Riding on the popularity of the American adaptation of Kamen Rider Ryuki, Max Factory produced a second figma figure. This time, we have another protagonist in the series, Kamen Rider Knight. This figure can be considered as “Wave 1″ of the figma Kamen Rider releases, being released about two weeks after Kamen Rider Ryuki was released.
Like the Kamen Rider Ryuki release, the box of Kamen Rider Knight similarly has the ‘mirror world-esque’ background design, as well as the Knight emblem in the insides of the box. Much like the Ryuki release, I dig the Knight box design as well.
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The overall aesthetics of this figure turned out great. I have to say that the mould of this figure is a very accurate representation of Knight from Kamen Rider Ryuki. The silver is actually lightly chromed, so it gives off a shiny finish, but not something that’s overly shiny either.
The QC of the overall product seems to be of quite a high standard; at a mass produced level, I have to say this high standard of QC is very reassuring for customers. Unlike Bandai’s Figuarts, which has fluctuations in QC standards, figma’s first two Kamen Rider releases mark a very good start for Max Factory’s venture into the Kamen Rider franchise. Who knows, they might do other series in the future?
In terms of articulation, it’s pretty much similar to figma’s earlier release of Ryuki. Max Factory’s use of soft PVC for the lower waist portion continues, resulting in the ‘breaking-of-mould’ aesthetics problem when the legs are opened too widely. While I thought the head articulation would be limited due to the ‘collar’ mould of the figure, I was proven wrong. Due to the more malleable material of the figma line, there’s some give for the head to turn at certain angles. I guess the not so durable material used by Max Factory has its pros and cons as well. However, due to the mould of the leg of Knight, the feet articulation doesn’t seem as wide as Ryuki’s. But this is just a minor quibble; Knight can still strike most of his cool and signature poses.
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Like the Ryuki release, figma’s Kamen Rider Knight comes with 4 additional pairs of hands. It pretty much is the same set of hands as the Ryuki figure – namely the holding things hand, holding card hand, calm open hands and ‘rage’ hands. It would seem that every figma Kamen Rider release has these sets of hands. I guess it’s cool that way; I don’t recall the various Riders having very significant and unique hand poses, aside from Kamen Rider Imperer. It probably saves Max Factory money as well, as all they have to do is change the colours of the hands while retaining the same mould.
Like the Ryuki Final Vent card, Knight’s Final Vent card is also detailed on hard plastic. And much like Ryuki’s card, Knights card is also very nicely detailed on.
The Wing Lancer. Much like Ryuki’s Drag Sabre, Knight’s weapon is very nicely moulded and painted as well. I have to give Max Factory kudos for a job well done. They even detailed the back rather nicely as well!
Darkwing in its cape form. I’ll talk more about this accessory later. One thing though, Max Factory really wasted a lot of plastic wrapping by giving this cape its own separate plastic retainer.
Like Ryuki, the Advent Deck for Knight is very nicely detailed. The ‘buckle’ portions are similarly detailed like that of Ryuki as well. One disappointment though – in the show, Knight actually has blue eyes beneath his visor; it’s really hard to spot but it’s there. The figma mould of this figure didn’t have this. While I have to say that it’s really hard to mould that in without having the entire face looking weird, I just felt like something’s missing. Yeah, I’m nitpicking here. That said, I wonder what Figuarts would do…
Much like figma Ryuki, the ‘creases’ of the suit in the show is also sculpted into this figure as well, right down to the feet.
The Dark Visor rapier, Knight’s main weapon as well as the item he uses to execute his Vent abilities. Like Ryuki’s Drag Visor, the Dark Visor can’t be opened up as well. Like the Wing Lancer, the Dark Visor is very nicely detailed and painted as well.
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Action poses!
Sword Vent!
The same problem of loose joints from Kamen Rider Ryuki is brought over to Knight as well. Maybe it’s the figma line in general, maybe it’s just the usage of the same mould as Ryuki; whatever it is, a hand that can’t hold the weight of the character’s main melee weapon just isn’t satisfying. At least it doesn’t have the loose peg syndrome that Ryuki had.
You can have Knight dual-wield the Wing Lancer whilst still looking natural. Thumbs up for the hands/arms articulation there.
GUARD VENT!
