Ki Toy Log: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops
A report from the end of 2023—the METAL ROBOT SPIRITS Gundam Kimaris Vidar. This Gundam appeared in the final stages of the second season of "Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans." It was modified from the Gundam Vidar, reverting to its original family colors and equipped with a knight-style helmet, to engage Gundam Bael in a fated battle of revenge, which it ultimately won. As part of the "favored son" METAL ROBOT SPIRITS line, the products from the Iron-Blooded Orphans series rarely have major issues and are generally excellent, and this one is no exception. Here is the review of the mobile suit:
Maintaining a High Degree of Articulation
In terms of articulation, it maintains the usual high standard. There are no significant problems; the arms have excellent mobility, allowing it to hold its sword with both hands without issue. As for the thighs, the skirt armor inevitably causes some interference, so the range of motion for spreading the legs sideways is not particularly wide.
The shields on the back are incredibly fun to play with. The mechanical arms have multiple joints, allowing you to achieve virtually any pose you can think of.
Satisfactory Paint and Finish
Recently, BANDAI's products have been plagued with issues, so it's a great relief that these problems did not befall the Kimaris Vidar. From the head to the hands, legs, skirt armor, and even the weapons, the paint application is quite detailed. The cabled sections have always been handled well, and this time is no different. When BANDAI sets its mind to doing something well, they can achieve it. The key is whether they have the dedication to do so. This is why fans often approach BANDAI's toys with a critical eye—because players believe BANDAI is capable of excellence (and of course, it has to be worth the money players spend).
As for the eye effect part, it's well-made! However, according to the anime, Kimaris Vidar's left eye was destroyed by Bael's sword, which is why it glows red. It would have been even better if the effect part came with a battle-damaged head instead of just the eye glow!
Unique Armaments
The Kimaris Vidar's own arsenal is uniquely designed. First, there's its signature lance, and it also has a katana stored at its waist (I didn't attach it because it's difficult to install and might scrape the paint). The knees are equipped with the Drill Knee, and the drill bit can also be held by hand. The shields can also connect to the lance to fire Dainsleifs, although the purple-haired pilot didn't use this feature in the anime. Since the weapons are quite distinctive, they are worth describing one by one.
First, the lance. A weapon of this size is bound to be heavy. Its weight is already considered light, but it's still not easy to hold with one hand. As a result, the official release includes a support stand. However, I'm not a fan of using stands to support weapons. Securing a pose with the lance held in one hand is not easy. The lance features a very detailed paint job, and all three sections of the spearhead can rotate. The muzzles on the lance are also painted, and there's a spot to install the Dainsleif physical projectile.
As for the katana, its length is appropriate. As a secondary weapon, it is still quite striking. The hilt is long enough that it can just barely be held with two hands.
What's particularly special this time are the knee drills. To attach the drill, you need to replace the golden cap on the knee and then install the drill bit. This drill can also be held by hand. It was with this drill that the purple-haired pilot swiftly finished off Gundam Bael.
One can imagine, with such a rich arsenal, it's only natural that Kimaris Vidar could defeat Bael, right?
The shields are also quite special. Many recent toys feature auxiliary mechanical arms, and they often carry "shields." This shield is moderately weighted and poses no problems during play. However, when it comes to adjusting the angles, you'll need to spend some time getting used to how the mechanical arm moves. With a little patience, you'll get the hang of it. It might feel a bit awkward at first, but I don't recommend using "brute force." Handle it with care to avoid paint scratches.
Two Connection Points for the Display Stand
This release thoughtfully provides two connection points. These two points are only slightly different in angle, but why were they included? I personally believe it's to facilitate different poses for the user. Based on my handling habits, having the connector at the rear of the crotch makes adjusting poses more convenient. However, different players have different habits, so this is a very considerate design choice.
One Point, Unsure if it's a Pro.
To recreate its state during the battle with Gundam Bael, it eventually enters a battle-damaged form. It loses one shield (one shield was torn off by the pilot and stabbed into Gundam Bael), and the corresponding arm is also gone. With this figure, you can easily twist off one arm to replicate this scene.
If we're talking about issues, there are a few points worth discussing:
1. The connection point for the katana is really not user-friendly. This could be improved.
2. Is there a way to strengthen the wrists? This would make holding the lance less of a struggle.
3. I hope for more effect parts in the future. As it is, the play experience feels a bit incomplete.
Having bought both the Kimaris Vidar and the Bael, how could I not stage a battle? I took some combat photos based on some shots from the final fight. When two titans meet, a battle is inevitable. To be honest, the story of Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 was not ideal, a far cry from the performance of the first season. However, from the perspective of mecha design and battle choreography alone, it was still quite good.
Ki Toy Log: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops