[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Okay, last episode of W. It's been a crazy ride and I'm glad the movies don't mean I have to get off yet. Could someone explain the post W movie order for me, please?

Movie War Core - Message from Skull
W Returns Accel
W Returns Eternal
Let's Go Riders (Shotaro and Philip cameo)
Movie Wars MegaMax

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Also Kaixa's debut was just insanely cool. I really like the fact that any one can use the belts as long as they're...y'know... as it's cool to pick out your favourite powers and not have to have the decision impacted upon by characters. You guys can have Faiz, I'll have Kaixa.

It really is a beautiful suit, isn't it? And not just anyone can use it, but you'll find out that story eventually. The three belts in this series all have different rules because they were made for different purposes: Delta was the prototype, Faiz was made for speed, and Kaixa was made for power. Each one responds differently when a non-Orphenoch tries to wear it.

[XW1n5t0nX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thessair

Is there a scale difference between the Figmas and the Figuarts?

Figuarts are a bit taller. The only real big differences is how the joints are concealed, the paint, and you don't get all of the cool extras like sliding the card slots open and some don't come with certain weapons.

[Thessair]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XW1n5t0nX

Figuarts are a bit taller. The only real big differences is how the joints are concealed, the paint, and you don't get all of the cool extras like sliding the card slots open and some don't come with certain weapons.

I'll check into it, thanks a bundle!

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

Movie War Core - Message from Skull
W Returns Accel
W Returns Eternal
Let's Go Riders (Shotaro and Philip cameo)
Movie Wars MegaMax


It really is a beautiful suit, isn't it? And not just anyone can use it, but you'll find out that story eventually. The three belts in this series all have different rules because they were made for different purposes: Delta was the prototype, Faiz was made for speed, and Kaixa was made for power. Each one responds differently when a non-Orphenoch tries to wear it.

Thank you!

I actually really liked the Faiz suit, but it isn't until I saw Kaixa that I realised how much better it could be. The changes that it makes are all subtle, but every change just makes the suit POP. Really looking forward to exploring the Gear.

[ryan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XW1n5t0nX

Figuarts are a bit taller. The only real big differences is how the joints are concealed, the paint, and you don't get all of the cool extras like sliding the card slots open and some don't come with certain weapons.

Also, SHF Knight includes Darkwing, and the Figma doesn't, and if that's not reason enough to buy the Figuarts, then I don't know what is.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan

Also, SHF Knight includes Darkwing, and the Figma doesn't, and if that's not reason enough to buy the Figuarts, then I don't know what is.

Knight is one of the best Figuarts ever made.

[Thessair]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan

Also, SHF Knight includes Darkwing, and the Figma doesn't, and if that's not reason enough to buy the Figuarts, then I don't know what is.

Darn. I guess that settles that. Ryuki Figuarts are going to put me in the poor house, aren't they?

Also! Zolda arrives! He's kind of cool looking. May have to buy him, too. I have no willpower.

[ryan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thessair

Darn. I guess that settles that. Ryuki Figuarts are going to put me in the poor house, aren't they?

Also! Zolda arrives! He's kind of cool looking. May have to buy him, too. I have no willpower.

Yes, they certainly might.

Skip Gai, he's way over-priced and sadly under-accessorized, get the Figma.

Ryuga is totally worth getting, best black repaint I've ever owned.

Zolda is probably my favorite of the Ryuki figuarts that was widely available that didn't include his contract beast, and the one with the most accessories (except he doesn't have his contract beast).

[Powerman293]

Faiz 45-47


Finally, I was wondering when the Riotroopers were gonna show up. It also looks like Ram Orphnoch finally figured out how to use an elevator. And he looks like a Japanese Harrison Ford in his human form. the kid is the Orphnoch King. Are you fucking kidding me? Is this supposed to be some sort of Jesus type figure for the Orphnochs because Murakami's Crucified Shot pose kinda made it seem like that.

And Yuji wants to kill the kid and asks help from the Riders? What? If anything, you'd think that the Riders would be on the King's side due to him killing off all of the orphnochs.

The death of Japanese Steve Perry that was performing experiments felt kinda wasted potiental. I liked the potinetal of that arc of turning Orphnochs back into humans and the pointal conflicts between former/current Orphnochs that come from it and even more disscussion of what it means to be human but nope. Went out by Kiba's sword instead.

It looks like I'm gonna have to wait a few weeks for the series to get finished get resubbed on DVD because I am not going back to watching it with shitty quality and poor translation for the finale.

EDIT: TV Nihon just posted Faiz 48 and I'm downloading it now.

[XW1n5t0nX]

Black Episode 1
Why it took me so long to get to this show I have no idea. Especially considering until I sat down and watched Den-O last year, this was the first Kamen Rider show I wanted to see. But regardless I'm finally watching it and I am a happy panda because of it.

The opening theme is pretty nice. It has that Showa feel to it but still manages to have a bit of a Heisei feel to it. But very early 90's Heisei. So I guess it's like a combo of Showa era Kamen Rider and early Heisei era Super Sentai. The video is alright, kinda boring since it's just him riding the bike. Also I don't really like how they say black in the song. It sounds too soft and kinda whispery/scratchy and (for me at least) doesn't translate well in the ears. But outside of that it's a pretty good theme. Not the worst, not the best, not my favorite, but not my least favorite.

