Module Set 03 is possibly my overall favourite. Not only does it include two of my favourite modules, but the others are pretty awesome too! Let’s take a gander!

Chain Array is a right arm mounted spiked flail! It may be old fashioned but it gets the job done! The flail is attached to the arm via chain link and the spiked flail itself  is weighty enough to give the illusion of a 120kg flail. I really like that, despite how high-tech Fourze is, he sometimes just needs to twat someone in the face with a heavy metal object. This set also includes a brand new pair of hands just for this module.

Winch speaks for itself, it’s a powered winch that attaches to Fourze’s left arm. There’s no moving parts to this but you can swap out the Boost Hooker (Yeah, I laughed too) for another which has a malleable wire so you can get a great sense of motion with your poses. It’s not too long but being poseable is a big plus!

Module 17 (Flash, aaaaaaah) is included with Fourze’s motorcycle, the Machine Massigler, so we’ll move onto…

Shield, which is one of Fourze’s true defensive options. It’s designed after the Lockheed Martin X-33 and, despite it’s small size, is more than capable of fending off the most brutal assaults. In fact, one of the only times I remember it failing was when the Cancer Zodiarts (one of the lieutenants, dubbed Horoscopes) cleaved it in half with his powerful claw. It’s shuttle-like appearance makes this aesthetically perfect for Fourze and I really dig it!

Gatling is another in our sub-theme of “Fourze has awesome shit stuck to his legs” and it’s a GATLING GUN! It may be painted in a lovely blue but it’s packed full of DAKKA-DAKKA-DAKKA! Much like other modules, there are no moving parts present and that is a crying shame for this Module. A rotating barrel would have been great.

Finally, we come to Stealth! No, not the movie, the module! Based on the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the Stealth module is a useless lump of plastic but is meant to allow Fourze to become invisible for 5 seconds once activated. Might sound very limited but it’s been very useful on a number of occasions.

Module Set 03 is my favourite set so far, with many of my favourite switches and lots of character! But we’re not done just yet!

Module Set 04 is the last of the mass release Module Sets, with the Module Set 05 being an online exclusive in Japan and fetching a high price on the secondary market! Set 04 has some of the weirder and more useless modules but let’s see what we got!

*BONK*

Hammer is a very basic addition to the arsenal and it looks like a squeaky hammer. That’s it. This is the weakest out of all the modules I’ve reviewed in my opinion. It is literally a lump of plastic with no character to it other than looking slightly like a squeaky hammer. Next…

Water, water, everywhere so let’s drink from my leg! The Water module adds a big tap (faucet to you yanks) to Fourze’s left leg to shoot intense jets of water. It’s silly looking but I actually like this compared to Hammer and it’s not completely static, with a rotating tap head.

Medical is just what every Kamen Rider needs, a first aid kit comprised of cosmic energy-infused medicine. No way that stuff could give you cancer or make you trip balls! The kit can be opened, revealing an assortment of medical equipment, with removable syringe, and a medical readout of the lid. It’s nice that they included that detail!

The Pen switch is a giant calligraphy brush. For his leg. Yes, that’s a brush leg AND THAT’S NOT CRAZY ENOUGH so the ink produces three-dimensional streaks of pure carbon that can act as improvised shields. It’s so cumbersome and silly in its concept that I can’t help but love it.

Wheel is our last module, and despite its misnomer (It has two wheels, not just one) is a Segway-looking travel module that gives Fourze an extra boost of speed without relying on the Machine Massigler. It’s especially useful indoors since it has no trouble riding on walls.

Module Set 04 is definitely the weirdest and weakest of the sets I’ve reviewed thus far but it’s not without it’s charm.

And I fear this is where we leave the manliest of men, Gentaro Kisaragi, as I am out of Kamen Rider Fourze toys to review. If nothing else, this has helped me go pack and watch the show again so I’m thankful for that and if you’re interested in getting in some Space Time yourself, head over to HobbyLink Japan, where you can find all the Modules Sets I’ve reviewed, as well as some other Fourze goodies!

