First Order Flametrooper - TFA - Armor Up (Space)

Added: September 12th 2015
Category: Force Awakens, The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: First Order Flametrooper
Collection: The Force Awakens
Number: N/A
Source: The Force Awakens
Availability: September 2015
License: Hasbro

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Specialized stormtroopers of the First Order, flametroopers carry incendiary weapons that can transform any battlefield into an infernal blaze.

It’s probably the most inevitable thing when it comes to Hasbro. And it’s that there will be incessant repackaging in any new or old Star Wars line. While it works well for characters that need to be army built, you really have to wonder why some of the characters they choose get designated for one release after the other. That being said, the Flametrooper is admittedly a fantastic choice for an army building character. Although he is simply articulated in The Force Awakens line, he looks pretty darn cool as far as we’re concerned. So, placing him in The Force Awakens line as both a basic Build A Weapon figure as well as an overpriced Armor Up figure might not be the worst thing Hasbro has done. Still, we don’t know how many kids and collectors are going to be willing to plop down an extra $5 for a single accessory (and less everything else) that the basic figure has. And this is what brings us to our point that maybe Hasbro SHOULD NOT be putting the same figures in the Build A Weapon line as the Armor Up line because that’s when you can really see you’re being taken for a ride.

In short, the Flametrooper from the Armor Up line is a straight repack of the First Order Flametrooper from the Build A Weapon line. You just have to look at the Armor Up figure as an extra way to army build him. The issue is that we don’t think that this is the version collectors will be buying up in multiples. Keep in mind that for a simple extra “Armor Up” piece you will be paying a premium. And we don’t think it is that much a novelty where collectors will be buying them up right and left. We also don’t see kids getting too interested in this gimmick either. Kids are into electronics and when it comes to toys, they likely are into LEGO – something buildable. Hasbro has designed some sort of faux “flamethrower” type of shoulder gear in bright orange which wraps around his mostly white armor exterior. It does however look a whole lot more like a life-preserver than a believable military type of apparatus that is used in protecting the figure from harm. The Armor Up piece does fit nicely around the figure and adorns the Flametrooper as best as you’' might imagine.

The Flametrooper itself has five points of articulation. This includes a ball-socket head, two swivel shoulders and two swivel hips. This is about as simple an action figure can be as far as its articulation is concerned. The sculpt is definitely excellent. It’s most bright shiny white and has been accented with fine black details. The figure is without any real uniqueness like insignias for example. And we might be poor at explaining this to you, but there is something very mannequin like about so many of the white First Order troopers. This is once again true for the Flametrooper. We must admit that seeing all of these great sculpts makes out hearts ache to see them in super-articulated fashion. We hope that the Walmart exclusive The Black Series 3.75” line really takes off and gives Hasbro reason to make more and more super-articulated figures from The Force Awakens as well as the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy. Don’t be fooled by the Flametrooper’s beautiful deluxe packaging. You’re not getting a deal here. Save yourself some money and go for the Build A Weapon version. You get more for your money with that release.

Collector Notes

First Order Flametrooper

Status: First Order Flametrooper is a straight repack of 2015's TFA First Order Flametrooper Build A Weapon (Desert) figure.

Articulation Count: 5 points (5 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1) (inhibited movement), swivel left shoulder (1), swivel right shoulder (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: blaster rifle, removable incendiary tanks

Date Stamp: N/A

Collection: Space

Assortment Number: B3894/B3886

UPC: 630509348220

Retail: $12.99 USD

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

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