Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Darth Vader's Medical Droid AKA Chopper Droid action figure review by Andrew Lenahan
Figure: Darth Vader's Medical Droid AKA Chopper Droid
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-37
Keywords: Droid, Medical Droid, Darth Vader, Sith
Company: Hasbro
Release year: 2005
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:
Also available in LEGO form, this droid performs the necessary cutting to change the wounded Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. Oh, come on, it's not exactly like some big secret.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
I've always really enjoyed Star Wars droids, not because they're cool and sleek, but because they're clunky and functional. Somehow, something like a Power Droid, a boxy, slow-witted walking battery, seems much more realistic than Optimus Prime or Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data the android. A power droid or Vader's medical droid seems only just beyond the reach of current science, which is why they seem so fascinating. This droid is definitely more function than form, being basically a tripod with some machinery on top. As figures go, it's certainly a challenging sculpt, and I don't envy whoever was charged with the task of transforming this thing into action-figure form. They did a good job though, with plenty of detail both in the sculpt and paint. There are tubes, wires, and lights aplenty, plus little tanks of colourful unidentified substances. One thing I noticed is that the eyes seem much brighter orange on the photo than on the figure, where they're dark red.
Articulation: 8
Darth Vader's medical droid has a turning head, and bends at the shoulders, elbows, waist, and all three hips. This is much better articulation than most droids get, and any more would probably have just made it harder to stand up. Speaking of that, he stands easily if the legs are at a reasonable angle.
Accessories: 5
The good doctor loses some of his credentials in this category. The only accessory is a base, which is the same molten-lava one offered with several other figures, including C-3PO. While I tend to like bases, just one accessory and it isn't even unique to this figure? Not cool.
Packaging: Above Average
All the Revenge of the Sith preview figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. There's also a little colour pamphlet with ads for more Star Wars toys. Overall, the packing is well above average for an action figure.
Overall score: 8
Let's face it, folks... if you want play value, action features, or impressive accessories, this isn't the droid you're looking for. But it's yet another extremely cool droid figure, and that, my friends, is nothing to complain about.
Availability:
Darth Vader's medical droid seems to be one of the harder-to-find Revenge of the Sith action figures, at least as of this writing. You can try ordering him from Amazon.
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-37
Keywords: Droid, Medical Droid, Darth Vader, Sith
Company: Hasbro
Release year: 2005
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:
Also available in LEGO form, this droid performs the necessary cutting to change the wounded Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. Oh, come on, it's not exactly like some big secret.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
I've always really enjoyed Star Wars droids, not because they're cool and sleek, but because they're clunky and functional. Somehow, something like a Power Droid, a boxy, slow-witted walking battery, seems much more realistic than Optimus Prime or Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data the android. A power droid or Vader's medical droid seems only just beyond the reach of current science, which is why they seem so fascinating. This droid is definitely more function than form, being basically a tripod with some machinery on top. As figures go, it's certainly a challenging sculpt, and I don't envy whoever was charged with the task of transforming this thing into action-figure form. They did a good job though, with plenty of detail both in the sculpt and paint. There are tubes, wires, and lights aplenty, plus little tanks of colourful unidentified substances. One thing I noticed is that the eyes seem much brighter orange on the photo than on the figure, where they're dark red.
Articulation: 8
Darth Vader's medical droid has a turning head, and bends at the shoulders, elbows, waist, and all three hips. This is much better articulation than most droids get, and any more would probably have just made it harder to stand up. Speaking of that, he stands easily if the legs are at a reasonable angle.
Accessories: 5
The good doctor loses some of his credentials in this category. The only accessory is a base, which is the same molten-lava one offered with several other figures, including C-3PO. While I tend to like bases, just one accessory and it isn't even unique to this figure? Not cool.
Packaging: Above Average
All the Revenge of the Sith preview figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. There's also a little colour pamphlet with ads for more Star Wars toys. Overall, the packing is well above average for an action figure.
Overall score: 8
Let's face it, folks... if you want play value, action features, or impressive accessories, this isn't the droid you're looking for. But it's yet another extremely cool droid figure, and that, my friends, is nothing to complain about.
Availability:
Darth Vader's medical droid seems to be one of the harder-to-find Revenge of the Sith action figures, at least as of this writing. You can try ordering him from Amazon.
posted by Andrew Lenahan at 8:09 AM
1 Comments:
Im still totally infatuated with the Polis Massan figure....But yes, this medical droid looks really neat and assists in remaking the "Anakin to Vader" scene. I agree the accessories leaves something to be desired....but you are more of an accessory guy then I am. Im all for articulation. I bet they could have added a few more points of movement to this figure without detracting from the over-all playability. Maybe they could have even added some surgical tools or something. I agree with your ratings. :)
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