[Review] 30MS Rishetta 2.0 (Freesia Wear)

30MS Rishetta (Freesia Wear)
Kit Review

Kit info

• Name : 30MS Rishetta (Freesia Wear) [Color A]
• Brand : Bandai Spirits
• Original Price : 2,500 JPY
  
• Release Date : 2024/11
• Link : bandai-hobby.net (JP), scalemates.com, download instructions (.pdf, 4.3MiB)

Introduction

The original Rishetta was one of the initial releases of the 30MS line. Now, she has been redesigned with advancements made in recent years since the introduction of the 30MS lineup.

What's in the box (sprues and other parts)

A [Multicolored]
Sprue is labeled "30MS Freesia Wear (フリージアウエア)" and it contains exclusive parts for this kit.

B [Black]
Sprue B is labeled "30MS Joint-10" and shared with some previous kits. However due to Rishetta 2.0 using unique torso design many of the parts are unused. (Mainly the hip joints and knee joints.)

C [Orange-yellow]
This sprue is labeled "30MS Joint-6" and contains very standard decorative rings for limbs with or without 30mm pegs for attaching accessories.

D [Black]

E [Skin tone A]

F [Black]

Sprues D~F are labeled "30MS Joint 15" and these have the highest number (15) that I've seen. So I guess these are newest design of the parts for 30MS kits. 

FP-K1~5 [Skin tone A, pad printed faces]
Well if we assume letters mean sequential releases, these would be 11th set of faces.

HP-P1 [Light Gray] 
Following the similar logic with faces, this would be one of 18th set of hairstyles. Considering there are 11 sets of hairstyle parts released separately and then there are hairstyles included in individual full kits it sounds about right?

A piece of wire with lead core used as tail part. The original Rishetta had rigid plastic tail that can't be posed freely, so this is an improvement. (Neverlia also had flexible tail so this is not new to 30MS)

Fold-out style instruction manual. [Colored in one side, 10 pages]

Detailed Parts Review

Well, head assembly is mostly standard 30MS fair. Except that the bang consists of 2 parts, compared to the original Rishetta's single part. Which results in somewhat more detailed reproduction of some errand strains of hair on the side of the bang.

You can see the separated strands of hair on the right side (left of the picture) reproduced with additional part in the bang.

Core part of the upper torso is a standard fair, but outer parts look new. 

New chest parts don't seem to fit with any of other my kits. But I'll have to research more.

(As if I need to look at those more, Hah.)

Lower torso is completely newly designed so that hip part is fixed to the abdomen part. So you won't get any separation on the waist. It looks very slick but you'll lose some articulation.

Arms are standard 30MS design featuring seamless design with sliding in joint part. Older kits had each section of the arms consist of two parts each so that there were seam lines in the middle. 

Unlike the original Rishetta, you get 3 sets of hands. The original lacked open palm hand.

As expected of the latest 30MS kit, legs feature a seamless design utilizing slide molding technique. While there are mold lines, they can easily removed by sanding, as each section is made in single parts.

Soles of the feet features retractable 3mm peg so you can secure the kit onto other surfaces with 3mm holes or other accessories.

The included accessories encompass several items that were previously available only in the additional option kit (speed armor) for the original Rishetta. On the other hand, the redesigned limbs, which feature smooth appearances without holes or grooves for attaching accessories, render some of the original's accessories incompatible, such as the blade attachment for forearms.

Image Gallery

The claws can be attached to the back and operate separately from the arms, essentially making this a 4-armed kit.

You can also attach the claws directly to the arms without using the backpack attachment.

Articulation and stability is quite excellent so you can do some extreme poses without an action base.

Comparison and compatibility analysis vs the original Rishetta

Well, it is certainly the same character, but it is quite an improvement. Well done.

She also had quite an upgrade in chest "armor" department. Ehem.

It is the same expression but new version has much more crisp printing and better clarity I think.

Hair is also more detailed.

Well usage of slide molding also vastly improves the look of the limbs. 

Torso shows more skin but you can always paint them either way. Loss of articulation on the waist is somewhat regrettable but new look with any separation is much slicker IMO.

Both kits with stock equipment on. I didn't use backpack attachment for 2.0 Rishetta here to give you somewhat comparable setup.

(Take note that I made a mistake while taking photo of OG Rishetta, the kit doesn't come with yellow part on the "cat ear" accessory. That yellow additional part only comes with speed armor set.)

OG Rishetta with speed armor option set vs fully equipped 2.0.

Rishetta 2.0 equipped with some of the accessories from the OG Rishetta and the speed armor kit. The original's claws can be used on the wrist, and shoulder armors are also compatible. I also used the larger clawed feet from speed armor. Claws from 2.0 is attached to the backpack so this configuration has 4 claw arms in total. 

Conclusion

When the 30MS lineup was first introduced in 2021, many were surprised by their quality and affordability compared to competitors, despite Bandai's occasional previous attempts at Girl-pla kits facing harsh criticism and frequent ridicule.

In last 3 years, Bandai has been continuously improving the lineup with many additional kits and option parts using better technology and even some collaboration with other popular IPs like Idol Master and Bandai's own figure-rise kits. 

With the new redesign of the original Rishetta, one of the first 30MS kits released, the improvements in the series over the past years are evident. Details are more defined where needed, such as in the printing of facial expressions and the molding of hair parts, while smooth surfaces are much sleeker where appropriate.

While it is unfortunate that some of the features of the original has been lost due to design changes like some of the armor attachment points on forearms and legs, or articulation on the waist, it is apparent that the redesigned kit is very attractive nonetheless. And if you already have the original, you can seamlessly use some of the accessories designed for the original on the new kit, which is always a bonus.