Gecco has had a fantastic run with their hyper-detailed series of Dark Souls statues. From hero-types like Knight of Astora, Oscar and Siegmeyer of Catarina, to towering villains, the Souls of Cinder, Gecco has kept fans of the gothic/ medieval video game series very, very happy.

For their next release, Gecco balances the series with a new malevolent character: Black Knight, Kurokishi. A formidable enemy in Dark Souls 3 (aren’t they all?), Black Knights were once the proud Silver Knights of Gwyn. However, they were burnt to ashes, leaving only their ghosts to wander the land in sooty, black armor.

Sixth scale is a stunning size to show off loads of detail on a human character;  the figure usually measuring in at about 12 inches. However, 1/6th scale is even more stunning when the subject matter is fantasy fiend that towers above a mere mortal. Such is the case of the Black Knight. This is one of Gecco’s larger Dark Souls statues, with Kurokishi standing tall at a massive 16-inches, including his stone tower base.

Made of durbale ABS/PVC plastic, Black Knight Kurokishi requires minimal assembly out of the box. This process involves arming the Black Knight with his sword and inserting his shield-grasping hand (this hand comes pre-attached to the shield). Lastly, plug the assembled figure onto the gritty stone tower base.

For those that pre-ordered this figure (still available through BigBadToyStore.com!), collectors received not one, but THREE bonus weapons: the Black Knight Greatsword, Greataxe and Halberd!

This was one helluva pre-order incentive as each one of these weapons is massive in size. Good luck deciding on a weapon to display your Black Knight with – each one of these blades is insanely awesome looking. If I was forced to pick a favorite, I’d probably go with the Greatsword, but man, they all look so good.

Just when you thought this figure couldn’t get any cooler, Gecco adds the pièce de résistance: light-up eyes! To activate, simply pull off his head, being extremely careful not to impale you hand on his horns and spiked collar (they are SHARP!). Once removed, pull out the clear safety tag (batteries are included) and flip the small black switch. Voilà! Uber creepy light-up eyes! I’m not a huge fan of light-up gimmicks, but in this case the feature truly brings the sculpture to life.

Needless to say, the sculpted detail on this figure is amazing. Using traditional sculpture techniques, artist Shiya Yamaoka captures all the intricacies of Kurokishi’s ornate armor. I especially admire the wicked helmet design. Gecco artist Katsushige Akeyama ties everything together with his splendid paint work. The Black Knight really does look as if he was burnt; the warrior’s former shiny armor realistically muted by a layer of sooty, black ash. Again, Kurokishi’s blackened helmet is a highlight; the steel helm looking uncannily like real scorched metal. The Black Knight’s weapons and shield were masterfully digitally sculpted by Masaki Akao.

If this is to be the last entry in Gecco’s Dark Souls statue series, then the company certainly went out with a bang. This is an absolutely stunning fantasy statue whether you are a deep Dark Souls fan or not. Alas, all good things do come at a price and Black Knight Kurokishi is no exception. $469.99 is not cheap, but the quality of this piece is exceptional. This is some of Gecco’s finest work to date. 

If you’re interested in this piece, BigBadToyStore.com is still accepting pre-orders. I’d lock that pre-order in ASAP, however, as all Gecco statues quickly sell out upon release. 

Black Knight Kurokishi is scheduled to release SOON (this month).

Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor

Review Sample Courtesy of Gecco

[See image gallery at www.figures.com]

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