Soul of Chogokin GX-119 RyuKoOh/ KoRyuOh
Since there’s a lot of parts-forming going on. This is how the figures are supposed to look like when you return them to the trays.
RyuOhKi
RyuOhKi (Dragon Lord Machine) is one of the Four Divine Beast (Shishin) Chōkijin. Modeled after one of the guardians of the four directions in Chinese mythology, namely the Seiryu (Azure Dragon). This A.I.-powered sentient machine was created by an advanced ancient Chinese race known as the Hyakuja to fight demons and monsters from ages long forgotten.
Piloted by Kusha Mizuha, a kind and cheerful 18-year-old girl. She was a regular student until she was drafted to serve as part of the medical crew aboard the Hagane. Her Psychodriver abilities were later realized and she and Bullet Luckfield would eventually be the ones to awaken the slumbering RyuOhKi and KoOhKi.
RyuOhKi’s attacks
-Rastaban Beam – Eye beams fired from its eyes.
-Dragon Cutter – Using the blades on its wing, it can fly into an opponent and slice through them.
-Fire Breath – Flame fired from it’s maw.
While RyuOhKi has some tail articulation, it is very limited. Just this hinge and a rotation joint at the distal part of its tail.
The same goes for the wings, I really wish they were bigger and had an additional joints in there, but I guess the designer (Mr. Akira Terano) was either trying to keep the cost down, or keep the figure more balanced when combined?
KoOhKi
The second of the Four Divine Beast (Shishin) Chōkijin. The KoOhKi (Tiger Lord Machine) is modeled after one of the guardians of the four directions in Chinese mythology, namely the Byakko (White Tiger). This A.I.-powered sentient machine unit relies on speed and sheer fury to defeat its opponent.
Piloted by 18-year-old Brooklyn “Bullet” Luckfield, one of the few SRW pilots that can utilize the T-Link System. He is secretly in love with his partner Kusha Mizuha and is extremely protective of her.
KoOhKi’s attacks
-Fang Missile -The fangs on its mouth shoot out as projectiles.
-Tiger Fang – KoOhKi bites down on his opponent.
-Sonic Roar – KoOhKi’s powerful roar generates devastating sonic shockwaves.
There’s a huge gap on KoOhKi’s back with no way to cover up. It’s a necessary part of the design to get the hinge parts in and out.
I really love how this red spike looks so solid, but is actually soft form of rubber. I really hope this doesn’t disintegrate over time.
Lol.. if you really look, you can see KoRyuOh’s face still in there, even with the jaw shut.
The Chōkijins.
Originally, the Chokijins were not capable of combining. This was due to the sentient creatures’ hating the other’s personalities. RyuOhKi considers KoOhKi crude and barbaric, while KoOhKi sees RyuOhKi as pretentious and stuck up. The combination would eventually only work if both Kusha and Bullet were in the pilot seats to balance out the strong personalities of each machine.
TRANSFORMATION NOTES
Remember to push this button on each figure’s wrists to unlock the hinge joints.
A lot of parts forming is going on with this figure. But basically, to form up RyuKoOh, this is what configuration RyuOhKi needs to be in before you combine it (i.e. take it apart).
Likewise, this is what KoOhKi looks like once you take it apart.
To disengage the shoulders on KoOhKi, remove these metal locking pins first. Make sure not to lose them.
This is how RyuOhKi’s combination goes. Make sure to also flip 180 degrees the locking panels for KoOhKi.
There’s also a piece you’re supposed to flip out on RyuOhki’s waist to serve as a connection post.
RyuKoOh
RyuKoOh (Dragon Tiger Lord) is the result of the combination when RyuOhKi is formed on top of KoOhki, with the other unit forming the core body of the machine. Once formed, RyuKoOh can fly and deploy long range mystical attacks by summoning giant talismans to create lightning or fire magma projectiles. Its talismans can even summon large mountains out of nowhere to drop down and crush its enemies. Incredibly powerful, this very ancient, yet advanced machine, was eons ahead of its time.
