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If you disregard the price and only look at the unit (from a distance), I can say that the Alteisen from the "TETSUKIKOU" series is quite excellent. However, considering all factors, you might feel that some aspects could be improved.
1. Appearance Design Review
According to the original design, many fellow enthusiasts have mentioned that its design is too sleek and not bulky enough. Personally, when I played with it, I felt that sleekness is also good, and being stylish is important, so I have no complaints about its appearance.
The entire unit emphasizes the bulkiness of the lower body and the heaviness of the shoulders, with the torso and head being slightly smaller. However, the signature large horn on the head is very massive and impactful. Of course, one must be very careful when handling it, as accidentally breaking it off would be disastrous. Having replacement parts for the head horn would provide more peace of mind. Due to concerns about damage, I also dared not pose it on a display stand.
When posing the shoulder sections, the left and right sides of the head often interfere, so caution is required during handling. The shoulder missile pods have high articulation, so there's no need to worry about obstruction, and the arm's range of motion is good. Many poses can be achieved. The thrusters behind the missile pods are also well-designed!
As for the leg articulation, it's generally average, but this is likely due to design limitations, so the designer cannot be blamed. Nevertheless, the heavy legs are essential to highlight Alteisen's characteristics.
Due to the smaller torso, the backpack is also relatively small.
2. The Head's Lighting Effect is Excellent!
The only part of the entire unit that lights up is the eyes in the head. While the illuminated areas are somewhat limited, the moment the green light in both eyes shines is quite fierce! Moreover, the light-blocking effect is excellent, with no light leaking from other parts of the head, which is a definite plus.
The advantages are clear, and so are the disadvantages, which we will discuss later.
3. Weaponry Review
The accessories are not numerous, but most of the weapons are already integrated into the body, so playing with the main unit itself already involves many weapons. Let's start with the right arm.
The right arm features a "Pile Bunker," a melee weapon designed to strike enemies with a single blow during combat. A few years ago, in the anime "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress," the protagonist's weapon for killing zombies was very similar to Alteisen's right arm.
As for the right elbow, it can be opened to reveal a revolver cylinder, with slots where bullets can be loaded. The unit comes with exactly six bullets. However, I personally do not recommend loading the bullets for play, because while the bullets are exquisitely crafted, the bullet tips can easily come loose, and you might lose them if you're not careful during play.
It would be perfect if an additional effect part for the "Pile Bunker" thrust was included.
The left arm features a Triple Machine Cannon. Players can attach a small magazine to the hand, or attach a large magazine to the rear skirt armor and connect it to the hand with a flexible strap. This machine cannon is quite imposing. If effect parts were included, it would be even more enjoyable to play with.
Both shoulders have missile pods. Players can open them to reveal the missile magazines, and then open the covers to expose the missiles, simulating a firing state. However, the playability is limited to this.
As for the Lion King Sword, its sheath can be attached to the skirt armor or held by hand. The sword itself is exquisitely crafted, with wave patterns on the blade, full of Japanese flair. The hilt is quite long, and attaching it to the skirt armor gives it a distinct Japanese samurai feel.
We've discussed many enjoyable aspects. So, where are the problems? This needs to be discussed from the perspective of pricing and attention to detail.
The first point is definitely the wire on the head. This wire is awkwardly placed at the back of the neck, causing the neck to appear unnaturally tilted. Is there a way to avoid this? I believe there is. For example, could it be hidden in the middle of the neck? Or perhaps design some conduits during a "custom modification"? In any case, it shouldn't be left exposed and solitary at the back of the neck.
Regarding the weaponry, most of what should be there is present. The question is, why are there no effect parts? For the Pile Bunker, the head horn, the shoulder cannons, the hand cannons, the Lion King Katana... not a single one is included. In this era, it's not enough for the toy body itself to be well-made; everyone hopes to recreate classic scenes, and effect parts are essentially indispensable. Recently, well-produced effect parts have garnered many fans, as seen with Tamashii EFFECT. The ROBOT Damashii ANIME series has also become much more enjoyable due to these effects. Most importantly, some effects can be universally used across different units. Buying one set of effects not only enhances the playability of a single toy but elevates the overall toy-playing experience.
Overall, the [TETSUKIKOU] Alteisen is an excellent toy and worth playing with. However, the next step is to see how CCSTOYS's Alteisen performs.