S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Rogue Gallery

"Crocodile in Rogue!!!!"

Gentoku Himuro lusted for power as the monstrous Night Rogue. Defeated and broken, he sought refuge in neighboring Seito, only to experience savage physical trials. Gaining power, he was forced into service by Utsumi Nariaki & Blood Stalk. But cured of the Nebula Gas influence, Gentoku remembered what it meant to fight for his country. It was only a matter of time before his heart was free to fight for his people, and his father's memory. Though he once struck fear into our heroes hearts, Gentoku would fight for love and peace as the dangerous Kamen Rider Rogue!

Packaging
The standard two-tone packaging of the Build line is back with some gorgeous purple and blue shades. Rogue's suit colors have always really worked for me and that no different when it comes to this packaging. Rogue's box is also another of the recent Tamashii releases to feature the blue Bandai Spirits logo as well as the new holofoil Tamashii Nations brand sticker.

Main Figure
Kamen Rider Rogue is the first new mold the Build line has introduced in a little while. The last truly new mold being the one shared by Cross-Z Charge & Grease. Rogue only has one possible repaint as well, Prime Rogue, which was recently revealed at Tamashii Nations 2018 and could realistically see release unlike *any* other Hyper Battle Video form ever before it. That being said, Bandai really needed to make this mold a winner to justify it's existence, though the character's popularity already ensured that.

Rogue is a suit that I've kind of been in love with since it's introduction. The colors pops, the symmetry of the design is a great departure from a lot of what we'd seen from build at the time, and that Crocodile theme is so subtle but so perfect. It was several days after this suits debut in show that I even realized the head was literally a crocodile mouth biting down on it's victim. That kind of understated beauty really works for me. But Rogue's colors are what really hit you first. The purple/teal/white/black assortment puts me in mind of the typical "evil repaint" character we see in lot's of shows and toylines, even though this is an all new mold. The purple is a really nice royal shade with some grit to the finish that shines in the right light. The teal accents are so bright and really accent that purple well, while the black and white break up what would otherwise be a very "G2" color scheme for you Transformers fans out there.

Aside from colors the mold itself is pretty excellent. Again it's the subtle qualities of it that work best. Like Rogue's feet feature crocodile claws protruding from the toes, and there are fins on the legs that suggest just as much danger. The toes bend far further than expected, while the ankles don't bend back far enough. The knees are more or less perfect with a good bend to them while the hips leave a bit to be desired in their forward movement. However I do always appreciate it when Bandai gets the little details right. Like the inner part of the hip joint completing the paint details from the thighs. The legs are imperfect, but they look great.

The waist features the same Sclash Driver we saw with Cross-Z Charge & Grease. This will also be it's last outing in the toyline, as those 3 riders were it's only users. Of course Rogue is the only one of these three users who does not use a Sclash Jelly to transform. Instead this form is powered by the unique Crocodile Crack Full Bottle. The one included with the figuart has the molded details and red crack down, though it is missing the gold & green paint apps on the tip of the bottle.

The upper body is separated into two chunks, the lower torso rotates behind the "cracked" chest. This chest panel extends all the way down past where abs would be and can impact the Driver so jsut be careful not to scratch it. I love the detailing on the front of the torso but do I ever love that segmented mechanical spine along the back of the figure. It just looks fantastic in person. The arms feature more of that crocodile subtlety like protrusions on the knuckles & forearm, and literal crocodile tails on the shoulders. The arms function great, but the shoulder pads are kind of nuisance. Not as bad as Grease or Cross-Z Charge, but they do inhibit outward movement.

Rogue's head is still the pinnacle of this suit's design. I know some people think it's a bit off size wise but I think it really hits the nail on the head.Rogue's head of course is modeled on a crocodile biting down on it's victim. the lower right jaw line even features a rider jewel, positioned like the croc's eye, while the teeth line the users head. It's a disturbingly great design that's subtle enough many didn't notice it at first. The teal compound eyes set against this backdrop pop so brightly as well. And we can't forget the last perfect detail to compliment this, the fragile sticker on the back of the head. It was another detail a lot of people didn't notice initially, but it's just such nice a touch and a good little joke regarding the design of the head. I'm really happy to see it on the figuart too.

