[Den-O]

Drive: Type Speed!

Kamen Rider Drive is finally underway and with the inaugural episode having aired this past weekend, the toyline was released in unison in Japan. Luckily enough some of it has made it's way to our part of the world as well. So today we're taking a look at the very first figure in Drive's gimmick line Tire Koukan!

Following up from last years fantastically well received Arms Change line, Tire Koukan has a similar gimmick. Literally you swap various themed tires onto Drive and other compatible future figures by splitting the figure in half. So let's jump right in with TK-01 Kamen Rider Drive Type Speed!

Post #2 contains tons of additional images of this wonderful figure!

Packaging
TK-01 Drive comes packaged in a fairly standard box. The mass retail toylines don't tend to have the fancy bells and whistles of Bandai's collector lines but they get the job done. Drive's box is very similar to that of an Arms Change albeit much slimmer as the Tires aren't nearly as cumbersome as Arms were. The cross sells on the box give us some official looks at the upcoming DX Tridoron & TK-02 Tire Set. Drive himself is packaged in a plastic clam shell and is split into his upper and lower halves with no tire attached.

Main Figure
Inevitably the comparison between Tire Koukan & Arms Change was going to be made. So let me go ahead and make it. As with most if not all mass retail "gimmick line" rider figures from the last roughly 5 or 6 years the body type is fairly generic. At least in the placement of articulation points and complexity. OCC, FMCS, WAP, AC. These all share basic design structures so Tire Koukan is no different in that regard. Last years AC's brought the retail lines to a new level with it's innovative gimmick, and Tire Koukan is attempting to bring the same magic. I feel it's an admirable successor.

Kamen Rider Drive can actually be snapped together without a tire connected to his chest peg funnily enough, though he won't have much of a chest if you do that. There's nothing to fill in the big gap on him like the basic suit used in the show between Koukans. So to really examine the figure as a whole you need to equip the included Speed Tire. Drive's Type Speed is his default form anyway.

This basic form of Drive is pretty damn slick. Though this is merely a gimmick figure it absolutely nails most of the details from the suit. You could levy the complaint that the Shift Brace, Drive Driver, and Shift Car holster are unpainted. True enough they aren't and are simply molded in gray plastic. But as a mainline non-SHF figure it's forgivable. The details are still nice on all 3, right down to the three tiny molded cars on the holster. The holster is also removable though that doesn't serve a purpose right now. The back of the figure is where it really shines though. Look at ALL that detailing! Much like the real suit, TK-01 Drive has that incredible car undercarriage detailing on his back. It really does look fantastic.

Drive's basic red has a nice gloss to it to make it feel a bit more authentic, and his visor is nice big and open to allow plenty of light in, making the eyes really pop. While on the subject the helmet is also excellently detailed, right down to the (sadly unpainted) piping around the sides. Seriously look at this figures profile, it's fantastic. Many people complain the tires seems too large but if you ask me it looks just right on the Tire Koukan figure. It gives Drive a nice unique shape. It can hinder the leftward movement of the head to a degree, but this figure doesn't have an incredible range of motion to begin with so it isn't a huge loss. As you can see you can get some nice fun poses out of a figure like this and with some already purchased effect parts you can make the most of him.

Drive also fits in pretty well with S.H. Figuarts and the like. Though he's a tad bit taller than the standard figuarts, he'll look good with some of your more modern riders, and other law enforcement heroes...

Accessories
Drive's one additional accessory aside from the necessary Speed Tire is the Max Flare Tire. First seen in episode 1, Max Flare gives Drive access to Fire based powers and attacks even letting him create flamed whirlwinds punches and kicks. Sadly the spikes on this Tire don't pop up automatically when placed on Drive, you do need to flip them out individually. It should also be noted that the Tire's only go on one way. They're molded to only be placed on a figure one direction, with the screws facing down on the "bottom" of the Tire.

Max Flare is cast in a nice fiery orange and although the spikes can be a pain when posing, they still don't really affect the figures ability to pose. Again, if you have some effect parts in hand already Max Flare can be just as much fun as Speed. I had some and really had fun with it. Drive will apparently receive actual weapons later on in the show so for now there's no gun or sword or anything like that for him to use. But Max Flare is a good bonus to throw in for now. The TK-02 set will be nothing but extra Tires; Justice Hunter, Mad Monster, & Funky Spike.

Final Thoughts
Though not quite as snazzy or immediately as playable as the Arms Change line, I feel Tire Koukan is more than a worthy successor. Koukan's focus is on Tire swapping but we do know that later figures will introduce something more like torso swapping as Drive's upgraded forms Wild, Technic, & Dead Heat appear. Recently it was confirmed that Drive will eventually have a Type Gaim/Type Fruit form as well, and a new Arms Change figure in the form of Gaim Drive Arms is forthcoming.

TK-01 Kamen Rider Drive Type Speed is only just hitting the market, but as is usually the case when a new rider show begins, basically everything is selling out. Is this figure worth the initial mad dash to own? Perhaps. But much like any gimmick laden figure, it will always be more attainable at a later date. For now I'm more than happy to have this Drive in hand to fool around with and I'd highly recommend owning him. Bring on the additional Tire sets and the DX Tridoron!