Gx-41 Reideen Review

[Gold]

After being delayed twice (Reideen was originally planned to be Gx-39, then 40, before landing at Gx-41), the Gx-41 Yuusha Reideen is out. Here's the review.




The small pics are thumbnails, please click to view larger image.

Boxes
Giftset measures 18.5" x 14.5" x 6"
Regular set measures 9.5" x 14.5" x 3.5"






Comparison with the "Grendizer-King of Space" Boxset







Manuals (different covers for both sets)





Extra Pages in the "Fade in Set" manual



Interesting to note, that even though the pics are from the "Fade In Set", they used this same page for the regular manual.






The "Extra Accessories" tray found only in the "Fade-In" giftset








Reideen's Mountain












FADE IN!!








Click to begin video playback (Video clip from Super Robot Wars Alpha).









Admittedly, the toy isn't accurate when it comes to the "Fade in" sequence. (I think, I haven't watched all the episodes yet).

















REIDEEEEN!!![/b]


















The mountain stands roughly 9 Inches tall.










Yuusha Reideen



With the God Bird attachment removed.






In the Anime, Reideen's right arm plate changes form as needed, here are the various types.

(L-R)God Breaker, God Block Big Spin, God Boomerang, God Block.








Reideen's attacks:[/b][/size]
God Block




God Block Big Spin




God Boomerang







Jet Boomerang





God Breaker[/color]







Energy Cutter[/color]





God Missile[/color]





God Gogun[/color] (Reideen's signature move)




Comes with two kinds of arrows.





Gogun Sword[/color]








God Voice[/color]







Click to begin video playback (Video taken from Super Robot Wars Impact).






Reideen's showdown with Prince Sharkin.
Click to begin video playback (Video taken from Super Robot Wars Impact).




Other Reideen-related Video (From SRW Scramble Commander 1).














God Bird Change!




Head Cutter



Bocy Cutter



Articulated talons



Opening beak (beak does not open in "Head Cutter" head)








Regular VS Giftset










Extra accessories[/b][/size]
Display stand




Underside.





The stand can also hold the Godbird, but it's bit hard to attach the Godbird here, there's a certain "snap-on" lock instead of the Godbird just "sitting" on the stand and relying on gravity.






Brooger (hehehehe, I still can't say it with a straight face ;D , I personally prefer the name "BlueGar" from the Fansubs). The Brooger is plastic.



Spot Fighter detaches from the Brooger.



Articulated Grapple claws.







Akira with Sparcar bike. Akira is REALLY small! He's the size of an ant. Be careful not to lose him in clutter.



With the Gx-07E Koji figure.







Gold

[Gold]

Reideen Review Part 2.

So Bandai released two versions, Pearl White and Chrome finish Reideens. If you're unsure which version is better suited for your SOC collection, hopefully these pics can help.





(Note: the following pics are best viewed while listening to these soundtracks from the Super Robot Wars Games ;D)
SRW OG Track 07


SRW OG Track 27


SRW OG Track 28


SRW OG Track 30


SRW OG Track 31


SRW OG Track 32 (Meikyuu no Prisoner)





Comparisons (click to view larger images)

Reideen, Gx-01R Mazinger, Reideen
















With the old GA-09R and The Chogokin Reideen













Comparing White pearl finish vs Chrome finish.

Godannar, Reideen, Mazinkaiser




Baikanfu, Godmars, Dragonar




Kotobukiya GGG, MaxFactory Godannar




Max Factory Mazinkaiser




Mazinger, Great Mazinger, Reideen, Grendizer, Gaiking




Uniform colors









Group action poses[/b][/size]

























Scale[/b]






















The Good
-Diecast parts include biceps, thighs, lower half torso, boosters.
-The "golden" Reideen has diecast feet/boosters for balance.
-Akira is removable from his bike.
-Full colored manual, no "black and white" pages.
-Lots of accessories.
-Can do the "God Gogun" pose spot on.
-Good move by Bandai to make the Godbird parts removable.
-Mountain has a cool pull-out gimmick, pull the ramp for Akira's bike and the mountain opens up thanks to well-placed gears.
-High poseablility due to added mid-torso joint and hidden shoulder joints. You have to push the shoulders back in place to keep them from drooping though. The shoulder pads are also decent, I was half expecting them to keep collapsing but it rarely happens on mine.

-Extra "open mouth" face plate (sure wished Gurren Lagann had this).

-Extra Swappable feet for more balance.







