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ROBOT Damashii Rick Dias. In its early days, it was Char's (Quattro Bajeena's) personal mobile suit during the AEUG era, but it later changed hands and was piloted by many, including Amuro, who briefly piloted it. This mobile suit doesn't have a particularly special appearance; it's simply very resilient on the battlefield. But enough about that, let's talk about the toy itself.
ROBOT Damashii released a Rick Dias many years ago, which I also acquired but never played with or photographed. This time, with the release of the ANIME version, the feeling is quite excellent! Online reviews were very positive, and I couldn't resist buying one to play with. Of course, it was astonishingly good; indeed, it's incredibly fun. Here's a brief review:
1. Appealing Mobile Suit Design
When playing with ROBOT Damashii figures, one doesn't usually expect much in terms of "paint application." However, the overall feel is good; all the necessary colored areas are present. The head, in particular, is adorable, and the green monitor can move (though not by a very large margin), which is certainly a nice touch. The size and proportions of other parts also feel faithful to the original design, which is excellent!
2. Extremely High Articulation
The ANIME series is always known for its high articulation, and this Rick Dias is truly an exemplary model! The design of the arms and waist, in particular, is quite innovative.
First, let's look at the arms. The entire shoulder can be pulled out from the armpit area, and there's an additional joint that allows for a 90-degree outward swing. Although the chest itself lacks articulation, this joint allows the arms to easily cross in front of the chest.
As for the waist, its side-to-side sway is average, but it features a very secure pull-out mechanism, allowing the upper body to almost completely separate from the lower body without any interference. Of course, this design creates a very noticeable "gap" at the waist, but when playing with ROBOT Damashii figures, this isn't usually a major concern. There's also a section in the upper chest that has articulation, though its range of motion isn't particularly large.
Other areas also perform well; the thighs have a good range of motion, and the skirt armor doesn't easily fall off.
3. Appropriate Weapon Loadout
The weapon loadout this time is also good, quite decent.
First, let's discuss the two beam pistols. They can be mounted on the back and fired directly from there. Of course, they can also be held in hand for use.
When holding the two pistols, combined with the high articulation of the hands, it immediately gives off a vibe reminiscent of Crossbone Gundam X-1, or Strike Freedom, and even Dante from Devil May Cry (laughs).
The gun barrels can be fitted with small beam effects, but I found them not fun enough, so I used other effect parts instead.
A bazooka can also be mounted on the back. Other effect parts can also be attached, but this will create a noticeable gap. The length is good, and it can be held with one or two hands without any issues. As the saying goes, with enough articulation, you can play with it however you like.
This time, bazooka effects are used.
As for the backpack thrusters, they can also be detached and transformed into a baseball bat. This is a lot of fun. The moment you hold the baseball bat with both hands, doesn't it become like Gundam Barbatos Lupus? It's quite enjoyable. In fact, detaching parts from the body naturally allows them to become weapons, whether for throwing or as shields, which is what makes it so much fun.
The head actually has head vulcans; these "mini head vulcans" are incredibly cute! To play with them, you first need to lift the red top cover, which will then reveal two small cannons. They have some articulation and can move up and down; simply open them and adjust the angle as you like.
There's only one beam saber, stored on the backpack, and it's not difficult to retrieve. However, playing with it doesn't offer any particularly special feeling.
The hands can launch certain projectiles.
Overall, this toy is a must-have series, truly showcasing the high articulation of the ANIME line. It's incredibly fun and highly recommended. It was once a "protagonist's exclusive mobile suit" and gradually became a mass-produced unit, but it truly possesses its own charm and is worth recommending!