Who knows! It's absolutely bizarre, but it's being released as a Christmas campaign item of all things

That would by the phone for this year.

Keiwa’s like Genm and Zangetsu basically

There's speculation that it's cause they're gonna perma-bench Keiwa, which would make me sad tbh.

I'm confident that won't happen. When he was eliminated, he got labeled "Retired," which Buffa and Na-Go also got. From the first episode, we know Riders who are still in the competition at the end of previous DGPs return for the next. Also, the first rule the series revealed about the Desire Grand Prix is that receiving an ID Core is a one-way trip to becoming a Kamen Rider, and there's no backing out.

On another note, I splurged and picked up the Geats and Tycoon SO-DO figures on Mandarake. I foolishly failed to check to see how many boxes they were, and completely missed the two boxes containing Geats's Entry form, AKA most of the other Riders for display purposes. I suspect this is going to be very hard to find because it's so versatile.

The Monster Raise Buckle also showed up yesterday; these things are shipping shockingly fast. This is the first Raise Buckle I outright regret buying. The slapstick noises are not my jam. I did run into something interesting, though: the first few times I loaded it into the Desire Driver, it didn't register properly at all. (I'm starting to think there might be something wrong with my Driver.) When I got it seated in the second slot, I still wasn't hearing the Monster sounds, and instead, I got "Geats Strike." At first, I thought it was audio unique to the Monster buckle until I realized I hadn't yet heard any of its normal sounds.

Good news! They're releasing the enrtry form.body a lot!

Tycoon Entry is in fact the one most likely to be sought after — because they’ve already confirmed that’s the only box that’ll come with closed-hole fists. At least in this design

I wonder how many Raise Weapon buckles we'll end up getting. I really like how "Astroswitch" they are.

I ended up collecting most of the clear plastic versions of the astroswitches and seeing the raise weapons come in clear plastic is making me want to collect them all.

Do we know if the Drill and Propeller raise weapons are repaints of, or do they get unique props?

Drill is a repaint of the Drill Arm from the Birth CLAWS
Propeller is a repaint of the propellor blade from Build RoseCopter

Cool! I guessed the propellor was RoseCopter, but couldn't place the drill.

So we’ve got two new Premium Bandai sets coming up. One is a set of two blank half-bodies. The other is two half-bodies, helmets for everyone but Geats, Tycoon, Na-Go, and PunkJack, and pieces to replicate all the Armed forms we’ve seen so far. (Also, if you look it up, beware a mild spoiler about what I assume is an upcoming plot point. The latter seems a far better value to me, but… if you’ve bought all the releases so far, you’ve still only got enough pieces to display four distinct characters, with an extra half-body left over.

I think we can infer that if there’s a next main-line release, it’ll be a Beats Na-Go/Monster PunkJack similar to the Tycoon/Buffa release. Then again, that could turn out to be PB3, for all I know.

The Armed forms set is really the only thing I think Revolve Change has going for it, given that So-Do exists and now, we have a rough idea what we’re getting from Figuarts. I still haven’t gotten a single Revolve Change figure in-hand; quite a contrast from the lightning-quick release of the Raise Buckles. Apparently, Beats will show up on my doorstep today. Also, it looks like my guess that PB would provide swappable, proper hands and feet was totally wrong. The awkward hand/feet continue.

RCF has a lot more going for it. For one thing, it's far cheaper than figuarts; it's so far the only thing that has done the bike; and most importantly, the upper halves can become bottom halves and vice versa. In SO-DO and SHF that requires a whole other figure, and we don't even know if SHF will do any bottom halves like that.

SO-DO and SHF compromise the gimmick for the sake of the figures being better, while RCF compromises the figures (2-packs, weird feet) for the gimmick being perfected and in general much more fun

RCF Nago and PunkJack are happening

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...5/IMG_7639.png

I wonder if the RCF PunkJack and Na-Go in that image are going to (a) be sold separately, and (b) include two blank half-bodies in addition to the Monster and Beat half-bodies. OMG, if her bracelets are going to translate to high heels, I'm going to be SO annoyed.

On another note, the Beats Raise Buckle showed up today, and this one is more interesting than the others I've purchased. It's got its own electronics and sounds. The turntable and keys produce sounds whether or not the buckle is inserted into the driver. All of the keys cycle through three dance beats. The turntable both produces the record-scratch sound and stops the current beat; it also serves as the trigger when the buckle is inserted into the Driver. I think the occasional "don't stop" sound is exclusive to Beats/Boost; I haven't been able to produce it with any other buckles.

