SOUCHAKU-HENSHIN KAMEN RIDER SERIES

SH Masked Rider Ryuki Series GD-63 Masked Rider Ryuki (7/2004)

RYUKI

MASKED RIDER

KUUGA

MASKED RIDER

AGITO

CLASSIC

MASKED RIDERS

MASKED RIDER

RYUKI

MASKED RIDER

FAIZ

MASKED RIDER

BLADE

MASKED RIDER RYUKI

GD-63 Kamen Rider Ryuki was released by Bandai in July of 2004 along with GD-64 Kamen Rider Scissors. The two figures were follow up to the two Faiz Riders released previous month that mark the come back of the Souchaku Henshin series. Ryuki along with Scissors came from 2002 Masked Rider Ryuki series. The show was one of the more controversial as it departed greatly from the standard Masked Rider in both the story and character designs. Masked Rider Ryuki was the main character from the series. The Riders from this series had their design based on armored knight mix with mystical creature. Ryuki, whose name mean Dragon Knight, was based on the Chinese dragon theme with grill face knight helmet look. You can made out the hint of two round eyes but that was probably the extend of Ryuki relation to the old Masked Riders. The Riders transformed using set of card (called Advent Card) in a card case that inserted into their V-Buckle (their henshin belt). Each Riders also swore companionship (contract) with his or her animal monster that the knight represented. (You can see already why this was the most controversial Rider series and yes I mean her there was even a first ever female Masked Rider in the franchise 30 years history). Ryuki contracted monster was, of course a red dragon monster called Dragreder. Since the designs of Riders in Ryuki series were based on knight armor look they worked well with the Souchaku Henshin format.

The core body for Ryuki, like that of Faiz SH series had been extensively retooled with arms and legs remolded specifically for this series. Bandai had really re-engineered and tweak the SH format using what they learn from other toy series they produced and it showed in the over-all figures looks. One of the part that had been greatly improved on the 2004 core body was the metal ball joints for the feet. This allowed for better pose ability for these 2004 figures. Ryuki helmet design made for some very intricate paint op, but the SH version turn out quite well especially consider the small size of the figure and the low price point. (The eyes could use a little more red paint in my sample but that just a minor gripe). Regardless of how you feel about Ryuki series, there was no argument that these SH figures were very well made and represented some of the best looking figures to come out for the Souchaku Henshin series.

Unmasked Mode

Like other SH Riders figures, the human body underneath can look out of proportion and was solely intended for display with the "cloth" (Rider's Armor) on. The core body was similar in style as the body used since the original Saint Seiya Cloth line, however for the 2004 SH line, Bandai had retooled the body to make it more modern. While the head still appear too small due to having to accommodate the mask, this removable "armor suit" however, was the main aspect that drawn me to this line. The ability to "henshin" into the Rider form made these SH figure a lot like small version of Henshin Cyborg or the RAH costume hero.

The figure can be display with the "masked" removed and show a human head (which slightly resemble Shinji Kido who was Masked Rider Ryuki in the TV show)

 Vent Accessories

SH Ryuki came with several weapons including Dragclaw (Strike Vent), Dragshield (Guard Vent) and Dragsaber (Sword Vent).

Bandai even included miniature Advent Cards made from plastic and sticker sheet. (Three cards - Final Vent, Strike Vent and Sword Vent, they were kind of small and hard to make out) In the show, Riders would inserted these Advent cards into their Visor, a card activator, to use their weapons or special attack. (For Ryuki his Visor is the dragon head bracelet on his left wrist armor)