Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki - With half the armor removed. There are some skeletal frames only on the arms and legs. (1/3)

With half the armor removed.
There are some skeletal frames only on the arms and legs.

The weapon loadout and bazooka mounting configuration are the same as before.

Two sets of hands are included.

There are 3 eye seals to choose from.

Articulation is excellent, as you'd expect from a Revive version.

The wings move nice and freely too.

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki - A natural kneeling pose. The articulation is on a whole different level compared to the old HGUC Hyaku-Shi

A natural kneeling pose.
The articulation is on a whole different level compared to the old HGUC Hyaku-Shiki.

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki - Aerial firing pose (1/3)

Aerial firing pose

Rifle + bazooka pose

Rifle + bazooka pose 2

Beam saber action

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki - Alongside the 1999 HGUC Hyaku-Shiki. With a 17-year gap between them, the difference in quality is pretty

Alongside the 1999 HGUC Hyaku-Shiki.
With a 17-year gap between them, the difference in quality is pretty significant.

Alongside the HGUC Gundam Mk-II Revive version.

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki - Alongside the MG Hyaku-Shiki 2.0. Being the latest upgraded versions of both, their proportions end up loo

Alongside the MG Hyaku-Shiki 2.0.
Being the latest upgraded versions of both, their proportions end up looking pretty similar.

Straight build

The HGUC Hyaku-Shiki has finally gotten a Revive upgrade. Since the Hyaku-Shiki is such a popular mobile suit, it was released all the way back in 1999 during the very early days of the HGUC line, and it's always left a lot to be desired in terms of quality — so it's great to see it completely reinvented after 17 long years.

Right off the bat, just comparing the looks alone, the proportions have been completely overhauled from the 1999 version — it's been updated to a typical 21st-century style with a smaller head, narrower shoulders, and longer legs. It's gotten much slimmer compared to the stocky 1999 version, which might be a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but it does look more refined. One thing to note is that the gold armor comes in regular molded color rather than plated parts, but thankfully the molded color looks quite premium in its own right, so it doesn't feel like a huge step down from plating. That said, the armor parts do come with undergates, so it seems like a plated parts version will probably show up at some point.

The articulation and joint strength have also been brought up to the level of the latest HG kits — flexible and solid — making it a real joy to pose, and no matter what position you put it in, it pulls off dynamic and refined stances with ease. And in keeping with recent trends, the arms and legs do have frames, though they're purely skeletal with no mechanical detail to speak of.

Aside from the clean upgrades to proportions, articulation, and joint strength in line with modern standards, there's nothing particularly new or changed — but it finally feels like we have a proper 1/144 Hyaku-Shiki, and that alone makes it a very welcome kit. If you're a Gunpla fan who always felt let down by the old HGUC Hyaku-Shiki, this is pretty much a must-buy. :-)

HGUC Hyaku-Shiki | 2016.8 | ¥2,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.