DX Command listing just went live with the Tycoon ID Core campaign. This is literally the only image they've given us; no more info or images of the forms or anything

https://i.imgur.com/sUIkql3.png

https://bandai-a.akamaihd.net/bc/img...00184177_1.jpg

Within like 24 hours of the last upgrades debut the next is already announced? Feeling like that scene from Pacific Rim. Next thing you know we'll have an upgrade form get replaced before the end of its first episode

Thank god we're getting a female rider in the Revolve Change Figure toyline.

We are getting a Revolve Change Figure Kamen Rider Geats and Kamen Rider Tycoon Command Form Set. https://toy.bandai.co.jp/series/ride.../detail/12965/

Comes out on January 28.

I just got my first Revolve Change figure from Tokullectibles, the Tycoon/Buffa Ninja/Zombie. How they're built is definitely interesting, but... yeah, I've lost my interest in buying any more. Too bad I pre-ordered the US releases of Geats and the bike.

I found it interesting that the part with the two heads is removable. The problem is that lots of other stuff is also removable, and further, doesn't like to stay attached. The Tycoon and Buffa-specific parts and the chest pieces for Ninja like to pop off frequently. (Ninja's armor separates in a manner completely different than what its form suggested, which I appreciated.) The lower legs of either form have the kind of stability you'd expect from something that's supposed to double as an elbow. This can technically provide additional poseability, except it's for parts that aren't supposed to move like that. By comparison, the thighs lose some movement from the structure that's supposed to give them stability when they're a chest. Buffa's helmet "hair" severely restricts the head's poseability, and the Tycoon head's eyes don't look great with the Ninja form's background color. You can do some interesting things with shoulder posing, but doing so leaves some gaps that don't look great. The teeny-tiny hand/feet don't look great as hands, and they don't provide a ton of stability for posing, or even just standing. Also, although you have the option to display it as either Buffa or Tycoon, you'd need to buy the rather-expensive-for-what-it-is two-half-bodies Premium Bandai set if you wanted to display both characters.

There are some interesting ideas at work here, but I'm afraid this isn't going to be as cool as the Gaim Arms Change line. The biggest problem is that the revolving gimmick is more fiddly than fun, but YMMV.

On another note, while the Bandai candy blog has been weirdly silent about Geats ID 4, you can find the full case breakdown on Tokullectibles. I've got mixed feelings about the wave, because four of the 13 boxes are dedicated to Revice... movie stuff, I guess? Which I have no interest in. Most of the wave is still Geats-related, specifically the Fever forms for Tycoon Ninja, Na-Go Beats, Buffa Zombie, and PunkJack Monster. Box 13 is the one that most interests me, and I hope (but probably in vain) that it's the one that appears twice in the case. It comes with a chest and leg pieces for the Armed forms, the Armed Arrow and Armed Water gun, a modular Desire Driver that can have different Raise Buckles slotted in, a Ninja lower leg that isn't Tycoon-specific, additional half-helmets for our five current Riders, one of every single Raise Buckle that appeared in the show before Command, and basically all the stickers ever.

Sadly, there's only the one box, whereas I'll probably want multiples of the Armed pieces for the eliminated Riders. I imagine they'll release another along these lines with more Armed pieces and the remaining Armed weapons in ID 5.

Fiddling with the Desire Driver a bit more, I've heard some more novel sounds, including Geats Strike several times. I think there's something about the raise buckles on one side not always seating properly. I'm looking forward to seeing whether and what "Geats Strike" will refer to. Seeing that there's a new upcoming driver - and given that they don't appear to be selling the Command Raise Buckles absent the sword - I'm inclined to stop picking up more belt-related stuff, at least after Fever ships. Still, I'm fascinated by how the newer major raise buckles are all doing *something* interesting mechanically.

I've probably overinvested in merch from this show, but I'm enjoying Geats more than any Kamen Rider series since Gaim, and that's saying something given we've had some very strong shows since then.

Oh, one last bit: the picture of the Revolve Change Na-Go and PunkJack having Entry Form lower bodies apparently isn't an indication of the way Na-Go/PunkJack will be actually released. I didn't realize the image above was of a part of the back of the Buffa/Tycoon box. On the box, they're arranged right next to Tycoon and Buffa laid out the same way, so presumably, it's a "if you buy all the Revolve Change figures, you can do this" thing.

Talking of RCF disappointment, if you were wondering why we hadn't seen Nago and Punkjack yet... guess what Premium Bandai just announced

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fi8OrJta...pg&name=medium

The funniest/worst part about this is that Nago & PunkJack are straight up advertised on the back of the box for the Tycoon/Buffa set.

