Toku Toy Box: S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider W Luna/Trigger Gallery

"Luna! Trigger!"

In order to save the young Asuka, who mistakes W for her Papa, Shotaro & Phillip took on the Anomalocaris Dopant. To save Asuka from the monster's tight grip, W used the elastic powers of Luna and sure shooting of Trigger to change the direction of his blasts and stop the Dopant as Kamen Rider W Luna/Trigger! Though this form doesn't have a debut with much fanfare, it'se a really fantastic color and ability combo that we've not seen in rider much before.

Packaging
The familiar Shinkocchou Seihou slip cover box makes another appearance! Nothing can be said about it this time that hasn't been said before. It's gotten a bit stale over time but it's still a pleasing type of collector's box. However, the benefit of Joker having been a Tamashii Nations event exclusive is that it got a bit of extra packaging fan fare. The anniversary slipcover around the regular Seihou box may be a bit monotone, but it's welcome change to what these releases normally have.

Main Figure
As with the previous line of Kamen Rider W figuarts, the Seihou releases rely heavily on repaints. Luna/Trigger is just the latest such, soon to be followed up by Heat/Metal. The nice thing about the almost straight repaints of these figures, is that we know exactly what to expect when it comes to W releases now. As with base Cyclone/Joker W, as well as Skull, Fang/Joker, & Joker that's true excellence. Feel free to peruse my review below, but it will be very similar in wording to my previous W related reviews due to the absence of radical changes.

This mold has accurately recreated the suits you've seen in numerous episodes and movies down to their finest details. I've said this many times with Shinkoccouh Seihou releases, but I truly think the W body is the peak of engineering in the line so far (though I will be reviewing Wizard Flame Style this month....). But the W mold narrowly beats out other such examples of excellence like Garo & Kabuto Hyper Form. In every conceivable way these are fantastic figuarts though. For a frame of reference, the original W Figuarts were largely a product of their time. The contrast between the old line, and what we have now, is stark.

For starters the S.S. release of Luna/Trigger nails the details and coloring. The original L/T figuart had far from accurate colors, more of a mustard yellow and icey blue, but colors imperfections were prevalent and often accepted early in the line. This go around, both halves are gorgeously painted though. The body itself is physically unchanged though aside from the always differnet chest, ankle & wrist details which always corespond to the memory on that half of the body. The figure functions identically the previous outings of the mold as well. If you've seen the C/J, Skull, Joker F/J or even the Eternal review, then you know what you're in for again. This mold works in every way that it must. It has not disappointed, even now, after many repeated uses. So I really don't have much of anything to say about functionality, please feel free to peruse any of those previous reviews for a more in depth look at how the figure functions.

Now onto the Double Driver! This belt is still the crowning achievement of W Seihou line. A functional belt at this scale blows me away and simultaneously manages to frustrate me to no end. This figuart includes the Luna & Trigger Memories packed as a separate accessories, rather than in the Driver, so as not to lose them. I lose them very, very, often when shooting galleries of W figures. Just be extremely careful as the fit is quite loose in the Double Driver. Though this time around I only seem to have trouble with Trigger, as Luna stays in quite snugly.

I think perhaps one of the few physical issues I may have with this figure is the head. The compound eyes seem a bit off to me. Almost like they're just too dark to see properly. In the group shot I took of C/J, L/T, & F/J together, it's apparent just how much brighter the eyes on C/J were. But I'm just not sure, Luna/Trigger's eyes just look off to me. This minor shortcoming aside this is still another excellent outing of this mold, and because this figure is a repaint of the magnificent Seihou W mold, it has the functionality spot. Seihou Luna/Trigger has the articulation to pull off everything it's known for in show *(though not necessarily the parts for it), and the proper sculpting for the joints needed for it to look perfect while doing so. The extending knee joints that look like a natural expansion of the costume, the near seamless thigh swivels, the way the upper arms & shoulder come together and separate just as you need, and the miraculous way the upper torso is designed. This figure just looks stunning in hand. I think these colors may pop even more than the previous several outings of the mold. The various Seihou W releases just have a way of doing that. I have an irrational desire to own all of these W variant even when I don't actually like the show. It's wacky.

Accessories
As with other W releases (mostly), Luna/Trigger comes with all the necessities:

6 - sets of hands. A wonderful smattering of options to choose from, these are all just repaints of hands that came with Cyclone/Joker, Fang/Joker, Joker, and Skull. Pretty much everything you're gonna need.

2 - Gaia Memories. 1 Luna, 1 Trigger. Same mold as any other memory, exquisite paint apps on each. Just as easy to lose as every other Gaia Memory you've ever handled.

1 - Trigger Magnum. Unlike the now ancient original Luna/Trigger figuart, this Magnum is fully functional. The original figure came with two Magnums, one for each mode. Whereas this one has a properly rotating Maximum Drive slot to differentiate it's two modes, Normal & Maximum. Memories stick in the slot much better than the Driver.

3 - Memory Gadgets. 1 Spider Shock. This one is set in Spider Mode Permanently and does not have the watch mode. This version can be plugged on the to back of the Magnum and allows W to shoot nets at his enemies. The other 2 are slightly different versions of the Bat Shot. 1 version is just the Bat Mode with the head flipped up standard. This one is actually not intended to be used with this figure, but will instead attached to W Heat/Metal's Metal Shaft. The other Bat Shot has the bat head flipped down so it can be plugged in to the back of the Magnum. Allowing W to shoot bursts of light. All 3 of these Gadgets have their memories permanently fixed.

And really that's pretty much perfect. Aside from the lack of a stretchy Luna arm like the original figuart. I understand that the size and uniformity of Seihou packaging tends to keep accessory counts small size wise but low content wise. So this one unfortunately didn't make the cut. Come on Bandai, where's that W effect set we all want??

Final Thoughts
Once again Bandai has really done right by Kamen Rider W. A form from a really well loved series that never got it's proper due in the original figuarts line up, has again gotten the high end renewal treatment. Shinkocchou Seihou Luna/Trigger is another really gorgeous offering from W, and I very much look forward to Heat/Metal!

Part 2

Great looking figure, and a great gallery as always Den. I just have to ask - was there ever a "stretch Luna arm" effect part, or is my brain making that up? Because that would have been a perfect inclusion. Not that the set doesn't come with everything it needs to, and it's more than I expect for some TWEs these days.

A part of me wishes they had included the bendy arm but overall I feel like it was wise. Everything else looks WAY better than the original and the inclusion of the machines is a great addition.

I take it you ditched your original version of this mold? I was surprised there weren't comparison shots, although it looks like you've got one of the Trigger Magnum. (I never get tired of comparing old Figuarts to Shinkocchou Seihou updates.)

I'm still grumpy with myself that I missed the ordering window for Heat/Metal. I guess I feel a little better knowing one of the accessories it should've had was packed with this instead?

Also, it's not you: the eyes definitely appear to be different from C/J. Could they be a darker red? Otherwise, I can't figure out quite why they don't pick up light as effectively, and I don't think it's just the color contrast.

This reminds me that I have to go watch W. This color combo is really really nice.

Man, it really feels like they just made that new W body yesterday. They put these out fast.