Kamen Rider series (heisei era)

[Aether]

well i remember starting a topic like this a bit ago but i think it got deleted?...

anyway, at that time i decided to get Kabuto, and 000 but recently i thought i would start with an earlier series and got Blade...

i have started to watch Blade as i tried to watch Kuuga but it was just a bit too dated for my taste. Blade was slightly slow to start but is getting better, im only on ep 10 though.

so basically what im asking is what series do you guys think are the best out of the Heisei period?? and (without too many spoilers please ) why??

Kamen Rider Kuuga (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ã‚¯ã‚¦ã‚¬ Kamen RaidÄ KÅ«ga?): 2000

Kamen Rider Agito (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ã‚¢ã‚®ãƒˆ Kamen RaidÄ Agito?, Masked Rider AGITΩ): 2001

Kamen Rider Ryuki (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼é¾é¨Ž Kamen RaidÄ RyÅ«ki?): 2002

Kamen Rider 555 (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼555（ファイズ） Kamen RaidÄ Faizu?, Masked Rider Φ's): 2003

Kamen Rider Blade (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼å‰£ï¼ˆãƒ–レイド） Kamen RaidÄ Bureido?, Masked Rider â™ ): 2004

Kamen Rider Hibiki (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼éŸ¿é¬¼ï¼ˆãƒ’ビキ） Kamen RaidÄ Hibiki?): 2005

Kamen Rider Kabuto (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ã‚«ãƒ–ト Kamen RaidÄ Kabuto?): 2006

Kamen Rider Den-O (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼é›»çŽ‹ Kamen RaidÄ Den'Å?): 2007

Kamen Rider Kiva (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ã‚­ãƒ Kamen RaidÄ Kiba?): 2008

Kamen Rider Decade (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ãƒ‡ã‚£ã‚±ã‚¤ãƒ‰ Kamen RaidÄ Dikeido?,Masked Rider DCD): 2009

Kamen Rider W (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ï¼·ï¼ˆãƒ€ãƒ–ル） Kamen RaidÄ Daburu?): 2009-2010

Kamen Rider OOO (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ï¼¯ï¼¯ï¼¯ï¼ˆã‚ªãƒ¼ã‚ºï¼‰ Kamen RaidÄ ÅŒzu?): 2010-2011

Kamen Rider Fourze (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ãƒ•ã‚©ãƒ¼ã‚¼ Kamen RaidÄ FÅze?): 2011-2012

Kamen Rider Wizard (ä»®é¢ãƒ©ã‚¤ãƒ€ãƒ¼ã‚¦ã‚£ã‚¶ãƒ¼ãƒ‰ Kamen RaidÄ WizÄdo?): 2012-

Edited December 22, 2012 by Aether

[*PrimalNemesis]

Depends on what you like. Each series has it's own unique flavor. You will basically just have to sample a little bit of everything till you find something that is palatable. Personally I really enjoyed Faiz, Kabuto, Den-O, Kiva, Decade, and W. Dig around! I am sure you will find something that you will enjoy!

[LordSpleach]

I first watch Decade just to get a sampling. Right now, my personal favorites are W, OOO, and Den-O.

[Aether]

thanks for the input

[durendal]

My first Heisei rider was Kiva, didn't quite enjoy it, but Decade was the one that pushed me to watch the older riders. Just like Spleach said, Decade will give you the sampling of the other riders, if you don't mind the spoilers that is.

[*Jess♥]

although I often cite Kamen rider Ryuki as being the series that effected me the most,

I actually think the best series was Kamen Rider Kabuto.

The design was far and beyond, the best of all series so far. just the way it works, it was all so cool.

The story was solid and the characters were all well developed and likeable.

while Ryuki was very emotional in places, the general design was not that hot and the story was actually stretched out a little.

some things I loved about kabuto the most were the focus on cooking, and tsurugi-san. I actually really love the actor for tsurugi, he has so much charisma.

in terms of design, kamen rider faiz comes after kabuto... followed very closely by blade.

though were blade falls short is the story. it always bored me to tears whereas i watched faiz all the way through.

in terms of story and positive feelings, I am thinking den-o and decade actually come pretty highly. while the design is not as strong as kabuto and therefore put them below kabuto in the league table, I think the overall story works better in those two series.

[durendal]

Additionally, basing on what I've read throughout the years, it is best to avoid Hibiki. Though I've never seen it, a lot of fans says it sucks. Ratings wise, it was the lowest, and toy sales wise, the worst year for Bandai. Who am I to argue with majority of opinions and company statistics?

[Aether]

i think of the ones i havent acquired already i would probably be interested in Faiz, Den-O, Kiva, W and maybe Ryuki. i dont like spoilers so no decade until ive seen the preceding series.

i wonder wether i am actually forcing myself to watch Blade though?

i am enjoying it now more than before.

