If you grew up in the early 2000s trading blurry bootleg VCDs or hunting for fansubs on IRC, you remember the feeling. The static hiss. The clamshell phones. The haunting melody of "Justiφ's" kicking in as a crimson rider flicks his wrist and announces, "Standing by."

No capes. No crowns. Just a metal skeleton, a bug-eyed visor, and glowing photon bloodlines. The Axel Form (clock up before Kabuto made it cool) and the Blaster Form are still top 10 final forms in the franchise. Plus, the Rider Kick is a flying drop-kick so powerful the CGI can barely contain it.

And remember: Open your eyes for the next Faiz. — Kaito, Rider Vault Editor

Two decades later, is not just a nostalgia trip. It is a tragedy wrapped in a tech-noir shell, and it is more accessible now than ever thanks to streaming and online archives. Whether you are a first-time viewer or a veteran returning for the angst, here is why you need to (re)watch Faiz right now. The Core Concept: Trust Nobody, Not Even Your Belt For the uninitiated: Faiz follows Takumi Inui, a drifter with a bad attitude and a secret. After staying at a washed-up rocker’s laundry, he stumbles into a war between the Orphnochs (evolved humans doomed to turn to dust) and the Smart Brain Corporation .

P.S. Don’t forget to watch the Paradise Lost movie after episode 40. It’s an alternate ending where the Orphnochs win. Yes, it is as depressing as it sounds.

Takumi finds the —a briefcase containing a flip-phone belt. But here’s the catch: You can’t just wear the belt. If your DNA doesn’t match (i.e., if you aren’t an Orphnoch yourself), you turn into ash upon transformation.

Posted by: The Rider Vault | April 18, 2026