Gundam Converge CORE 029 : RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Perfectibility (Destroy Mode)

About half a year passed before Bandai decided it was time to release a new Unicorn figure again and so here comes the bewilderingly named Perfectibility. It has a ridiculous amount of name variations and I tried to read up on it a bit on the Gundam Wiki but quickly lost interest. I suspect the story is really much simpler. "Hey guys, we've milked the Unicorn hard for years now. That green psyco frame thing was genius, what do you think about a blue one?"


The Perfectibility is a CORE release meaning it is a Premium Bandai exclusive. The figure was delivered to customers in March 2022 and had a hefty price tag of ¥3850. I haven't seen that many of them on the secondary market so far, prices seem to have stabilized around ¥5000.


The figure comes in a box a bit larger than the Converge #Plus size and holds three bags full of parts. There is no instruction leaflet but instead that ugly new QR code on the top cover. You'd think the big empty space on the back cover would have been a better place for it.


I have to say, the immediate impression is that everything looks really clean and sharp, unlike some of the recent Converge figures which have had awkward warped parts and messy paint jobs. This is exactly the standard I would expect from a CORE figure.


Let's start by looking at the basic figure. It is a revamped Unicorn from the #Sharp series developed further with primarily an upgraded Newtype Destroyer System. The old Banshee from #Sharp 12 also had a set of NT-D gear but here the right arm has been remodelled to allow the gear to swing in and out of place and also support a right holding hand when not in use. The backpack features a rack for two Armed Armor DE shields.


We have some really finely printed decals on the shoulders including a tiny, tiny Vist Foundation Unicorn head. Notice that the unit marking reads "RX-0-01", something I haven't encountered before. I may be tired of Unicorn figures but the look of this one is quite impressive.


Here the Armed Armor BS (Beam Smart Gun) is deployed by rotating the component 180 degrees. You will have to remove the right hand to complete the transformation. It is a neat feature and I think the large hinge doesn't really look that out of place when the weapon is stowed.


We of course also have the typical Beam Magnum beam rifle which is commonly seen on most Unicorn figures.


I think the Armed Armor HJ Hyperbeam Javelin is the most signature weapon of all the Full Armor Unicorn gear choices and we have seen it equipped by Converge Unicorns before, although never in blue. It might not be the coolest of the weapons but I always feel it would be such a waste not to make use of such a nice and colourful accessory every time I see one. :)


The most interesting accessory in the box is this lovely translucent blue beam saber with a white hilt. I will probably find some other use for it since the Perfectibility will be rocking the Hyper Javelin for the foreseeable future. By the way, I am still waiting for a Unicorn figure with extended translucent Beam Tonfas on the forearms. This is such an unusual weapon and it would be nice to see it in use. The closest we come to them are the gigantic beam sabers on the large Psyco Gundam Mk-II.


Alright, so here we complete the figure with its two Armed Armor DE shields featuring the weird stabilizer/remote weapon system tails as seen on the 03 Phenex. The tails sections are molded with a nice curve to simulate them resting on the ground in standing form. The original Phenex figure stood on a base which saw the tail ends not reaching the ground which looked weird. Unbased is the best pose for the figure in my opinion.


We don't get any standard Converge base in the box (it would have been a useful accessory for such an expensive figure I think) but there is instead a special flying base shaped like a Unicorn head. We also get two optional feet in the resting, dangling pose that we see every now and then on Converge figures. This is a nice detail but completely ruined by the tails of the shields pointing to the sides. This is I think the biggest flaw of the Perfectibility figure. The tail sections are single colour components that clip into the shields and it would have made sense to include an optional pair with the tail ends hanging downward. I get the feeling the figure was originally sculpted with this in mind but that it was dropped for cost saving reasons, but that is just a guess of mine.


The Perfectibility hails from a small family of similar Converge Phenex figures. The early silver and gold metallic color figures on the flanks were first seen in August 2016 and were later joined by the Narrative Gundam version in February 2019 (center right).


All in all the Perfectibility Unicorn figure is excellent and an eye-catcher let down mainly by the lack of a pair of free-floating tails (and the price tag of course but that is so much par for the course for Converge CORE that most sane customers should have been scared off a long time ago anyway).