Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with HGUC / MG

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (1/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (2/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (3/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (4/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (5/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (6/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (7/8)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. (8/8)

Upper body

Crest's signature chest machine guns can rotate.

Head

Backpack section

Back weapons and nozzle details

The arms are the same as Uranus.

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - The lower body shares the same design as the standard Crest, but the color combination a

The lower body shares the same design as the standard Crest, but the color combination and overall color feel are quite different.

The Crest's rear leg details are as fierce as ever.

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - In areas that were painted red — like the ankle section — the gate marks are pretty noti

In areas that were painted red — like the ankle section — the gate marks are pretty noticeable and bothersome.

The back weapons can be swapped left/right by switching out the adapter.

Leftover parts.
The changed color combination means there are quite a few extras.

True to the Crest platform, articulation is relatively good.

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Firing pose (1/4)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Firing pose (2/4)

Firing pose

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Cannon action (1/4)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Cannon action (2/4)

Cannon action

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Beam blade action (1/4)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. - Beam blade action (2/4)

Beam blade action

Comparison with the standard Crest

The lower body is the same design.

The chest machine guns...

Together with Uranus.

The arms are identical to Uranus.

Another Crest variation — this time it's the CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. Unlike the metallic look of the previous Crests, this one comes in an intense red (looks at least 3× faster) that really stands out from the rest of the Armored Core lineup.

Looking at the kit's composition, the lower body and legs are shared with the standard Crest, while the arms are the same as Uranus. Only the torso and head are newly designed, but the color is so different that it ends up looking like a completely different kit. Kotobukiya's molded colors are generally not great across the board, but the red on the CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. came out quite rich and deep.

The Crest platform itself is the best base among the Armored Core kits, so the overall articulation, joint strength, and build feel are all excellent. It holds poses well, and while it's not quite a super-tight fit, it still locks into position reliably enough.

In the end, there isn't a whole lot that's new here, but the sheer intensity of that color scheme alone makes this kit an instant winner. Overall quality — design, details, and everything in between — is excellent with very little to complain about. :-)

Armored Core CR-C98E2 Nineball Ver. | 2007. 12 | ¥3,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.