Kamen Rider Kuuga is the first installment in the franchise’s televised run in the Heisei Era. When a group of archaeologists uncover the tomb of a legendary warrior, they unearth Kuuga’s belt, accidentally releasing an ancient race of monsters called the Grongi bent on destroying humanity. Enter Yusuke Godai, a guy-next- door type, who learns he is telepathically linked to the mysterious stone belt. With its power, he transforms into the legendary warrior known as Kuuga, humanity’s only defense against the murderous Grongi monsters.

INCLUDES ALL 49 EPISODES! PLUS SUBTITLES (WITH AND WITHOUT GRONGI)!

For thoughts on Kamen Rider Kuuga: The Complete Series, please check out our previous article here.

Video Quality

Kamen Rider Kuuga: The Complete Series arrives on Blu-Ray with a fairly solid AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This release is a big win for fans of the franchise, as you finally get to see the original Japanese versions of these episodes with optional English-friendly subtitles included instead of a compromised Americanized version of the show. From what we have gathered, this series was originally shot in 1080i, although it appears the elements have been remastered from SD component masters for previous overseas releases. No matter the exact origin of the elements, what we are provided with on this Blu-Ray disc is decent, but fans should have their expectations in check for exactly how good these episodes are going to look.

Even by early millennium standards, some of the special effects are quite dated, yet this has always been part of the charm of tokusatsu content. You do get some fine detail in this presentation when it comes to the production design and flashy costumes. We always love seeing the textural details of the adversaries in a way that seems tangible with a handcrafted touch. The series is mostly bright and colorful, just like the main characters, and the saturation levels are grand. Black levels are deep enough and give way to a fine amount of detail in shadows. The bright moments of the show do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. While the source will not allow for the crispness of a brand new series, we can at least say that there are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts. The Blu-Ray presentation presentes this show to the best of its ability.

Audio Quality

Shout! Factory brings us this new Blu-Ray set with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix in the original Japanese that exceeds the video quality side of things as it accurately reproduces the series. The show is provided with English subtitles that can be played with or without Grongi (what the villains are saying). The release is presented with a fine amount of depth the likes of which you would want from such an action-packed show. Nearly every episode gives you a powerful action sequence that is presented with an immediacy. There does not appear to be any age-related wear and tear or distortion associated with the audio track. The dialogue comes though clearly without being clipped by the score or sound effects. If there are any complaints about this one, it is that the track could potentially dig a bit deeper in terms of pure power. Overall, most will not have any big complaints about this one.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this release.

Final Thoughts

Kamen Rider Kuuga is a necessary reboot for a franchise that dates back decades. As we enter a new era, the series finds itself shaping a new identity that attempts to honor what came before without becoming stagnant. Certain elements of the show will seem dated by modern standards, but this kind of show thrives on that kind of energy more than most. This particular genre will not appeal to everyone, but those who are fans will appreciate its attention to world building. Those who are just looking for visceral throwdowns will be satiated at least once an episode. We would probably recommend watching this in small chunks rather than a complete binge, but overall the right audience will have fun no matter what. Shout! Factory has released a new Blu-Ray set which brings the entire series together with a good A/V presentation. We seem to be on a good track of Shout! Factory supporting this franchise, so let’s hope it continues.

Kamen Rider Kuuga: The Complete Series is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.