[Den-O]

"Best Match!"

Kamen Rider Build is nearing it's halfway point, and while the plot thickens and the action heats up, it's also time for the first figuarts releases to make their way out. First up is Build's base form, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Build Rabbit Tank Form! Let's see how this brand new figuarts sub-line introduces itself to us below.

Main Figure
As always with our first release from a new line, it's up to the first figure to set the bar high (hopefully). Undoubtedly the last few years have had some fantastic winners in this regard (Gaim, Drive, Ex-Aid) and serious losers (Wizard, Ghost). So what end of the spectrum does Build Rabbit Tank fall on?

For starters I have to see I really like the general bulk of this figure. The body feels fully fleshed out and like like. Often figuarts can feel a bit lanky and unrealistic in terms of body proportions. Build strikes a pretty decent balance of form and functionality that gives this figure a more realistic look than most. It's bulky in the ways that make it believable someone wears that suit.

At the ground level Builds asymmetrical legs looks pretty decent, but I find the paint work to be a bit weak. The colors look fine (if a bit dark) but the lines aren't terribly crisp which bothers me. I do really like the soles of the feet though, those unique designs are really appreciated. The recent trend of the bottom of figuarts feet being accurate makes me extremely happy. That attention to detail is great. The articulation is mostly fine in this part of the body, the knees feel a bit limited, but the hips are more so. They're traditional drop down types but they don't drop down very far, so you do run (literally) into some clearance issues with the waist.

Moving up we have the Build Driver. The Driver looks fine, but the details are a bit iffy and ill defined. The handle can rotate accurately, and the Full Bottles are removable! These little things are sculpted really well for something that size. Of course there are missing details to them, but at this scale I'm quite pleased. I remember when figuarts Shift Cars weren't even half as well detailed. They can also be stored on the Full Bottle Holster on the left hip if you so choose.

The arms and torso features fairly standard articulation. Nothing extraordinary, minor limitations to the wrists and what have you. I do find it's easy to pop the shoulder pads off if you don't rotate them down a bit first before posing. The upper body can arch back and forth and from side to side pretty wellThe head is also pretty normal fair. It's an excellent sculpt with unique compound eyes that pop in just about any light at all. The sculpt is on point for this part of the figure and perhaps it's only drawback is that the , and the arms can accommodate this movement to give Build really natural looking poses. cuff around the neck does impact it's movement a bit. I'd also like to mention that the back of the figure just looks really nice to me? Oddly I just really love the details on the back, it just looks great.

So yeah, Build is pretty nice, though he does fall a little short. It's a charismatic figure that get's by on style. I do think the paint job is a quite a bit too dark, but overall the figure packs a punch. Even if as far as it's design, it's pretty average. I quite like it.

Accessories
Sadly Build doesn't come with any of his weapons. He comes 2.5 sets of hands. That's two types of open palms for posing his signature moves and one right hand capable of gripping the Build Driver handle. Bandai's usual ploy to get you to buy multiple things is in full effect with this one. The Build Crusher sword & gun forms will be packed in with the Machine Builder release. So I know this feels bare bones, and purposefully so. But I'm just happy to see the weapons coming somewhere.

As is this release should and could have come with anything else to sweeten the deal. Gas effects like Stalk would have been great. Or maybe a personalized Tamashii Stage? I know we rarely see those anymore but it would have been welcome.

Final Thoughts
Tamashii Nations has found the formula for victory with this one! Lack of accessories and my personal issues with the colors aside, I really enjoy this figure. S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Build is a great initial release in this brand new subline. I welcome future releases like Night Rogue, Cross-Z, and Blood Stalk very much now.