Last year I wrote the following regarding Gundam Build Metaverse:
I mean, I wasn’t really lying. That’s truly how I felt back then! But time moves on and opinions change. I admit that I was wrong about Build Metaverse’s Gunpla. Some of them are pretty cool. Which is why I just built the Plutine Gundam, and it’s why I’m building this today:
In case you can’t read the tiny English text near the bottom of the box, this is the Entry Grade Build Strike Exceed Galaxy.
About the Mobile Suit
Remember that Build Metaverse is a big celebration of all the shows in the Build subseries, bringing back all the protagonists for cameos featuring brand new mobile suits. I’ll give you one guess as to who this Gunpla belongs to. (here’s a hint if you need it).
That’s right folks - if it has “Build Strike” in the name, you can be sure it belongs to Sei Iori, the OG Build Fighters protagonist, and arguably the best pound for pound modeler in the Build subseries.
Now, we know that some of the Gunpla from Metaverse are meant to promote specific product lines. For example, the F-Kunoichi Kai promotes the SD Cross Silhouette line, and the Plutine Gundam promotes Ecopla. Naturally, the Exceed Galaxy promotes Entry Grade kits.
But I have to say, I really dig the in-universe explanation they came up for why Sei built the Exceed Galaxy. It makes perfect sense for his character development, and the principles behind it remain just as true in real life as they do in-universe. Here’s the blurb from the instruction manual:
When it came time for Sei Iori to construct a new Build Strike Gundam, he came up with an ardent plan for a Gunpla, the reason being that he'd selected the Entry Grade Strike Gundam as the base kit for the new model. By taking another look at the model kit, one made for any builder regardless of stripes, Sei tried to discover what kind of novel potential the Build Strike housed.The finalized build then saw the adoption of the Energy Glitter-circulation System (EG for short), one that made practical use of the RG System. This allows the Gunpla to concentrate energy in various locations of its chassis, thereby boosting its power up for offense, defense, or mobility, all but obliterating any demerits that an Entry Grade kit - typically featuring lower specs than other grades - engenders in combat.
Not stopping there, Sei also added hard points to each location on the kit where equipment was housed, allowing for a wide variety of different weapon loadouts so that it would fulfill his dream of being a Gunpla that had no final form but rather unlimited potential. The kit's name, the Exceed Galaxy, also houses the same desire of its designer.
So we know that Entry Grade kits exist in the world of Build Fighters, that they’re generally considered the weakest for the purposes of Gunpla Battle, and that Sei took it as a personal challenge to find a way to make one that’s still competitive. And he did so in such a way that the base design is still very simple and adaptable, in order to encourage customization and personalization.
Either one of these goals is laudable but challenging, and the fact that the Exceed Galaxy accomplishes them at the same time is a testament to just how good Sei is at this thing. But honestly, would you expect anything less?
Weapons and Stuff
The Exceed Galaxy has simple armaments. You’ve got a beam rifle that can also double as a beam saber, as well as the EX Shield (which can also double as a beam saber). Then there’s the EG System of course, which allows it to power up, as well a Core Fighter-esque backpack.
Appearances in Media
The Exceed Galaxy doesn’t show up until the third and final episode of Build Metaverse. The Metaverse holds a big no-holds-barred battle, and everyone wants a piece of the action, including the legendary Meijin Kawaguchi III:
And, of course, his eternal rival:
Naturally a battle ensues. Despite the fact that Meijin’s Amazing Barbatos Lupus is bigger and seemingly better armed, the Exceed Galaxy manages to hold its own:
Especially once it activates the EG System:
But Meijin’s run the simulations, and he knows that he has a fractional advantage. Sure enough, it looks like he’s about to deliver the finishing blow, when who would appear in the Star Burning Gundam, along with the Galaxy Booster and Universe Booster:
With the two best bros reunited:
And the Exceed Galaxy upgraded with parts from the two Boosters:
The duo prepare to face Meijin in a 2-on-1 bout (which, apparently, is exactly what Meijin wanted all along).
About the Model Kit
The way this is portrayed in the anime is exactly how it works in real life. It’s still an Entry Grade, it still has lots of hardpoints for customization, and it can still combine with the Universe and Galaxy Boosters.
The only question left on my mind is the same question I have with every new Entry Grade - how exactly does it work? How do they make it look so good with so few parts? Because if you look at some of the promotional photos, they demonstrate a high degree of color separation, despite the mobile suit’s relatively simple color scheme:
Is that all real? Does it really look that way without painting?
We’ll find out soon enough.