[Den-O]

"Vaporize. Mist Match!"

Hearkening back to Mashin Chaser from Kamen Rider Drive, Night Rogue & his frenemy Blood Stalk are both pseudo-rider like entities. They use a device to transform into an armored state, but aren't riders per se, though we obviously know that Night Rogue does go on to become Kamen Rider Rogue. The Transteam System Night Rogue's powers are based on is similar to the Rider System used by Sento & Banjou, but with one flaw. It can't evolve. It's Hazard Level can't increase. As our heroes grow, undoubtedly so will our villains. For now though, it's time to take a look at the entry level power that deputy prime-minister Gentoku Himuro began the series possessing with S.H. Figuarts Night Rogue!

Packaging
Only the 2nd release in the Build line, Night Rogue of course shares a similar style box to our hero. Night Rogue just swaps the red and blue for a bit more drab yellow and black. The stock photos of course look great and if I hadn't already pre-ordered the figure on princicple alone, the stock shots convince me.

Main Figure

One thing I want to get out straight away is in regards to the colors on this figure. Night Rogue went through some minor changes in show before the suit was discarded (for now). The original suit used for his first 3 or 4 appearances consisted of black armor overlaid on a black spandex under suit. Beyond these initial appearances the under suit was changed to a medium brown color. Now the colors represented by this figuart, are kind of different. I know what it looks like in stock photos, and what it might look like in the images you've seen online. What the figure actually looks like in hand is a very very, very dark blue. It's not really totally black, but more of a deep dark blue. It's kind of weird as this color isn't one that comes across in either version of the show suit. The type of plastic use seems like a dark grey & blue mixture, so I'm not sure that the way it looks is entirely intentional, but it is kind of odd. The blueness comes across mostly in the legs and waist area, the upper body definitely has more of the proper black looks to it.

Now, with that out of the way, this figure looks good. Damn good. I see people variously complaining about small inaccuracies of the design. People have also said that Blood Stalk looks odd in stock photos. Look, these two are the same mold and handling Night Rogue in person, I see no reason why Blood Stalk will have issues. Night Rogue was a great suit design anyway, and it's actually translated quite well to figure form. One of the few flaws I've found with it personally, is the way in which the ankles are designed. Because of the way the cuff of the shin armor comes down around them, you do lose a small portion of movement. But as you can see in this gallery, that doesn't make it difficult to pose him. I was a bit worried about the way the hips and thigh swivels may not be useful as well just because of his bulk. I'm happy to report and show you that Night Rogue can cross his legs and sit in any number of chair varieties as intended. This is the best! There's plenty enough to work with in the legs to get Rogue down in a one knee pose and that's the standard bearer for quality as far as I'm concerned. Also I just want to mention how really cool and well defined all of the details on the lower body are. At first glance they're easy to miss because of the uniform color scheme. But ever rivet, zipper, strap, and seam is present that should be, and it looks very good.

You mighty reasonably be thinking that the upper body would suffer from the bulk of the chest armor as well. In some bizarre way though Tamashii has managed to give Night Rogue and even more dynamic upper body than Build has. It's pretty wild that ab section has as much free rotation from the chest as it does. The chest can also arch way back and move quite a bit forward. You can contort his upper body in such a way, along with the neck joint (as seen in image #76) that the head isn't even in the same vertical line as the rest of the body! This is a crazy good kind of articulation that I love. The detailing around the bat emblem, silver lines, and the electrical red & green cables is just really well done. The whole upper body is kind of perfect. Why couldn't Build himself have been this good.

The arms do leave just a little to be desired however. The bicep swivel is a bit tight and somewhat limited because of the shape of it's design. The elbow can hit about a 90 degree angle so that's all good as far as I'm concerned. The biggest issue with it is the wrists. Basically once you attach a hand, it's totally flush with the wrist cuff. So you lose a bit of the wrists joints built in swivel. You can still get some play out of them, but it's imperfect. The only other thing of note is the shoulder pads, which you'd think would really inhibit movement. But they've been designed in such a way with ball joints to move them down the shoulder some, that you don't lose much there at all.

Finally that brings us to the head. I've seen a number of people both before & after this figure was released who thought it was inaccurate. I don't really see what they see. I hear complaints that you can't see Night Rogues eyes under the visor. I'm happy to report that they are totally visible from most angles and in proper lighting. The effect is just fantastic, they truly look great. The shape of the heads seems on point to me as well so again I don't really get the complaints I see intermittently. This is an excellent sculpt with very good detailing. Overall this is just a really fantastic figure. It's just got true presence in hand. If you don't believe me then check out the photos below.

