'03 | #09 R2-D2 - Droid Factory Flight (Reviewed 04-07-2003)

Includes:
• 2 Jet Flames

"Who made this thing, Hasbro or Duncan?" - Hasbro has had its ups and downs, but there is absolutely no reason to unload so many versions of the same character time and time again.

Click thumbnail for large image J: Well Spice, you knew it was only a matter of time before Hasbro turned yet another version of R2-D2 loose on us. Since we began our review series back in March 2002, we've mentioned him, Vader, Chewy and your favorite, Qui Gon Jinn, countless time, and have sseen the Episode II Saga April 23rd R2 (both variants, and with or without insert background), R2 from Luke's Dagobah X-Wing (repainted Episode I R2-B1), and the 25th Anniversary Silver R2. Add to those the Sneak Preview R3-T7, Power of the Jedi R4-M9, and then repaints of each of those: Star Tours R3-D3 and R4-M9. Click thumbnail for large image Spice - Yes, and let us not forget how many incarnations have been done prior to those: Red Cards, Green Cards, Episode 1, POTF Green Carded Commtech, and the short-lived flashback photo series, and they didn't miss a beat with the R2-D2 Naboo Escape in the POTJ series either. So they have really given everybody a chance to score an R2-D2. A very integral part of the Star Wars world, heck I'd go as far to say savior of the Universe. Click thumbnail for large image J - Now we have here the Fifth Coming, a scene-specific R2-D2 from the Geonosis Droid Factory and Arena Battle sequences. At least they tried to do something DRASTICALLY different here with the flight simulation and the string. But, like the last drastic R2 (1999's Flasbback version with launching lightsaber) it ends up sacrificing final appearance, ending up a little dizzy looking overall. Click thumbnail for large image Spice - So now we get this 'new' figure, oh, most definitely we needed this. I just don't think my collection would be quite complete without it. No, really this version is silly, who made this thing Hasbro or Duncan? There is absolutely no reason to unload so many versions of the same character time and time again. Click thumbnail for large image J - Now, what is just plain silly? You go through the trouble of conceptualizing an R2-D2 with intense mechanical operations built in, even hiding all the function within the confines of the R2 body, much like how they stuck "The man in the can" himself, Kenny Baker in there, and you forget to add that nice blue neck band around the bottom of R2's dome. I had a bad feeling when I saw the prototype pictures of this one several months ago, but I told myself Hasbro would rectify this anachronism before it got mass produced. I was wrong, but not surprised. Click thumbnail for large image Spice - Yes, the head on this figure is absolutely the worst I have seen in quite some time, did they run out of paint? Would it not be Hasbro if they didn't? It is sort of the same thing they do to one of America's most popular heroes, Batman. While there are many great characters in the Batman story line, that deserve to be made, Hasbro simply cranks out Bat after Bat every year, kinda makes ya Batty! In all seriousness, this figure has a yo yo feature but other than that more of the same. There just seems to be nothing more to offer. What ever happened to good old-fashioned imagination? If they are making these for children and not concerned with collectors, (as they claim) why not leave something to the imagination? Spice - If the paint job wasn't enough to tick off the Pope, the string does not roll up properly for concealment. Couldn't they just use the basic technology of a yo yo? Another thing I see that is not right is the first Saga R2 made the noises and such, there was no way to slap a micro-chip in this one to do the same? It just seems if you remake something you have to make it that much better than the previous one and this thing is really taking two steps back after the previous one took a great leap forward for this Astromech. J - They tried real hard to make this thing wrap up like a straight up Hoover Vacuum. I swear they must have simply scoped out the back of their office vacuum cleaner, decided that would work well on this figure, and called it good. You're right Spice, the end of the line will be hanging out loose at every opportunity. The tabs on R2's simply don't have enough depth to capture all the windings of the cable when you wind it up for storage. A hole and pin connection somewhere inconspicuous on the back to hold it in place would have supplemented the feature and actually made it work. Spice - Okay, they made some changes to the existing figure with the rocket feature, and they did include the retractable third leg, which was hit and miss in these figures through the years, but it still doesn't make up for the lack of detail in this. What happened? Did the real scan machine break down that day? Did they hire a new guy or something? I just don't get it, is this worth adding to a four hundred plus figure collection? I don't think since Jar Jar Tatooine, way back in the POTJ series, have they created something so poor. J - Now, I like the R2 character, among my five favorites in the Sga for sure, but they always seem to bad a bad spin on these figures, never capturing the true shape and look of him. When Hasbro has a shape as simple as a tube with a round top (Unigraphics software would call these PRIMITIVE SOLIDS), they unfortunately abandon the REAL SCAN stuff and figure they can get it right on their own - BIG mistake! I liked the idea of the boosters, but the flare effects keep falling off whenever you look at them. The permanently fixed legs make for a bulky look too. My favorite R2 is still the POTJ version and I really liked the non-film accurate Episode I version with the excellent retractable leg and cool colors a lot better than this new one. Sure, now you can reenact the deal of pulling C-3PO's head along, but that's about it here folks. FINAL THOUGHTS: Jason - What else can I say? The head turns and it's not Qui-Gon Jinn AGAIN, but they shorted you on paint and left the cord hangin', so thumbs down here. Spice - Yes, I strongly agree with you about this one J, what is going on here? We have completely agreed on the last two reviews! Holy Mother Cleo J-Man! I'd have much rather spent the 5-6 dollars on a cool figure, the very least they could have done was painted it right. Yeah, sure that feature with the Deluxe C-3P0 is there, but really, to quote the Professor 'This is such a drag!' Thumbs down, all day long on this one. HIT ME WITH THE DIGITS AMERICA!   Grades J Spice Visual Impact 3.1 2.0 Detail & Paint 1.8 1.7 Accessories/Weapons 2.9 3.5 Articulation/Function 4.1 4.5 Overall 3.8 3.2 No Strings Attached I don't really wanna make it tough I just wanna tell you that I had enough It might sound crazy But it ain't no lie ... I just wanna tell you that this one sucks Go buy a Duncan Yo Yo for maybe five or six bucks Hasbro's lazy But it says he flies Bye Bye Bye   -       This thing is not worth the 'flight' feature,       I'd rather buy Larry 'Bud' Melman's Toast on a Stick, certainly a better value +       it isn't Qui-Gon Jinn -       whoopy! It goes up and down on a string. WOW ! That is some serious technology there -       why bother adding a third leg and pivoting ankles when there is no way to use them? -       Blaster jets very shoddy, are they worth the money for two ¼ inch pieces of plastic? (Figure '03 | #09, Asst. No. 84851, Item No. 84922, Backing Card P/N 6190300700, Window Insert P/N 6190540700, Date code 30021 (1st shift on 2nd days of 2003; can be unique for different samples of the same figure) ) What's your opinion? Post your feedback here in the Forums: http://www.thejawa.com/YaBBse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=3763