Metal Robot Spirits Full Armor Hyaku Shiki Kai Review

 
 Dropping a big hitter for the First review of this month! Hyaku Shiki has always been one of my particular favorite Mobile Suit from Universal Century era for many sorts of reason. Starting from being a very kickass unit in Gundam vs Zeta Gundam and then later fell in love with its Incarnation of SRW MX, my history with Hyaku Shiki had come a long way. Essentially being the Five Star Stories avatar in Gundam series piloted by a Hero who could have lead Humanity for better future, there are so much things to discover from Hyaku Shiki in order to deeply appreciate this Outlier from Gundam Universe.

Considering I have quite an attachment toward Hyaku Shiki, expect this review will be more elaborate than usual.

 While I only grew to have deep fondness toward Hyaku Shiki Kai variants when I started playing SRW MX 15 years ago. My first exposure to Hyaku Shiki Kai actually goes further back in early 2000s. When I was still in Middle school, I got my hands on a particular version of Hyaku Shiki Kai SD Model kit which only cost present time's 450 Yen. This particular SD Model kit have a gimmick of hidden monster Jaw under the head for some reason. Though this particular quirk do make me remember this thing as part of my collection. Hyaku Shiki Kai's Elongated head design is rather weird indeed which do take time to appreciate. However lore-wise, Hyaku Shiki Kai especially its Full Armor variant had something else that makes this thing special among Universal Century Mobile Suits which I realized when I played SRW MX.

 There are much more than just being a mere Blingy mecha clad in Gold from Hyaku Shiki including its Full Armor incarnation, which arguably does look really good. Back in Zeta Gundam, Hyaku Shiki represent the open defiance of the wrongful tyranny of Titans with its stark Gold color plating and Char's resolve to do the right things as Quattro Bajeena. Even if Char eventually gave up for his idealistic cause and chose the shortcut path in CCA as he fell in despair, Full Armor Hyaku Shiki Kai represents alternate path of Redemption for one of the most influential individual in Universal Century. 

Covered in even more Gold-plated armors and various assortments of weaponry which makes it essentially close to a Lawful Good version of Proto Sazabi. Full Armor Hyaku Shiki Kai symbolized the reinvigorated resolve of Quattro Bajeena to realize his Ideals and legacy inherited from the People who believed and choose to give up their life for him. While Sazabi/Nightingale is still arguably the strongest Mobile Suit that Char ever piloted, I won't be surprised that there will be a derivative design for Hyaku Shiki in the future to fight on equal standing with Sazabi especially if it get some Newtype techs.

 In Gundam universe, FA Hyaku Shiki Kai is a complete package upgrade unit for Hyaku Shiki. This Full Armor rendition boast overall higher Firepower with even more versatile assortment of weapons and Durability both in armor and Firepower. FA Hyaku Shiki Kai is literally armed to the teeth befitting for a Mobile Suit used by Ace Pilot like Quattro Bajeena. Apart from the portable version of Mega Bazooka Launcher, FA Hyaku Shiki is armed with a pair of High power Beam Cannon on its backpack and Mega Particle Cannon on its chest, making Hyaku Shiki's firepower really pale in comparison. 

While FA Hyaku Shiki Kai will still likely have problem fighting against Haman's Qubeley as it lacks the Newtype tech equipment, It is still more than capable to lay waste the rest of Neo Zeon Army, probably even giving Quin Mantha a run for its money. If you want to see FA Hyaku Shiki in its full glory, SRW MX is probably the best one so far but perhaps older SD Gundam G Generation have something in store as well.

 Being P-Bandai item, Metal Robot Spirits Full Armor Hyaku Shiki is not exactly easy to obtain with its exclusive P-Bandai Status which adds 150% extra cost for its SRP. Despite easily costing multiple times compared to its previous incarnations of GFF, I am very well aware that these sort of items are unlikely appear in second run along with ridiculous aftermarket price if you missed the preorder. Thus I made my decision and the rest is history.

Personally I don't really feel that MRS FA Hyaku Shiki worth 35000 Yen as a product for average overseas Mecha collector. Because for that kind amount of money, you can actually get a full fledged Metal Build or even 3 1/100 Scale Diecast mecha from Chinese manufacturers. However Bandai do target Nostalgia factor for this sort of product and it hits the Bullseye for SRW fans like me who fell in love with Mecha series partly due to this Gold fellow.

 

During my photo session for MRS FA Hyaku Shiki, I took some liberty on parody poses like Zeorymer's Hades attack and Daigo Parry for some giggles and testing out MRS FA Hyaku Shiki's playability at the same time.

In terms of playability, MRS FA Hyaku Shiki is what you expect from a Robot Spirits which boast robust joint frames and good articulation making it better option for playing and posing compared to painted High Grade Model kit. The diecast part in MRS FA Hyaku Shiki is barely felt compared to Metal Build which make me doubt to invest further for this lineup save for select favorite mecha design. Despite being an overall robust Robot action figure, MRS FA Hyaku Shiki's Antenna can easily fall off which will be a big pain if it dropped during Outdoor photo session.

 What sold me over getting this rendition of Full Armor Hyaku Shiki and prevented it to be Buyer's remorse have to be the inclusion of the Armor purge gimmick which remained to be my personal favorite gimmick in the mecha. Given I have obtained a rather expensive physical representation of FA Hyaku Shiki, I personally don't mind to double dip if there is another worthy rendition of this Mecha, preferably in 1/100 Scale that can surpass the value for money of MRS FA Hyaku Shiki which is not actually that high. In near future I will probably review the P-Bandai Dijeh Kai Amuro and do some group shot with FA-Hyaku Shiki.