[TokuChris]

Who likes soda? Who are we kidding - we're a collective fan community made up of people who watch subtitled tokusatsu shows online and enjoy (and at times cringe through) Power Rangers - OF COURSE WE LIKE SODA! And if you don't, you might want to make an exception for this soda - our gallery and review of S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin - Melon Energy Arms!

This "powered-up" or "final" form of the Kamen Rider Zangetsu character was the first of many (and we mean many) Tamashii Web Exclusives for the S.H. Figuarts line of figures from Kamen Rider Gaim and as you can tell by the pictures - it doesn't disappoint!

Let's get down to business, shall we?

The Figure
Maybe it's just my personal taste, but I truly believe the colors on this figure simply pop, especially with the right lighting. The orange, accented with black and the hues of green, just make it visually appealing. Your eyes are continually drawn to the orange and it doesn't disappoint with the INCREDIBLE "soda" bubble detailing. From a strictly visual standpoint, this figure is the best yet in the line-up (granted, there's a lot more that have come out and will come out since this figure!).

If there's a downside at all it's that the shoulder armor can and will get in the way of certain poses but it is hinged to allow for some freedom of movement, but not too much. But the most important part - as you can tell in the pictures - is that the figure can convincingly hold the Sonic Arrow.

In short - it is a BEAUTIFUL figure, surpassing my previous favorite (the regular S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Zangetsu).

The Accessories
Aside from your standard hand accessories (which all work great and will be the same hands used over and over again for all future Energy Rider releases in the S.H. Figuarts line), Kamen Rider Zangetsu Shin also comes with his closed Melon Energy Lock Seed as well as two versions of the Sonic Arrow - one "normal state" and the other with the bow-string pulled back. This is unlike the Arms Change version of the figure where the Sonic Arrow can be pulled back.

This is a good thing in my opinion. While some may be miffed about an inability to perform "mid-attack" poses, it just wouldn't work well enough with the figure. If you're somehow peeved by this little thing just give it time - you will warm up to it.

The Melon Energy Lock Seed from the Genesis Driver (the "open" Lock Seed) can be attached to the Sonic Arrow (as seen in the gallery). Be warned - it doesn't like to stay on very well as is always an issue with any figure that have little accessories like that. Little things like this just add to the figure overall.

So in the end, here's the rundown.

THE GOOD

• A beautiful figure that really "pops" when you look at it
• Armor doesn't conflict with figure's classic poses from the show
• The Genesis Driver just looks amazing, even in such little scale

THE BAD

• The price ... after-market continues to raise the price
• Some quality control issues, so you roll the dice when ordering the figure

CONCLUSION
You know you want this figure. You feel that you need it in your collection. It just looks so beautiful and you're already coming up with fun poses in your head. Listen to your inner-self - go find this figure and pick it up. I highly recommend it and will put my name behind it as being one of the best S.H. Figuarts in a long time. Tamashii Nations continues to impress with their Kamen Rider Gaim line and it only makes me more eager for their next release!