| |
|
|
Darth Vader - Lightsaber Attack ™
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Released: 2005
|
|
Retail Price: $5.99
|
|
|
Figure# 11
|
|
Collection: 1
|
|
|
Asst: 85284 / 85173
|
|
UPC: 76930 85362
|
|
|
Card# 6394131400
|
|
Insert - UPC# 6394141400
|
|
|
Insert - Photo# None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure Includes:
|
|
|
|
|
• Lightsaber
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sculpt: |
| Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, makes his "first" appearance in REVENGE OF THE SITH. This all-new sculpt is based on the Vader costume created for the new film, which combines elements from all three previous Vader incarnations in the Original Trilogy. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the "symmetrical" helmet and breath mask, although this was never really a factor in the action figures of the past. It's another Vader, basically, and as a Collection I figure, that means it has an action feature: "Lightsaber Attack!" The sculpt is crisp, with plenty of detail, and the pose is action-oriented, but not too extreme. The left hand is outstretched, suggesting a force-choke. I guess it could actually hold the Saga '04 Captain Antilles figure -- but I didn't bother digging it out to try it: 8.5 out of 10. |
|
|
|
| Paint: |
| Vader is molded in jet black, with silver, green, and red paint apps in the appropriate places. Nothing fancy, the lenses in his breath mask are the same color black as the rest of him (not the reddish brown of A NEW HOPE), but the paint is at least movie-accurate and not sloppy: 9/10. |
|
|
|
| Articulation: |
| Being the first new Vader figure after the benchmark that was the VOTC figure is hard. While ROTS Vader only has 9 points of articulation, they're pretty decent. The head, waist, hips, right shoulder, and forearms all have standard planer cuts, while the left shoulder is ball-jointed. The right bicep has a cut that allows for the "Lightsaber Attack" action feature. The action feature works well, doesn't look terribly stupid, and there are no unsightly buttons -- you squeeze his legs together. Overall, for a basic figure in the action-feature Collection 1 line, it's about as good as we could want: 9/10. |
|
|
|
| Accessories: |
| Vader comes with a one-piece lightsaber, cloth cape with softgoods "chain" and cloth inner robe. The cloth pieces are very similar to the ones that were used for the VOTC Vader from 2004. The lightsaber is an all-new sculpt, somewhat thicker than the VOTC version and molded in a brighter, frosted red plastic than the VOTC saber was: 8.5/10. |
|
|
|
| Packaging: |
| The REVENGE OF THE SITH card is almost triangular in shape, and is diecut on the sides and top. The figure insert image is now separate from the ROTS logo/figure name insert. The background is a field of molten lava behind the figure, with a stylized Darth Vader mask looming at the top, forming the J-hook. Silhouettes of Anakin and Obi-Wan dueling can be seen reflected on the Vader helmet. The insert is for Collection 1, of which Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack is figure #11. The insert photo is a new publicity campaign image, and the cardback is yet another new shot from a slightly different angle; neither image comes directly from the film. The outer clear blister has the "Lightsaber Attack" sticker on the inside. The cardback shows the figure in "Lightsaber Attack" mode. 9/10. |
|
|
|
| Availability: |
| Upon initial release on April 2, 2005, he was in good supply. I've yet to see a store that didn't still have at least one Vader on the pegs or in floor displays: 9.5/10. |
|
|
|
| Conclusion: |
| The fact that we're only getting one Vader figure in the basic assortment shows incredible restraint on Hasbro's part -- I figured we'd get at least three! Considering he's the main focus of all the marketing campaigns for ROTS, I thought we'd be inundated with him. While the pose could be a bit more neutral and I could easily live without the action feature, he's still a really decent version of this iconic STAR WARS character: 8.9/10. |
|
|
