Artoo is not your "typical" astromech droid...
Written: Oct 21 '09
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Cute figure. "Working" hidden gadgets. Updated packaing for 2008/2009.
Cons: The possibility of the "utility arms" breaking off. No "lights & sounds".
The Bottom Line: Even with the missing "Lights & Sounds", this little droid is an essential figure to include in any Star Wars collection.
|
|
|
| Chris_Billings's Full Review: Hasbro Star Wars The Clone Wars - R2-D2 w/ Hidden ... |
Last year Hasbro introduced a line of figure based on the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated film around the time of its theatrical release. The Clone Wars line of figures is sculpted differently than the main line so that they match their animated counterparts with exaggerated and cartoonish features.
In 2008 Hasbro released a re-sculpted R2-D2 action figure. The new version is much more "cute" and squatty (approximately 2.5 inches tall) looking when compared with the many other incarnations of the iconic character. The detailing is kept to a minimum to match the "cartoon" look and theme of this particular line of figures. Hasbro did add some "working" features though to the figure to make up for the lack of detailing. R2-D2 still looks like a trashcan with a domed lid.
R2-D2 (w/ Hidden Gadgets) features two front panels that open on tiny hinges to expose two little tool-arms that swing out; one with a hook to "grab" things and the other is a replica of his "data arm" used to open cargo doors and hack into computer systems, etc. Also there is a telescoping antenna at the top of his "dome" which also turns/rotates 360° that winds and unwinds a nylon "cable" approximately 3 to 4 inches long with a hook at the end.
The small "utility arms" that swing out from the two front panels are fairly fragile and my pop out of their sockets if one is not careful. Other than that the small figure is a fairly stout and durable piece, even the rotating top dome seems to be strong enough to withstand years of winding and unwinding the safety line.
R2-D2 is also packaged with a removable middle leg as well as two booster rockets with pegs that plug into the holes on each side of R2's "arms". The booster rockets also have a translucent/clear blue "flame" at the end of them. The figure has four points of articulation not including the various moveable parts to operate his "hidden gadgets". The upper "arm" on both sides' swivels and the two feet are on hinges so R2 can lean back while he is moving. All three "feet" have small wheels on the bottom so R2 can move/roll freely around on a table top.
The paint job is pretty basic. R2 is molded from a white plastic and the various panels on his body are painted blue. His dome is painted a dark charcoal/silver and blue with his large optic colored a glossy black. Hasbro added some distressing and "dirt" around his legs and feet. There are some inconsistencies with several of the R2-D2 figures I own. A couple of them have a silver and blue dome verses the charcoal and blue that most I have seen on the store shelves. I wasn't sure if it was a mistake or not so I picked up several of each color scheme at the time.
The R2-D2 (w/ Hidden Gadgets) figure was in the first wave of figures released at the "Midnight Madness" release parties at the various stores around town (Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, GameStop, etc). It was also one of the first figures to be packaged in the updated "Clone Trooper helmet" style packaging as well. A select few figure released at each store were also released in a "Day 1 Issue" style packaging with a foil "1st Day of Issue" sticker and the Star Wars logo in a reflective-blue embossing on the card stock. Surprisingly you can still pick up this particular variant on www.hasbrotoyshop.com for only a couple dollars more than the regular issue.
I would like to see some of these "hidden gadgets" incorporated with the battery operated "lights and sounds" of the main line R2-D2 figure. That combination would make for one of the greatest Star Wars figure ever to be released if Hasbro decided to act on it. Other than the possibility of the little "utility arms" breaking off, this figure is pretty well thought of.
_________________________
[ACTION FIGURE]
R2-D2 (w/ Hidden Gadgets)
87664
[SERIES]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
87638
[UNIVERSE]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
[SCALE]
3 3/4" (3.75 inches)
[MANUFACTURER]
Hasbro
(Made in China)
[YEAR]
2008
[COMPANY WEBSITE]
www.hasbro.com
www.hasbrotoyshop.com
www.starwarsshop.com
_________________________
[RELATED REVIEWS]
Hasbro 3 ¾" Action Figures
Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection (2007)
Boba Fett (Animated Debut) | Imperial Stormtrooper | R2-D2 (Lights & Sounds)
Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection (2008)
Covert Ops Clone Trooper | Darth Vader (Battle-Damaged) | Rahm Kota | Utapau Shadow Trooper
Star Wars: The Legacy Collection (2008)
Clone Trooper (327th Star Corps) | Han Solo (Stormtrooper Disguise)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Captain Rex | Clone Trooper (Senate Security) | Count Dooku | General Grievous (Holographic) [Toys R Us Exclusive] | Odd Ball (Clone Pilot) | R2-D2 (Hidden Gadgets)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2009)
Admiral Yularen
_________________________
© COPYRIGHT 2009 Chris_Billings
*Special thanks to Suzanne for adding this product to the Epinions Database!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Other
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Chris_Billings
|
 in Games |
 in Kids & Family |
|
Member: Chris Billings
Location: Spokane Valley, Washington, USA
Reviews written: 188
Trusted by: 272 members
About Me:
"You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?"
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.