As per usual, any crowdfunded item that arrives as a test sample to my doors will be reviewed as such, meaning it does not qualify for any awards, or scores when we used to give them, because the final units may yet include changes. This case is somewhat weird in that the turnaround time appears to be minimal, on the order of ~15 days, where it seems Shurikey Gear is using Indiegogo as a marketing tool for the launch of the brand and its first keyboard. At the same time, I already am aware of several upcoming changes in the form of improvements/fixes to such items as the finish of the rivet-style screws, legends on the keycaps, and general polish to the retro industrial design to minimize issues that can detract from the user experience.

If I were to take the company's word, and knowing the background of the brand and its employees I probably would, the Shurikey Gear Hanzo is shaping up to be a very attractive keyboard as long as you are aware of the very specific feature set and its associated compromises. Take the switches, for example. Thus far, I have liked every single Varmilo EC V2 switch I have come across, but it does mean the keyboard PCB is specifically for electrostatic capacitive switches and thus does not support hot-swapping with mechanical switches. This can be a surprise to many who expect to see hot-swappable switches on such smaller form-factor keyboards today. Some clear design choices will also be divisive, including the two knobs, empty space underneath where more keys could have been inserted instead, and opaque keycaps not making the most of the white LEDs.

That design is what distinguishes the Shurikey Gear Hanzo from most of its contemporaries, which the three themes add to with the retro industrial mindset and refit core element. The kickstand is cool, if I say so myself, and the ability to easily swap out the top cover helps make the most of the wholly plastic construction. There are plans for more such replaceable components down the line, and they make the keyboard a lot of fun. The rest of the feature set is well-executed, including the wireless connectivity with the ample 4400 mAh battery making for a long battery life even with the white lighting on. That said, I'd rather leave the lights off since the legends are off, and the lack of key mapping is really the only thing I'd like to see addressed. However, don't hold your breath on this one and make the decision of whether the Shurikey Gear Hanzo is for you based on the current feature set. At $99, it does seem like a nice keyboard for many, and $129 might well push it to be more of a niche option given the colorful themes that will be an attention grabber for better or worse.