthetically by its combination kibble.

I recommend it more than the Tensouder, to be honest. It also comes with the Summon Vulcan Headder and Combine Gosei Ground cards.

Comparisons can be found below the cut.

4 Ways to Bring the Night out of 5

Gosei Power Kaihoki Tensouder & Gosei Card Buckle Set (2010)

This is a strange one. But, that's why it's cool. I love cellphone changers, but when Sentai goes miles outside of its wheelhouse, I can't help but be impressed. It's an Ultimate Warrior-esque tiki-head of sorts. Or, moai, if you're familiar with Easter Island, I guess? You stick a card on its tongue and it gets read as it retracts inside. As with all toys with card-readers, you can find barcodes online if you look hard enough. The buckle is chromed as hell and holds around 10 cards, if you're anal about not damaging them. On this note, also keep in mind there's a clip to depress when removing the cards from the Tensouder itself.

Comparisons and the list of included cards are below the cut.

3½ Ways to Bring the Lightning out of 5

Candy Toy Sound Gaia Memory Vol. 2:Accel Memory (2010)

Candy toy memories come completely assembled and with a piece of candy, predictably. It's ostensibly lemonade flavored and quite nice if you can get to it in a timely manner. Within a year of a given toy's release is probably the safe window for ingestion. These cycle their sounds via a single button, but tend to have the worst audio quality of the three retail tiers of Memories. This is an early one, so the sounds are muddy and there's no battery door. You'll have to disassemble them completely to change the batteries. I also had to heat my sticker up with a hair dryer to peel it back and straighten it.

Later waves are A-OK, however. My Trial memory was flawless. It had a battery door and sounded great.

The audio was rerecorded for the Korean release of the W line.
Sounds are detailed below the cut.

1 Troubled Past Shaken Off out of 5

Sound Capsule Gaia Memory Vol. 5:Eternal Memory (2010)

What you're looking at is how a fair number of gashapon toys arrive in your hands. They're sold inside capsules, inside of vending machines. They're like the ones at the grocery store when you were a kid, except the wares are infinitely better. You have to snap the pieces together and slap the sticker on. Gashapon Gaia Memories don't have lights, and their sounds cycle via the sole button on the front. Later sets had better sound quality comparable to DX memories. This one does as it's from Set #5. In fact, this version is said to have the most accurate sounds for Eternal, even compared to the DX version released with the retail Lost Driver and the Complete Selection Modification variant.

Go me~

The audio was rerecorded for the Korean release of the W line.
Sounds are detailed below the cut.

3 Only Because Stickering Is Terrifying As Fuck out of 5

Super Best W Driver (2012)

This is a hunk of plastic that presses buttons on Gaia Memories. A beautiful one, but one nevertheless. Gaia Memories are toy USB drives (discussed here). DX memories have three buttons. One on their face, which elicits their name, and two located on the sides of the connector that are hit either by the channels in the belt, or the Maximum Drive slot. They also have LED lights that intermingle in the chamber at the bottom. Memories designed to work together are timed such that their sounds play in sequence, as they take turns sounding off. The original release of this included three silver-tipped Memories (all of Philip's normal ones) and one gold-tipped (Joker). That netted you three henshins. This release includes the Memories initially packaged with the Metal Shaft (Metal) and Trigger Magnum (Trigger), giving you access to all of W's regular forms.

It's probably the best W item you can buy, assuming you're into Rider belts, or role-play toys in general. There's a few extra notes below the cut.

5 Suave Gestures out of 5

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gills (2010)

As stated in my G3 nut, I ended up getting the "base" forms of the three central Agito Riders. While that's a little disappointing in G3's case, I'm actually glad in Ryo's. Exceed Gills is a bit of a mess, with pieces being prone to flying off and being prickly to handle. This figure, however, is stellar. Given that he's an organic Rider, his sculpting is top-notch. The pieces that pop out on his final form have the opposite problem here: the nubs and spikes and tendrils are tight and difficult to get in and out. I usually forgo them. He's so dynamic, as is. All I tend to change are his hands and his head. You can swap out his short and full horns(?) and give him a screaming head. Pair that with his splayed-out rage hands and prepare to be in awe.

It is difficult to get his leg up high enough for his Rider kick, I won't lie. I've seen it done, but I can't get it that far and I'm not willing to. I'm fine with that.