The Bad
-Light, the toy only weighs 220 Grams (your garden variety "Marvel Legends" figure weighs 100 Grams), due to no diecast legs. The legs were made plastic to stabilize the toy in Godbird mode. However, the boosters are diecast.
-Swapping the face plates can be a little hard to do sometimes.
-Akira's bike Sparcar is annoyingly hard to stand even on the bike rails. It's also easy to loose the Akira figure.
-The joints tend to be a little too tight, especially the groin joints. It's hard to restore them to proper position after posing the toy in action and Godbird poses.
-Lack of display stand for the "Giftset" accessories.




The Ugly
-The name "Brooger" ;D
-The ball-jointed fists tend to be a little too loose, they won't fall off but they tend to wobble when you shake the toy.
-The attachement for the God Block keeps falling off when you try to pose the toy. Since the peg is really skinny. Also, the magnetized "God Boomerang" connection is a bit weak.



In conclusion, Bandai's made a lot of improvement in terms of making the toy more poseable. The big accessories are a sweet bonus given we don't have to pay over $200 for the giftset.


The "lesser diecast" factor doesn't really bug me since it was a neccessary sacrifice to keep the Godbird mode planted to the surface via its talons. Just hope Bandai doesn't make it a habit to release future Gokins with less er, gokin.


The biggest gripe I suppose would have to be the God Block connection, since it's really annoying the way it keeps falling off. It's managable, but really, it just makes the toy feel sloppy.



As for "Chrome vs Pearl White" finish. I've got to say I'm more partial to the Pearl finish, since it reminds me of the Anime more. However, I feel that the Chrome version looks better than the Pearl white in God Bird mode. But that's just me.






Gold

[mazingetter]

Too bad they didn't make a God Gogun Tabane Uchi accessory. It's basically a bunch of arrows that Reideen fires at once.

[sweetestbaboon]

Thanks, as always, for your hard work & effort in bringing us another wonderful review!
I was really on the fence about this bad boy, but, gosh, that birdy is so purdy...

[Gevaudan]

Yup, also hate those darn peg and magnetic connectors for the god block accessories.

Plus if handled carelessly the face covers and pegs for the fists seem like it could break off.

But still, one of my favorite SOCs to date. (love the face mountain btw).

Great review Gold!

[pastafazoola]

heeey.... finally a review and really fast!the pearl white for me even on the pics its more noticeable than the chrome.......i like the pose were he steps out of the mountain-"i'm finished witn my poop" heheheh;D...great review!thanks gold.giftset here i come!

[Gold]

MazinGetter, yes, it's a shame they didn't include the God Gogun Tabane Uchi.

Thanks Sweetest Baboon.


Thanks Firestorm yeah, the pegs for the wrist should have been diecast, what with all the fist pulling to do the "cuff swapping" for the Godblock and Gogun Accessories.


"I'm finished with my poop!" ROTFLMAO. ;D ;D ;D That was hilarious. Thanks Chuckles.



Gold

[mazinkaiser]

nice review gold. now i'm torn wheter to get the standard or the special one any idea when greattoys will have it int here stores and how much? thanks!!

[Gold]

Hehe, Thanks Mazinkaiser, I'd go with the special one, since the white finish makes it blend better in robot mode. You'll have to ask Malvin when he will get restocks of the regular.



Gold

[Gold]

Just an update.

The Hong Kong release item. The Gx-41 Reideen crystal.

There are two versions, one with the LED display base (costs about $20 USD, about $15 USD more than the regular) and the one without the LED. I'm still trying to get the one without the LED (for the sake of completion, I'm nutty that way ;D ).







The 4 LED for changing the colors (requires 3 AAA batteries, not included).







Click to view larger images.
If memory serves, I think this is the pattern of how the color changes, from green, to blue, to purple to red.







Gold

[grail1968]

thanks for the review, gold!

[mazingetter]

May 21, 2008 13:38:42 GMT 8 Gold said:

Admittedly, the toy isn't accurate when it comes to the "Fade in" sequence.

Got to watch Yuusha Reideen again.

Akira always enters Reideen through its forehead but his bike does enter the "crotch".

[Gold]

Oct 2, 2008 19:51:33 GMT 8 mazingetter said:

May 21, 2008 13:38:42 GMT 8 Gold said:

Admittedly, the toy isn't accurate when it comes to the "Fade in" sequence.

Got to watch Yuusha Reideen again.

Akira always enters Reideen through its forehead but his bike does enter the "crotch".

LOL, thanks for clearing that up Mazingetter.



Gold