Arms Change Kamen/Armored Rider Zangetsu Melon Arms Gallery
 

By heaven's decree!

Kamen Rider Gaim's Arms Change line just keeps chugging along with more releases and this reviewer for one can not get enough! So today we bring you yet another look at this popular line in the form of AC 05 Arms Change Armored/Kamen Rider Zangetsu!

Zangetsu is by far the rider we've seen the least of in show. Having only been seen transforming once by viewers, his actual rider name has never been uttered in show. Not even before his upgrade to his Energy Shin Zangetsu Form. As the older brother of Ryugen one might assume they would share some traits, however this isn't the case.

AC Zangetsu actually shares the most qualities with Gaim. Primarily because the base body for each of these riders is nearly identical. Without Arms attached Gaim & Zangetsu are nigh identical save for color differences and the remolded head crest. Zangetsu tends to feel a little lighter and cheaper based on reports from numerous buyers. I can't say mine feels bad at all. But the widespread issue it seems nearly all Zangetsu's suffer from is a bent sword. Being that this is almost a straight up Gaim repaint the Musou Saber is identical, but nearly all Zangetsus have a strange bend at the tip of the saber so it points outward. A very odd but recurrent QC issue.

The Melon Arms themselves are very detailed. Much more so than any of the other previously released arms. The intricate details sculpted into the melon just really pop with that bright green. And when combined with Zangetsu's white backdrop of a body it's a literal match made in heaven. The Melon Defender shield Zangetsu comes with is large, thick, and fairly heavy. If you don't really clasp his hand around it it will slide out and fall. It's not very practical in terms of the toy but the shield does look nice.

Zangetsu is probably the design that evokes the most badassery. The figure carries that over quite well. Now when it comes to Arms Changes the Melon Arms is kind of average. Unlike Banana which looks good on everything, and Budou which is terrible on almost everything, Melon sort of works okay on most things. Definitely better on Gaim & Ryugen, terrible on Baron. But that's just the nature of how these things are colored. Some colors just inherently clash with one another.

ow Zangetsu himself really looks great in anything. Banana and Orange really work, especially Banana. Something about that Arms in aprticular makes it work with everyone. Budou is the most passable on Zangetsu. It simply does not work for Gaim & Baron, but Takatora here can almost pull it off.

All in all? Another excellent addition to the Arms Change line. If you can find one at all I recommend picking it up. However prices have skyrocket (as we've said before) for this line. Particularly for Zangetsu who appears to be in much more scarce than the others. However if you can't find Zangetsu then holding out for Shin Zangetsu next month would also be a good option.

Yours has the bent Musou Saber too? That's just about my only knock against these figures. Seems like nobody has a perfect one.

My Zangetsu had one too -__-.

Grape does look.. No it doesn't, you were right. Grape really doesn't work on anyone but Ryugen does it.

Mine should be arriving in the next couple of days. Will report on whether he has a bent saber.

I actually think Budou Zangetsu looks awesome. My Zangetsu's sword was bent as well, weird, but fascinating, to learn about the consistent QC issue.

My musou saber is bent as well.

Mine miso saber was also bent. I fixed if by submerging it in a hot cup of water and bending it back.

Nice to see a real life photo of the awesome Zangetsu Banana.

*Sighs* If only I had one :(

My Musou saber is bent too. I'm guessing the plastic container is a bit too small to snugly fit the tip of the sword properly.

Lovely galleries Den-O, thank you!

It's just really odd that this is occurring. It's a widespread issue, I've yet to see even a single Zangetsu that didn't suffer from it. And the bizarre thing is that it's just a repack of the Musou Saber from Gaim, there're no differences at all.

The figure however is just excellent. Maybe my favorite aside from Baron.

I still love you Budou Zangetsu!
Melon looks nice on most of them too, though it's kinda awkward that Baron and Ryugen's only weapon would be a shield...

Yeah Gaim and Zangetsu get the unfair advantage of their base suits already coming with weapons, whereas for Baron and Ryugen the weapons only come with the Arms.

Mine's bent too. My only gripe with these figures is the weapons are made of bendy plastic. I miss the days when Souchaku Henshin had hard plastic weapons...

Maybe there's a reason why only Gaim and Zangetsu have the Mousu Saber... Oh, theory!

It is a bit odd only they have the Musou Saber (Well Zangetsu wouldnt have a weapon otherwise lol). It seems the Musou Saber allows for more special abilities (since the lockseed can be attached to it) so it seems to give those two an unfair advantage. Although saying that, Gaim being the hero already nets him some unfair advantages.

I thought it was because they were based on Samurai.

So based on that logic they should all have weapons outside their fruit armors. But Baron is a Knight and without the Banana arms he has no sword. The weird thing is why do Gaim and Zangetsu already have weapons they come with standard, in addition to the Arms weapons of each fruit they wear.

Cool gallery as always Den-O and since people are talking about the Muso Saber thing, isn't Kurokage a Japanese styled Rider? Wouldn't he too come with a Muso Saber? Well I mean before the whole army thing. Perhaps the Muso Saber was a "prototype" to the Sonic Arrow?

Kurokage is a ninja (name meaning black shadow, I know he doesnt do anything at all ninja-y). So why is Grape Ryugen who is based on a chinese general use a gun as his weapon?

I wondered that to. I didn't think they had Automatic Pistols in the Sengouku era. Well, then they didn't have gun swords either.

where does one find one sub $90? These things are SUPER pricey even on mandarake. These amazing pics makes it that much harder not owning one.

Well, aren't the Chinese known for their invention and wide use of gun powder?
Honestly, it's probably the most unique thing they could have given him.

They didn't have giant transforming powered armor/hover vehicles either! :lol

I thought it was a case of "The Japanese LOVE their puns."

To no one's surprise I'm sure, I can confirm my Zangetsu also has a bent sword :lol

awesome gallery Den-O!