Toy Review: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Birth Prototype

After Date recovered from his head injury, he comes back to help Goto as Kamen Rider Birth Prototype. Date Returns! The last time I reviewed the SHF Kamen Rider Birth, I wasn't happy on the outcome just because I was expecting more from a secondary rider just like others were before him. I'm giving Birth a second chance in S.H. Figuarts just because I like Date's personality.

The S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Birth Prototype is another Bandai Collectors Shop exclusive figure packed with at least half of the Claw Sasori set which includes the Breast Cannon and the Crane Arm. Your Breast Cannon has a turret that moves up and down. It should, since this was already done in the Sasori set. An extra breast plate with a peg molded in is inclusive to hold the Breast Cannon on his chest.

The Crane Arm has a balljoint near the shoulder to give ample room so that it wont bump that much on the shoulders. As an alternative, there is a plain blank shoulder pad to avoid using the metallic/painted version. It takes removing the hand so that the arm pegs in for added security. But in my experience, this doesn't really help in holding the Crane Arm fully and thus relying more on the shoulder to hold it in its place. One of the main purposes of the Crane Arm is to snatch cell medals from a distance, this is also what Bandai aims to replicate. There is an replaceable clas with cell medals holding on the hand and a plastic, flexible cable just to do that.

There are 5 hands in total - four probably familiar with if you have already SHF Birth. What's unique is a hand that holds cell medals. It is best if you have a  milk/booze can just like what Date carries to complete the look and feel for SHF Birth Prototype.  Other that this is the additional green lighted helmet and the Birth Buster. 

In terms of the mold, Birth Prototype still retains that ghastly gap between the neck and it is too obvious. The changes from Birth is only the red rings and highlights. Since the red-ringed breast plate is not obvious when the cannon is on, you can use that too for Kamen Rider Birth. If you haven't gotten the SHF Sasori yet, this is a good addition and the other weapons are swappable with Kamen Rider Birth.