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'08 | #14  Emperor's Shadow Guard - The Force Unleashed (Reviewed 10-12-2008) 

Includes:
• Lightsaber / Staff
• Blaster Pistol
• Random Cheat Code for TFU
• Stand 

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: The Force Unleashed is very innovative with the variety of new characters to battle test Vader's Secret Apprentice throughout the course of the game. One of the more challenging foes you stumble across is the Shadow Guard. I could almost see through the black robe to know it was a Royal Guard from the 2006 Revenge of the Sith line. Hasbro must high-five all across the office when they realize they can simply repaint an existing figure and ship it out the door. What they don't understand is even though it was a great mold, changes should have been made. Another thing that immediately disturbed me the first time I laid eyes on this figure was the "lightsaber-like" blade instead of the traditional pike. I'm sorry the only characters that should be toting lightsabers around should be Jedi or Sith. I don't think just anyone should be carrying a lightsaber.

Click thumbnail for large image There is no doubt the weapon is pretty creative on the part of Hasbro. I'm really surprised they went with so much new into one package. It must have set them back trillions! I did really enjoy the different shades of flat and glossy black in the paint work. It really does catch the eye when you pack the blaster behind the robe. That's probably the best place for it too because the weapon not fitting the hand is par for the course on the entire wave basically. At this point it wasn't really a shock. It doesn't fit very well in either hand so make sure to keep the tiny clear rubber band if you know what is best for display purposes. Another nice thing they could have done would have been adding a removable helmet. If Storm, Clone and any other Trooper aren't sacred these days, what the hell is so secretive about a Shadow Guard that we can't see under the helmet?

Click thumbnail for large image The paint job was great, but some of the other flaws in the arms really got my attention quick. The most notable would have to be the dreaded rolling elbows. You can almost argue they're necessity because of the over-sized weapon, but I'd still much rather see a not-so-cost effective one in its place. At the end of the day, the kids who they make these for are supposed to be factored in. If it were my Mother buying these, I doubt she would continue to buy something that falls apart without much effort. The great folks at Kenner never had these problems, but they didn't have articulation either! The bottom line is most collectors hate this elbow and I think it'd frustrate kids more to lose an arm to have it appear cool to be severed!

Spice - As far as the collector goes this isn't the best figure they've done but by not the worst either by far. Even though there are a few things they could have done better it's almost what I expect out of Hasbro these days. I feel like this line deserves the absolute best every time out. If mistakes are made, they should be corrected if the figure is released again. Needless to say the Shadow Guard is a keeper. You only wish they'd have put just a little bit more into it.

(Figure '08 | #014, Asst. No. 87500, Item No. 87488, Backing Card P/N 6726214100, Window Insert P/N 6652802000) 

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