[Den-O]

Kurumi Arms!

It's time for the latest installment in the ever ongoing series of Arms Change releases from Kamen Rider Gaim! Once again Premium Bandai has seen fit to release yet another rider absent from the retail line. Today we're taking a look at Mr. Knuckleman himself, the 2nd leader of Team Baron, Kamen Rider Knuckle & his trademark Kurumi Arms!

Before checking out the review and images below, be sure to check out Baltmatrix's video review of this set!

Packaging
Continuing the trend of Premium Arms Change figures Kamen Rider Knuckle also comes in a windowless box that's become the standard of many Tamashii Web & Premium Bandai exclusives. Aside from showcasing some alternate Arms Changes and a single action shot on the back, there really isn't much more to say about the box.

Main Figure
Let's kick off the figure portion of the review by looking at the basic Knuckle body pre-arms. What you have here is possibly the most simplistic base body in the entire line. Primarily Knuckle's base is a remolded Kurokage albeit with nearly all the detailing removed. So whenI say this is a basic figure it truly is, but accurately so. The details are smoothed out to flat services appropriately. But this figure is still a bit pieced together, the head is actually a remold of Gridon's. To my eye at least that connection isn't as noticeable in toy form as it was in show. This basic figure doesn't offer much that we haven't seen before from Arms Change, but at this point there's nothing new to expect from the base bodies either.

Accessories
You know the drill by now, Arms Change Knuckle includes the following:

1 - Kurumi Arms set of armor which includes the Knuck Met visor part. Kurumi Arms is certainly now of the better examples of how Arms Change has benefited from the Premium treatment. It's an exquisitely detailed set of arms physically, but the paint applications aren't really what make it pop. Rather just the extensive detailing. It's certainly an interesting set of arms that really looks good on quite a few figures.

2 - Kurumi Bomber gauntlet weapons. Sadly this is the part of the figure that disappoints me. While beautiful and a great idea, the execution leaves a bit to desired. Each of the Bombers is hinged so they can swing out and you can insert a riders hand. However the only way to get the rider to use one of the Bombers is to have them grip the post on the deep end of the gauntlet. Which doesn't really work. Much like Ryugen's Budou Ryuhou, the post is simply too large to be gripped properly. And there's hardly enough space to get in there and try to make the hands grip the posts better. In any case the end result is a fairly loose fit. I find the gauntlets to be nicely made but designed poorly. Rotating the wrists once the Bombers are attached makes for an even flimsier fit as well.

There is however one figure that is totally incompatible with the Kuruki Bombers, Kamen Rider Sigurd. Because of the raised molded "fur" on his wrists there isn't enough clearance to actually close them around his arms. For a line that's been so inclusive, so interchangeable and compatible, this is the only glaring flaw. The one incompatibility issue.

Final Thoughts
The end result of Kamen Rider Knuckle's accessories applied to him makes for an excellent looking figure. Though I have complaints about the execution of the Bombers, the full package is a nice display piece. If you'd rather not wait it out for the recently revealed S.H. Figuart Knuckle, which has no confirmed release info, then the Arms Change will be the perfect stand in for your collection.