Simple. Treat Level 1 as Masked Form for the Kabuto Riders and simply use them in fights regardless of there being CGI bollocks

I could not possibly disagree more with this statement. :p

Well all the Showa series and a solid third of the Heisei shows have been pretty episodic. I honestly think the only gun Kamen Rider has ever really stuck to is "guy uses belt to transform and fight monsters".

Not even too consistently in that case even, as Amazon was already transforming without a belt back in 1974. The fighting monsters part is like the one thing all Rider shows have in common.

The topic of Ex-Aid's final form was brought up though, so here's a simple question of my own: is there any way it's not going to be Dr. Mighty? I mean, think about it. Mighty Action X is an obvious Mario stand-in, and we already have the Mighty Brothers as a power up. It would only fit too well if the last form was a doctor.

Don't forget Hibiki's tuning fork!

-G3 put on his suit manually (is he technically a kamen rider?)
-Gills didn't use a belt
-Lots of Kabuto riders didn't use belts
-None of the Oni did

So not that consistent :p

I meant specifically the protagonist. Also no one is gonna call out Drive for having a wrist doohickey straight out of Super Sentai? I know the belt is the important part but still...

Both his belt and Amazon's are still important design elements though. Belt-san is an actual main character (eat your heart out, Kivat!), and Amazon's does other helpful stuff. And the Oni use theirs for finishers and such.

It definitely isn't that consistent though, you're right.

Shin and ZO lacked belts, too.

With a giant Syringe Blade! XD

Hey, look at me! I've got a question!
Where did the "Jingle Belts" start? It seems like a Sentai Changer / Toy synergistic thing. I fucking love the Jingle Belts - totally whacked out and absurd.

OOO Driver.