With the 30th anniversary of the hit 80s and 90s mecha anime "Mashin Hero Wataru" upon us, Bandai has been rolling out a slew of Mashin units in recent years. These releases are more than just toys; they're a potent dose of nostalgia for longtime fans, many of whom have waited decades to see certain mechs get a modern figure release. And the Shin Gekimaru, which appeared in "Mashin Hero Wataru 2," is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated, almost grail-status releases for many collectors. Today, we're diving into the brand-new NXEDGE STYLE Shin Gekimaru from the Bandai Spirits collectors division, TAMASHII NATIONS!
▼ The box art for the NXEDGE STYLE Shin Gekimaru rocks a fantastic retro vibe. Just like the previous Gekimaru release, it features watercolor-style artwork that pays homage to the box art of the classic Plaction model kits.
▼ Unboxing reveals a straightforward set of contents: an instruction manual, the main figure, the back-mounted Gekirin, the signature "Seireiken" sword, and a pair of optional expressive hands.
The Mashin Gekimaru, which houses the soul of the summer solstice demon, was originally piloted by Yurika, the prince of Seikai-zan. After Doakudar conquered Seikai-zan, Yurika feigned allegiance to the evil Makai, infiltrating the organization to become one of the bosses of the Seven Worlds. However, before he could overthrow Doakudar, his immense power drew the jealousy of the other bosses. They used magic to separate the "Six Orbs" from Gekimaru, weakening it and sealing Yurika within one of the orbs.
Later, his son Umibiko pilots the weakened Gekimaru, joining Wataru Ikusabe and his friends to defeat the bosses of Seikai-zan and successfully recover the six orbs: Shinbōgyoku, Toraiyoku, Reienyoku, Nanpūgyoku, Seireigyoku, and Shichisōgyoku. In the final battle, the Mashin is restored to its true form: the "Shin Gekimaru."
▼ First, let's look at the Shin Gekimaru figure itself. Compared to the weakened Gekimaru, it's practically a whole new machine. The overall silhouette is drastically different—larger, sharper, and with a skull-like head sculpt that perfectly captures its "demon" motif. Even by modern standards, it's an exceptionally cool and striking design.
▼ The main green parts are molded in color with a matte finish, preventing them from looking too plasticky. The head, shoulders, and claws on the feet are all treated with multiple layers of gold and silver paint, giving them a satisfying, heavy feel.
▼ The sleek sculpt and smooth curves on the back are absolutely beautiful.
▼ In terms of articulation, the head's up-and-down tilt is very limited, but it can rotate horizontally about 45 degrees to each side.
▼ The shoulder features a pull-out joint mechanism, allowing the arms to extend far forward for more natural and dynamic weapon-wielding poses.
▼ The elbows are probably the most flexible part of the entire figure, with almost no armor getting in the way, allowing for a wide range of motion.
▼ The waist is heavily restricted by the sculpt and can barely bend, though it can twist slightly from side to side.
▼ The legs are primarily articulated at the hip joints. You can see the joint parts extend outwards quite a bit, which helps prevent the legs from constantly bumping into the front skirt armor during posing.
▼ The ankles also have articulation joints, allowing the feet to sit flat on the ground for stable standing poses.
▼ There's actually a subtle joint in the knee that's easy to miss, but be careful not to apply too much force when using it to avoid breakage.
▼ The signature "Gekirin" on its back is coated in a brilliant gold paint. Attaching it recreates the form piloted by Yurika in the final battle. It simply pegs into a slot on the rear skirt armor; while it looks precarious, it's surprisingly secure.
▼ With the Gekirin attached, the Shin Gekimaru has no balance issues and its overall silhouette becomes even more imposing!
▼ However, using an action base is highly recommended to pull off more dynamic poses. Combined with the optional hands, you can even recreate the charging stance for its "Kikouken" special move!
▼ Shin Gekimaru's weapon, the "Seireiken," is the evolved form of Gekimaru's "Kairyuu Soudo" harpoon. It features a metallic silver finish for a premium look and faithfully reproduces the unique curved blade design.
▼ Thanks to the pull-out shoulder joints, you can achieve much more natural-looking stances.
▼ By making full use of the body's articulation, you can overcome the typical stubby proportions of the NXEDGE STYLE line and strike dynamic sword-wielding, slashing, and even flying kick poses!
▼ By swapping the hands, you can also have the figure hold the Gekirin from its back, recreating its awesome throwing attack from the anime!
▼ The left hand can also wield the Seireiken, allowing you to equip both weapons simultaneously for even more combat display options!
That wraps up our unboxing of the NXEDGE STYLE Shin Gekimaru. The NXEDGE STYLE series has always been a perfect fit for the "Mashin Hero Wataru" mechs, and the Shin Gekimaru is no exception. Its sleek yet sharp design is incredibly cool, and the fact that this is such a rarely merchandised unit makes it even more special. While it's not a large figure, the nostalgia factor alone makes it an unexpectedly satisfying addition to any collection.