A while back I covered the excellent Riobot Mazinkaiser and now Sentinel has returned with a similarly amazing Riobot Shin Getter Robo. Like the Mazinkaiser, Shin Getter Robo also has some important video gaming lineage behind it.
Originally introduced in the Getter Robo Go manga by Ken Ishikawa back in the early 90s, the Shin Getter Robo was a bold new re-design and update to the classic Getter Robo mecha from the 70s.
It was later given another manga and then animated in Getter Robo Armageddon and for many, this was their first encounter with the mecha but before that, there was its inclusion in Super Robot Wars.
Initially introduced in Super Robot Wars 4 and then Super Robot Wars F and F Final, Shin Getter Robo was an upgrade for the original Getter Robo after it had been exposed to Getter Rays, much like the Mazinkaiser.
However, while the Mazinkaiser originated in Super Robot Wars, Shin Getter Robo had already existed in manga form prior to this point.
That still hasn’t stopped the mecha from becoming a hugely popular fan favorite in the Super Robot Wars games (shown below) and it is this that makes both the Mazinkaiser and Shin Getter Robo so important to gamers in Japan.
So whenever we get toys of these designs, fans here tend to go a little bit crazy.
Obviously, like the Mazinkaiser, Shin Getter Robo has had many toys over the years. With some of the earlier Aoshima efforts being rather lovely, to the newer and smaller Bandai renditions that are quite nice too.
This Riobot release is a bit different though and is far more high-end than the earlier as well as more regular iterations.
Like the Mazinkaiser, this Riobot of Shin Getter Robo is designed by Chemical Attack, though with some assistance from T-Rex this time around.
That means the overall design has been stylized to be very intricate not only in terms of its overall sculpt but also the toy’s very fine detailing.
It’s also a very large toy and that in turn has resulted in a similarly expensive price tag when compared to the Riobot Mazinkaiser.
In that, you will end up paying around $300 for this (not including shipping) and that is not a trivial sum of money. That said, you do get a lot for that price tag.
From the large amount of diecast used in the toy’s constructions, to all manner of accessories and a large stand, this is definitely a comprehensive set.
However, unlike the Riobot Mazinkaiser, this Shin Getter Robo omits its main gimmick from the manga and anime; that of its three-way combination setup.
This is because Getter Robo is made up of three Getter Machines. These are each individually piloted and can be combined to form three distinct and functionally specific mecha.
This Riobot incarnation is fixed in the form of Shin Getter 1, which is arguably the most iconic of the three Getter Robo mecha. Though I obviously hope Sentinel follow this release up with Shin Getter 2 and Shin Getter 3.
That aside, Sentinel has done a great job here. The articulation is very thorough and enables a wide range of poses. The joints are delicate though and need to be handled with care. This is not to say the toy is not sturdy but you should read the instructions carefully to see how each of the joints are configured, especially in regards to the shoulder and hip areas.
Bar that, the paint job is very nicely done, as is the transparent details on both the main body and the wings.
The only minor gripes are that the paint job isn’t holistically done, with colored plastic used instead on some parts. The overall result is still very nice and it looks the part but if you want a fully painted toy, then this does things a little differently.
The other issue is that the interchangeable stomach plate is a bit loose and has a habit of popping or sliding off. This is also true for the Getter Beam stomach plate variant. Admittedly, this may be just a fault on my particular toy but it’s worth noting.
Neither of these faults are real issues for me though, as the coloring and paint scheme is true to the host design and the stomach plate is still easily attached even when it does come off.
It is worth pointing out though that this Riobot Shin Getter Robo is meant more for display than straight up playing. This was true for the Riobot Mazinkaiser and the price tag here should also emphasize the fact that this is definitely a collector’s piece.
So if you are a fan of Getter Robo Armageddon and like your Super Robot Wars games, then this Riobot toy is definitely the most impressive rendition of Shin Getter Robo to date. Like with all collector’s type pieces though, it is delicate and needs to be handled carefully. My only hope is that Sentinel follows this up with some Riobot Shin Getter 2 and Shin Getter 3 toys, not to mention some large and ostentatious Stoner Sunshine effects parts.
This Riobot Shin Getter Robot toy is now available from Amazon Japan.
Disclosure: Sentinel sent me a sample of this toy for the purposes of this review.
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