“My dear doctors, our game has only just begun.”
Toku Toy Box takes a look at the Game Master once again! After Level X last time, now we have the opportunity to checkout Kuroto Dan’s excellent, and recently release Level 2 form with S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Action Gamer Level 2! And since this is the Tamashii Nations 2017 event exclusive version of the figure, we also get to share a look at the fantastic Shakariki Sports bike included with this release!
GenM Level 2 is a straight up repaint of the still fantastic Ex-Aid body type, done up in GenM’s gorgeous trademark purple and black. Separating itself from the Ex-Aid release though, GenM includes parts to recreate both versions of his handheld weapon the Gashacon Bug Visor. And since this is the event exclusive, this version also comes with a wonderfully detailed and excellently done Shakariki Sports bike with its own wheel base for display. If you’re waiting it out to get the Web Exclusive release of this figure next year, you may regret it as it won’t include the bike.
We’ve attached the full 99 image gallery to this post, but you can see all the images as well as read our comprehensive review of this figure by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. We’ll be back soon with a blast from the past with a brand new gallery from Ultra Seven!
"Grade 2."
At long last, Kuroto Dan arrives in his original form! While we previously took a look at the exceedingly popular Level X/Dangerous Zombie release, now we have him as he was first presented in his Level 2 form! This figure, oddly, came out as a Tamashii Nations 2017 exclusive. While this was clearly done because of it's nature as a very simple repaint, as has been the trend with event exclusives of years past, the characters' immense popularity made this a less than ideal situation. In light of this Tamashii opted to make this figure available as a Lucky Draw Web Exclusive item at a later date as well, with the caveat that it would not include the Shakariki Sports bike. So of course I had to have this more complete version. So let's take a look at S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Action Gamer Level 2 & Shakariki Sports!
Packaging
Now THIS is something interesting. Event exclusives have had some great box art over the last few years. See Dark Kabuto, Proto-Drive & Lemon Energy Baron. This year however, Tamashii Nations has gone over the top for their 10th anniversary. GenM comes packaged in a special 2-box slipcase set. The outer slipcase in mint green has a fantastic stock photo of the figure and bike that I think looks really sharp. The inner packaging is two separate boxes, one containing GenM, and one containing the Shakariki bike. GenM's box is identical to what we we'll see with the Web Exclusive release coming next year and fits in line with the rest of the toyline perfectly. The Shakariki bike comes in a separate purple monotone box that I really like. It reminds me of the way the Tires & Effect bonuses were packaged for Kamen Rider Driver, though obviously on a larger scale this time.
Main Figure
We're back once again with a mold we know all too well! The original Ex-Aid mold has been used as a basis for a majority of figures in the line so far including Ex-Aid himself as well as Snipe, Brave, their upgrades, and the Mighty Brothers. But very specifically the figure we're looking at today, Genm Level 2, is a 100% repaint of Ex-Aid Level 2 with no physical alterations whatsoever. GenM is a pretty lavish repaint of this original mold, and a dead sexy one. But the physical portions of this review will be a carbon copy of what I wrote for Ex-Aid. Feel free to skip down a bit if you like.
GenM Action Gamer Level 2 utilizes the familiar Mighty Action X body type we've come to know and love. Bringing with it all the meticulous molded details and paint apps we've previously seen before. TMuch as with Ex-Aid, this figure is just lavishly executed. From the Ground up this body type is a sold build. Physically I still nitpick the ankles on this mold, they still feel a bit limited, especially moving forward. And getting GenM into a good pose is a total necessity for his character. So you really have to work with these feet. The knees have a great bend that helps add to the general athletic platformer theme of the figure. Sadly, as with GenM Level X, I find the paint apps on the legs, and in several other places to be a bit sloppy. There are plenty of flecks on the thighs and minor defects that are an annoyance on an expensive event exclusive such as this one.
The Gamer Driver for this figure is the same standard one we've seen close to 10 times now. I still think it's an incredible to-scale replica. The appropriate readout and Game title have been added to this release. The Driver handle can flip shut, thus hiding the rider read out on the front screen as well. The right of the driver has 2 slots for Gasshats. One is already attached in the form of the Proto-Mighty Action X Gasshat. As is standard this is a dummy Gashat that can be reattached to any compatible Driver, holster, or Gashacon weapon. To the right of the driver, is a Gashat holster. There are 2 slots for extra Gasshats as well as 1 slot for a Critical Finish to be inserted.