Due to the lack of additional joints on the figure’s tail, you can expect the combined mode to eat up a lot of shelf space.
I really wish the wings featured added articulation, too.
While the hands feature articulated fingers, it would’ve been nice to get properly posed optional hands for this set.
Rastaban Beam – eye beams fired from its eyes.
Bakuraifu – RyuKoOh summons mystical talismans to launch an electrical attack on several targets.
Mountain Pressure – using talismans, RyuKoOh summons a giant mountain that it drops over a large scale area on top of its opponents.
Magma Vasarl – RyuKoOh summons a huge flame attack that it throws at its enemies.
Lol..I know it’s all the same poses, but generally that is what the unite does when it summons talismans, I just wish it came with additional pieces so we can properly pose it with talismans deployed for more visual effect.
RyuOh Hazanken (Dragon King’s Mountain Breaking Sword) – the jewel in RyuKoOh’s tail becomes a gigantic sword.
The sword can be made up of two very different blades.
RyuuOh Hazanken: Gekirindan (Dragon King’s Mountain Breaking Sword: Imperial Wrath) – RyuKoOh’s finisher attack. The Hazanken reveals its true bladed form while RyuKoOh strikes down its target with a flaming vertical slash
Gekinrindan!!
KoRyuOh
KoRyuOh (Tiger Dragon Lord) is the result of the combination when KoOhki is formed on top instead of RyuOhKi , with the other unit forming the core body of the machine. While RyuKoOh is better suited to sky and sea battles, KoRyuOh is an unbeatable beast on land. Relying on close quarters combat, KoRyuOh uses various melee weapons that it can generate at will to quickly and ferociously take down its opponent.
Similar to RyuKoOh, the KoRyuOh doesn’t come with spare hands, but at least its hands aren’t as messy as RyuKoOhs. It’s also got articulation as well.
Visually, I think KoRyuOh looks more impressive, thanks to the bulky, intimidating look of the figure’s shoulders and legs.
KORYUOH’S ATTACKS
–Fang Missile – same as before, missiles fired from the machine’s mouth.
Tiger Knuckle – KoRyuOh launches it’s forearm a la Mazinger Z’s Rocket Punch (the figure’s arm does not detach though).
Admittedly, the lack of an optional actual fist accessory makes this pose a little off to look at from certain angles.
Random Spike – KoRyuOh can summon a giant spiked pair of Nunchaku to use as a melee weapon. There’s a tab on the accessory that can be plugged into the palms of one its hands.
Interestingly, only one Nunchaku has a peg. Meaning you can’t peg both ends into the both hands of the figure.
As shown by Youtube reviewer, Wotafa, you can position one of the Nunchaku into a groove on the KoRyuOh’s body to make him look like he’s holding it just like Bruce Lee. This is not mentioned in the manual, but is a nifty trick to execute.
Sonic Javelin – KoRyuOh summons a giant glaive, which it then uses in high-speed series of attacks.
KoOh Rangeki: Tyrant Over Break (Tiger King’s Violent Attack: Tyrant Over Break) – KoRyuOh’s ultimate attack. KoRyuOh launches several rapid punching attacks, all while summoning and using the Sonic Javelin and Random Spike to relentlessly beat up its opponent. It then finishes off the entire combo by crashing through its enemy with the Variable Drill attached to its forearm.
Man, I really wish they included the Variable Drill accessory here to complete the look for this finisher.
DISPLAY BASE
The base halves can be combined to form a Yin/ Yang effect. Too bad it’s not colored.
Admittedly, it is a bit awkward to look at. But at least the Chokijins are now “quake-proof”.. sorta..
The support arm looks more awkward for the combined modes. The RyuKoOh’s tail gets in the way, so this is the only position the base can plug into the figure. Not really the best.
Each bot has a connection adapter dedicated for it on the tray.
Thankfully, it looks better with KoRyuOh.
The manual also suggests using the spare display base arm to hold the Sonic Javelin if you plan to pose the figure holding it like so for a long time.