Hey look it's Clotho. Except he's older, his eyes are blood filled, and he looks like an angry old man. And he seems to have gotten the ability to control lightning. Oh and he has some friends who look like him. Neato?

Wait, this Akizuki guy sold Kotaro and Nobuhiko to these alien/Jedi like creatures? Why? Man it seems like all the riders I've seen lately really have some bad days. Kotaro though may be up there though. After all he saw both his father and brother die. That's pretty messed up. I'm sure somewhere The Joker is relishing this somehow.

So was that all just a flashback?

Man they must have really pimped out Kotaro's body if he can take all of that punishment. It's like them gave him PCP and Steroids. He fell from the sky through a roof, got electrocuted, slammed through a wall and against a wall. Is he Superman or something?

Laziest henshin ever. He just staggered around and then became Black. Now I know later on he does use the belt to transform. Still though, kinda sucks that the first henshin is this lazy and boring.

So judging by the fact that the bike was already there and he knew it's name, I'm guessing he's been Black for a while now? Could be wrong though and it's just that good old coincidence and immediate knowledge everybody seems to have in Sentai and Kamen Rider. Bike is pretty cool looking. I like the bikes which have the more motocross look to them since I was huge into that as a kid and I still like those bikes today. Though that whirring sound it makes is pretty annoying.

That is a very good question Kotaro. Why was Papa Akizuki there? But more importantly, why did he sell his children to aliens!

Camp Diablo? Jeez that doesn't sound suspicious at all. Though who knows, maybe it's the Japan chapter of Camp Crystal Lake.

I guess this is Mama Akizuki and Kyoko is the sister. And jeez Kotaro, it's called self control. Or do you not have a good handle on your powers yet? If so then you get a free pass. But if that isn't the case then control yourself dammit!

Well at least he's being honest about it and not lying. Gotta appreciate that in a backstabbing child selling father. Calm down? Kotaro wasn't acting hyper or not calm though. So uh...pointless? You joined an alien cult so you could fund an archeological dig? That sounds way too extreme. I'm sure there were better ways to get the money that did not involve joining a cult.

Oh my God Golgom's monsters are demonic versions of the Godzilla kaiju! Well if they mated with bugs. They look ungodly cool though. Probably some of my favorite monster designs I've seen in Kamen Rider and tokusatsu as a whole.

Eh...the henshin sequence is alright. Though I always forget that with these Showa era riders that they either don't put the belt on, or there isn't much to the belt initiating the transformation as a whole. To be honest though I do like the henshin for what it is. I really shouldn't expect too much considering the era the show came out in and that technology didn't allow for the cooler henshins we see today. Though I can't help but wish there was just a little something extra to it. I know they couldn't have done much but there was still some creative and great special effects in the 1980s, and I'm sure they could have come up with something. But regardless for it's time period, it's a nice henshin.

The fight scene was pretty cool. It showed off some good offense from Kotaro and some good defense from him. And by defense I mean him getting knocked around a bit. Though that isn't a bad thing, it's good that the fights have some back and forth to them so the rider doesn't just god mod his way through every episode. So yeah pretty cool fight.

Wait isn't the his wife? So why did she call him Dr. Akizuki? Is that just a Japan thing I haven't picked up on yet? Or is she not his wife and more of a maid/nanny or a family friend?

This is a really nice ending theme. It's soft but has a rocky edge to it that is very 80s like (duh considering it's from the 80s). I love 80s music to death so I can really get into the song. The video is alright too, though like the opening video it is kinda boring. But I can forgive it here since it is the ending video, and thus is just there to sorta take care of credits not shown in the OP. So very nice ending theme, meh video.

So Kamen Rider Black's first episode was really nice. I mean in terms of over all first episodes it isn't the best. Better then Blade's definitely, but not better then Faiz. But to be fair I shouldn't really compare it too much to the Heisei shows, since the eras are vastly different in how the episodes go and what not.

The acting was good, bit dramatic though. The worst part though was when Kotaro was crying. He wasn't shedding any tears and his crying came off (sound wise) as pretty bland and emotionless. But that was the only problem with the acting I personally noticed.

The story in the episode was nice and it is great to have a first episode again that actually sets up the story well and gives you all that is needed. The story didn't feel slow or boring and as I said gave you all you needed. It introduced the main hero, the conflict, important side characters, and the first appearance of the rider. It succeeds very well as a story for a first episode and is one of the best in that aspect.

The fight scenes were pretty good, with the second one standing out more since it was a bit longer. I won't go into too much detail though since I already said all my thoughts on it.

The special effects where used were good as well for the time. I really loved the effect work done in the second fight when Kotaro was on the bike and just running everybody over. It's clear that it was some blue/green screen stuff but it was a very sweet effect.

Oh and not to mention the sexiness of the Black suit. So simple but so damn great looking. Easil yone of my favorite designs ever.

Overall I liked this episode of Black. It had a great story in it, the music used was very good, the action scenes were nice, and outside of one hiccup the acting was good as well. As a first episode in all of the Kamen Riders I've seen, it definitely isn't the best one, but it isn't the worst one. As a first episode of the Showa era, it's awesome. Though considering it's the first one I've seen from the Showa era I don't have much to compare it to.

All in all excellent episode. I planned on watching Black in full before this and now I am without a shadow of a doubt finishing the show.