Clone Attack On Coruscant - ROTS - Battle Packs (Exclusive)

These clone troopers spring into battle as a massive droid army swarms upon Coruscant. As members of the Republic's mighty army corps, these clone troopers exit their gunships and engage the enemy in close-quarter combat, showing no inclinations of fear, hesitation or remorse.

Their commander takes charge and orders the troopers to protect their designated areas at all costs. Using their blaster rifles and pistols, these troopers take down droid after droid... until the secret declaration of Order 66. Now, these once loyal members of the Republic Army will change allegiances and serve a new master.

Hasbro wasn’t given ample information about what types of clones would indeed be appearing in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. While it would be ridiculous to even claim that Hasbro didn’t give us enough Clone Trooper action figures at the April 2005 Hasbro street date for new product, what we did get instead of screen accurate clones (for the most part) were concept clones; ones rejected for the final cut of Episode III, as well as some Hasbro concepts thrown in for good measure. So Hasbro shifted into catch-up mode at the films release, seemingly in some sort of neurotic panic to start getting out clones like Shock Troopers and the 41st Elite Corps out to collectors before we whined them to death. The process was a bit rushed, but Hasbro did a fair job and getting out as much as they could as quickly as they could. One set that we were happy to grab (initially) was the Clone Attack On Coruscant TARGET exclusive Battle Packs. The set is bittersweet at best, but Hasbro loaded it with four of the 41st Elite Corps Clone Troopers (the ones with the gray color flashes on their armor). The set was appreciated, but unfortunately the used the Deluxe Clone Trooper (you know, the one with the jetpack) as the base mold. This frustratingly mediocre Clone Trooper body wasn’t the best Hasbro could have used, but collectors were so eager for this battalion that we probably didn’t care like we should have.

Believe it or not, the Clone Trooper has a nice amount of articulation. However, between the swivel shoulders and pre-positioned swivel elbows (and no wrist articulation), we quickly realized how much we wanted new super-articulated clones from the 41st Elite Corps. (We’re never happy are we?) Between the limited articulation (we should actually say useless articulation) and the gaping holes in their backs (to accompany that dreaded jet backpack), the Clone Trooper action figures left us with the feeling that there was very little to be desired. Oh, and they were literal clones of each other. All four Clone trooper action figures have to hold their arms in the same positions which makes for a very boring display (and play) scenario. Hasbro attempted to change the clones up a bit by giving two of the DC-15A blaster rifles and the other two DC-15 blasters. (We certainly appreciated some diversity here even if it isn’t ideal.) In a surprising move, Hasbro included “their own” unique Clone Commander in the set. It seems as if he was almost modeled after the look of the popular ARC Troopers seen in Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars both in paint job and style. Hasbro took 2005’s ROTS Commander Bacara (III 49) and repainted in all-new colors. Sadly, the inclusion of this figure technically sources this Battle Packs set to the Expanded Universe. But there is an interesting tidbit of information that could change that line of thinking altogether.

We obtained the Clone Attack On Coruscant set from TARGET by utilizing the DPCI at our local store. When the clerk brought out the case, he broke open the deal and started pulling out the Battle Packs (it was full of the Clone Attack On Coruscant since it was a TARGET exclusive). Unbelievably, every last Battle Packs set in the case was packaged with five, not four (41st Elite Corps) Clone Troopers and no Clone Commander. Whether a mistake, a variation or just a grand scheme worked out jointly by Hasbro and TARGET, variations like this exist. Please don’t think it’s a scam should you see it on eBay. We still have these variation sets in our own collection to prove it. But as more time passes, it’s likely that the desire for this set will go the way of the dinosaur. Hasbro updated the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper in the 2005 ROTS Evolutions set, and since that is a premium line for collectors, it puts this Battle Packs sculpt to shame. Battle Packs are a perfect way for Hasbro to beat out a quick group of army-builders for kids and collectors. And the Clone Attack On Coruscant set serves a great purpose. These sets are fine, but Hasbro must bang out super-articulated versions of all the clone troopers that appear in Episode III. Until that is completed to our liking (and our standards), they better just keep pressing along the dirty and dusty trail until they reach that goal. There is no such thing as enough clones.