All in all this is an excellent figure that will looks great with your other Build Riders. For some fun I included another pair of shots near the end of the gallery you may enjoy. Rogue is the first Crocodile themed rider in the franchise, so I put him with the first Alligator themed one, Kamen Rider Gaoh! These figure's are separated by nearly 10 years of engineering changes in S.H. Figuarts, and 10 years worth of shows. It's wild what a difference such a short time can make. I thought it was fun, hope you do too.

Accessions
Rogue Comes with quite a bit honestly:

1 - Remocon Gear. The transformation trinket for Fu Washio/Remocon Bros. Like a Full Bottle, it can interact with the Transteam or the as intended Nebula Steam Gun. But because of the way it's sculpted it won't work with the Twin Breaker, Build Driver, Beat Crosser, etc.

1 - Engine Gear. The transformation trinket for Rai Washio/EngineBros. Like a Full Bottle, it can interact with the Transteam or the as intended Nebula Steam Gun. But because of the way it's sculpted it won't work with the Twin Breaker, Build Driver, Beat Crosser, etc.

2 - sets of hands. Fairly basic stuff. One set for holding weapons, one set of open palms. I would have liked a pair for holding Full Bottles, but that's not a huge loss.

1 - Nebula Steam Gun. This is a really gorgeous repaint of the Transteam Gun. It's been recast in magnificent translucent purple plastic and given some glorious gold paint and minor green detailing. It's still capable of accepting Full Bottles and or Gears, and can combine with Steam Blade parts which are included.

1 - Steam Blade. A repack of the components included with both Night Rogue & Blood Stalk. The new Nebula Steam Gun can still use them in the exact same way, combining to form the Nebula Steam Rifle.

Unless Bandai really were gonna go the extra mile and included the crocodile Cruncher Fang rider kick parts, I can't think of anything else at all that's missing. They did a great job with Rogue.

Final Thoughts
S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Rogue is another really wonderful addition to my Build collection. It's still kind of wild to me that a show I was pretty mildly excited for originally, turned out to be one of my top 3 rider series ever. And every time I get to add another rider or form from it to my collection, I'm always so excited. Rogue is another winner in my book. If indeed that Prime Rogue prototype sees the light of day sometime in the future, I know I can be excited for it based on this. Pick up old beardo if you can!

Part 2
- Steam Blade
- Nebula Steam Rifle
- Build Riders Assembled
- Crocodile Vs Alligator

I really like this one too. I actually think the longer crocodile jaws on the head look more fitting, after seeing the figure the helmet on the show always looked wrong to me, like they are too short.

Still an inaccuracy worth pointing out on such an expensive figure, I feel like that was a pretty bad slip-up even if it isn't bothering me personally.

For the Crack Up Finish, did you use a DX Gao Hunter?

Well, GaoLigator. But yeah, looks like it.

What's with the caution sticker on the back of his helmet?

I did use Gaolligator from Gao Hunter. Specifically the Blue Moon variation.
It's part of the subtle crocodile theme. The helmet is literally the jaws of a croc biting down on and cracking it's victim into pieces. That's why the helmet has those white cracks running up the face. The fragile sticker is an on the nose joke about this theme. Funny enough the helemt literally does crack in episode 48, revealing Gentoku's face.

Another beautiful design brought to life
i love the colors and aesthetics of this guy

and i really want a croc shaped effects part . . .

The bigger 'jaws' just look too offputting to me

I'm stuck between "this figure is gorgeous" and that it's flat-out off-model. It's not just the crocodile mouth being too long; the colors are off.

I'm surprised by how frequently non-Shinkocchou Seihou Figuarts have been off-model, of late. I wonder whether it has to do with how early production on these figures has to start. I'm assuming development has to start long before the show airs or before individual suits debut on the show. (This would also explain why Bandai's choices about which suits and Riders to produce seem so random.)