Accessories
Unlike Build, Night Rogue at least comes with his primary weapon:

1 - Transteam Rifle. The trademark weapon used by both Night Rogue & Blood Stalk, this multi-form weapon is actually real well done in toy form. As the full Transteam Rifle it's a nice long range weapon that looks good and hefty and adds quite nicely to Night Rogue's threatening look. The components can break down into the Transteam Gun & Steam Blade. The standard handgun form is the one used for Night Rogue's transformation sequence and the most traditional version of the weapon he was seen with. Stalk more commonly uses the full rifle. The Transteam Gun also contains the Bat Full Bottle which is removable like the Bottles in the Build Driver. The Steam Blade uses the Stock of the rifle mode for a handle, it's a bit too thick to be held perfectly, but it works. The pressure valve on the side of the blade can be turned freely, though the scope on the end of the blade can't be properly lifted like in the show. But honestly this is still a really great accessory. I love full functionality, or at least as close as possible functionality. The Transteam Rifle and it's alternate configurations more than make the grade.

3 - sets of hands. You get one pair to hold the Blade, 1 pair to hold either the Rifle or Gun modes, and one open palm pair of hands. Not bad really. Even the Gun holding hands work well as just menacing open hands. I'm pretty well satisfied with these.

The only thing we really saw Night Rogue use in the show that isn't replicated by this figure are his wings Though we've only seen them in show a handful of times, these would have been a great addition to this figure. Though considering the armored back plate is not removable (I tried) I'm not sure that there are any plans by Tamashii to produce the wings at all. I'd like to see them at some point, but I imagine if they ever were made they'd come with a hypothetical Brown Suit Night Rogue release.

Final Thoughts
Color issues aside, I really do quite like this figure. It's dynamic in all the right ways. It's perfectly expressive for the character and it even includes a fully functional version of his personal weapon. It pairs quite nicely with Build himself and it's got me looking even more forward to Blood Stalk now. S.H. Figuarts Night Rogue is actually a real winner for this line. Don't overlook it just because the suit isn't in the show anymore.

[Den-O]

Part 2
- Transteam Gun, Steam Blade, & Transteam Rifle
- Vaporize
- "Crocodile In Rogue"

[Duerer]

Do the wings actually stick on the penultimate photo or is it just a clever angle. Nice gallery btw.

[Shame08]

Its a damn SHAME this didn't come with his wings, was almost a surefire pickup for me

[Kiwami]

Great looking figure. I liked this design from the very beginning, it’s a nice tribute to the original Bat Kaijin while also being a fantastic suit on its own.

He kinda reminds of Metal Heroes a bit with the eyes behind the visor but that's a good thing. In fact, I’m a bit surprised that you of all people didn’t reuse him as a Metal Heroes-baddie for a few pics

My favorite picture is this one:



Makes me think of a silly spin-off episode where they go to the beach and he's sitting in the lifeguard tower like this, watching everyone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Den-O

Don't overlook it just because the suit isn't in the show anymore.

I kinda have to, I only need one Gentoku for my collection and I like the Kamen Rider Rogue suit more.

I'd take a Blood Stalk but I missed the pre-order window and I feel like aftermarket prices will be rough on this one.

[Den-O]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duerer

Do the wings actually stick on the penultimate photo or is it just a clever angle. Nice gallery btw.

Sadly no. There's no way to attach something to his back. It's not like Mashin Chaser where it was designed with a cap that popped off to accommodate a new accessory. Night Rogue's back is one solid piece, there's a round cap design on the back, but it's non-removable. I just balanced the Chaser wings on a tamashii stage behind him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwami

Great looking figure. I liked this design from the very beginning, it’s a nice tribute to the original Bat Kaijin while also being a fantastic suit on its own.

He kinda reminds of Metal Heroes a bit with the eyes behind the visor but that's a good thing. In fact, I’m a bit surprised that you of all people didn’t reuse him as a Metal Heroes-baddie for a few pics

My favorite picture is this one:



Makes me think of a silly spin-off episode where they go to the beach and he's sitting in the lifeguard tower like this, watching everyone



I kinda have to, I only need one Gentoku for my collection and I like the Kamen Rider Rogue suit more.

I'd take a Blood Stalk but I missed the pre-order window and I feel like aftermarket prices will be rough on this one.

I appreciate the kind words! But I get, not everyone wants every representation of a character. Generally, when I really thoroughly enjoy a show that's just the way I like to be. Even though this suit isn't likely to return to the show any time soon, if at all, I really really liked it. It'll pair well with Kamen Rider Rogue when he comes out.

Aftermarket prices probably will be brutal on Stalk. That character has just been too good. It may not reach GenM levels of crazy fan love. But I suspect he'll be selling very well at release.

[GreenPsychoRanger]

I have a MIGHTY NEED!!!!

[Annuga]

Quick thing I want to note, after backlash about Stalk's pictures they said both Rogue and Stalk will get improved before release iirc

Also this is the best gallery because of the chair

[Den-O]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annuga

Quick thing I want to note, after backlash about Stalk's pictures they said both Rogue and Stalk will get improved before release iirc

Also this is the best gallery because of the chair

Yes that's been known for a while, but even after the fact, the newer official images for both were still scrutinized. This figure has turned out superbly so I imagine Stalk will as well.

[OptionZero]

i really want the wings, maybe they can throw in some effects pieces and make it a TWE package