Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset) - POTF2 [FB/CT] - Miscellaneous

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Things were beginning to change with the Star Wars line as it transitioned into the “FlashBack/CommTech” phase of The Power Of The Force line. Not content with focusing on only action figures and vehicles, Hasbro introduced Star Wars collectors into the gaming world with the release of the Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset). To pique the interest of their established customer base, Hasbro added a unique Han Solo action figure, complete with hinge-jointed knees, to sit at the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit. The Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset) is an interesting item. Severely overpriced, the item didn’t do well at retail, and many collectors found this release for pennies on the dollar with substantial clearance sales. The so-called playset is interactive with the keyboard of your computer. There is even a “safety belt” to strap the playset closely to the keyboard to ensure precise gameplay. When you placed the CD-ROM into your PC, the game would launch, and then you’d interact with the game via levers and buttons on the Millennium Falcon playset. Whether pressing down a chair, or pressing a blue rounded button, these actions allow you to navigate through the game and acquire various attainments for points.

The Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset) is interesting. It’s not great. It’s not screen-accurate. But it offers collectors a widened array of the cockpit that isn’t at all possible with a 3.75” scaled Millennium Falcon vehicle. The Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset) has two cockpit chairs, one for Han Solo and one for Chewbacca. And then there are two stations for the droids, C-3PO and R2-D2. Again, keep in mind that all of these placeholders for the figures are here to interact with various parts in the game. Both C-3PO’s and R2-D2’s stations are press-down buttons and interact with the game just like Han Solo’s or Chewbacca’s chairs do. There is also a gunner station to the left of the cockpit, and the game suggests placing Luke Skywalker there. It also allows you to create an action-packed scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. There are separate pieces that you have to attach to the Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset) to complete it. These parts include a small bridge for figures to stand on, a ramp that comes down from the bridge. And lastly, you snap on a cannon to a post in the front of the playset. Again, there are some impressive aspects of the Millennium Falcon (CD-ROM Playset). But overall, it’s not too authentic.

Perhaps the biggest deal here is the all-new Han Solo figure. It doesn’t look all that different from the Han Solo figure part of 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Millennium Falcon With Han Solo Gunner Station set, but it’s important to note that this version of Han Solo is all-new. The likeness is nothing new. Hasbro utilized a version of the same dang head sculpt that they’ve used since 1995, and it’s getting tired fast. This tie the head sculpt has a headset molded into it to help sell the theme of a pilot a little better. The figure is also notable for coming with hinge-jointed knees. This added articulation allows you to pose the figure seated in the chair in the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit naturally and believably. Despite the added articulation, however, Han Solo functions terribly as an action figure. It doesn’t stand up well, and you can’t pose it in too many ways thanks to the limited articulation system. Han Solo comes without any accessories as well. The set has a ridiculous MSRP of $49.99, and it didn’t perform as it should have at retail. (Editor’s Note: Special thanks to YouTube channel The Silver Ketchup for providing a complete run-through of the game which enabled us to grab screenshots for our Photo Gallery.)