Me too. Although there were a couple of AC Shin Zangetsu for a fairly reasonable 3500-4000 yen these past couple of weeks so not all hope is lost! I have AC Duke pre-ordered but I look forward to seeing a SH Figuart announcement sometime.

SHin Zangetsu does seem to be reasonably priced. It's his brother Zangetsu that is ridiculous in price.

I just don't feel like paying more than retail for it. That and stubbornness that wants to see my HLJ order get filled even though it probably never will

Kyoryu Gold looks awesome, but I was silently hoping he'd come with his "flying" wings and they just hadn't mentioned it yet. Ah well, he still looks beautiful, ca't wait.

We do?

Most people are just making that assumption for some reason. There is no indication that'll actually happen.

There are lot's of initial forms used by riders that fall to the way side though. Look at some other Heisei riders. Kuuga Growing Form, Ryuki Blank Form, Den-O Plat Form. These basic suits either come back very rarely or not at all. I think standard Zangetsu is no different. Urobutchi has no toys to push of that suit any longer so I don't think it'll be returning.

I think that's kind of a bad example. Growing Form, Blank Form and Plat Form are basically all pre-rider forms. Weak with very little ability. Normal Zangetsu isn't the same as that at all. He was strong enough to go up against all the other riders and had his own personal weapon, which those pre-rider forms didn't unless you count Blank Form's standard sword which broke as soon as he used it.

Shin Zangetsu's use over armored Zangetsu is more like Kiva's Emporer form being used much more over his base form.

Based on what we saw in the first episode. I guess it can be argued that they just didn't want to show powered up forms there, but I'll be surprised if we don't see the energy riders come to an end before long. We do know that things are going to turn into an all out rider war eventually though and that Ryouma and Takatora won't be on the same side. I don't see him continuing to use the energy driver beyond that.. But this is a discussion for another place.

Regardless, base forms are always going to be regulars over powerups, even if the powered up form becomes used more than the regular one.

But it isn't a powered up form. His name literally means True, as in True Zangetsu. That's an entirely new suit, not an upgraded form of his previous one. He doesn't even use the same driver to access it.

If you want to argue that Kouta will steal his Melon ELS to use Jinba Melon and then he'll be forced to use original Zangetsu, then I can sort of see where you're going. But as is there's literally no reason for him to revert to a lesser power set. Look at G3 VS G3X for a good example of that.

One of the only ways I can see him reverting to Melon Arms is if Ryoma built in some sort of kill switch to the Genesis Drivers and, when the rest of the energy riders break away (to side with Micchy?), he somehow kills Takatora's new driver, forcing him to go back to the old one.

Edit: Unrelated, I just realized that, for some reason, I ordered my Ride Shooter to ship via SAL. I must have been mad!

Except for the first episode.

I mean they said that wasn't an iron-clad depiction of the future, but there IS basis for believing regular Zangetsu will return.

There is a basis that the alliances will play out that way, and Urobutchi has said that's the future. The possible future at the very least. But I think it was more representative than substantive. If he'd been allowed or capable of it I'm certain he would have used the upgraded forms in that scene.

I wonder how many of the Blade riders we'll get figuarts. I hope we get Glaive, mostly because he's my favorite design of the show.

That's what I always figured, it was broad strokes. Plus he didn't say when in the future that took place either.

Has Femme got one made yet?

I agree with this reasoning. Considering how blantant Ryouma is about planning to betray Takatora, I can totally see him putting a remote shutdown in his Genesis Driver. Heck, perhaps Jimba Melon won't be used by Gaim, but by non-shin Zangetsu so that he can still fight on the Energy Rider's level?

Ooh! Zangetsu would look pretty neat in that rig. It would look great against his basic suit coloring. I look forward to the pictures of the AC figure done up so! :D

But that would require another Sengoku Driver that's - What's the word... Keyed? It'll do - Keyed to Gaim. Which is entirely within the realm of possibility considering that Micchy provided Oren and Jounuichi with upgraded versions of the Bravo and Gridon drivers, but it might be confusing with two Gaims on the field at once.

EDIT: Apologies, misread the last part of that statement. Disregard the above.

Went ahead & pre-ordered Chalice with the Pile of Loot setting activated, I'm gonna be excited about owning Chalice aswell as Leangle & Hibiki :D.

The 4 blade riders looks great together, I really like the mold of the blade riders.... it would have been amazing if there was die cast used.

On another note, RX and Acrobatter are coming out at the 26th.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...11344629_n.jpg

Dammit Blade, you made such great figuarts that I'm going all in with you.

Leangle is so extremely beutiful. The black and gold just work so incredibly well together.

Just posting here cause I've got nothing else to post.
http://i58.tinypic.com/149nh8i.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/ot3tbm.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/5zehc1.jpg

A review of Kabuto 2.0.

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/shfiguart...7f030247-s.jpg

Rest of the review here:

http://blog.livedoor.jp/shfiguarts/

Cannot wait until mines is dispatched, looks amazing. I want either Kiva to complete the Base form Heisei KR or, a Renewal for Agito after Hibiki to use this mold.

Oh so he DOES come with a book as well? Neat.

Damn it Amiami charge me for that bastard already :lol

I'm going to pay a fortune for Kabuto on the secondary market, aren't I? Man, I should have pre-ordered him.

So very good looking. That figure will end up on my shelf at some point.

Why would you...? Bluefin imported him..

Are they changing the packaging?

No idea, but I would doubt it in this case. The only time they've changed packaging, other than a sticker, is Zyuranger IIRC?

You know, I wanted to do a fairly good sized haul for my birthday, but I may not since I just found a deal for Black renewal and Battlehopper for $65.

I'd go for it.

Speaking of packaging.. Has there been any hint from Bandai that Kabuto 2.0's packaging is a one off, or if they'll do more like it? I'm under the impression that it's special because of the new body, and won't be used going forward. As they like the window packaging for retail. It would be great if the packaging shifted to this for all SHF releases. Sorry if I missed any news in regards to this and this is a retred.

As I recall Mammoth Ranger used the same style of packaging. So I think it's safe to say that's what they'll be using from now on.

Now how this affects the Bluefin releases, no idea...

Mammoth used it because all web exclusives have no windows now. Kabuto 2 is retail so its anyone's guess. We wont really know until we see what Gaims box looks like.

The thing I like about the Blade Riders are the muscles. Obviously roid rage Rangers aren't the way, but when you look at some of the older Figuarts where everyone is a lanky string bean it's just as inaccurate in the opposite direction. I'd rather they are a little over stylised in their solidity and definition than dangerously anorexic Japanime looking.

Nah, that's just standard window-less packaging. I mean packaging exactly like Kabuto's. The two part box, the way the inner plastic shell is done, etc.

Exactly. Yeah, I figured as much. Bandai, they're always so quiet about things. lol.

the fact that kiva is the only main heisei rider left to be made has gotten me thinking. where is our kamen rider g figuart and all his wine and corkscrew goodness?

Mammoth Ranger's box makes me a bit annoyed that they didn't keep with the pattern the Zyuranger Figuarts were doing before him. It looks so out of place next to the others.

He isnt the first of them to do this though. Ptera Ranger already had the windowless box.