Star Wars: The Saga Collection R2-D2 (the Battle of Hoth) action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: R2-D2 (the Battle of Hoth)
Property: Star Wars
Series: The Saga Collection
Number: Saga 010
Keywords: R2-D2, Artoo-Detoo, Astromech, Droid, Droids
Company: Hasbro
Release year: 2006

Note: This is the second R2-D2 figure I've reviewed. The first was the Episode III R2-D2 from 2005.

Series Overview:
With the final new Star Wars movie behind us, Hasbro turns its attention once again to reissuing classic characters. Unlike the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection, the new Saga Collection does include characters from the three prequels as well as the classic trilogy. Most of these new figures are great-looking, with excellent paint work in particular. But the entire line hinges on whether collectors (and perhaps more importantly, kids and casual fans) will once again shell out for more figures of the same characters. Hopefully, the answer is yes, as these are great figures and deserve recognition as such.

Character Overview:
A cylendrical astromech droid with a domed head, R2-D2 is easily one of the most recognisable Star Wars caracters. This particular figure represents R2-D2 as seen in the Battle of Hoth, from the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back. R2-D2 is in the process of fleeing the Echo Base on Hoth with Luke Skywalker in the X-Wing.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 9
Those expecting something brand new will be disappointed from the start: this R2-D2 is a repaint of the Original Trilogy Collection's faux-vintage figure (though without the removable panel and tools). Fortunately, they picked a great figure to repaint, and at a lower price point as well! This Artoo has a removable front leg, glowing "eye" feature, and a sensorscope which moves up and down while his head is turned! What about detail? This figure is loaded with it, right down to rarely-seen touches like painted stripes in Artoo's, uh, underarm areas. Since the Echo Base wasn't exactly the Waldorf-Astoria, R2-D2 has some painted grunge on his lower half. The effect is very delicate and subtle.

Articulation: 7
R2-D2 has a 360-degree turning head (which also activates his sensorscope feature), plus joints at the shoulders and both rear ankles. In addition, all three legs have rolling wheels under their feet so that R2-D2 can roll a bit. There isn't much articulation possible in an astromech droid figure, and this R2-D2 is actually better than most.

Accessories: 8
R2-D2 comes with several accessories, which is also above average for an astromech. He has a "survival kit" consisting of a box with lid (which reminded me of a cooler), a rations box with lid (a small flat box), and an emergency lantern. I have read that the survival kit accessories are actually repaints from a 2002 Toys R Us exclusive Luke Skywalker's X-Wing Fighter vehicle. Still, it's an improvement on the sparse accessories one usually gets with an R2-D2, and I certainly don't mind seeing some obscure accessories getting reissued.

There's also a display base. I was never much of a fan of the generic display bases from the Original Trilogy Collection, but this update at least has the Empire Strikes Back logo embossed on it, and a little place with R2-D2's name on the front edge. Oddly, it also has a peg for standing up a figure with a foot peg hole, which R2-D2 doesn't have.

Finally, like all Saga Collection figures, R2-D2 comes with a "hologram" figure moulded in sparkly blue translucent plastic. I got a lightsaber-wielding Luke Skywalker. I certainly would have preferred one more accessory--anything at all--that could be used with the figure, but I'm sure some people are sure to like these and will collect them.

Oh, one more thing... oddly enough, R2-D2 also comes with an instruction sheet explaining how to make the sensorscope feature work by rotating the head. It seems to me that even the dimmest youngling could figure that out on their own, but there it is anyway.

Packaging: Very Slightly Above Average
The Saga Collection comes in a rather basic card backing with a large shaped bubble. I do like that the backing card shows a scene with the character's environment from the movies.

Overall score: 8.5
The Saga Collection R2-D2 is a fine figure, and I'd even go so far as to say that this is the best R2-D2 figure yet. While the accessories aren't quite as qonderful as last year's Episode III R2-D2, the sculpt and paint is far better, which more than makes up for it. If your collection still doesn't have an R2-D2, go ahead and get this one. If you already have the other dozen or so R2-D2s... well, there's always room for one more, isn't there?

Availability:
As of this writing (March 2006), this is a current figure and easily available in numerous stores, including Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and K B Toys.