Oof, really??

Yup

I'm guessing it's a Premium Bandai exclusive because Kamen Rider Na-Go is a female. I would have preferred it if they made it a regular release instead. Why do most female Kamen Rider stuff have to be Premium Bandai exclusive anyway?

In this case I think it’s a combination of Nago being female and PunkJack possibly not making it past the 1st quarter. But to answer your question it’s because Bandai isn’t confident that female rider stuff will sell at mass retail so they don’t want to take the risk of it not selling and potentially clogging shelves. The only reason they were able to get away with releasing the DX Beat buckle is because Geats himself is front & center on the box and it’s advertised as a Geats form first on the package (same trick they used for Marika back in Gaim since the peach energy lockseed could be double billed as a jimber form. Also I’m pretty sure the only female rider toys that have been sold by themselves and not attached to anything were tokimeki crisis and lightning hornet). It’s one of those things where Bandai’s main demographic for their Rider toy lines is small Japanese boys and they tend to not be as interested in playing with female centric toys, it’s the same reason why dedicated villain toys aren’t made super often (kids tend to want to be the hero). With all that in mind I’m guessing Bandai’s logic is that if they shove it on PBandai then those who actually want this stuff (ie. Grown ass nerds who don’t care about that sorta stuff) can order it, they can make whatever amount is needed, and they don’t have to risk a shelf warmer.

I'll give them this: at least they come with the Armed Hammer and Chain Array pieces. Of course, they show up here because they're missing from the $85 Premium Bandai set that has most of the helmets and Raise Weapons. And the one that only comes with two blank half-bodies. Feels like the Figuarts are ultimately cheaper.

I'm surprised that Bandai didn't release a DX Monster Gloves set.

Probably couldn't justify the manufacture cost. Maybe it's because they don't really register as weapons as they do part of the suit...?

They could always make it a Premium Bandai limited item.

Aside from weapon drivers (Slashriser etc) I’m trying to remember the last time they sold a DX weapon at preban… all that comes to mind is Saver’s repaint of the Sonic Arrow

Kamen Rider Glare's buckle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7wmnS67vY

Looking at the suit design, I suspect we'll be seeing a Revolve Change figure that doesn't actually revolve. It looks like the gimmick would be that the chest (and maybe shoulderpads) can be removed and placed over a half-body's head in place of a Rider helmet. I can definitely see how So-Do will implement it, given that they already have two-part heads, as well. Whether it'd be retail or Premium Bandai, I couldn't guess.

I definitely think if we do get Glare he'll be Preban given Nago and Punkjack were. Nago/Punkjack signals to me the end of RCF at retail

Okay, so the vision driver is p-bandai, but gonna get a US release, so that's nice.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TeamRider...84520090525696

team rider are bringing over the ID core set! 40 dollars

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FkduqsDU...jpg&name=small

Anyone else find it odd that the set that consists of broken cores omits Letta/Letter in favor of last year's Rider? Although it would also have been weird if they'd included either a broken or unbroken version without the other. They only did that with Buffa, and there's already been a DX unbroken Buffa released.

It's really weird to me that Letter specifically is omitted yeah. Are they just not planning to release her or do they have plans for her of all characters?

Bought this yesterday on Tokullectibles for 33 Bucks, not bad if I do say so myself.

Anything for my boy Ginpen (RIP).

Anyway, I'm assuming Letter was excluded because they wanted to keep the set a 9 Cores since she'd have two and they'd have to remove two of them. So removing just Revi's core wouldn't work cause then they'd have to remove Buffa's who just had his big moment.

My guess behind the Buffa and Revi cores being pushed instead are mostly in that they want to take advantage of timing. Getting Revi's core out sooner rather than later lets people complete their set with Vice's and I think people would be more inclined to buy Buffa's broken one sooner rather than later.

Not the best situation mind you but I doubt this is our last ID Core set. After all Michinaga's friend was feature prominently and likely could get a Core release, both broken and unbroken. There's also John and Ben who were revealed to be DGP Participants. So that's already like... six Cores that could be released easily for the next round and we'd only be missing 3 after that for 9. Not counting anyone else who shows up and dies or anyone we know in the main cast that dies.

Anyway I was mostly going to post that I bought it for Ginpen, but figured I'd try and share what I think is going on. Toei knows they have a money mine with these Cores, and I doubt they're the most expensive P Bandai thing to produce. I don't think they'll stop anytime soon.

The fact we are getting official CSM style straps for the Desire Driver makes me hope they do this for every Driver going forward, P-Bandai or not