Attack On Hoth - SW [SOTDS] - Exclusives

The Rebel base on Hoth is under attack! An All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) walker strides across the ground toward Echo Base. The vehicle's blaster cannons and concussion launcher give the walker plenty of firepower, while the height and mobility provide significant advantages during attacks. On the ground, snowtroopers slam the Rebel base with laser fire from an E-Web heavy repeating blaster.

One thing is for sure as far as Hasbro is concerned. They know how to please collectors when they want to do so. The TARGET exclusive multipacks are among some of their finest work and both the Defense of Hoth and Attack On Hoth sets impress on so many levels. Hasbro followed a protocol that should ensure quick sell through and collector appeasement with them by including new figures, accessories fans want to see available again for purchase and a focus on product that is inspired from The Empire Strikes Back during its 30 year anniversary. The Attack On Hoth set is the Imperial flavored version of the Defense Of Hoth, an antithesis of sorts. If you decide to purchase both, you will have a balanced army building collection of figures. And these figures are done so well. The Attack On Hoth set is not exactly as refreshing as the Defense Of Hoth set, but it still gets us excited and we hope it will do the same for you. In addition to a Hoth styled AT-ST utilizing the improved 2009 LC AT-ST (All Terrain Armored Transport), Hasbro also included two awesome and repainted Snowtroopers based on the 2007 VTSC Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) that have seen release multiple times since including 2009's LC Snowtrooper (BD55) and 2010's SW [SOTDS] Hoth Assault Battle Packs set. But yes, Hasbro repaints them again making yet another unique version of this cool figure. The bonus to this set is the new AT-ST Driver which slightly confuses the source of this set since we never saw these troopers in Episode V. But since we did see them in Return Of The Jedi, we assume that Hasbro is extending that theme to this set, even though we'd think they would be in warmer attire. But we digress.

The AT-ST is awesome to get another stab at in the Star Wars toy line. But there are a few bonuses this time. Do you remember how the "head" of your Legacy Collection "Endor" AT-ST would fall off if the wind blew a little too strongly? Hasbro has slightly retooled the separate neck joint so that it snugly fits into both grooves more tightly and the head stays on place without issue now. Hasbro has also managed to tighten the various joints in the "chicken legs" and the AT-ST can be posed without issue. This may not seem like it's that big of a deal, but you would be wrong. Nothing is more frustrating than a toy that falls apart in your hands. Hasbro has remedied these issues with satisfying results. The AT-ST has an all-new paint job to accurately reflect its appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. So the base gray color has been replaced with white and the brown weathered markings are replaced with dark gray. You can definitely tell this AT-ST belongs on Hoth and not Endor. Hasbro has also graced us with an all-new AT-ST Driver to pilot this cool vehicle. We'd like to think that Snowtroopers (or even AT-AT Drivers) pilot these vehicles on Hoth. But we will certainly take an all-new super-articulated AT-ST Driver regardless. The figure is amazing. He comes with 14 points of articulation and has a rather generic appearance. He has a removable helmet and set of goggles. The goggles fit tightly over both the figure's head as well as the helmet. (Check our photo gallery for reference.) AT-ST Driver also has separately molded "suspenders" that are well fitted on his uniform. This figure is extremely well designed and we hope that Hasbro includes it into the basic line as soon as possible.

The rest of the set may be less exciting to you, but we are very happy to get more of good things. Also included are two more Snowtrooper figures and the E-Web Cannon. Unfortunately the E-Web Cannon comes sans power box. We don't know why Hasbro neglects to include this very important pieces every time they issue this accessory. We may just need to address this in one of our Q&A sessions with Hasbro. Both Snowtroopers are new repaints to the figures we have seen issued previously. The paint jobs are a little bit cleaner than in the past, but they still look fantastic. Overall, this set ranks #2 next to the Defense Of Hoth set, but its eclipse by this set just a hair. Both are incredible additions to the line. We still think that Hasbro needs to abandon modern packaging for anything realistic-styled. Primarily this is a line that is purchased by adult collectors and not kids, so we're not sure how relevant it is to have Captain Rex on the box. However, we will be shocked if this has any affect on the sales of these sets. These are high quality, high value and affordable sets that give collectors a lot of cool things for their collections. And the inclusion of a new figure in each is just gravy. Hasbro may be gun shy with their exclusive releases since most the last few years have rotted on shelves. We don't know if this means that this years exclusives will be made in significantly lower numbers or not. One thing is for sure and that is Jabba's Throne has been quite the chore to find at retail. But we hope more of those are on the way. This is an affordable set and worth the $39.99. It is our recommendation to get this when you see it. It will make you a very happy collector!