Category Archives: Toyguide Updates

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Darth Maul Returns Battle Pack

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Target Exclusive Darth Maul Returns Battle Pack from 2012 “Darth Maul” Collection and The Clone Wars.

PROS: This set is a bit of an anomaly but a welcome change from Hasbro as this set not only includes 2 all-new figures but a repack of a hard-to-find figure as well in the armored Savage Opress. Couple that with the fact that this set is (currently) only $19.99 make for a lot of happy collectors. The designs of the new “cyborg” Darth Maul and Nightsister are excellent in both articulation and deco – areas that have been points of consternation with fans of Clone Wars line. On an accessory note, the lightsabers can be removed from the red “spinning force attack” accessory and assembled into Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber. If you’d like to see how the spinning accessory works, check out our YouTube page.

CONS: There are very few issues will this set but there are 2 that are pretty obvious and consistently noted among collectors of this line. The first is the fact that we aren’t given a proper Mother Talzin, which is surprising considering her importance to this story arc. Hasbro explained this as not having enough lead time to develop a proper figure given the fluidity of the design changes for the show. The second is that collectors have wanted another chance at the armored Savage and thankfully we got it, but sadly without his signature lightsaber from his earlier basic card release.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Speeder Bike with Scout Trooper

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Toys”R”Us Exclusive Speeder Bike with Scout Trooper from 2012 “Darth Maul” Collection.

PROS: After years of promises, Hasbro finally made good and have given collectors the ultimate Speeder Bike. And while some may miss the nostalgic exploding feature, the detail, design and play value will surely make up for it. The scale of this new speeder is near perfect and the display base fulfills a long time wish for most. We also finally have a biker scout that can pilot it properly as the 2006 VTSC Biker Scout gets a nice overhaul with the inclusion of ball-jointed hips and a unique neck joint allowing for some dynamic, and more importantly, realistic posing options. As a bonus, Hasbro’s design team included a separate tripod cannon that can be reconfigured to attach to the speeder’s under carrriage. It looks fine, but most of us will use it simply as a ground based weapon to lay waste to Rebels and furballs alike.

CONS: While the design of the speeder is flawless (in my opinion) the package does have an unexpected effect on the right handlebar as mine was very warped from the rubberband holding it in the tray. Then there is the scout trooper. The aesthetic of the 2006 version was great but this new version takes a step backward as the 2012 rendition features a sloppier paint job and mismatch black joints in the shoulders and ankles which is simply lame in my book. Also, one of my new scouts is already showing signs of yellowing on one of the shoulders. Lastly, due to the nature of the hip joints, the scout tends to be a bit bow-legged right out of the box but I have noticed that he is returning to shape the longer he is left off the bike.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Scout Walker (Kmart)

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Kmart Exclusive Scout Walker from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: The third time is the charm with the Scout Walker as here we are treated to a near-screen perfect version of the Endor AT-ST. The gray color looks just right when compared to the prior versions of this design. The Vintage-style box is the main selling point here as the design is very much in keeping with the original line while looking new at the same time.

CONS: While Hasbro managed to bring us a bit closer in terms of overall color for the AT-ST, they went a bit heavy handed on the “mud” deco on the feet. Surprisingly though, once you take this off the shelf and place it outside into the “forest”, it is hardly noticeable so I really don’t count this as a negative. One major negative, at least on my version, is the wobbly legs as they are barely able to support its own weight let alone with drivers added in the cockpit.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this latest AT-ST is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Jar Jar Binks (Lost Line)

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Jar Jar Binks (EP1-01) released as part of the Kenner Lost Line variant packaging for The Vintage Collection.

PROS: For fans of Jar Jar, this latest version attempts to improve upon the less articulated Movie Heroes version and does to some degree. The semi-new figure incorporates additional points of articulation in the neck, shoulders and wrists as well as well-disguised ankle joints. Hasbro also has taken this figure a step further by revising the deco to a lighter, less suntanned shade and adding soft goods for the “skirt” allowing him to sit upon a kaadu fairly well. This is a solid figure if you’ve yet to find the MH version but you may want to hold out for that one for the reasons below.

CONS: In this case being super-articulated doesn’t mean better when compared to the Movie Heroes (MH13) version. The joints are poorly matched as evidenced by they contrasting colors especially in the shoulders and knees. Also, the superfluous lower neck joint doesn’t do much to improve upon the figure and is more of an aesthetic distraction than anything else. Then there is the skin color/deco. Where the MH figure seems to hit the right colors, this new version seems too light and the ornate deco on the arms is far too dark and is flat out wrong. Overall this figure seems like a waste of tooling resources, but your mileage may vary of course.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Vintage Droid Set

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Target Exclusive Vintage Droid Set from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Hasbro crosses another one of those original Vintage 3-packs off their lists with this release and in a surprise move, they’ve actually given us something new! While the Death Star Droid is a repack of the TLC B.A.D. figure and the R5-D4 is a repaint of the TSC “The Saga Collection” mold. The Power Droid is an all-new design (gone is the frustrating “walking” feature in lieu of articulated legs) plus a bonus hidden feature: a removable access cover.

CONS: The $24.99 pricepoint may be off-putting to some. The Power Droid is cast in a tan plastic which immediately sent a tremor through the force, and forums, begging Hasbro for a true blue release.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: CW18 Clone Commander Fox

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the next addition for the 2012 “Darth Maul” product line. We continue with Clone Commander Fox (CW18) from The Clone Wars sub-line.

PROS: As the Clone Wars line comes grinding to a halt, Hasbro manages to release another nicely painted (save for the helmet error) figure in the release of Fox. The deco overall is as crisp as it is bold with the blood red accents.

CONS: You know the story, the Clone Wars line has taken a back seat for Hasbro and with it, a step backward in articulation. Couple that with the $1 price hike and you have people just not caring about what amounts to as essentially another repainted clone. As of these first shipments, the helmet for Fox has an error that omits a key paint operation shown on the character model and the figure on the cardback. There is no word that it will be corrected.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: VC99 Nikto (Skiff Guard)

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Nikto Skiff Guard (VC99) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Hasbro crosses one of the last remaining figures from the original Kenner line to be re-sculpted off the list. As excited people were for Tarkin to make it to the Vintage line (myself included), Nikto simply delivers on all counts: the colors, the sculpt, the accessories and the cardback convey that sense of nostalgia we all feel for this line.

CONS: Other than being able to find this figure at retail, he’s pretty much flawless.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: VC98 Grand Moff Tarkin

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Grand Moff Tarkin (VC98) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Charming to the last. After nearly a half dozen iterations, Tarkin finally gets the super-articulated treatment and to top it off, he graces the Vintage Collection card back crossing one of those “must-haves” off the list. From an articulation and sculpt standpoint,  Tarkin hits all the right marks (thanks to recycling parts from past Imperial officers) but falters is some key areas that ultimately elicit a sign from collectors. Tarkin includes blaster and all new MSE Droid which is now in the proper scale and features rolling wheels/axles.

CONS: So close yet so far. Immediately upon reveal, collectors wondered what the heck was going on with his uniform color and those soft goods. We hoped and pleaded that it was because we were just seeing hand-painted prototypes, but sadly, what we saw is what we got. The soft goods skirt is the main culprit as the cut and color looks plain out of place on this figure. The outfit overall looks to be far too green and should be more drab. While the face sculpt looks good, the overall skin tone is very pale and make him look even more gaunt than intended.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.