Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Various angles

Detail shots

For weapons, you get a Neutron Beam and two Plasma Cutters.

When the beam saber isn't in use, it slots into the left forearm.

HG Gespenst - You can also detach the Slash Ripper and Split Missiles from the stabilizer and display just the s

Detach the Slash Ripper and Split Missiles from the stabilizer and
you can display just the stabilizer unit itself.

You can detach the Slash Ripper from the stabilizer and plug in the effect parts in between.

The Split Missiles can also be detached and displayed separately.

It uses swappable finger-style hands.

Instead of a hip joint hole, you pull out a fixed pin and set it on the stand.

A universal stand and a small stand are included.

Leftover parts

Limb articulation.
The arms feel a bit restricted, but the legs fold up quite a lot.

The front skirt can be swung out to the side,
giving the hip joints a bit more room to move.

Waist articulation

HG Gespenst - Neutron Beam firing pose (1/3)

Neutron Beam firing pose

HG Gespenst - Plasma Cutter action (1/3)

Plasma Cutter action

HG Gespenst - Slash Ripper launch action (1/3)

Slash Ripper launch action

Split Missile launch action

HG Gespenst - Alongside Kotobukiya's Gespenst Mk-II released in 2006. Compared to Kotobukiya, Bandai's proportio

Alongside Kotobukiya's Gespenst Mk-II released in 2006.
Compared to Kotobukiya, Bandai's proportions have shorter thighs and a chunkier torso, giving it a somewhat stubby look.

HG Gespenst - Leg color separation comparison. The red part on the foot and the silver verniers on the back of t

Leg color separation comparison.
The red part on the foot and the silver verniers on the back of the legs are only color-separated on the Kotobukiya version,
while the silver heel section is only color-separated on the Bandai version.

The pipe on the Neutron Beam is only color-separated on the Kotobukiya version.

Together with the previous HG Alteisen.

The Gespenst has arrived as the third entry in Bandai's Super Robot Wars HG series. As expected, it's come out as an HG kit with that smooth, satisfying Bandai build feel and premium molded colors. Overall, it's a solid action figure-style kit with decent articulation and stable joint strength.

Back in 2006, Kotobukiya released the Gespenst Mk-II — which is structurally identical to the Gespenst, just in different molded colors. The main difference from the Bandai version is that the Split Missiles and Slash Ripper are left out. Comparing it to the Kotobukiya version is pretty much unavoidable. In terms of articulation, joints, molded colors, and build feel, the Bandai version comes out ahead overall. Sure, it's a bit unfair to compare an early Kotobukiya kit against a brand-new Bandai kit released 16 years later — but when it comes to color separation, I get the feeling Kotobukiya was ever so slightly more thorough.

For weapons, you get a Neutron Beam and two Plasma Cutters, and the winged backpack called the Stabilizer comes equipped with Split Missiles and a Slash Ripper. The Slash Ripper can have separately included PET material effect parts plugged in, and you can recreate attack scenes using the included auxiliary stand. The Split Missiles can also be detached and displayed in their launched state.

As a special articulation feature, there's a gimmick where the large front skirt slides horizontally so it doesn't get in the way of leg movement. Normally front skirts only move up and down, so it's pretty unusual to see one shift this far to the side to make room for the thigh to come up. It does give the hip joints a noticeably wider range of motion as a result.

Anyway, it's come out as a solid kit overall — smooth and sturdy. But the proportions have this oddly stubby feel that I think will divide opinions, especially when you put it next to the Kotobukiya version. As long as the proportions don't bother you too much, the kit itself doesn't really have any major complaints. :-)

HG Gespenst | 2022. 4 | ¥4,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.