Also known as 超発光 仮面ライダーファイズ or Chouhakko Kamen Rider Faiz. Kamen Rider Faiz (555) has been one of my favourite Kamen Riders of all time. I remember hearing a lot about Kamen Rider back when I was younger, but I've never really had a chance to watch any of them. However a lot of people back in 2002 started to talk about how much Kamen Rider Ryuki was quite different from the previous incarnations, especially the costume design. I looked into it. I found that it was more serious than I thought since my opinion of Tokusatsu shows are all corny. I find Ryuki was still a bit corny though.
Here's the opening to Kamen Rider 555; Justiphi's.
Then came the next one; Faiz. The costume design attracted my attention right away. It's one of the most unique Kamen Rider costumes. I remember how much they looked like an actual bug back then, but this was nothing like a bug, but much, much cooler! Ryuki was unique as well, but I didn't find it as cool. Not only that, but the story had a very serious tone with lots of sadness and many deaths right from the beginning. I shuddered in excitement when Takumi first transformed into Faiz. The red lines over the suit lights up and the eyes glowing menacingly. And I found it more realistic when the characters physically putting on the belt instead of appearing magically. The cell phone transformation and attacks probably made me want a cell phone all the more.
Anyways... My Faiz fanboyism aside... let's get around to this figure.
A slight dent on the front of the box >_<
So back in 2003, I thought about getting this figure, but I thought it was quite expensive because all I've been buying had a lower price than this. Yet I was craving it. One day when I decided to get it, it was sold out at the store I saw it at... Despair!
For years, I kept looking for it when I remember about it, but I couldn't justiphi's it anymore because the show was getting older and I should move on.
But the coolness of Faiz never waned for me. So my quest to find this light-up Faiz inadvertently began again. Last year I won a runner-up prize from Danny's Figure.FM giveaway for my Odaiba Selphie post. The prize was a membership to Japan to Door with US$20 fund in it. It took me a while to figure out what to use it for. The membership was expiring in less than a month...
So somehow I found this figure on Amazon Japan, but it was over 10,000 yen! Then I remembered about my JTD prize and quickly looked for this figure on Yahoo Japan Auction and bam! Much less than 10k yen. Unfortunately it was also my first time using JTD, so I was confused how to get the exact funding, not to mention the minimum to add funds were $30. It's a great service, JTD, but gotta learn how to use all their features otherwise you'll be adding fund nonsensically. Good thing was, no one competed in bidding with me. Probably because the price is double that of the original price. I was hoping JTD would ship this with cheaper SAL, but I guess they couldn't, so I had to add more funds for the shipping... Sigh.
Anyway... story time over, let's get to it with Faiz doing a push up... Ok, not really, batteries not included which uses 3 AAA batteries, so I had to install it first.
Very heroic looking Faiz. I think this was used, so some of it felt a bit stiff. I think I saw pictures of his head able to turn, but this head was bit too stiff and I hate to force it to turn and break it or something... So for now I'll keep it as is.
Close up of the Faiz Shot, which is actually a camera in the show. It doubles as Faiz's finishing punch.
The Faiz Pointer (not quite sure what it really is, looks like a lightsaber though ^^;) attaches to his kick and becomes one of the coolest Rider Kick I've ever seen!
The transformation belt and the cell phone also known as the Faiz Driver. Takumi dials 555 and presses enter to transform. Though I personally hate flip phones, Faiz makes it really cool! At one point he can transform this phone into a gun as well.
Oshiri shot! He's so hot, he's got vents on his butt! Ok, not really, that's where the sound comes from and you an also see the switches here. On and Off and the mode switch. Mode A is the Rider Punch, Mode B is the Rider Kick and Mode C lights him up constantly.
Close up of the head. The best looking Kamen Rider helmet ever! Too bad the painting wasn't that great ^^;
From the right side. He stands at a quite big 12"! I hope I can turn that hand around. It looks funny that way...
And finally the low angle panchira shot...
Finally we get to the light up feature. Here's the shot of him lighting up the room (not that bright honestly). Since it's an old and used figure it seems to glitch when I turn it on sometimes. It works after you give it a Rider Tap.
Close up photo, a bit blurry though. Unfortunately I can't take pictures of the sound or the light moving... so I made a video of it.
The light doesn't illuminate all the red lines and only a few lights per line, but I still think it's damn cool! I think I'll have a good spot for this where I'll see it when I wake up every morning, but need to clean it up first. Will take a photo of that later.
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