SNAA was on a roll with the Beyond Exquisite line of 1/144 scale Real Grade-esque kits from The Round Table Knights, a non-existent fiction these kits come from. They kind of took a break after releasing Giant Axe – Lancelot, but it seems like they’re now making a return as the next kit is revealed: Titan Great Sword – Tristan. And as per usual, they are starting the teases with a gray prototype.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this design as it was first revealed in a hobby show late May. Now, we have a better view of the design and it definitely reinforces the knight aesthetic we initially got from the hobby show preview, especially with the large sword and shield. It’s definitely less angular and has more curved edges, a departure from the previous Gundam-looking releases but not totally leaning towards the more Zeonic aesthetic like Iron Sickle – Kay.
As mentioned, Tristan really leans towards the knight aesthetic with less angles and hard edges and more curved surfaces. It also helps that it carries a large sword, hence the “great sword” moniker and an equally large shield.
Okay, call me corrected as it actually has two swords: the larger one is stored at the back while the relatively smaller sword is stored at the back of the shield.
Articulation is what you’d normally expect for these kits, though I have yet to build a copy so I can’t personally vouch on this. It appears to be able to strike dynamic poses, especially with the help of that cape. That said, it appears to be a static plastic piece. It would be great if they would do what Good Smile Company did with the Escaflowne MODEROID kits and provide both plastic and wire-guided cloth cape options.
We’ll have to wait until full colored solicitation images are released to get a better appreciation of the design. I’m also inclined to think that the next kits might share the same aesthetic as the Tristan, in the same vein as the Gundam-derivatives belonging to the Knights of the Wind like Grace, Gawain, Achilles, and their leader Lancelot.
BE 1/144 Titan Great Sword – Tristan
July 2025 / RMB 50
