Hasbro Star Wars - Episode III: Darth Vader Lightsaber Attack Figure Review

Hasbro Star Wars - Episode III: Darth Vader Lightsaber Attack Figure — 

Darth Vader (Lightsaber Attack - The Figure:

Coinciding with the release of George Lucas' Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith in 2005, Hasbro released a wave of 3.75-inch scale action figures featuring characters from the movie as part of the company's revamped Star Wars collection of figures, vehicles, and playsets.

This variant of the oft re-released Vader action figure is the 11th in the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith collection, which includes such familiar characters as Vader's alter ego Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, R2-D2, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Emperor Palpatine.

It's also an unusual variation on the theme of Vader, as it were, because its more of an after the movie incarnation of everyone's Sith Lord. After all, during most of Episode III we see "Vader" before he becomes, in writer-director Lucas' own words, "the Man in the Suit." And even then, we don't get to see him wield his Sith-red lightsaber or go after any Jedi who survived Order 66; when we last see Lord Vader, he is on the bridge of an Imperial warship, standing at his Master's side, glancing at the skeletal framework of what will be the Death Star.

Hasbro, of course, likes to create action figures that sometimes fall into the realm of "alternate reality Star Wars.. In fact, this Vader figure's look is more suitable, pardon the pun, in bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.

Design-wise, this figure is a cross between 1998's Darth Vader with Interrogation Droid and 2002's Darth Vader: Bespin Duel variants.

To wit: As in Darth Vader with Interrogation Droid, this figure comes with a cloth cape rather than one sculpted out of plastic; this gives the figure a much nicer, "realistic" look, even though plastic capes are more resilient when little Jedi wannabes play with the figures. (Of course, cloth capes can get dirty easier and require greater care.) The difference is that the material chosen for Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack's cape and waist cloak is heavier.

With the Bespin Duel variant, this Vader figure shares several salient features, mainly the detailing of the chest and belt-borne life-support systems, the right-hand only lightsaber grip, and an extended left hand to pose the Dark Lord as if (a) about to use the Force to shove something aside, (b) do the now-famous "Vader chokehold" thing, or (c), as the pose in the new bubble-pack carded packaging suggests, hunting down a fugitive Jedi Knight on a hostile Mustafar-like planet.


Special Features/Extras: As is usually the case with figures featuring the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack comes with his deadly red-bladed lightsaber. Like most Jedi or Sith laser swords issued with Star Wars figures since the mid-Nineties, the "energy blade" is made of translucent plastic that allows light to pass through to simulate a glowing lightsaber effect. Also, the saber's handle is nicely detailed; unlike 1997's Darth Vader with Lightsaber and Removable Cape figure's all-black laser sword handle, Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack has a more authentic silver and black handgrip. (An odd detail, though; if you look at the laser blade close to the emitter shroud, you'll notice the "beam" is a bit thicker, as if done to emulate the way lightsabers are drawn in comic books.)

Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack has a feature that triggers what Hasbro calls "Slashing Lightsaber Attack." Push his legs together, and the Dark Lord's right arm will move in a slashing motion.

Detailing: Although you'd think that Darth Vader is one of those characters whose 3.75-inch replica wouldn't need too many changes, advances in toy-making technology and collectors' desire for scene-specific figures have spurred Hasbro to tweak the main characters' replicas by adding more fine details and extra features. If one compares, say, Darth Vader with Lightsaber and Removable Cape from 1997 or so to this figure, even the most casual of observers will note vast differences between the two toys.

The biggest difference between the Darth Vader with Lightsaber and Removable Cape figure (which is grossly bulked up as though the Man in the Suit had taken steroids) and Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack is the amount of costume detail. Whereas the 1997 figure is mostly a glossy black with only a bit of detail painted on his iron lung's chest control box (which looks for all the world like a 1970s-era tape recorder) and belt buckle, Darth Vader: Lightsaber Attack is richly detailed. His armored breastplate now has silvery panels, there are metallic highlights on the breath mask itself, and the eye lenses are rendered in a subtle shade of red to give Vader a menacing glaring look. The belt is also more detailed and attaches to a skirt-like waist cloak which wasn't present in the Darth Vader with Lightsaber and Removable Cape figure. Lastly, the black cape has a delicate-looking silvery chain; while I can't be certain, I'm reasonably sure that this is a feature none of my other Vader 3.75-inch scale figures have.

Even better, there's a visual distinction between Vader's solid armor and the more leather-like "armor-weave" materials that cover his arms and legs. Almost all the detailing is carved into the plastic rather than painted; this will increase the figure's durability (at least looks-wise) because constant play or casual handling won't wear off the details easily.


As with all the Star Wars action figures, Hasbro recommends this toy for children 4 and up since the small parts pose a clear and present choking hazard, especially for children under 3 years.