[Den-O]

By heaven's decree!

Kamen Rider Gaim's Arms Change line just keeps chugging along with more releases and this reviewer for one can not get enough! So today we bring you yet another look at this popular line in the form of AC 05 Arms Change Armored/Kamen Rider Zangetsu!

Zangetsu is by far the rider we've seen the least of in show. Having only been seen transforming once by viewers, his actual rider name has never been uttered in show. Not even before his upgrade to his Energy Shin Zangetsu Form. As the older brother of Ryugen one might assume they would share some traits, however this isn't the case.

AC Zangetsu actually shares the most qualities with Gaim. Primarily because the base body for each of these riders is nearly identical. Without Arms attached Gaim & Zangetsu are nigh identical save for color differences and the remolded head crest. Zangetsu tends to feel a little lighter and cheaper based on reports from numerous buyers. I can't say mine feels bad at all. But the widespread issue it seems nearly all Zangetsu's suffer from is a bent sword. Being that this is almost a straight up Gaim repaint the Musou Saber is identical, but nearly all Zangetsus have a strange bend at the tip of the saber so it points outward. A very odd but recurrent QC issue.

The Melon Arms themselves are very detailed. Much more so than any of the other previously released arms. The intricate details sculpted into the melon just really pop with that bright green. And when combined with Zangetsu's white backdrop of a body it's a literal match made in heaven. The Melon Defender shield Zangetsu comes with is large, thick, and fairly heavy. If you don't really clasp his hand around it it will slide out and fall. It's not very practical in terms of the toy but the shield does look nice.

Zangetsu is probably the design that evokes the most badassery. The figure carries that over quite well. Now when it comes to Arms Changes the Melon Arms is kind of average. Unlike Banana which looks good on everything, and Budou which is terrible on almost everything, Melon sort of works okay on most things. Definitely better on Gaim & Ryugen, terrible on Baron. But that's just the nature of how these things are colored. Some colors just inherently clash with one another.

ow Zangetsu himself really looks great in anything. Banana and Orange really work, especially Banana. Something about that Arms in aprticular makes it work with everyone. Budou is the most passable on Zangetsu. It simply does not work for Gaim & Baron, but Takatora here can almost pull it off.

All in all? Another excellent addition to the Arms Change line. If you can find one at all I recommend picking it up. However prices have skyrocket (as we've said before) for this line. Particularly for Zangetsu who appears to be in much more scarce than the others. However if you can't find Zangetsu then holding out for Shin Zangetsu next month would also be a good option.