[Den-O]

1! Emergency!

It's time we brought you yet another new subset of galleries as a part of our ongoing 2.0/redux gallery treatment. Recently, we did some galleries of older releases from Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters as you can see.

But this time we wanted to check out some slightly older sentai releases. Kicking off our look back at Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger is the first in our 2.0 gallery series, S.H. Figuarts Deka Red!

Packaging
Sentai Figuarts have always had some fairly elaborate looking boxes. Shinkenger releases being the only exceptions (in my opinion). And the Dekaranger box style is no slouch. I know packaging is probably the one thing most people don't care about. And ultimately I guess I don't either. But I always appreciate the full package with my collectibles. FYI there's a note on the back of the box mentioning the included Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger accessory, the Dekawapper. This piece is placed in it's own tray in box beneath Dekared.

Main Figure
Deka Red isn't a figure that will blow you away. Frankly he's based on a fairly generic base body or "buck" as the term is commonly used in western toylines. One that will be used (mostly) 4 more times in this sub-line. Deka Red has an average body build with no bulging muscles or mass to make him look weird. Of all the Sentai figuarts that were released, the Dekaranger body probably has the most realistic proportions. No skinny legs like the Gokaigers either. It just looks normal you know? At least it looks like the actors who portrayed these characters. In much the same way that the Akaranger or Vul Eagle figuarts capture the stocky build of their actors.

Aside from the sculpted cuffs on the boots and wrists, as well as the belt & helmet, the Deka Red body relies heavily on paint application for details. As most any sentai figuart should. As non-armored types, these heroes can't hide flaws or articulation cuts under bulk. So they make due and try not to break up the body sculpt in the process. To that end Deka Red both succeeds and suffers. Given the limitations the paint apps need to be almost flawless, and they do an admirable job for sure. Right down to the tiny tampographed on Dekaranger emblem on the right shoulder. But when you get in close, as with any toy, you can definitely see inconsistencies. Especially on the torso just above the belt on mine.

Now taking the limitations of the body into account I need to remind you that earlier on in the line, Sentai figuarts often had bicep swivels to allow the arms to rotate fully. Often this also facilitated swap out parts like Gokai Reds' crossed arms. Dekaranger is a line where those swivels are sorely missed. As an action oriented police drama series where characters flew through the air with guns blazing, those swivels could have been so useful. But given the limitation of the design, the figure can still bring much of it's on screen counterpart to life at this scale.

The helmet is obviously where most of the work went for sculpt and paint apps, and it shows. Deka Red looks gorgeous. Mine has some minor paint flaws but that could be just as much from years of being displayed, posed, packed/moved, etc over and over more than anything. But it's still an ultimately nice representation of the suit & helmet. The figure as a whole is a great representation of the character really. As with any line age is a factor here though. At this point both the shoulders and hips have begun to weaken on this figure. I don't have any cracked joints like have happened repeatedly on my Gokaigers. But it could happen at any point given enough use. But considering the fairly affordable prices this release goes for now, finding replacements down the road should be simple.

Accessories
Deka Red set the standard for the types of accessories the following Dekarangers would come with and he does not disappoint:

3 - Belt holsters. 1 for Deka Red's SP License and 2 more for his included sidearms. These just need to be plugged in the holes on the belt, though the hips can make that tricky sometimes. Occasionally when posing you'll rotate the hips out too far and knock the side holsters off.

1 - SP License. Surprisingly well done at this scale, the Licene is functional though the interior does not have the jugdement signs painted in. It fits nice and snugly in Ban's hand or in his rear belt holster.

1 - D-Magnum 01

1 - D-Magnum 02

1 - Hybrid Magnum. The individual D-Magnums can not combine into this form, but the included combined version is perfectly acceptable to me. Luckily this figures' great range of motion allows him to hold it very comfortably with 2 hands.

4.5 - sets of Hands. Mostly everything you need! Though Im shocked at the lack of a thumbs up/down hand for judgement. I made do with what it included though.

1 - Dekawoppa! An odd inclusion for those unfmaliar. For conext, Deka Red made several cameo appearances in Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger. Famous for having battles that took place in delusions, Akiba Red was able to summon an "imaginary" version of Deka Red for backup. On their first team up he was able to materialize the massive Dekawoppa, the Ludicrous Power given to the Akibarangers by Dekaranger. A giant pair of cuffs that can split in two to be used as binding restraints. On their own they're nothing incredible. But when used in conjunction with the other Legend Sentai weapons, something greater is formed. But that's for another gallery, another time.

Final Thoughts
Aside from the above mentioned thumb hand issue, I can't think of much else Deka Red really needs. We all wish the Dekarangers had somehow come with Murphy, or SWAT mode parts, or something. But they didn't. And ultimately that's fine, because this is still a great figuart. S.H. Figuarts Deka Red has held up well over the years like many Super Sentai figuarts. He's a double edged sword. Both a pleasant reminder that this line was great, and unpleasant reminder that we talk about Sentai figuarts in a past tense now as well. Maybe one day Bandai will revisit this line. But for now, I'm pretty content with figures like this.