I said I wasn’t done with Kamen Rider Fourze just yet and thanks to a HobbyLink Japan payload, I’ll be showcasing many of Fourze’s weapons and tools in his fight against the Zodiarts, all rendered in scale with S.H. Figuarts Fourze! Today, we’ll be embracing the gimmick of our youth and be looking at Modules Sets 01 and 02. All the modules mostly attach and remove in the same way as the ones included in the Base States release.

Module Set 01 fills out Fourze’s default astro switch loadout as well as add some new toys to the arsenal. Just like Fourze, these Module sets also include tiny little astro switches to add accuracy to Fourze’s belt while swapping modules and while that’s considerate of the designers, it’s an absolute ball ache to keep track of. I even lost a couple while taking photos, causing me 20 minutes of frantic searching for millimetre small transluscent plastic pieces!

Radar allows Fourze communication with his allies as well as used to detect enemies and lock onto them for a homing missle attack. The dish pivots on a hinge and the screen on the forearm is picked out with grey paint. Might have been nice for a little read out but it’s good enough.

Launcher is the final astro switch for Fourze’s default belt configuration, adding a massive missile battery to Fourze’s right leg. The missiles are removable but aren’t spring-loaded so they’re either just there or not. When Launcher is used with Radar, Fourze can execute a precise missile bombardment!

Magic Hand is similar to an SRMS (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) used on space shuttles. This manipulator arm is highly articulated, with hinges and swivels all along its length, and can move in many different directions as well as open the claw at the end but this module is very heavy, causing strain on my particular figure so I recommend using a tamashii stage.

Lastly for Set 01 we have Camera. I can only think of one situation where this module was used in combat but I love how ludicrous it looks. This big VHS video camera attached to the arm of our hero is one of the sillier, but equally awesome, modules we’ll be looking at. The view finder is articulated to allow you to pose with Fourze’s head.

I think this set is a must-have if you’re a Fourze fan, since it includes the other two default switches as well as two iconic modules.

Module Set 02 is not to be outdone either, being bigger and boasting more bang for your buck! Unlike the Base States release and Module Set 01, this release DOES come with tamashii stage, emblazoned with the Kamen Rider Club logo! I love it but if that isn’t good enough, it also includes several more pieces to increase the size of the included armature for a very special reason!

Parachute is by far the largest module of any set! It’s connected to Fourze’s left arm and you have to plug a bunch of strands into the plastic canopy. The stage extends upwards to allow for this module to be deployed fully and while it looks very impressive, I don’t thing it’ll be getting much play on my shelf because of the space needed. Very fun though!

Chainsaw is a BONA FIDE CHAINSAW LEG! That’s awesome, no matter where you come from! This is the highlight of the set by far, featuring a fold down blade but you can also swap that, as well as the foot, for a more screen accurate look. This module is certainly a cut above the rest!

Hopping is another of the many silly modules that seem useless but end up providing some advantage. Unfortunately, this is a solid plastic piece with no spring gimmick at all, much to my disappointment. You can still get some funny pose out of it though!

We skip ahead to Module 14, since Modules 10, 11, and 12 are included in the Elek States release and 13 will be seen next time so here is Smoke! Smoke is another useless lump with no moving parts or real charm. In the show it would emit a smokescreen and I think being included with the massive Parachute made extras for Smoke and Hopping harder to justify, hence their rather anemic standard.

I think Module Set 02 is a harder sell and while I’m glad I have it, I got it for around £2 in HLJ’s clearance sale.

Both of these sets are great releases and while 02 might be harder to justify paying full price for, I’m sure you’ll be able to bag yourselves a bargain at this juncture! Keep your eyes in the sky because I’ll be back soon with more from our space-bound hero!

Kamen Rider Fourze is a tokusatsu show from 2011 that commemorates not only Kamen Rider’s 40th Anniversary (Four Zero, Four Ze, geddit?) and the 50th Anniversary of spaceflight. Written by Kazuki Nakashima (Gurren Lagann) and with creature designs by manga artist Kia Asamiya (Martian Successor Nadesico), Fourze is one of my top three Kamen Rider series for its aesthetic, its gimmicks, its characters, stories, drama, use of music, EVERYTHING comes together to create a wonderfu– You know what? I think I’ll save the gushing for Toku Tuesday (It’s coming back, don’t worry!) but suffice to say that I love this series and I’m going to show you why at a later date!

