Snowtrooper - Premium Format Figures

'Imperial Troops have entered the base!'

A detachment of Imperial soldiers specially trained to operate in arctic climates, Snowtroopers are best known for their assault on Echo Base at the Battle of Hoth.

There have always been incredible Star Wars characters produced in Sideshow Collectibles’ popular Premium Format Figures line, but it’s been only in the last few years that it’s been visibly evident more than ever that Sideshow means business. They’re making Star Wars characters that fans have requested for years and finally making them a reality for our collections. And even if we haven’t necessarily asked for them, we want them and cannot wait for their release. The Snowtrooper Premium Format Figure has been a long-requested item by hardcore collectors of the line, as well as the casual collectors. It’s finally here and it should impress those who have been waiting in the wings for it. Sideshow Collectibles ensured that they produced the infantry Snowtrooper and not the Snowtrooper Commander like Hasbro has seemed to use interchangeably throughout the years. The Snowtrooper has been reproduced in glorious 1:4 scale and he stands atop an Eksoan Class-4T3 power generator left behind by the Rebels evacuating Echo Base. And for Sideshow Exclusive collectors, the Rebels have also left behind the remains of K-3PO, the Echo Base protocol droid that just didn’t fare well by the end of the Battle of Hoth.

The Snowtrooper looks fantastic. He is definitely showcased in an action pose, and if we had to nitpick we would comment that his lean looks ever so slightly unnatural at some angles. Thankfully you will be able to find plenty of ways to position him so it won’t detract from an otherwise perfect collectible. As they always do, Sideshow Collectibles has utilized mixed media here. You’ll discover polystone armored pieces, moleskin inspired soft-goods and even metal details in the base to recreate as accurately as possible these “props” from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. As with all Sideshow Collectibles products, collectors have very little to worry about when it comes to their spectacular sculpts, but the art in the hand-painted details are what always knock these high-end collectibles out of the park. The same is true for the Snowtrooper. We’re are completely stunned with the level of artistry that has been forever captured in this collectible. His visor, while very dark, has been painted in dark green, not black. His uniform is overall dirty and yellowed, not bright white. And yet these dirtying details don’t take over the piece. In other words, you don’t look at this piece and think the Snowtrooper is dirty. You are left with the idea that he has seen quite a few battles and has grown into his military duds. Simply put, the deco on this piece is beautiful.

If we had to complain about this piece, we would first have to mention the MSRP. Star Wars collectibles are now pricing collectors out of the market. The Snowtrooper (either version) retails for $379.99 and new Premium Format Figures are being pre-ordered dangerously exceeding the $400 mark. To think that this line started off around the $250 mark, the current MSRP is unsettling. Collectors’ salaries have not increased that much on average (percentage wise) and at what point do we say it’s no longer worth it? We think we are almost at that point, sadly. If there is a way for Sideshow Collectibles to reduce the MSRP, we beg them to do that. They consistently continue to alienate the longtime collectors of this format. So what will they do when there isn’t a market to support it? We don’t mean to sound so grim, but the pricing is alarming at best. One other tiny, tiny complaint we have is the Sideshow Exclusive piece. We really wish that Sideshow Collectibles would have developed a larger portion of K-3PO, like maybe head and chest section (battle-damaged of course) to accompany this piece. It just doesn’t seem like it makes too much sense for this Snowtrooper to come across just the head of K-3PO. OK, maybe we need to use our imaginations a bit more, but it feels like we need more. Other than that, the Snowtrooper is pure perfection. We can’t wait to see what’s next!