Review: RHKV 01 Kamen Rider Kiva

RHKV 01 Kamen Rider Kiva
Kiva Form to you, buddy.

Essentially the very first Kamen Rider Kiva toy released (with the punching bag thingy, an SD "Rider Kids" finger puppet and the H.G.C.O.R.E. versions soon to follow) and but a day or two before the series began. It's your standard-issues "Rider Hero Series" figure. He moves at the arms and the waist, and that's about it. But he looks pretty cool. The details (like the chains) are well-executed and as is usually the case with these things, he looks like what he's supposed to look like.

Paint is good, although minimal around the belt, but seeing as how "improved" (re: exclusive) versions of these figures pop up all the time now, it's not like a better one won't come along if you're reall picky about it. The RHS line is basically there to give kids a version of the character that they can throw through the air and slam into the wall again and again and survive (more or less) for many moons to come.

As with the Den-O figures, Bandai wisely chose to give him closed hands. While I'd prefer it that they include weapons with the figures (like in the glory days of Kuuga/Agito), it's better to have closed fists than open hands with no weapons I guess, or make sure you're coming out with a line about the same size that does have weapons (Faiz's ill-fated SRHS or Kabuto's C.O.R. figures.)

The packaging, with its liberal use of oranger and black, reminds me of a Halloween decoration (which is probably the idea) and the silver "webbing" used in the corners looks cool.

In short, if you're a Kiva fan, can't wait until March (when the poseable one with the shiny armor comes out) or live in a sad world where you can't see how great Gachapon is, you'll probably want this. If you're like me though (where the first two apply, but the third is like saying you hate life itself) then you'll want to pick this up too, it should be easy to get ahold of for the remainder of the year.


***