They really treated the game as a game without the care of killing people, and they were very alien like, even when we learn more about them as the show goes on. The Gurongi didn't have the best motivation but what they lacked in that, they made up with savagery. The side characters, they never felt like they were useless, Ichijo's relationship with Yusuke was very unique in that Yusuke was willing to work with the police directly and Ichijo provided some help from simply giving Yusuke his gun to helping out with clues on how the find the Gurongi, even to this day I consider Ichijo an honorary secondary Rider since it was just as much of his story as Yusuke. Yes, there wasn't much to Yusuke backstory wise but he felt very genuine, like someone I would meet and get along with. In the final episodes, he did felt that he wasn't going to survive and made his peace with everyone before fighting N-Daguva-Zeba. Godai was kind sure, but it was a realistic kind, he was a bit goofy but not in an obnoxious way, he did get upset and despair at times and particularly near the end, in my observation, he was getting very tired fighting but he still smiled to both motivate himself and others. I guess I can start out with Godai since you mentioned him first. I'm only 1/4th to finishing all of them but so far, Kuuga is the only one who's opinion I have not changed and before, it was ranked high on my list. I've been rewatching the Heisei Kamen Rider shows from Kuuga all the way to Build. When I was 12 watching Kuuga for the first time, I like that guy for being a good person. and win against Kuuga, even reverting Kuuga back to weakest Growing form. Or that one Grongi who held Rising Titan sword from stabbing it's torso. When they fought Kuuga, they sometimes confident that they can held against Kuuga's kick, like that one rhino beetle grongi who survived from Rising Mighty kick and kick Kuuga back and sent him flying. They kill people just because they're playing games, and they also are a formidable villain. Grongi aren't just your sunday morning cartoon monster whose job is become the MOTW who died in the last 10 minutes after 1 fatal kick. He actually extort himself physically to reach next stage of form. Watching Kuuga is basically watching Godai leveling up throughout the series. It's a nice treat for people who likes immersion in their show. The Grongi, the history, the alphabet, the language. Toei went that length to create basically a world. It's basically a cop drama show, with Kamen Rider in it. I guess yeah, Kuuga had pacing problems, but I still love it for some reason: