Clone Attack On Coruscant - TLC - Battle Packs

These clone troopers spring into battle as a massive droid army swarms upon Coruscant. As members of the Republic's mighty army corps, these clone troopers exit their gunships and engage the enemy in close-quarter combat, showing no inclinations of fear, hesitation or remorse. Their commander takes charge and orders the troopers to protect their designated areas at all costs. Using their blaster rifles and pistols, these troopers take down droid after droid... until the secret declaration of Order 66. Now, these loyal members of the Republic Army will change allegiances and serve a new master.

Hasbro wasn’t given ample information about what types of clones would actually be appearing in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. So they had to frequently guess when it came to the action figures made for the movie. While it would be ridiculous to even claim Hasbro didn’t give us enough Clone Trooper action figures for the Revenge Of The Sith product launch, what we did get instead of screen accurate clones (for the most part) were concept clones; ones rejected for the final cut of Episode III, as well as some Hasbro concepts thrown in for good measure. So Hasbro shifted into catch-up mode at the film’s release, seemingly in some sort of neurotic panic to start getting out clones like Shock Troopers and the 41st Elite Corps out to collectors before we whined them to death. The process was a bit rushed, but Hasbro did a fair job at getting out as much as they could, as quickly as they could. One set we were happy to grab back then was the Clone Attack On Coruscant TARGET exclusive Battle Packs set. It was also reissued for the 30 (77-07) lineup and now it’s part of The Legacy Collection, with some updated paint operations. The set is bittersweet at best. Hasbro loaded it with four of the 41st Elite Corps Clone Troopers (the ones with the gray color flashes on their armor) in addition to an off-screen Clone Commander (rumored to be Cort Davin by some in the toy industry). The set overall was pretty much appreciated. Unfortunately they used the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper Deluxe figure to make these action figures. This frustratingly mediocre Clone Trooper body may have not been the best tooling Hasbro could have used, but the sculpt did offer a wide-range of movement. Collectors were so eager for this battalion that most of us probably didn’t care like we should have.

The question to ask however is why re-release this now, especially since the Clone Trooper (Coruscant Landing Platform) (BD 17) figure is part of The Legacy Collection basic figure line? Aside from a noticeably darker gray paint color for the color flashes, this set is identical to previous iterations. It’s almost as if they’re competing against themselves in the same toy line. That being said the Clone Trooper figures in this Battle Packs set have a fair amount of articulation. But between the swivel shoulders and pre-positioned swivel elbows (and no wrist articulation), collectors will be quick to realize just how much they’re going to prefer the new super-articulated basic figure part of the same The Legacy Collection line. We’re never happy are we? Between the limited articulation (we should actually say useless articulation) and the gaping holes in their backs (to accompany that clunky and discarded jet backpack), the Clone Trooper action figures left us with the feeling that there was very little to be desired. Oh, and they were literal clones of each other. Still, there is something redeeming about them. They're probably not actually as terrible as you may think. They’re a conundrum. All four Clone Trooper action figures have to hold their arms in the same positions, which makes for a very boring display (and play) scenario. Hasbro attempted to change the clones up a bit by giving two of them DC-15A blaster rifles and the other two DC-15 blasters. (We certainly appreciated some diversity here, even if it isn’t ideal.) As briefly mentioned, Hasbro included “their own” unique Clone Commander in the set. It seems as if he was almost modeled after the look of the popular ARC Troopers seen in Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars both in paint job and style. Hasbro took 2005’s ROTS Commander Bacara (III 49) and repainted it in all-new colors. Sadly, the inclusion of this figure technically sources this Battle Packs set to the Expanded Universe.

For those who like trivia, back in 2005 we obtained the Clone Attack On Coruscant set from TARGET by utilizing the DPCI at our local store. When the clerk brought out the case, he broke open the seal and started pulling out the Battle Packs (it was full of the Clone Attack On Coruscant since it was a TARGET exclusive obviously). Unbelievably, every last Battle Packs set in the case was packaged with five, not four (41st Elite Corps) Clone Troopers and no Clone Commander. Whether a mistake, a variation, or just a grand scheme worked out jointly by Hasbro and TARGET, variations like this exist. Please don’t think it’s a scam should you see it on the aftermarket. We still have these variation sets in our own collection to prove it. As more time passes, it’s likely that the desire for this set will go the way of the dinosaur. Collectors are going to be affixed on army-building the Clone Trooper (Coruscant Landing Platform) (BD 17) figure instead because it is an infinitely superior action figure. Anything utilizing the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper (III 41) sculpt is going to be preferred among collectors. Although Hasbro updated the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper in the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper [Version 2] Evolutions set, we still feel that The Legacy Collection basic figure is still superior. For us, that figure puts all other 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper action figures to complete shame. We almost wish Hasbro upgraded this Battle Packs set with those figures instead. Battle Packs are a perfect way for Hasbro to beat out a quick group of army-builders for kids and collectors. And the Clone Attack On Coruscant set serves this great purpose. They could have just done it better. These sets are fine, but Hasbro should continue to bang out super-articulated versions of all Clone Troopers. Collectors won't rest until that's completed.