Since this was one of the first main Super Robot Wars heroes I was introduced to waaay back in High School (thanks Tiong, old buddy, we miss you). I figured I would go all in (for sentimental reasons) and grab a second set so I could display both RyuKoOh and KoRyuOh together.
The Good
RyuOhKi weighs 476 Grams
KohOhKi weighs 396 Grams
-RyuKoOh stands roughly 8.75 inches and weighs 525 Grams.
-RyuKoOh also eats up a large spot on the shelf, due to its tail spanning roughly 10 inches in length.
-KoRyuOh stands roughly 8 inches and weighs 498 Grams.
-Diecast parts include (for both RyuKoOh and KoRyuOh):
–Main joints
–Sections of the torso
–Knees
–Sections of the feet
-Complex transformation! It’s really impressive Bandai actually managed to give us a working transformable unit. Granted it’s got some parts forming, but, considering in the games and Anime, both units just fused into a ball of light and came out combined, this is quite an engineering feat.
-Proportions look great in all modes!
-Comes with a display base.
-Articulated fingers on each hand!
-Cool weapons for each combined mode.
The Bad
-Parts-forming. Yeah, it’s not a “perfect” combiner, mostly due to the complexity of combining these two. I think we can give Bandai a pass on perfect transformation here.
-While KoRyuOh looks good, I wish it hand an ankle rocker joint, KoRyuOh’s foot just won’t stand flush on a surface. Or maybe I’m doing something wrong?
-I wish one could pry the face out a bit more. Its face looks really small compared to the rest of the figure’s bulky body.
-Due to the design of the combinations, there is literally no waist joint here to speak of.
-Lack of additional joints for RyuKoOh’s tail, this makes displaying the figure a bit troublesome.
-Lack of additional joints for RyuKoOh’s wings.
-No styrofoam trays. Sometimes I really miss styrofoam trays, they just made the overall packaging more classy.
-While the set does come with a display base, it seems lackluster and I was hoping for something more visually impressive.
-Lack of optional hands. I really wish they included more hand options for these guys.
-Some effects parts accessories for RyuKoOh’s Bakuraifu and other talisman attacks would’ve been nice.
-No firing arm for KoRyuOh’s Tiger Knuckle attack (lol.. that would’ve been something).
-No Tyrant Breaker drill accessory for KoRyuOh’s finisher attack. This really should’ve been included.
The Ugly
No QC issues for me with this release, thankfully.
Overall, a pretty amazing set! It looks great in all modes (not something easy to do, design-wise). The combination design is really impressive! I never thought we would get an actual transforming RyuKoOh/ KoRyuOh in the Soul of Chogokin line.
That said, the set isn’t quite perfect. Sure there’s parts-forming, but at least it’s not parts-swapping. Everyhing needed to combine into either unit is all there, without the need to substitute parts from the accessories, which is quite an engineering feat in and of itself.
It also lacks a few things here and there (additional joints for RyuKohOh’s wings and tail) as well as some pertinent accessories (KoRyuOh’s Tyrant Breaker drill, extra hands for RyuKoOh). I guess Bandai wanted to keep the production costs down somehow, but it is a shame.
For the casual Soul of Chogokin collector, it is one of the nicer figures to get since the details look good, but the high price tag and complex transformation might turn off some casual folks who aren’t used to this level of technicality.
Bottom line: Is it worth getting? Well.. I guess that entirely depends on whether you’re a Super Robot Wars fan or not. If you’ve gotten the Gx-46/R Dygenguar and Aussenseitter set, then I reckon you already picked up this set as well.
I wonder if we’ll get more Super Robot Wars characters down the road in the Soul of Chogokin line? These days it seems like Sentinel’s the only company doing consistent releases for the SRW IP.
It would really be impressive if Bandai did a follow up release to this and gave us Shin RyuKoOh (the upgraded form of RyuKoOh, but now merged with all four Chokijin)!
Gold
