When it comes to Gundam SEED FREEDOM, your favorite characters could either get an entirely new mobile suit or just a quick recolor because reasons. When leaks of the film started coming out, many were delighted that Shinn Asuka gets to pilot the Immortal Justice, which gets destroyed, and then boards the Destiny Gundam Spec II — which is one of those quick recolors I mentioned earlier. However, one detail that has been skipped, until this big reveal from Tamashii Nations, is that the Destiny Spec II gets an immensely awesome support unit, and the total package is freaking expensive.
Teased a week or two prior, Tamashii Nations has officially revealed several sets for Shinn Asuka’s upgraded machine. And I’m just hoping the hobby division will create HG versions as these figures will quickly get expensive when you add things up.
First of all, we’re given a great look at how the ZGMF/A-42S2 Destiny Gundam Spec II looks. As mentioned, the changes are mostly color swaps. The blade antenna is now is the same bluish-gray as most of the mobile suit, and the light blue section on the chest vent is now straight white/off-white.
In its default configuration, the other significant difference is replacing the beam rifle with a railgun meant to counter the FT Armor being used by the Black Knights in the film. Note that the movie commemoration clear color version of the HGCE Destiny Gundam Spec II is just a straight color swap and didn’t include the railgun.
Other than the aforementioned differences, this is more or less similar to the previously released Destiny Gundam. This includes the die cast parts, articulation, and effect parts for its various weapons, which don’t include the Wings of Light as they’ll be a separate purchase just like the original. Bummer.
Metal Robot Spirits ⟨Side MS⟩ Destiny Gundam Spec II
July 2024 / ¥17,000
Premium Bandai Exclusive
As mentioned, a separate Wings of Light effects set will be sold. While I think this is essential to any Destiny Gundam display, making this an additional purchase on top of two expensive releases would likely lead to most people skipping it. It will come with the Wings of Light parts, a couple more beam effect parts, and copies of the Arondite beam sword and the high-energy long-range beam cannon with slightly exaggerated proportions. I believe the latter are added to put more value to this set, though I’ll still skip this set regardless.
Metal Robot Spirits ⟨Side MS⟩ Destiny Gundam Spec II – Wings of Light & Effects Set
August 2024 / ¥6,500
Premium Bandai Exclusive
But of course, the main draw of this announcement was the reveal of the A-GXQ754/V2 Zeus Silhouette, possibly the most awesome support unit name I’ve heard from the Cosmic Era timeline. I haven’t seen any leaked clips of this thing in action, but I bet it really helped Shinn take down as much as he did in the film.
When undocked with the Destiny Spec II, the Zeus Silhouette has this flight form which, in my opinion, looks much better than the Proud Defender for the Mighty Strike Freedom. And in its silhouette/flight mode, this guy is long, like 450mm long.
Before looking at the wide shot, let’s have this closer look of the Destiny Spec II with the Zeus Silhouette and this thing looks over the top! The silhouette pack adds armor mostly to the lower half of the mobile suit, which I assume will also provide extra thrust to wield this unwieldy weapon. There are also some on the torso and the whole thing connects via the original weapon racks of the Destiny and hip assembly for stability.
Looking at the back, we see several gold barrels of this long launcher. I’m not sure if each can only function in a single shots and needs to be jettisoned afterwards but I also assume it fires an immensely powerful beam that would possibly destroy each barrel, thus the replacements.
I’m not exaggerating when I said this thing is long, as the same 450mm length in its silhouette form is translated to the length of this launcher/cannon. Now I know mounting this much armor can impede articulation, though I’m also inclined to think that might not be entirely the case as the Destiny Gundam essentially turns into a long-range mobile suit with this silhouette pack.
Metal Robot Spirits ⟨Side MS⟩ Zeus Silhouette
August 2024 / ¥18,000
Premium Bandai Exclusive
Now let’s quickly talk about the elephant in the room, the cost. The original Metal Robot Spirits Destiny Gundam released in 2019 costs around ¥14,000, and I am aware of inflation leading to the price increase. But I imagine most folks who will get this figure will likely get the Zeus Silhouette as well, which is ¥1,000 more expensive than the Destiny Gundam itself.
Not counting the Wings of Light set, everything will total to around ¥35,000 or roughly $235, which is a lot if you’re not a fan of the Destiny Gundam or Gundam SEED FREEDOM. It’s not METAL BUILD expensive, but more casual collectors looking at getting these will find the cost daunting, especially if their main reason to purchase is the lack of an HGCE equivalent.
We’ll have to see if the hobby division will eventually make their own, and much more affordable, version. But until then, this is what we’re getting with an actual Destiny Gundam Spec II and Zeus Silhouette release.
