First Order Snowtrooper - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Figures (12)

The latest generation of cold weather assault Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers wear advanced insulated armor and helmets that reduce the glare of icy terrain.

It’s odd when the army-building infantry version of a character is released AFTER the “officer” version. But that’s what happened with the First Order Snowtrooper. About a month after the dreadful Force Friday, ToysRUs.com started shipping out their exclusive First Order Snowtrooper Officer. Coincidently, some Toys R Us brick and mortar locations also began receiving them. Either way, multiple opportunities existed for collectors to lock down this pretty neat exclusive. Most of us figured out that a more “generic” version of the First Order Snowtrooper Officer would be forthcoming, but we doubt that many of us knew that it would be the SAME EXACT figures sans the brightly colored orange pauldron. To make matters worse, the First Order Snowtrooper was part of a wave that didn’t arrive on time in most areas. But after a cursory review of both figures together, we can report that no differences exist between the two figures. They could even change the insignia on the chest to make one from a different battalion than the other? How disappointing. In short, we already had our generic First Order Snowtrooper when we purchased Toys R Us’ First Order Snowtrooper Officer. (Debbie Downer music....)

As we have said before, the First Order Snowtrooper turned out inexplicably better than anticipated. After the film was released, we learned that they didn’t make a huge appearance in The Force Awakens and most of their prominent scenes were sadly deleted. In all honesty, the First Order Snowtrooper stands out as one of the finest releases in The Black Series [Phase III] line look to date. All of the figures in this line for the most part have turned out exceedingly well, but even in this group of good company, the First Order Snowtrooper shines, literally and figuratively, above the rest despite it rather boring white palette and simple design. The design of the First Order Snowtrooper Officer is stunning. Although we feel these characters resemble those solid and undetailed white mannequins you may find at department stores (because of their lack of discriminating details), they still look pretty sharp nonetheless. This First Order Snowtrooper Officer has an incredible amount of textures etched into its sculpt from head to toe. And the simple a few black details that help shape its personality actually work towards the figure’s benefit than against it.

The First Order Snowtrooper comes with a removable survival backpack, a First Order blaster, and a removable kama (incredible option to make it removable, Hasbro!) are included here. But instead of appearing with a similarly strong “lived-in look” the First Order Snowtrooper Officer is extremely clean and shiny. There isn’t one ounce of dirt on him and that is fine by us. When fully assembled, this figure is brilliant. And it brings a level of joy we haven’t felt in the Star Wars line for a while now. And it totally feels Original Trilogy inspired while looking completely unique. With an outstanding 28 points of articulation, the First Order Snowtrooper can attain every pose you desire (and probably a whole bunch more we just haven’t thought of yet). We’re thanking the Maker that none of the “troopers” in The Force Awakens range have removable helmets, and we’re just as thankful in The Black Series [Phase III] line as well. Forgoing removable helmets ensures that helmets stay in scale with the rest of the figure and it also ensures that the aesthetics, both with the character’s helmet and head maintain some scale integrity. This may be the one figure that will be a catalyst for those who refuse to buy anything from the 6” action figure line.