BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset - SW [TLJ] - Playsets

If your response to the BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset is “Hasbro finally makes a playset, and they give us this?” then you’re probably going to miss out on one of the most interesting things they’ve created in years. It’s a fair point that collectors have been begging Hasbro for playsets for years now. No one denies that. But you also shouldn’t criticize the BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset without playing with it yourself. It’s a great deal of fun and includes a nice amount of play options and pack-in figures and different play scenarios that create a world of imagination for both kids and collectors. We’re personally not crazy about the BB-8 outer shell that makes up the backing of this playset, but Hasbro has done so well with the sculpting and tooling that we almost cannot find fault with it. What’s more, the BB-8 feature of this playset is interactive with the user and offers additional play value. It would be wise if you give this unique and hefty set a chance. The name is clumsy, but if we’re honest Hasbro has great difficulty naming multipacks the last couple of years. But BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset just is a terrible name. Thankfully the contents of this package are not terrible. BB-8 is utilized as a shell of the shape of the playset on the reverse side. It takes some time and patience to put the labels on and snap on some of the loose pieces but once completed, you’re left with a pretty remarkable set. Think “Sequel Trilogy Death Star,” and that’s probably a perfect description of it. Whether this playset is screen accurate (it likely is not) or just pulled from various reference materials Hasbro has, there is no denying that when assembled this is a pretty incredible playset. The set transforms quickly and easily from BB-8 to “Death Star” so you won’t have any trouble with that. The BB-8 features and sounds and lights are neat, but the playset’s lights and sounds are so much more exciting!

There are four different levels of the playset. The top level is Supreme Leader Snoke’s throne room. The next level is a shipyard or hangar. There is action happening on the decals in the background, like explosions for example, and they accent this level of the playset beautifully. There is also a bridge that “explodes” off of the playset when a button is pushed to activate it. There are also lights that light up for extra effect. It’s great. The third level is perhaps our most favorite. It is reminiscent of the control room that C-3PO and R2-D2 stayed in while Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca went to rescue Princess Leia Organa from her prison cell. You can’t help but make the connection. To further link this playset to A New Hope, there is a trap door that dumps into a trash compactor with a dianoga keeping guard of it. Seeing connectors like this to the Original Trilogy is a real heartwarming experience for old collectors like us. It allows for a greater appreciation and hope that even better sets might be part of the future. You could set up the entire BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset with Original Trilogy action figures and save for some of the ST characters shown in the decals, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell this was inspired by the Sequel Trilogy. We’re overstating this probably, but hopefully, you’ll catch our drift. There is also a cannon on the floor that activates when you move it counterclockwise. The column above it lights up when activated. The lower level of the playset has the most references to the Sequel Trilogy. For example, there is a battalion of First Order Stormtroopers, and Hasbro added the torture chair that Kylo Ren kept Poe Dameron and Rey in as he tried to draw information out of them. There is no real bottom floor on this level, so you have extra room for play on this level which is always a good thing.

The pack-ins here maybe aren’t so premium, but they’re noteworthy and appreciated. Included is a unique Elite Praetorian Guard. The figure’s head sculpt is unique and is the same shape as the one included with 2017’s TBS [P3] Elite Praetorian Guard 3.75” super-articulated figure. This is the 5POA version. The figure comes with a single blade weapon and looks awesome holding it. Robed figures do not work well in the 5POA format, but the sculpting and tooling are nice as long as you don’t articulate the figure. We’re going to need a lot of these characters to round out Snoke’s army of eight. They’re slowly but surely coming in the 5POA format. As of the BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset’s release, this is the only way that you can secure the 5POA version of Supreme Leader Snoke. The figure looks great, but again, the articulation is a terrible setback. Thankfully a super-articulated version is coming in The Vintage Collection in Spring 2018. That being said, Supreme Leader Snoke is beautifully painted. The gold paint they used to color his robes is quite impressive. It’s very bright, and we’re quite taken with how shiny it is. There is also a nice amount of wash and texture added to this gold which gives it stunning depth. This guy is creepy, and this creepiness comes through perfectly in this simple action figure. Also included with the BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset is the Force Link wristband. This is what activates all of the lights, and spoken lines within the playsets and the figures included here. There is a large amount of information in the manual, so you should take some time and read all of the directions so you and your family can make the most of this wonderful playset. Is the BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset perfect? Probably not. Is it worth $200? Probably not. Should you give it a chance? We can’t think of a stronger way to say yes. So yes.