Geonosis Arena Battle - SW [TPM 3D] - Battle Packs

Added: March 7th 2012
Category: Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D]
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Geonosis Arena Battle
Collection: Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D]
Number: N/A (Battle Packs)
Source: Attack Of The Clones
Availability: January 2012
License: Hasbro

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The Geonosian arena is rocked by an intense battle. On Geonosis, secret factories are churning out hundreds of battle droids and super battle droids for the growing Separatist movement. Obi-Wan Kenobi fights Geonosian warriors and battle droids that overflow into the arena, as Jango Fett takes on the Jedi and clone troopers.

Jango Fett took on the clone troopers? That's only the beginning to where this Battle Packs gets it rating of "total debacle" from us. Sigh. Well, Hasbro has seemingly done it again. They’ve killed the Evolutions line. They’ve killed the Comic Packs line. And now it appears that they’re hell bent on killing the Battle Packs line, a line that used to be one of the most anticipated lines each year. Instead of bringing exclusive and never before released figures to this fan favorite format, Hasbro scoops inferior sculpts and poor articulation from the bottom of their catalogue “barrel” and cull together a multipack that simply makes collectors scratch their heads, then stew in anger. Expect the Battle Packs line to go the way of the dinosaurs in the near future. Hasbro just doesn’t seem to realize that it’s collectors (and not kids) supporting this line. But what we won’t support is the numbingly incessant repacks of garbage sold to look as if it’s something new. You already know how we feel about the Rebel Heroes Battle Packs set, well the Geonosis Arena Battle set isn’t much better. It’s upsetting that this is what Battle Packs have become. Where in the world has your vision and love for this medium gone Hasbro?

If there is any saving grace with the Geonosis Arena Battle Battle Packs set (and there isn’t), it’s the inclusion of another super-articulated Battle Droid. But you probably have more of these than you’d ever want again. And then what we can best describe as cruel fate, Hasbro included 2002’s SW Jango Fett (Kamino Escape) ('02 #13) and 2003’s SW bi-Wan Kenobi (Outlander Encounter) ('03 #39), two figures mind you that were initially accidentally added to 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Saga Legends line before being quickly replaced with the correct “better’ versions of those characters. But here they are again to ruin the line in 2012. Can you sense our bitterness? You have to understand that we have been with the Battle Packs line since it was birthed in 2005. And it was the most anticipated sub-line of all. We actually looked forward to them because we could count on Hasbro to bring us one, two, three, four or even five all-new for “new enough” figures in them. And some of those early sets were some of the best army-builder sets imaginable. This set however has three figures that not one Star Wars collector, young or old, wants. And it’s a crying shame that Hasbro spent the few dollars on this to repackaged them and produce new game cards. It’s a total waste no matter how you slice it.

Battle Droid is a straight repack of the Battle Droid from 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Battle Droids 2-Pack (SL20) Saga Legends [revised] set. Again, it’s the only figure worthy of inclusion here. Jango Fett is a repaint of 2002’s SW Jango Fett (Kamino Escape) ('02 #13) figure except that Hasbro has managed to include the correct backpack on hi for this release. It’s also worth nothing that this helmet is missing the two parallel horizontal black lines. He’s also missing his gauntlet string and attachment. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a very slight repaint of the figure last included in 2009’s LC Kamino Conflict Battle Packs set. You should translate that as he isn’t new enough for you to consider buying him again. Had the Geonosis Arena Battle Battle Packs set include updated figures to Jango Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, it would have turned out significantly better. But there is no way collectors are going to support a set like this that has figures dating back to 2002 and 2003. If you must have the repaint to Jango Fett, just wait until these sets get blown out on clearance. Trust us when we tell you they aren’t going to be going anywhere at all. Sets like this leave us feeling utterly defeated.

Collector Notes

Geonosis Arena Battle

Assortment Number: 37826/37822

UPC: 653569697305

Retail: $21.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.

Battle Droid

Status: Battle Droid is a repack of the figure from 2010's SW [SOTDS] Battle Droid 2-Pack (SL20) Saga Legends set.

Articulation Count: 12 points

Articulation Details: ball-socket head, sliding-joint neck, 2 ball-socket shoulders, 2 swivel elbows, 2 ball-socket hips, 2 swivel knees, 2 swivel ankles

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: droid blaster, removable backpack

Date Stamp: 2008

Jango Fett

Status: Jango Fett is a repaint of 2002's SW Jango Fett (Kamino Escape) ('02 #13) figure. (The figure was subsequently rereleased as 2003's SW Jango Fett (Kamino Escape) ('03 #20) figure and then again as 2006's TSC Jango Fett (SAGA 020) figure.)

Articulation Count: 8 points

Articulation Details: swivel head, 2 swivel shoulders, 2 swivel biceps, swivel waist, 2 swivel hips

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: Merr-Sonn JT-12 jetpack, removable helmet, 2 Westar-34 blaster pistols

Date Stamp: 2001

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Status: Obi-Wan Kenobi is a slight repaint of the Obi-Wan Kenobi figure from 2009's LC Kamino Conflict Battle Packs set. This particular version of Obi-Wan Kenobi is originally a repaint of 2003's SW Obi-Wan Kenobi (Outlander Encounter) ('03 #39) figure. What makes this version of Obi-Wan Kenobi stand out is that the legs have also been slightly repositioned to include a wider stance. The paint job is significantly improved when compared to the original release (not that it helps the outdated sculpt much).

Articulation Count: 10 points

Articulation Details: swivel neck, 2 ball-jointed shoulders, swivel left bicep, swivel right wrist, swivel waist, 2 swivel hips, 2 hinge-jointed knees

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: lightsaber

Date Stamp: 2003





Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D] Battle Packs Wave 1
Geonosis Arena Battle
Rebel Heroes
Republic Troopers



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