Tag Archives: toyguide

Toyguide Update: TBS #11 Luminara Unduli

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our last entry for wave 2 in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at Luminara Unduli (#11).

PROS: Surprisingly, this figure is only a slight improvement over previous versions. The articulation is ample and the sculpt and deco are very nice making for decent display piece.,

CONS: On the whole, I find it a terrible “toy”. The headdress limits poseability of the arms so when you raise them, it forces the headdress to lift off of the head. The soft goods cloak is prone to additional fraying and shedding of fibers. The soft goods are too long making free standing the figure a chore at times.

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.

Toyguide Update: TBS #13 Stormtrooper

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at the Stormtrooper (#13).

PROS: Although army building isn’t much of a thing anymore with today’s figure prices, this Stormtrooper is a pretty decent version if you were so inclined. The figure uses the ultra-articulated body (the one with ball-jointed hips) and includes the newer E-11 blaster sculpt that features the collapsible stock. For good measure, Hasbro included a second blaster rifle for additional display/play options.

CONS: From the samples I have, there seems to be varying degrees of paint app quality from figure to figure – most notably on the helmet. Also, since this uses the Sandtrooper mold, the slot to accept the backpack is still present which may be a distraction, but only if you are really looking at the figure from behind. Lastly this figure includes a holster (cannibalized from the TAC20 Stormtrooper) but due to the bulkier design of the E-11 blaster, it doesn’t fit in the holster very well.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece 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.

Toyguide Update: TBS #09 R2-D2

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Next, we take a look at R2-D2 (#09).

PROS: With all of the countless releases R2-D2 has gotten over the past few years, it is nice to see a mold crop up that hasn’t been used ad nauseam. The sculpt overall is very clean and the deco has a very tight application. As R2 figures go, it’s completely adequate.

CONS: A little bit bland in terms of deco – a nice wash would have served this figure better. The figure does have a slight knock against it as the ports that accept the snap-on booster rockets (when not in use) are prevalent. The absence of the booster flames from 2007 take some of the fun out of the presentation.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece 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.

Toyguide Update: TBS #14 Mara Jade

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Next, we take a look at Mara Jade (#14).

PROS: It’s been a long time coming, but the 2011 Fans’ Choice winner, and perennial EU fan-favorite figure has finally been released. This latest version of Mara Jade sports all the articulation one would require (save for ball-jointed hips) and is well accessorized featuring lightsaber and hilt, blaster and a reconfigurable holster capable of being placed in one of two positions. The sculpt is great, except…. well, you know.

CONS: Oh, that hair. While it is sculpted well, it suffers from being cast as separate piece which is glued to the head. This design choice gives her more of a “wearing a wig” look that effects the overall aesthetic negatively.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece 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.

Toyguide Update: Saga Legends Wave 1

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with an entry dump covering the first wave of Saga Legends figures.

At this point, you’ve learned all you need to know about these figures and most collectors are in one of three camps: “hate’em”, “love’em” or the ever popular  “meh”. I’ll go on record again saying that I love them and can appreciate them for what they are – an inexpensive alternative play pattern for kids with a bit of nostalgia thrown in for collectors who grew up in a simpler time.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether these figures are 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.

Toyguide Update: TBS #02 Clone Trooper Sergeant

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today we take a look at the #02 Clone Trooper Sergeant.

PROS: As the first trooper of the Black Series, there is not a whole heck of a lot new here but the execution is decent. Again, like the VC45 version, articulation is abundant allowing the widest range of posing options possible. Accessories are basic with the standard trooper kit of a blaster, rifle and removable helmet.

CONS: A solid figure all around but if there were any nits to pick they would center around the paint apps. To me, the particular shade of green used for the accent seems a bit too dark and should be a bit more yellow in hue – but it’s very close. Finally, I like my clones weathered to show the effects of war.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece 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.

Jabba’s Goons Officially Named

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While browsing through my recent Star Wars Insider (143), I noticed that in a feature titled Rogues Gallery: Jabba’s Henchmen, Keeper of the Holocron, Leland Chee, reveals the actual names of the Weequay Skiff Guard and Nikto Guard as “Pagetti Rook” and “Lathe” respectively. With this new information, the TVC Toyguide entries (VC99 & VC107) for these two figures have been updated to reflect this new info.

Not a single Bothan died to bring you this information, but a protocol droid did get a memory wipe.

Toyguide Update: TBS #01 Padmé Amidala

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with our first entry and the first figure in the The Black Series 3-3/4″  line – #01 Padmé Amidala

PROS: At first blush, you’d think this was a simple rehash of a prior figure with new parts, but when doing a side-by-side with the TLC/Evolutions figures, you’ll quickly see that this is a new figure from the ground up. A refreshing notion coming off of a nasty drought of quality products. The last version of this scene-specific figure was back in 2002 and it featured that wonky quickdraw (throw the gun across the room) action feature, so finally that one can be retired mercilessly. It is a solid figure all around with a nice sculpt and exacting details. Even the color of the outfit is better and isn’t so stark white as with previous iterations. The “nexu damage” applied to her back is well sculpted and is finished off with bloody scratches.

CONS: Was a total retool really necessary? For all the times that Hasbro sites tooling costs as a prohibitor for new figures, it seems that they could have retooled the torso and one arm to keeps costs in check. The likeness, while good, is a step backward from the previous (TLC) Geonosis outfit figure which looked more like Ms. Portman. One final issue is with the mismatch joint in her right arm . Yikes.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece 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.

Toyguide Update: El-Les (CW47)

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with our look back at some of the older Clone Wars figures that we have yet to add to the archives. We continue with the bounty hunter and clone cadet trainer, El-Les (CW47).

PROS: During this era of the Clone Wars line, Hasbro’s figures were at their apex – the likenesses to their onscreen counterparts were superb and the articulation was beyond generous – those attributes continue here with El-Les. His overall design/sculpt is exactly like what was seen on the show and since he was part of a fan favorite episode, Clone Cadets, collectors snatched him up quickly.

CONS: None.

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

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