“Best Match!”
Kamen Rider Build has been blazing through it’s initial plot at break neck speed. And now only 5 episodes in, with every revelation further questions are raised. Without further adieu we wanted to get our very first gallery from the series up, so we’re kicking things off the first release from the Build Change Rider toyline. BCR 01 Kamen Rider Build Rabbit Tank Form!
Rabbit Tank Form is Builds standard base form, and as the first release in the line this figure should be the standard bearer of what we can expect from here on. With a unique take on the combination gimmick this line manages to make swapping out halves quite easy and entertaining. However it does put severe limitations on articulation. But if that doesn’t bother you, this can be fun line with plenty of multiple display options. This release also includes Build’s standard Drill Crusher Blade Mode as it’s lone accessory.
We’ve attached the full 80 image gallery to this post, but you can also click “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post to read our review in the full gallery thread. We’ll back next time with a brand new Shinkocchou Seihou gallery from Kamen Rider Kabuto!
"Best Match!"
It's been a while since I've reviewed one of the so-called "gimmick" figures from a Kamen Rider line, the last one being LVUR01 Ex-Aid. But this go around I'm tackling the first release for the currently airing Kamen Rider Build! The new line this year is known as BCR or Build Changer Rider, and the first release in the line is BCR 01 Kamen Rider Build Rabbit/Tank Form!
Pacakging
Making s light departure from the last couple years. BCR Build comes in an odd box with a flap that extends up on the front side, and pretty far out. So there's a good likelihood of it getting bent during shipping. It's quite odd actually. There's no hook for it to hang on a peg board in a store or anything. It's just kind of a useless easily damaged flap. Otherwise this box doesn't do anything particularly extraordinary. Lot's off nice stock images are present and the colors are nice and flashy, but it doesn't grab me like last years Ex-Aid packaging did.
Main Figure
Alright, so to start, I generally do enjoy so-called gimmick figures each year for Rider. i didn't start to get into them, or even really handle any until I took the plunge with Arms Change Gaim. That was a rabbit hole for a little while honestly. And while a lot of figures inevitably get the upgrade into S.H. Figuarts form, sans gimmick, it doesn't happen for everything. So on occasion I find a reason to keep one here or there. Like Gaim Drive Arms, or Drive Type Fruits. Given my first impressions with BCR, I can't say I'll be doing the same this year.
Let's get started with how Kamen Rider Build is packaged. These figures comes packaged as two separate halves. Halves probably isn't the write word given the manner in which the body is sliced up, but you get the picture. As with other similarities people have pointed out, this also happens to be how the old W Form Change Rider figures were packaged. I've provided some images of each half separately below so you can take in how weirdly the two halves comes together, I still think it's a pretty creative way to re-create the gimmick from the show, even if the execution is ultimately lacking. On their own each half a bit of unique detail though as with any mainline figure like this the details are a bit on the soft side.
When you bring the Rabbit & Tank halves together with a nice satisfying click, you get the complete Kamen Rider Build Rabbit Tank Form. There's nothing special to it. Just snap the Rabbit half on top of the tank half. It's a nice snug fit with no gap issues. I have to say I think Build's base form makes a great use of blue & red blending to get a really unique look. As you can see below I have quite a few red & blue heroes and he fits right in. The Build Driver & individual compound eyes are the most detailed parts of the figure. But again as with most mainline toys the details are totally accurate. The Build Drive at least gets the general shape and color right for the Full Bottles. The lever doesn't rotate which is a bummer, especially given how difficult it is for Build's limited arm to grab it. If you leave it in his hand for too long it just bends the handle.
And while that's a bummer get ready for the biggest disappointment of the line. No waist or neck joint. Due to the nature of how the combination works there isn't a moving joint for either of these parts. So recreating just about any action scene or standard pose is impossible. I've simulated the best I can in these photos. But Build loses a ton of personality thanks to these issues. He can only stare straightforward. The rest of the articulation is fairly standard with single jointed knees, double hinged hips, and single hinged elbows with double hinged shoulders. The knuckles on the hands are thankfully tighter this year as the standard joint was rather loose last year on many Ex-Aids. The ankles don't provide a ton of range so finding stable poses with them, and an upper half that can't accommodate either, can be tiresome. What you see in my pictures is the extent of what the figure can do, and sadly that's not much. I do find it a little difficult to get the two halves to come back apart though, the release mechanism doesn't really wanna work. I do tend to have to stick my thumbnail in between the two halves of the head to get him to pop apart.
Accessories
Another shortcoming of this figure is it's singular accessory:
1 - Drill Crusher Blade Mode. The Drill Crusher is pretty basic, not surprisingly. It's cast in solid black, partially hollow on the back half. This is common with mainline rider figures to have pretty basic accessories, the detailing is still decent on this piece.
I'm surprised that the Gun Mode wasn't included as well, but oh well. 1 accessory with a release like this is pretty standard fare.
Final Thoughts
Generally I'm willing to give these types of figures the benefit of the doubt. They are what they are, they get the job done. That being said, I do think BCR Build is kind of underwhelming. The gimmick is executed well, the overall look of the figure is nice, but it's pretty sub-par in the grand scheme of main line figures. Arms Change will still always be kind of the king for this type of toy in my personal opinion. I'd say hold off on this line unless you're just in love with the gimmick, otherwise wait for a bit of a discount.
Part 2
It looks surprisingly nice, especially compared to the LVUR line before it, plus it not being a display figure means I wouldn't be afraid to pick it up and fool around with it. Only noteworthy negative I can think of is the lack of colour on the Drill Crusher, but I don't like that weapon anyway.
Great review and gallery Den-O. I don't own any yet but I'll probably do what I did with Ghost and wait until there's a sale.
Nice gallery but I think it would of been better had you held off on this gallery until the figuart came out. It just that the figuart stand out much better than build change rider which looks like a cheap figure IMO.
the release button seems to be poorly designed and really doesn't work properly, but i've found it works a lot better if you press the very bottom top of it, sort of like pressing downwards on an analog stick. the quickest way i've actually found to split them is just put your left thumb on the left cheek and your right thumb over the back of the belt and just lift.
We do our best to post timely, topical galleries while an item is relevant or interest is high. To do otherwise would serve only to decrease viewership and traffic. So no we won't be doing anything like that.
I picked up this and GorillaMond, mostly so I could enjoy the gimmick and have something on my Riders shelf until the Figuarts version is released.
I want to love it - as something to go on the self, it's got a certain "better than nothing" quality - but due to the articulation limitations you suggested, I just can't. It's been so long since I've handled a figure with no neck or waist articulation, I'd forgotten how it turns the figure into a brick. I've been trying to find ways to display him - I adjust my display constantly - and there just... aren't many.
As to the gimmick, the button on my two don't appear to even be functional. I've found that correct placement of my fingers and thumbs - and knowing which way to push in each direction - is what's required to get mine apart, and it took me a while to figure out how to do it consistently.
I'm not more chapped about this because I got the first wave of the Build SODO in the mail, and they're terrific. Waist joints, a neck on a ball... good, good stuff. Too bad securing a preorder on them is such a nightmare.
So-Do Kamen Rider Build has better articulation than BCR Kamen Rider Build but BCR Kamen Rider Build has better body proportion than So-Do Kamen Rider Build.
Keep reading: BCR 01 Kamen Rider Build Rabbit Tank Form Gallery - Page 2
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