[Den-O]

Type Wild!

The first of many additional forms, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Drive Type Wild joins the lineup from Kamen Rider Drive! Accessed with a fired up desire for justice, Shinnosuke first used this Type in episode 5.

Packaging
In the same vein as other Drive S.H. Figuarts releases, Type Wild opts for a very slim style box. More or less the new standard, I have little new to say about it. As with Drive, Mashin Chaser, & Mach the theme of this season carries over well to the new box and it's decorated with some very awesome artwork.

Main Figure
Drive Type Wild is the first new form released for Drive himself in this line. And as with the show itself each of his forms are quite unique. Type Wild is a slick black police themed heavy type of upgrade. On par with the like of Den-O Axe Form, Kiva Dogga, or Fourze Magnet States. It's great to see that the powerful bulky look of the show suit has transitioned to figure form well. From the lower torso down Type Wild is nearly identical in sculpt to Drive Type Speed aside from coloration, the new Driver readout, and the new hip guards. These guards are incredible too as they aren't static, they can be slid up or down to accommodate the movement of the hips.

Everything else (aside from some minor parts) is totally new. The forearm guards and upper arm pads, the entire upper torso, head, and right shoulder assembly. The upper torso is of course where most of the love goes into this figure. It almost looks like a police hummer drove it's way through Drive's chest to create this look. And based on Tridoron Type Wilds' appearance, that's not too far off. The head likewise looks like a cross between a tank and football player with just a hint of a Halo Spartan thrown in for good measure. All in all these add up to give him a pretty beastly look. On the back side of things Drive Type Wild features much of the same gorgeous "undercarriage" detailing that Type Speed had, just painted up in glorious silver!

The biggest thing to mention about this figure though is the new right shoulder assembly which features this Types base Tire, the Type Wild Tire. As I've detailed below in relation to the included Rumble Dump Tire accessory, this is an entirely new system of tires compared to what was engineered for Drive Type Speed. Rather than a segmented accessory that can break apart, and thus be interchanged, they've instead made the Wild Tire and any other "Wild only" tires in a new way. They're much thicker like offroad tread tires on an SUV, they simply plug over the shoulder and lock in with a small tab. Unfortunately the full cross compatibility that was featured in the Tire Koukan line is not present here. This Tire can also make it a little more difficult to get use out of the right arm, it's hinged to a degree but can't quite angle up as much as the gimmick figure could. Otherwise the entire figure's articulation is in the same basic layout as Type Speed.

Accessories
In a similar fashion to Kamen Rider Mach, Drive Type Wild actually comes with quite a bit, but is the first of the Drive retail releases so far to not include a 1st run bonus. The other recent retail release, Drive Type Dead Heat, did at least have an Aeon Store Exclusive bonus. Included with Type Wild are:

1 -Rumble Dump Tire. Unlike any of the tires that have come with previous Drive SHF releases, it can not break apart into several components. This tire as well as the above mentioned Type Wild Tire are completely different from those made to be compatible with Type Speed. While from an in universe perspective this makes sense, as Type Wild never used Funky Spike or Midnight Shadow etc, it sort of forgets the entire gimmick of the show and the retail toyline. Like Arms Change last year the gimmick was more fully realized for Tire Koukan. It's just sad that you can't even recreate the one time that Type Speed did use Rumble Dump. So in short Type Speed is incompatible with any Tire designed for Type Wild & Vice Versa.

1 - Rumble Smasher. The handheld drill weapon of this form, the Smasher can be stored on the tire while attached to Type Wild's shoulder or be held in either hand.

1 - each of the standard & flipped Rumble Dump Shift Car

1 - Mr. Belt Dump readout

1 - Handle Ken. However you choose to say it (ken or sword), this thing looks great. The handle does turn and you can peg flipped Shift Cars onto it as well.

4 - Sets of additional hands. 3 sets for use with Type Wild for various poses. And 1 set of hands for Drive Type Speed. Specifically so he can hold the Handle Ken.


All in all a fantastic selection of accessories compared to any of the other figures in the line. Rivaled only by Mach, though it's odd that this one doesn't have a first run bonus. But I'm totally cool with that. Drive Type Wild is an all inclusive package.

Final Thoughts
A lot of people were upset that Figuarts Drive Type Speed didn't come with his Door Juu & Handle Ken and that they were instead included with Types Technic & Wild respectively. While I understand the frustration, I can't say I'm that surprised as this is exactly how their releases were handled with the TK figures. The inclusion of the Handle Ken with Type Wild as well as hands for Type Speed to use it, were like a bonus to me. Even without them. S.H. Figuarts Drive Type Wild was worth it. It's a fantastic new figure with a good number of accessories already. For those of you who bought it just to arm up for Type Speed, I'd say you should take a second look at Wild. You won't be disappointed.