Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan
Figure: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ("Anakin Skywalker with Darth Vader tunic and armor")
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: Not numbered
Keywords: Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, Emperial, Empire, Jedi, evil, naughty, Hayden Christensen, Dark Helmet
Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability, accessories, and action features.
Character Overview:
The change of young Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader, and his eventual redemption, is the central conflict of the entire Star Wars sextet of movies. Although both Anakin and Darth Vader figures have been available since the vintage figure line, this figure allows an Anakin/Vader transormation, although not without some difficulty.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
Although passable, the Anakin figure's sculpt is adersely affected by the Darth Vader change. The shoulders are overly broad, and the waist is freakishly tiny. The effect isn't as bad with his Anakin garb on, though he still looks like he's wearing football shoulder pads under his Jedi robes. When fully dressed as Vader, though, he looks much better. Paint is similarly decent, though the dark 'n' gloomy Vader rarely has or needs much paint detail in his various figures. As one peculiarity, even in full Vader mode, the figure still has brown work boots.
Articulation: 6.5
Anakin articulates at the shoulders, forearms, waist, and hips, which is just below average for a modern Star Wars figure. As Darth Vader, articulation is the same. Anakin has what on first glance might look like the strangest action feature in the Star Wars line: his head can be pressed down to dissapear into his chest cavity. This is necessary for his transormation into Darth Vader, of course, but it looks wonderfully silly and adds considerable play value as Anakin, the Human Turtle.
Accessories: 8
This figure is all about accessories, so there's plenty to like here. The extensive accessory set is what makes the Darth Vader change possible. Even as Anakin, he has a large and well-sculpted flexible rubber robe and a removable skirt-type garment. Anakin's forearms are removable, and he comes with a good-guy blue lightsaber. The transormation into the evil Darth is realised through a combination helmet/cowl/cape piece which snaps onto Anakin's shoulders with some difficulty. Additional Vader pieces include replacement forearms, chest plate, chaps, and shin guards. Rounding out the sinister ensemble is the classic red lightsaber.
Packaging: Average
Though it lacks the very cool oval packaging of the rest of the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith line, the packaging is basically okay. It doesn't really show off the accessories very well, and the dreaded twist-ties return, though mercifully there's only one of them.
Overall score: 7.5
With larger packaging and a slightly higher price point than the other Revenge of the Sith figures, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader might be considered the equivalent of the "deluxe" figures from earlier lines. Though neither the best Anakin Skywalker figure or Darth Vader figure ever made, the changing gimmick adds enough interest for this figure to be worth a buy, especially for dedicated fans.
Availability:
Costing around $10, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a fairly good price point.
Figure: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ("Anakin Skywalker with Darth Vader tunic and armor")
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: Not numbered
Keywords: Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, Emperial, Empire, Jedi, evil, naughty, Hayden Christensen, Dark Helmet
Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability, accessories, and action features.
Character Overview:
The change of young Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader, and his eventual redemption, is the central conflict of the entire Star Wars sextet of movies. Although both Anakin and Darth Vader figures have been available since the vintage figure line, this figure allows an Anakin/Vader transormation, although not without some difficulty.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
Although passable, the Anakin figure's sculpt is adersely affected by the Darth Vader change. The shoulders are overly broad, and the waist is freakishly tiny. The effect isn't as bad with his Anakin garb on, though he still looks like he's wearing football shoulder pads under his Jedi robes. When fully dressed as Vader, though, he looks much better. Paint is similarly decent, though the dark 'n' gloomy Vader rarely has or needs much paint detail in his various figures. As one peculiarity, even in full Vader mode, the figure still has brown work boots.
Articulation: 6.5
Anakin articulates at the shoulders, forearms, waist, and hips, which is just below average for a modern Star Wars figure. As Darth Vader, articulation is the same. Anakin has what on first glance might look like the strangest action feature in the Star Wars line: his head can be pressed down to dissapear into his chest cavity. This is necessary for his transormation into Darth Vader, of course, but it looks wonderfully silly and adds considerable play value as Anakin, the Human Turtle.
Accessories: 8
This figure is all about accessories, so there's plenty to like here. The extensive accessory set is what makes the Darth Vader change possible. Even as Anakin, he has a large and well-sculpted flexible rubber robe and a removable skirt-type garment. Anakin's forearms are removable, and he comes with a good-guy blue lightsaber. The transormation into the evil Darth is realised through a combination helmet/cowl/cape piece which snaps onto Anakin's shoulders with some difficulty. Additional Vader pieces include replacement forearms, chest plate, chaps, and shin guards. Rounding out the sinister ensemble is the classic red lightsaber.
Packaging: Average
Though it lacks the very cool oval packaging of the rest of the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith line, the packaging is basically okay. It doesn't really show off the accessories very well, and the dreaded twist-ties return, though mercifully there's only one of them.
Overall score: 7.5
With larger packaging and a slightly higher price point than the other Revenge of the Sith figures, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader might be considered the equivalent of the "deluxe" figures from earlier lines. Though neither the best Anakin Skywalker figure or Darth Vader figure ever made, the changing gimmick adds enough interest for this figure to be worth a buy, especially for dedicated fans.
Availability:
Costing around $10, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a fairly good price point.
posted by Andrew Lenahan at 10:04 PM
1 Comments:
I think his overall score should be more than 7.5. Just the whole turtle headed-ness alone makes up for the lack anywhere else. The only thing I thought was a little wonky was the face painting for Anakin. He looks as if he should be in WWF or something. I could play with this figure for hours and not get bored.
PS....Im going to bring home the pregnant Padme' for you today. :-)
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