0 Gundam

Review by JoshB

While the official Americanized name is "The Robot Spirits", the line has also been known as Robot Soul and Robot Damashii (Or Tamashii). The idea of the line is to create an affordable, poseable, durable, highly detailed robot figure. It's the logical progression from High Complete Models, to MS in Pocket, to MS in Action, to HCM Pro, and now Robot Spirits. Bandai continues to improve and grow, unofficially dubbing this line the "Revoltech Killer".

While the Robot Spirits figures are similar in size to Revoltech, that's where the similarities end. The figures are basically scaled-up HCM pro figures, more akin to Yamato's GN-U DOU figures, except these come with accessories and don't fall apart.

We here at CDX are a bit late to the Robot Spirits line, with this item being the 22nd release. But this figure is in the first batch that Toynami is bringing to the States under Bandai's Tamashii banner, so we got some to check them out.

The character depicted here is the 0 Gundam as depicted in the Mobile Suit 00 Gundam anime series. I haven't watched the series, nor do I plan to, as Gundam bores me to tears. What I do know is that this 0 Gundam was originally grey and white, and sometime in the series, the pilot paints it up so that it resembles an RX-78, the most iconic of Gundams. I don't know if 00 Gundam is in the same continuity as the classic Gundam, so whether this is intentional on the part of the pilot, or a tribute by the production staff is lost on me. Feel free to chime in with comments.

Either way, the end result is that we have a toy that looks pretty much like most every other Gundam toy ever released. That's not to say its bad, but I wish the Gundam creators would get over themselves and make something different for the main character.

Aesthetics aside, it really is a nice figure. Judging from the line art that I have seen the sculpt seems fairly accurate.

There are two things that make the Robot Soul line for me - Articulation and build quality.

The articulation is awesome. Double-jointed knees and elbows, full torso motion, feet, hands, head, shoulder pads, armor skirts - everything moves and nothing falls off. The combination of ABS and POM plastics make for sharp, durable pieces that stay together.

There are just enough accessories, but not too many to keep track of. The 0 Gundam comes with a beam rifle, beam saber w/hilt, shield, interchangeable hands, Two rear engines and spare head crest and shoulder spikes.

The Beam Rifle is shorter and stubbier than the ones that usually accommodate the RX-78 archetype. It fits snugly in either of the two included holding hands.

The Beam Saber is actually two parts. The hilt can be stored in an articulated holder on the back. The range of motion in the arms allows you to actually have the robot reach back and grab the saber. The beam plugs into the saber easily.

The Shield attaches to the left arm and can pivot on its arm bracket. The bracket can clip onto the arm but also features a handle that can be grasped with variant hands.

The 0 Gundam can be equipped with either a GN Particle Condenser or a GN Drive on the back of the figure.

Lastly, Bandai included spare parts, should you lose the head crest or either of the spikes from the top of the chest.

There are lots of good accessories in this set but one glaring omission - a stand. Bandai sells a stand separately for 900 yen called the Tamashii Stage if you want one, but really, they could have included it.

If you are not totally burnt out on the whole classic Gundam color scheme, then, by all means, pick this up. its a fine figure. I, however, will throw my support behind the non-gundamy Gundams instead.