[barnstenchfartface]

Ok, I just got my first Gashat, Shakariki Sports and: it is great. It's a good size--while the box was smaller than I expected, the Gashat really fills it up, and it fits well in my hands. The metallic green color is great, and all the decals and such are neatly applied and look great. The white stuff that hides the design on the clear part has a really nice texture. This is a damn nice toy.

My only problem with it is that like all the talking Rider toys I have, it's really damn loud, and in a house with walls as thin as mine, that's a problem. I thought I'd be able to fix it by taping over the speakers, but it looks like the sound can get out of every damn aperture. And since it's just two halves screwed together... the whole thing leaks sound is what I'm saying. Not ideal.

Also, I tried to take it apart but one of the screws is minuscule and in trying to unscrew it I'm pretty sure I stripped it. Friggin hell. This doesn't bode well for my chances of replacing PMAX's back. Though I guess I'll worry about that later. Should probably buy a properly sized screwdriver...

But anyway, those are relatively minor gripes. This thing is cool, and I love it. I'm really not gonna regret collecting these things.

Anyway, some folks were wondering about how to trigger certain sounds. I don't know if there's still any need, but I figure I should document some of the combinations I know of so far. Also found one new thing that I at least haven't seen or heard anywhere else.

So for the purposes of this, the black trigger button=T, and the two smaller buttons are L and R (holding it upright with the buttons facing you).

Press T -> [Gashat Name] -> Press T -> Game Over/Game Clear sounds (Randomized) -> Press T -> [Gashat Name] -> etc.

Hold L -> Level 1 sound

Hold L -> Press R -> Level 2 sound

Hold R -> Press L -> [Pause] + Level 3 sound

Hold L+R -> Press T -> Kimewaza! + Standby sound -> Press T -> Critical Strike sound

Hold L+R -> Press T -> Kimewaza! + Standby sound -> Release R -> Critical Finish sound

Hold L+R -> Press T -> Kimewaza! + Standby sound -> Release L -> [Last Part of Gashat Name (e.g. Sports)] -> You can keep pressing L, which will cause the name to repeat

There are other sounds I'm pretty sure (there's one that plays the level 3 sound but without the Driver sounds or a pause), but this is what I've found so far. That last one is one I had not seen before in any of the videos I'd seen, and it's certainly a bit odd. It just says "Sports" and then the light stays on for a dang long time. It's curious. I assume it's intended for a Gashacon Weapon with its own non-Strike/Finish finisher (the Gashacon Slasher, maybe?). What's interesting is it uses the second part of the name instead of the first (Sports as opposed to Shakariki) like the other finishers do. You can also just hold L again and press T and it'll do the normal Critical Strike sound. Little odd.

Anyway, it's a cool little thing, this. Can't wait to get all the others.