4½ Summer Days That Will Never Change out of 5

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider G3 (2010)

Hikawa-san's initial system is honestly a bit plain to me. Aesthetically. I prefer G3-X, but circumstances as they were when I was in the prime of building my collection made it such that I went with the "base" forms of the Agito Trio. That said, there's nothing objectively wrong with this figure. It's a pure joy to pose and the accessories provide the same warm and fuzzies as the full-size role-play toys, as they all combine in the same way as their DX brethren. The ones included with G3-X even transform accurately!

My first sentence shows my (and most of the world's) bias, but there's a number of characters this can be on your shelf. Until they release that G3 Mild, getting both this and G3-X is a good idea, if you're a fan of one user in particular.

I'll list the load-outs of both figures below the cut.

4½ Heroes Who Will Never Run out of 5

Kamen Rider Blade Souchaku Henshin Series:Garren, Leangle, and Blade King Form (2004)

Unlike my SH Kuuga Ultimate, which was an early release in the line, these fully utilize diecast panels. They're entirely a product of their time and I love them for it. I cannot imagine myself preferring the Figuarts. Zeitgeist, baby! Their cards are plastic and you have to sticker them, but it's not a difficult process. The paper and plastic are cut well and marry together readily even years after the fact. Kenzaki is stunning. His armor panels are chrome, but not in a way that seems like it'll flake off. It's as if the zinc itself is that reflective. The Figuart pales, in my eyes.

Get them if you can find 'em and stage a card game. With an S.I.C. KT Wild Chalice, preferably. I'll list the cards they come with below the cut.

All 4 or None At All out of 5

Henshin Grip Wing Trigger (2008)

I get what they were going for with the look, because they make it insanely clear in the show: a flight stick. However, the molding designed to hold a Rocket Dagger makes it even more awkward than it is innately. Seeing these dangling at Miu and Hiroto's hips is just fuggen weird. Further, the number pad is a foil sticker. The included Change Soul does the henshin and has limited voice clips from Toripter, Jetras, and Jum-bowhale. I recommend having all of those mecha and the blade, if you're going to get this at all. Again, the combination with the latter is odd, but spot-on, and you'll want Jetras and Toripter's Engine Souls to emulate finishers.

If you're going completist on the Wings Team, you'll be satisfied. Otherwise, don't bother.

Comparisons are below the cut.

2½ Chances to Pilot Sosuke out of 5

Switch Funsha Ken Rocket Booster Dagger (2008)

These were rebranded after a violent incident in Akihabara, shortly before their release. This only extended as far as the packaging, however, as they're still referred to in the series as Rocket Daggers. The power switch is screen-accurate and the size is very close, as they are designed as smaller blades. The attacks are all present and you can even elicit the Mission 3 sound by either flipping the third switch, or the first and second, in tandem. The combination with the Wing Trigger is aesthetically odd to me, but it's what it needs to be, so I can't deduct for that.

I'm not the biggest fan of it, but it's objectively plastic perfection.

Comparisons are below the cut.

5 Missed Opportunities to Put a Whale Jet in a Space Helmet out of 5

DX Blaster and Kyuuyu Soul Set (2008)

This is another case of something delivering exactly what's promised on-screen, but still being a bit too niche to recommend unless you're a diehard completist. These seem more readily available now than they did when I purchased them, and if you can get them for a price that's agreeable to you (and you absolutely want them), you should be happy. The biggest rub comes with the Blaster Soul, as while Wing Triggers and Rocket Daggers are decent enough pick-ups, the other weapon it's usually placed into is a disappointment. The Handle Blaster was made, but it's large, difficult to ship, and designed to work with an included DVD that may or may not play on R1 players.

Nice, but not essential, in my opinion. I don't believe these were ever sourced for stickers in the Power Rangers RPM line.

2½ Charming Gas Station Attendants out of 5

Go-Busters Morphin' Bike and Figure Set (2012)

Rest In Peace, Fujiwara Keiji-san.

While I don’t feel this is worth the price it was originally sold for, it was worth the $12 I paid. Hiromu’s articulation is sub-Souchaku Henshin, but you can manage a few poses with the included, unpainted Sougan Blade and Ichigan Buster. He can look okay on Nick in terms of positioning. In regards to size, I argue Hiromu’s too big. Yoko, too. There’s a LOT of kibble on Nick’s back for the simple fact that mass-shifting is not a reality. His arms’ connections to the wheel guns are tenuous, to boot. If you want the best representation of Nick, get the SSBL. If you're a crazy like me and need him as a bike, and you can find this cheap, get it and leave him as such, riderless.

It should be noted that Korea packaged this set better, making it more cost friendly to import. You can explore matching (and non-matching) E.M.C.-05 options below the cut here.

3 Rider Kicks For The Kids out of 5