[SPLIT LIP]

Ixa finally popped up in Kiva. He's... pretty lame. MOSTLY because the character itself sucks, but the driver has such a dorky voice, and the design is a bit bland. The visor makes no sense. It's closed then opens for no reason.

Kiva REALLY feels like a Den-O follow-up. Kiva is a similar character to Ryotaro, he likewise adopts a totally different persona when transforming. Kivat feels a bit like Momotaros. Something inhuman fluttering around and making small talk, but Momo is obviously five thousand times better. It deals with past events leading to future problems, Ixa is full of Den-O flare from the aformentioned visor (evne has the same shockwave effect) to the voice sounding like the Den-O belt pitched up doing a goofy robot voice. Kiva's powers are similar and gained through similar ways by similar characters. (Sword guy is cool, gun guy is a kid, and there's a muscle-y over-actor no doubt waiting to supply a future heavy-hitting upgrade) Even Kiva's deisgn feels like the ideas from Den-O sword form are still floating aorund in the designer's head. (huge eyes, colour situated largely in the upper body so it can be easily changed between forms) The girls feel like attempts at Hana's kick-your-fucking-ass personality, with only past girl actually being halfway effective.

It just feels like Den-O except not as good, but with a ten times cooler suit, theme, and bike. (and I LOVE sword form and Climax Jump. And Wataru is better than Ryotaro, desite being even WORSE in social interactions, he still charges in and makes his own deciions quick)

It's interesting. When I see Rider show they're generally not very similar to the previous iteration. But Kiva really strikes of wanting to capitalize on Den-O's popularity. Not that it's THAT much of a problem. Wolf guy is still super cool, and Kiva of course. Even the cafe owner in the past is pretty funny.