Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (1/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (2/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (3/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (4/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (5/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) (6/6)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Detail shots (1/4)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Rear view with weapons removed

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - The sword and rifle, which were folded away in storage, can be deployed as shown ab

The sword and rifle, which were folded away in storage, can be deployed as shown above.

The verniers on the side skirts can move forward and backward.

A total of 6 hands are included.

The backpack on the rear waist can also be swapped out for a standard cover.

Excellent limb articulation

The forward and backward range of motion in the shoulders is on the narrow side.

The waist can bend forward quite a lot.

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (1/8)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (2/8)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (3/8)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (4/8)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (5/8)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Action pose (6/8)

Action pose

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) - Together with its predecessor, the Border Break Shrike Type V, which came out 8 yea

Together with its predecessor, the Border Break Shrike Type V, which came out 8 years ago.

A new entry in the Kotobukiya Border Break lineup — which seemed to have been discontinued — has been released as the Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.). It's a unit from the PS4 version of Border Break, and back in 2018 a 1:1 scale plastic model runner was revealed as a special event showcase. This time around, it's here as a proper 1/35 scale plastic model kit, just like the previous releases.

Being the first new kit in 8 years, it shows a completely different level of quality compared to its predecessors — boasting impressive color separation, sturdy joints, and a premium plastic feel. The molded colors and plastic material in particular feel noticeably different from Kotobukiya kits up to this point. Gone is that hard, slightly cheap-feeling plastic; in its place is a softer, smoother material and a clean, bright molded color that feels much closer to a Bandai kit.

The previous Border Break kits were based on the rather flimsy (…) Architect frame, which made the joints feel pretty loose. This time around, the joints are designed from scratch, and they come out sturdy — almost a little stiff, actually. Articulation is top-notch as well, allowing for all kinds of dynamic poses, and the kit holds its position solidly no matter what stance you put it in.

The weapons and functionality do a great job of capturing the in-game mech's design, and overall this is a highly polished kit. It honestly shows the best build quality of any Kotobukiya kit released so far.

That said, it does look like a lot of effort went into the design… which might be why it comes in at a steep ¥12,000 — and that's the biggest drawback. T_T Kotobukiya kits are already pricey relative to what you get, but this one might just be the worst value-for-money in their entire history (yes, that's sarcasm). When you consider that the previous Shrike V was ¥3,500, the price here is even harder to swallow…

Anyway, it's a kit that really delivers in terms of looks, durability, and overall quality — but the price is a real stumbling block. This one's probably best suited for die-hard fans of the PS4 Border Break game. :-)

Border Break Kisei Kuunshiki (PS4 Ver.) | 2019.10 | ¥12,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.