Play Arts Kai Kingdom Hearts 3 Deluxe Sora and Riku

        It was a thought I have had for some time: just once, I would like to get a Sora and a Riku from the same line at the same time because I am Extremely Like That.  And it was a nice thought, but given the time, my funds, and the usual prices for Play Arts Kais both before then and at the time of these figures releasing, it stayed a thought.  Life continued, etc. etc. and I assumed it would be yet another product line that would shoot up in price year after year after release like a lot of PAKs tend to do (RIP Bayonetta dreams and so on).
        ...And then sometime in November, I just.  Had the thought again.  Wondering if it were possible to track down these figures and find them, unopened, at reasonable enough prices.  ...Initially, the answer seemed to be no.  Or, at least, very much yes if shipping service woes and assorted political bullshit wasn't a collective thing I have to consider now, as they are still popping up at the usual places in Japan from time to time.  Since I live in the US however, haaaaaa.  Also Sora is more expensive and harder to find than Riku across the board, so I didn't think I'd find them both in the US at the same time at all.  Turns out that my usual method of not giving up and looking in odd places online was once again successful!  Some folks just want to sell and you have to be ready to jump, etc. etc., luck and tenacity, no big secret there.

        Sooooooo.  Boxes.  Large boxes, and Sora's is quite a bit larger since he has more accessories.  Shipping costs still weren't too horrible, anyway.

         Also every picture I took of Sora in the plastic came out creepy in one way or another, but this one was clear enough to save.  They wrapped him in plastic.  They wrapped his neck in plastic.  It required scissors to remove.

        Riku just looks as shell shocked as one might expect being trapped in a box next to two more versions of your own face.  ...I mean, really.

         Box backs!  Just because.  ...I can read none of this, but luckily there are pictures.

        Like I said, Sora looks a little bit creepy no matter what.  I guess KH3 Sora's just got an interesting energy or something, but also reflective plastic and cameras are natural enemies.

        Included because reasons.

        FREE AND READY TO THROW DOWN!  I found it an amusing but understandable design choice to have his pendant cemented to his body instead of free-roaming, despite the chain being loose.  I am constantly having to pry KH1 Sora's pendant out of his shirt collar, so.  Good.  Also the accessories are gorgeous... but more on those later.
        Many additional hands, two additional faces.  You just pull the front of the hair off (more on that later too), pull one face off and swap out for another.  Which is as endlessly slightly disturbing as it sounds, but I really like the options.  And yes, his eyes are just really shiny.

        There he is!  ...With green eyes.  More on that later, as well.  Also with gorgeous accessories, as one would imagine, even if Braveheart (the very key-like Keyblade on the left) is still the subject of complaint by some.  ...It lacks some cool factor, what can I say, but here it takes on a very slight purple sheen.
        Also yes these are officially three different faces, two are just very subtly "regular serious" and "smiling ever so slightly" because Riku.  ...And angry, because Riku.  The silver hair isn't quite PAK Advent Children Sephiroth levels of translucent plastic, but it's not quite opaque either.

        Anyone who's followed past KH figure reviews knew this was coming.  Sora's Kingdom Key was so good!  Removed from the package and inspected and -- shock! -- it passes!  Fully closed jump rings!  Perfectly constructed chain!
        Then there's this.  I think I can fix most, but one will need a full replacement.  ...Good thing I have hundreds of tiny metal rings at any given point, I guess.  And I also know how to close them.
        This serves as a bonus close-up to some of the subtly sparkly paints used.  Not complaining about that, anyway.

        I also have to appreciate the construction.  Keyblades pull apart (not... particularly easily the first time, but plastic and paint have a tendency to stick; it's been easy since then) and slip into hands, which slide onto wrist pegs that are actually designed to be used.  I didn't have a lot of complaints with the FFXV PAKs, but damn near every Play Arts or Play Arts Kai figure before then had some issue with swapping hands that required either extra delicate care or... eventually a tiny drill to get broken parts out.

        The drama!  Yeah, for the most part I don't tend to pay attention to figure stands.  These however are not only decently sturdy, but if you need the joints to hold more weight, you can tighten the screws a little and nothing breaks!  ...Yet.  So far so good, anyway.  And clearly the figures and weapons are large enough to overwhelm my little picture area.

        This was when I realized I didn't have room to move back any more, but the picture came out decently, so whatever.  More drama, more figure stand usage, more rawr face.

        They both look a bit silly from here, though.  This was also when I realized that I'd forgotten to make sure the top of Sora's shoes (which aren't attached to the shoes themselves) were facing the right direction.  Oh well.

        Aaaaaand them.  ...Picture clearly taken before I realized Sora's shoe tops and bottoms were separate pieces.  Fashion or whatever, why are you looking at shoes look at them.  Subtle smile face, go.

        Was it worth tracking these two down for this picture alone?  Yes.  Yes it was.

        But you also have the all-important ass shot!  Like I'd miss out on that.  Plus, there's more than enough added detail to justify it.
        This also shows off the knee joints a little better.  They are also much-improved from the FFXV PAKs, as there are several soft-locking moving parts for what I deeply hope is better holding for poses.  They clearly stand just fine, but there are a lot more small adjustments for keeping them upright here, along with some pretty solid ankle joints.

        HANDS.  ...TOUCHING HANDS.  ...REACHING OU--  Okay, look, I was curious, so.  Sharing the comparison.

        SURPRISE, I AM THAT GUY.  And KH3 Riku officially has green eyes and I am several times officially mad about it with ample evidence that he's not supposed to.  Nomura.  Nomura what are you doing Nomura.  There's plenty to read entirely too much into, but while Sora still has subtly "Kingdom Hearts eyes", Riku... is losing them..?  ...Yeah I know, I need to stop thinking about it, but I will not stop being mad about this.  I will bring in more Riku merch pictures with clear vibrant aquamarine eyes, so help me.

        BACK TO THE HAIR,  Uh.  Spikes.  I found the snapped-off big one and am currently trying to glue it back on, but the tinier spike that snapped off may be lost forever.  A true tragedy for our hero, etc.  Be careful pulling that hair off for the face swap, anyway.

        And speaking of broken things, I just wanted a real close-up shot of the broken Way to the Dawn since that is... literally what cemented me into getting the "Deluxe" version of Riku (which often turns out to be cheaper than the regular version..? somehow?).  It is gorgeous, but still mind-warping for story reasons I don't want to yell about again.  Now.  Maybe later.