Probably the most fun accessory (at least for me) in this figure release is the Dark Wing cloak. Whoever designed the cloak must have exercised more common sense than the cloak designers over at Bandai/Tamashii Nations. It’s a really simple design, with the Dark Wing portion moulded in PVC and the cloak being a simple piece of cloth with a wire sewn in at the bottom. Not only does it feel more cloak-like but using a leathery-like cloth material, but the wire also allows one to ‘pose’ the cloak as well. This is one place that Tamashii Nations has to learn from. Seriously, solid PVC cloaks that are merely moulded as a piece of plastic and not in the least bit posable sucks… BIG TIME. Remember the Ultra Brothers’ Mantle from Ultra Act Ultraman and the cape that S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Eternal came with? Yeah, they suck compared to figma Knight’s Dark Wing cloak.
Another point about the cloak – it has a peg which pegs into the hole at the back of Kamen Rider Knight. Now with the hole at the back utilised, how else can we mount Knight onto his stand when he is donning the Dark Wing cloak? Max Factory simply made a hole that’s of the same diameter as the hole in the back of Knight – that way you just peg the stand into the back of Dark Wing instead.
FINAL VENT!
HISHOUZAN!
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Much like the earlier released Kamen Rider Ryuki, Max Factory does an excellent job with Kamen Rider Knight. Sadly, the pros and cons of Ryuki are pretty much brought over to Knight. Excellent sculpt, with standards rivalling Figuarts; but articulation wise, Figuarts is the clear victor. However, the cloak design of Kamen Rider Knight beats any of the cloaks that Tamashii Nations has churned out so far – this is something that Tamashii Nations probably needs to work on.
On a whole, I’m really interested to see what else figma has installed for us. The recently released Kamen Rider Zolda seems to have some QC issues, and received mixed reviews from fans. Kamen Rider Scissors, on the other hand, seems to maintain the rather good QC standard that Ryuki and Knight received as well. Let us see how the other figmas that I’ve ordered would turn out eventually. I’ve ordered a few more figmas – Kamen Rider Gai, Femme, Ouja, Ryuuga and Odin.
Till the next review~! I probably won’t do any mid-week reviews or updates… Busy week up ahead this week.
Wow, that figure looks nice, how much does it cost? And where did you buy it from? Please tell me!
I’m from Singapore, and I bought it at a place called “The Falcon’s Hanger” for around S$50. It’s currently out of stock in most places, but Max Factory is re-releasing this figure in May if I remember correctly.
Yeah I am also from Singapore, saw your blogpost at HWZ. So where is this Falcon’s Hanger? If possible, can I have a number too?
Google could help you… But here’s a link. http://www.tfh.com.sg/ It’s near Bras Basah Circle line station.
And here’s a link to the preorder page. http://www.tfh.com.sg/product_details.php?prod_id=2180
Was it me or am I the only one using the American names for these figures?
Nah, the Japanese use the American names as well. But I just don’t like the names cause they sound silly, in particular for stuff like Torque, Strike etc. I mean Zolda sounds so much cooler.
I’m quite infamiliar with the Ryuki stuff, nor am I interested to it. That is of course, until Kamen Rider Dragon Knight showed up.
Maybe it’s just the fact that I live in the western continent and I knew the KRDK stuff more.
Both names are lame anyway, seems like writers had no more juice left.
Ryuki vs Dragon Knight <–Same name.
Knight vs Wing Knight <–Pretty much the same. Looks like the name was changed for the sake of changing it.
Scissors vs Incisor <– Hmm, Incisor seems cooler to me. Both are pretty lame though.
Zolda vs Torque <– Zolda is definetely cooler. Both are cool though.
Verde vs Camo <–Average names, passable.
Gai vs Thrust <– Both stink.
Ohja vs Strike <– Seriously, Strike stinks. Ohja is passable.
Tiger vs Axe <– Both fail.
Raia vs Sting <– Raia seems cooler to me, and Sting fails.
Imperer vs Spear <– Imperer wins, hands down.
Femme vs Siren <– Both are quite cool, but I think Femme sounds more feminine. Maybe that's because they do sound the same.
Odin vs Wrath <– Odin wins, hands down.
Ryuga vs Onyx <– Ryuga, of course. Onyx seems like a random name? Still, Ryuga is passable.
Adness probably made those names up to appeal the western audiences as well as avoiding conflict with Toei. Surely I think the lamest name is Dragon Knight and Wing Knight (it’s too obnoxious).
I get Dragon Knight, cause it’s a rather literal translation for Ryuki. I’m surprised they didn’t go Kamen Rider Batman or something for Knight.
Incisor is undeniably cooler. But besides that, everything in the American version sounds stupid. Except for maybe Camo, which makes some sense.
Ouja is just awesome, it means “Snake King” and that’s what Ouja is all about.
Ryuuga’s meant to show it’s relation to Ryuki. How does Onyx tell you any relation to Dragon Knight?!