Before the dude with glasses appeared who levitated and threw fireballs i was ready to give up on it but that totally saved it. its got slightly better but i cant tell if i'm enjoying it as much as i should be!!

maybe i should try and get the first eps of these series as that can sometimes give an instant feel of a series, its a bit presumtuous but for example i tried to watch the first ep of Fourze but it just is too 'kiddy' and the KR suit just looks stupid!!

Edited December 26, 2012 by Aether

[LordSpleach]

I wouldn't try the whole first episode. Not every series has a great first episode. Personally, I'm going to watch every series I can, expect for Hibiki (cause the music concept bugs, and it's only a rider series because Toei got lazy), and Kiva (because I tried, but it's hard to back and forth between Waturu and Otoya when IMO it's clear Otoya was the only good character).

[*Jess♥]

kamen rider blade... I have started that series about 4 times now. each time, I've got through about 5-10 episodes and got utterly bored with it.

There has to be a reason for that.

I wouldn't force yourself to watch a series if it just isn't doing it for you.

I think it's often a good idea to give a series a few episodes to make a good impression.

but at this stage in our lives, most of us have a clear idea of what we respond to positively.

Aether, definitely watch Ryuki. It is very entertaining watching the main character blundering around. The development of teh characters in that series is so valuable.

[Aether]

I trust Ryuki's judgement so i guess i'll add Ryuki to my deffinately list !

i can see why you would get bored with Blade... it's just its the first Kamen Rider ive watched so i dont know what to excpect really, ive nothing to compare it to.

whatever its problems i am finding it a nice change of pace from super sentai, so in that respect its good.

i couldnt stand the tacky effects on Tachibana when he's thinking about his fear, but apart from that the effects are ok.

once i get another of the series weve discussed i might drop it - i dont know .

Edited December 26, 2012 by Aether

[durendal]

That is actually one of my common gripes about watching kamen rider. The first few episodes are usually boring, which takes me a long time to watch, but then after a while, the plot thickens and it's all good, to the point that I can't stop watching. I've got Faiz in my PC, and started watching until episode 2. I started that about half a year ago and right now I'm still stuck at episode 3.

[*Jess♥]

actually, it was when I caught sight of episode 7 of kamen rider faiz that I first took an interest in kamen rider.

I must have seen some bits of kamen rider before that, but when I saw the events that transpired in episode 7, I had to watch the whole thing.

not sure if that means it is the best of kamen rider, but it was enough to get me interested.

[odin]

Yeah Faiz does that to you, it is a great series although the final episode ended with a cliffhanger but a great series over all and one of my favorites it would have been my number one if not for Ozu, I started out Dragon Knight the adaptation of Ryuki and that got me interested in watching the Japanese Kamen Riders and truly started with Decade and been a fan ever since, oddly enough i had not gotten the time to watch Ryuki yet. XD

[Toku Warrior]

When it comes to Blade, the 1st 10-15 episodes are gonna draw out and make it slow and boring. But once Leangle enters the series, it really starts to pick up. And the ending is a hell of a shocker and one of the best endings in Heisei rider history to date....IMO anyway.

Definitely skip Hibiki. watch Kiva but only if U can stand it. Kuuga and Agito are good series in that they are both much darker in tone than any other Heisei series to date. They are slow at first but give them time, and if U can get past the dated sfx, then they're good series.

Ryuki...while it's good, it just drags on and really gets dull as it closes.

Faiz, like everyone else has said, is a great series until the end happens.

Kabuto, FTW! Need i say more. By far the best designs of any series to date. Though, they kinda played Kagami as a moron a bit too much early on and Tsurugi just irritates the hell out of me as the series progresses. but he gets my respect near the end of the series.

Den-O, Toei's cash cow. It's funny the 1st 2-3 times U watch the series through....then it gets old. Still, a good series and the ONLY one that succeeded with the comedic timing.

Decade, short and not the best series. It could have gone on longer and it does need a lot more development. But the All Rider movie, Movie War 2010 and even Super Hero Taisen all help complete his character. A big spoiler series but by far, the best arc was the part they start

bringing in some of the Showa era Riders

W is by far the 2nd best series in the Heisei era. It's tone, the flow of the story, the characters, the music, it's a great series and i highly recommend it.

OOO, this one takes a small bit of getting used to but it gets better after about ep.11. It does try to copy some of the aspects of older series such as Blade, Kabuto and Faiz but only with certain points which I won't go over. Last time I did that, Ryuki chewed me a new one.

Fourze, for the love of god, I could not stand this series. Music was some of the best by far but it was just down right tedious to watch. granted, the arc where he gains his Final Form was a nice arc. And I like Ryuusei's character early on though he kinda becomes mute and mundane as time drags on.

Wizard. This series, despit having a good flow at the start and a nice design for the default form....is probably just as, if even more kiddier than Fourze. I actually gave up on this one until I heard about the events in ep. 8&9. then it went downhill again after that. I don't think I'll ever finish this series.