R2-D2 - TCW [B] - Basic (No. 8)

Added: December 27th 2009
Category: Clone Wars [Blue], The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: R2-D2
Collection: The Clone Wars [Blue]
Number: No. 8
Source: The Clone Wars (Film)
Availability: July 2008
License: Hasbro

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The feisty little astromech droid R2-D2 is along for a perilous mission that takes Anakin to the B'omarr monk monastery on the planet Teth to rescue Jabba's young son. When Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka are hemmed in by battle droids and hunted by the vengeful Asajj Ventress, Artoo locates a backdoor landing platform that may help them escape from their enemies.

The most successful figures in The Clone Wars line tend to be those characters that have seen screen time in the live action movies. Not necessarily a rule of thumb, familiarity is responsible for playing a significant role in the translation of main Star Wars characters into animated form being successful. Clearly this makes sense. Would the animated version of R2-D2 be so cool if it weren't for his presence in Episode IV? Actually, this is a bad example, because The Clone Wars R2-D2 is indeed an awesome action figure and we believe it would have been a great seller were it a new droid that we didn't see before in the films. But Star Wars collectors subscribe to and identify with the films first and foremost and any characters that appear in those said films will remain desired in another style of action figures. Whether you are fans of the animated The Clone Wars television series or not, there is no denying how awesome so many of the figures based on this TV show look as final action figures in this line. R2-D2 is no exception and his action figure is probably one of the best in the entire series so far. We don't use the word "best" so loosely, so it is a compliment for this figure to get so much praise from us. Still, this extra plucky version of R2-D2 is a nice action figure to have. He actually comes with more bells and whistles than most of what Hasbro has included in various collectors' lines.

Hasbro probably worried about reaching a delicate balance to impress figure from the animated line to appease both kids and collectors, but we think they succeeded with so many of the basic figures. In this example, R2-D2 has action features, but they has been cleverly worked into a natural aesthetic of the character and the action figure excels at every level. Likely not to frustrate collectors, the bells and whistles on this figure can be looked at more like features than specifically action features. You may not see too much of a difference in these terms, but we think there is a distinct difference. Action features tend to encumber the natural look of a figure, while features are merely what a figure can or can't do or perform. The front panels on his body open up to reveal two extension arms that are housed within his frame. Additionally, there is a back panel that opens up and has a grappling hook and rope (with significant length may we add). This cable has the capability to be wound and unwound by which way you decide to turn the figure's head. Everything fits well inside the figure's interior and all panels can be closed at once without looking as if something is trying to poke through and it is such a fantastic bonus feature. R2-D2 looks great and exactly as he does in The Clone Wars television show and feature film. The blues are beautiful and he has an amazing finishing wash which captures some of the dirt and damage he obviously sustained during his many adventures in space.

He has been finished off with jet rockets on his arms in exactly the same way we saw in Episode II and Episode III and they complete him very well. As a whole, R2-D2 easily and quickly ranks as one of the better figures in Hasbro's illustrious cast of awesome action figures from The Clone Wars line. While significantly looking a whole lot better in the action figure line than his close friend C-3PO, R2-D2 is so good because he is in perfect scale and faithful to his look in the multimedia event (more so than C-3PO). While C-3PO is good, he is lacking in a few areas that take away from him getting a perfect score. R2-D2 on the other hand in nearly flawless in all areas and we give him a grade that will easily put him at the top of the class. Because of how well he was designed, it is evident that he made both kids and collectors very happy. A great seller, R2-D2 didn't have much success being a peg-warmer. In fact, he has been released in the red phase of The Clone Wars line and continues to sell very well. if you haven't picked this figure up yet than you are missing out on a wonderful product. The tooling costs we assume were not cheap for him. R2-D2 will be the perfect template for future R2 units in the line (and dare we say R5 units, we only can hope). We know that R2-D2 will impress you in many ways. Even if you're not a fan of the animated line, we believe that you will be able to admit just how cool this version of R2-D2 is!

Collector Notes

R2-D2

Status: R2-D2 is an all-new figure.

Articulation Count: 15 points (15 points of articulation)

Articulation Details: swivel dome (1), sliding sensorscope (1), swivel left leg (1), swivel right leg (1), hinge-jointed left foot (1), hinge-jointed right foot (1), left leg rolling wheel (1), right leg rolling wheel (1), third leg rolling wheel (1), hinge-jointed front left panel door (1), hinge-jointed front right panel door (1), hinge-jointed back panel door (1), hinge-jointed data link utility tool (1), hinge-jointed extension arm utility tool (1), extendable cord (1)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: 2 removable booster rockets

Date Stamp: 2008

Assortment Number: 87664/87638

UPC: 653569325901

Retail: $6.99 USD

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









R2-D2

The Clone Wars [Blue] Wave 1

Anakin Skywalker (No. 1)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (No. 2)

Yoda (No. 3)

Captain Rex (No. 4)

Clone Trooper (No. 5)

General Grievous (No. 6)

Battle Droid (No. 7)

R2-D2 (No. 8)



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