As with Ex-Aid, GenM's chest detailing is magnificent. And unlike the Mighty Brothers the interior label used for the Rider Gauge is flawless. The paint apps on the outer layer are crisp and clear here for the most part as well. I should point out that much like Brave having an incorrectly colored collar piece, GenM too is wrong. His shoulder/collar area should be purple but has instead been left silver. On the flip side of the torso is the deactivated Level 1 head. It's a bit stylized and shrunk down, but that's as it should be if TV CG magic could really work in toy form. Not to be forgotten are the arms, which admittedly only have one flaw that I'm truly bothered by, and that's the shoulder pads. Not because they impact the articulation, but because they pop off easily when fully extending the arms. I had the same problem with my Ex-Aid though oddly not with the Mighty Brothers. But it's a minor issue. The wrists are solid, the elbows fully functional and the bicep swivel welcome as always.
Finally that brings us to the head. This is where the most egregious paint issues are present. The white paint used for the visor is just pitifully applied. Lot's of hazy overspray around the edges and a ton of flecks on the visor itself. The "hair" of the helmet likewise has a number of white flecks that really detract from it's overall look. Otherwise I think the shape of the head is generally great, and the hair looks very solid. Lots of people took issue with this head on the original Ex-Aid release, but I've always thought it looked spot on.
Accessories
4 - set of hands. 3 varieties of open palm hands and 1 set for holding things, weapons or bike handles.
1 - set of Gashacon Bug Visor parts. This accessory is actually split into a few pieces though out of box it comes in the Chainsaw Eliminator mode. Although the saw form is not the standard mode of the weapon. The Bug Visor itself is just a plate in the center that makes up most of the mass of the accessory. It's attached to a long board with the saw extended on one end. The EXP Grip Knuckle is likewise a separate part plugged onto this board. An alternate part is included that when used in conjunction with the Visor and Knuckle, creates the standard version of the weapon we see GenM use probably 99% of the time, the Beam Gun Eliminator mode.
1 - Shakariki Sports Level 3 bike. This is the main event. The reason most anyone who wanted this figure went ahead and bought the Tamashii Nations 2017 exclusive version (definitely including me). Since this won't be included with the standard web release in 2018, it's undoubtedly going to retain value all it's own. Out of box, it's everything you'd want in a glorified accessory. Like usual Rider Machines, the bike has a turning front wheel attached to the handlebars (tires are rubber or at least a soft rubbery plastic), and since we've never really had a figuarts bicycle before, it's incredible that it even has working pedals. Now they aren't connected by chain to the rear wheel, but the pedals do move. Between them and the seat, it's actually a perfect fit for GenM to be seated. There's no kickstand on the bike to hold it up but there is an accessory included that more than fixes this.
1 - Wheel Base. Very different from what we normally see with figuarts bikes, this base is designed for the much smaller bike tire. It provides a nice tight fit for the rear (or front tire) and has some wider sections on either side to provide the stability needed for the bike to sit upright without a rider.
Even if you take the Shakariki bike out of the equation, this figure still comes with a perfect array of accessories. Accept for one thing, there is no Shakariki Sports Ghashat included at all. Which is totally bizarre. The actually bike itself comes with this release, but not the gashat that summons it. I truly don't understand why.
Final Thoughts
Kamen Rider GenM is a character with totally unmatched fan favoritism within the context of this series. people love him, and for good reason. Kuroto Dan is a charismatic mad man with some of the best forms and abilities the series had to offer. While I'm still surprised his upgraded Level X form was released first, I'm really really happy to have Level 2 GenM now. And I'm ecstatic that Bandai went the the extra mile and even produced the Shakariki Sports bike. It to me shows that they truly understand what it is that fans wanted from this release. Of course it still boggles my mind that it was made a limited event exclusive, but if you don't mind the loss of the bike you can always pick up the web exclusive solo release in 2018. For now, I have to say I truly love this figure.
Part 2
- Bug Visor
- VS Ex-Aid
- Level 2's together
- GenM's united
Part 3
- Shakariki Sports Bike
Awesome figure. The bike has some nice effects.
Some awesome shots there
Just got him myself a few days ago.
Love the figure but its not worth the price it's going for right now.
Only Figuarts can make a toy of a BMX bike being used as a weapon look good.
That bike is waaaaay cooler than it should be
Another of the "dark version" Riders that actually turned out to be a good suit that I liked.
Always liked that they talked about it being a color swap of Ex-Aid since that's how it is in games. Good figure overall.
Keep reading: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Action Gamer Level 2 & Shakariki Sports Gallery - Page 2
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