But first, a major rant! This is how I received my Kamen Rider Fouze S.H. Figuarts. In a GOD DAMN plastic baggy! I got it second hand from eBay but seriously? The seller didn’t even keep the tray but you know what REALLY grinds my gears?

He TORE the back of the packaging off and felt the need to include THAT! No packaging at all I could tolerate since it came with all the pieces but this is just… Weird. I mean, what kind of savage does this to their Figuarts? Who throws out the majority of the box and the plastic tray to keep the accessories in? If I ever meet the guy, I’mma rip his bloody ankles off!

Launching into the orbit of the man who will befriend everyone at Amanogawa High School, Gentaro Kisaragi’s youthful form is given a more stylised rendition in S.H. Figuarts, coming across smaller and more cartoonish than his predecessors but I kind of dig it. It gives him a more distinct profile against some of his fellow Kamen Riders! His brilliant white “Base States” is nicely highlighted with blacks, golds and silver, with distinctive colours for his Module ports on each limb. His astronaut theme is wholly original in the 40 years Kamen Rider has been around and they’ve nailed the look perfectly!

I’ll level with you, this mould is known to have issues with his hip joints, where the balljoints are far too tight. I was afraid to do this review because his legs would creak and take far too much effort and I was afraid of breaking something but thanks to a little surgery where I sanded down the housing for the balljoint (but the problem can also be fixed with some 100% silicone shock oil) he’s already for…

Uchuuuuuu…

KITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

His signature roll call! It’s Space Time! His joints only squeak a little now but they move freely and I don’t fear any breakages.

Given that this is my first Kamen Rider review, I thought I’d also highlight Fourze’s beautiful compound eyes. These are a mainstay of the Kamen Rider designs, tracing all the way back to the 70’s and Fourze’s are especially nice.

The Fourze Driver, Gen-chan’s transformation device and what allows him to access all his space-age gadgetry, is rendered in translucent blue plastic. Each of the SUPER TINY Astro Switches on his belt are removable and an absolute pain to lose so I suggest thickening the pegs just to keep them in place. All of the Astro Switches can be swapped out for others and one included with this set is the Drill Switch in it’s On position. This is an superfluous addition to the set, adding a detail that many fans have said they can do without. Having multiples of these tiny Switches with minute differences is just asking for them to be lost.

Fourze is light on extra hands, only coming with three pairs total but all match Fourze’s repertoire of moves. He has fists for punching Zodiarts and making buddies!

Slightly pointing fingers for switching powers and challenging fools!

And calm open hands that can comb his dome (like Gen-chan combs his pompadour) or looking shocked! All of the hands add a lot of variety to his posing but there’s a reason he’s light on hands and that’s because of his Modules!

Fourze comes with the Rocket and Drill Modules! Because of Fourze’s modular abilities, allowing you to swap out a forearm or lower leg for one of his unique weapons was some brilliant foresight on Bandai Japan’s part! Both Modules have some lovely panel-lining to them and come off very well. Probably would have liked a spinning drill-bit but it serves its purpose.

His included Modules allow you to recreate Gen-chan’s Base States “Limit Break” finisher, the Rider Rocket Drill Kick! Unfortunately, this release doesn’t include a tamashii stage so it’s lucky I got one some time ago!

*Explosion to be added later

I absolutely adore Kamen Rider Fourze! I could have gotten his Elek or Fire States some time ago because of how cheap they are but I wanted the Base States because this is how he spends the majority of the series. It’s a gloriously iconic look and despite all the trouble I’ve had with him, I love him and recommend picking up him or any of his other States if you’re a fan of the series!

But we’re not leaving Fourze’s orbit just yet as a payload from HobbyLink Japan arrives to boost Fourze’s armaments into the far reaches of space! Take my hand in friendship and we’ll go there together!