DAY 10- Crossbone Gundam X2 Custom (Robot Spirits)

January 10th, 2015. Day 10 of 365.

Okay, so... I guess I have to apologize.

For the last several years, there's been a Tamashii Nations toyline that I have continually bashed: Robot Spirits (or Robot Damashii if you call it that. Whatever.) The whole draw of Gundam for me, even when Wing was coming out, was the whole model kit and customization/building angle. I thought the whole poseable toy angle was pointless and not worth the effort when model kits could pull off the same exact gimmick.

Oops.

For those of you who don't know, Robot Spirits is basically the sister toyline to Bandai/Tamashii's S.H. Figuarts line (a line of super poseable and mostly super-accurate collectors toys usually based on Tokusatsu characters, occasionally dipping in to anime and video games) focusing exclusively on Robots such as Gundams. As with the S.H. Figuarts line, most releases come with a massive variety of weapons, hands and optional effects parts.

While I'm not familiar with the Crossbone Gundam or its origins, the detail and attention Bandai/Tamashii has put toward this suit is impressive. For starters, his massive X-shaped (Or... Cross?) Backpack is fully hinged and articulated, complete with adjustable thrusters at the very tips. Each joint has a solid range of movement, similar to the Figuarts line articulation, with some special attention given to the various hip skirt panels which all are on ball joints allowing you to adjust them to be flush with the toy's legs and hips in most poses. There are also six pairs of hands available for use: Two fists, Two hands for holding swords, and two hands meant to hold Crossbone's giant rifle.

Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

As well as the previously mentioned giant rifle, Crossbone also comes with two beam sabers with removable blades, and two optional collarbone parts. The collarbone parts are meant to emulate when the suit is actively using the beam sabers, as the beam sabers are stored inside the collarbone area. The final accessory for Crossbone Gundam is an optional face where the normal faceplate is "down" and multiple vents are exposed.

There is also two knife handles stored in the back of Crossbone's shins... of which there is zero functionality in this toy, due to a lack of any actual blades... and that's where the problem of Crossbone Gundam X2 lays. Crossbone X2 was given two different types of releases. There was the standard release that came in a normal sized Robot Spirits box, and that's the one that I'm covering today.

But there was also a second release years ago, featuring a lot of the weapons and accessories that are missing in this newer release: specifically Crossbone's signature lance weapon, cloak, beam shield, beam cutlass, heat brander, heat dagger blades, and a flintlock-style pistol. While I wasn't aware of this set actually existing at the time of purchase, I do think it's kind of a bummer a lot of these accessories were left out from the newer release, presumably to keep something unique about the prior release and letting the new release focus on a better looking and designed base figure.

Oh right, he also comes with this weird gray thing that plugs into his backside that allows use of Tamashii Stages.

Regardless, Crossbone Gundam X-2 Custom is a fantastic toy, and one of the best robot action figures I've handled to date. If you're interested, he's still readily available from Amazon for about $15 off the original price. Check him out if you like the design, or just want a pretty well designed robot toy.

Day 10 Complete. 355 Days Remain.