Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Den-O Rod Form & Ax Form

Release Date: February 2022

RRP: 9350 yen

When Bandai Tamashii Nations revealed that their first S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Den-O release would be a combination of both Sword and Gun Forms, it was immediately clear that a Rod and Ax Form figure would eventually follow. But Bandai being Bandai they certainly took their sweet time on this, and nearly two years and multiple other Den-O releases later S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Den-O Rod Form & Ax Form finally made its long-awaited debut. Unlike the other half of Den-O's core forms this was a Tamashii web exclusive release and coincided with a second release of Kamen Rider Den-O Plat Form figure – reworked to be compatible with the Rod/Ax parts much like the original was with the Sword/Gun parts.

The S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Den-O Rod & Ax Form set comes in identical packaging to the Sword & Gun Form set – a slightly larger box than you tend to see for the range, but matching the other releases that come with more parts than usual. The lid of the box features images of the two modes in their signature poses, which not only looks great but gives the box far more personality than the usual headshots they usually have. The matte black sides of the lid feature the character name in silver foil lettering, although each form name is written in its respective colour. The bottom half of the box sports further images of the figure in both modes, showing off some of the poses and features it has to offer. Inside the figure and pieces are spread across two plastic trays – the main tray has the figure and replacement body parts, while the thinner tray underneath contains the hands and weapons.

Rod Form is the form Kamen Rider Den-O takes when Ryotaro is possessed by the manipulative Urataros, adopting a blue colour scheme as well as his sea turtle motif. This is most noticeable in the segmented design of the armour, with the orange gaps between the blue creating a pattern similar to that of a turtle's shell. It's a fantastic design with some really vibrant colours, which have naturally been recreated flawlessly by Tamashii Nations here. In some ways the helmet design feels the most conventionally "Kamen Rider" of all Den-O's forms, with those red compound eyes taking a more conventional ovular shape that fits in well with the turtle motif. On the back you can see what would be the chest plate of Sword Form, nicely showing off that the four forms are all derived from the same armour despite being quite different in design.

As with before, when not being wielded by Den-O the Dengasher splits down into four separate components – each of which are included here as accessories and can be clipped onto the four slots on Den-O's belt holsters. Each on has a tiny circular tab on it, which slots into the holster to keep it firmly in place. Once connected each piece can be angled as you please, while the holsters themselves can also swing back and forth to ensure they don't get in the way of the hips whilst posing.

Built off of the same body as the other Shinkocchou Seihou Den-O figures (with the exception of Momotaros), the Rod/Ax Form figure sports the following articulation; 

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