S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Zombie Gamer Level X Gallery – Toku Toy Box Entry

"Danger Danger! Genocide! Death The Crisis! DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!"

We've waited so very long for the one true hero to arrive. Finally, months after the end of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, the first figuart of the one and only god himself Kuroto Dan has arrived! While Bandai has opted to go with (arguably) Kuroto's most popular and beloved form first, they did also just release his Level 2 Action Gamer form as a Tamashii Nations 2017 exclusive. Using the data of death, his own in fact, Kuroto Dan has become the Dangerous Zombie! This is our gallery of the excellent S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Zombie Action Gamer Level X!

Packaging
GenM Level X comes in what is now standard packaging for Ex-Aid Web Exclusives. It's not nearly as right or loud, but it's a theme I still really dig. With no packaging window as all web exclusives are these days. As with the others the colors pop well and I like the character portrait on the front. That's about all there is to say on this one.

Main Figure
This figure was easily one of my most anticipated releases this year. The suit design for Level X is truly brilliant. It strikes the perfect balance of chaos and order as well as good an evil. Playing perfectly into Kuroto's nature and personality. This figure is an exquisite execution of the design.

If you never immediately noticed this before, Zombie Gamer's design is very much based on a skeleton. It's easy to just see the black & white and not look at the finer details. But if you take a second glance, one of the most notable aspects of this is in the legs, where we begin. The shins themselves are actually bones. A majority of the rest of the design is more subtle, but I love how the shins look. I have a slight issue with how they protrude out just far enough at the bottom to mess with the forward motion of the ankles. I was able to get GenM into some very very precarious poses for this gallery. But it took an exorbitant amount of trial and error to do so. I will say I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the paint work on the legs themselves though. The white bands around the hips and the black accenting them is very poorly applied on my copy, there almost appears to be a white haze over the black paint and several white flecks as well.

GenM Level X marks the first instance of the Buggle Driver for Ex-Aid figuarts as well. It also marks a change in how Gashats are handled. The finer details of the Driver are a bit soft for my tastes, particuarly on the buttons on the front. But the paint work is really great, and the readout on the driver is very sharp.The Dangerous Zombie Gashat is very much like previous SHF Gashats, in that it is a dummy piece with just the handle and upper portion to plug into the Driver. However it is also substantially smaller than Gashats present in Gamer Drivers for reasons I don't understand. I tried recreating GenM Level 0X at the tail end of this gallery using Ex-Aids Drivers so you should be able to see the size difference. Of note, you can't just create Level 0X by doing this swap. Standard Level X's Rider Gauge is totally different.

Speaking of the chest, the details on the Rider Gauage are actually really really nice. Bandai's label work has massively improved since the old Kiwami Arms debacle. Every Ex-Aid rider so far has had really crisp Rider Gauges and GenM Level X is no different. I particularly like the two bars just under the neck of the figure that simulate clavicle bones as well. These are actually hinged to move for some reason, but they never really get in the way of anything. On the flip side of the torso I am in LOVE with the details for GenM's spine. They just sell that skeletal nature of the design all that much more.

GenM's arms are about as standard as you can get, Nothing too terribly special, the paint work is much nicer than the legs thankfully. The right shoulder pad bugs me just enough because it's easy to pop off the joint. But that's a minor gripe. Finally, that, head. That absolutely gorgeous sculpt. That broken visor and exposed eye. Bandai nailed that headsculpt perfectly. Being able to arch the head back or crane it over tot either side again helps sell the maniacal nature of this form.

Overall GenM has very standard articulation as well, with just enough extra play in the joints to pull off some great menacing zombie poses very reminiscent of what we saw in the TV series.

Accessories
Kuroto comes with the perfect accessories to remind you of just how evil he was at an early point in the series:

5 - sets of additional hands. I love how the right hands have that skeletal paint work on the back of them. I honestly never noticed it til I had this figure in hand and I just LOVE little details like that. I think some of these sets could look a little more menacing and expressive but they do get the point across of who and what Dan was at this point in his (first) life. There's a few pairs of open hands in various poses as well as two pairs to hold the included weapons in either mode.

1 - Gashcaon Sparrow. The trademark weapon of Kamen Rider Lazer Level 3, and later his Lazer Turbo form. This was a trophy that Dan kept for himself after he killed Kiriya. The fact that this accessory is included with the GenM figuart instead of an actual Lazer one is just deliciously satisfying. The two halves can plug together in the middle by way of a small white tab. This hardly ever works on mine. It's a terrible part fit so the two halves constantly force each other apart, so that's frustrating. Alternatively the two can be held in the Sickle Modes instead.

That's it for accessories but that's honestly perfect. The pipe dream would have been to include a Gamer Driver and Gashacon Breaker for GenM Level 0X. But the chest gauge would have had to be different as well. So that's understandable. I expect to see Level 0X released fully on it's own at some point as well.

Final Thoughts
I, like many collectors, heavily anticipated the release of this figure. Kuroto Dan is to many myself included, easily the most memorable and interesting character in the entirety of Ex-Aid. While many may not have cared for his semi-heroic turn near the end of the series, I for one loved his odd character evolution. And I think it's very fitting that S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider GenM Zombie Gamer Level X is the first collector figure released for Kuroto. While I'm of course pleased that his Level 2 form was also recently released, Dangerous Zombie still stands as probably one of the best rider designs I've seen in years. And paint issues aside, this figure more than satisfied and intense craving.

Part 2
- Gashacon Sparrow (both modes)
- Battle with Lazer
- Group shots
- Level 0X (sort of)

This is easily one of the best executed designs in all of Ex-Aid and this figuart is beautiful.

I hope I can find one at a decent price in the future.

The first Ex-Aid figuart I got and it the best one from this line.

Zombie Gamer is just perfect he my favorite rider in Ex-Aid.

Such an amazing design and the figuart does a pretty good job.

Honestly I think this might just be my favorite rider design right now, certainly my favorite evil rider design.

Still have this on my want to buy list. Hope price goes down sooner than later to be able to afford decently

Best design on the show

So glad I jumped on this on day one. Now if only Level 2 didn't require impossible timing and luck... and money.

Anyway, I didn't realize it until I got this guy in hand, but I can't help but be reminded of the RIGs from Dead Space when I see the overall design and the accentuated spine on the back of the suit/figure. Then again the Gashat artwork brings to mind Doom, as does the helmet design (hair aside).

It's a great design. I wish his DX Gashat wasn't quite so crazy pricy.