Resistance Ski Speeder - SW [TLJ] - Vehicles

An older design predating those of the Rebel Alliance, these low-altitude, high-power ski speeders use a stabilizer strut to keep balance when zipping across alien terrain.

It’s already been poked fun as the skeleton of a B-wing fighter. And while there may be some truth to that, the Resistance Ski Speeder is already proving to be an aggressive and formidable foe against the vehicles of the First Order. Our first glimpse of them was in the Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi trailer, and they were heading directly into battle against the AT-M6 walkers, the latest Sequel Trilogy versions of the classic Imperial AT-ATs. The Resistance Ski Speeder looks exactly the way its name paints a picture of it. It glides against the surface of the terrain it's hovering over and utilizes a stabilizer strut to keep its balance while it engages its enemy in battle. The toy is as simple as the vehicle is, and Hasbro has done a great job of translating this vehicle into a toy. Details are finer and crisper than ever, so no matter how you feel about the vehicle itself, the toy interpretation of it captures everything you’d expect it to capture. With a pack-in Captain Poe Dameron figure that comes with its very own accessories, the Resistance Ski Speeder will hopefully prove to be a success at retail. You don’t get anything out of the ordinary with the Resistance Ski Speeder. But it’s worth noting that while a simple vehicle by its very design, Hasbro has pulled off a decent toy. The Resistance Ski Speeder should be a highlight for kids and collectors who are fans of the Star Wars [The Last Jedi] line as well as those who are anticipating a great film with Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

Our only concern is the MSRP for which this toy is set. We feel that it’s about $10 too high for what you get. But hopefully, the inclusion of Force Link technology, the pack-in figure and the break-apart play features that are designed into this vehicle all work together to paint some picture of value for the kid, collector or consumer dropping money on this vehicle. As we’ve stated, the vehicle is well-designed. It comes with a blast-off wing play feature that works beautifully. The hood of the engine is also removable. We imagine this removable feature was added to simulate more battle-damage for the exploded feature. Once again, we’re taken back to the level of detail that has been employed here. Hasbro didn’t have to include so much incredible detail in the engine and the wiring on the wings, but they didn't hold back here. For that we’re grateful. On top of great sculpting, Hasbro went above and beyond with the vehicle’s pain operations. The Resistance Ski Speeder is not a colorful vehicle, but it does have elements of red and silver on the wings, and the deco is relatively flawless. The production line has treated these vehicles well when it comes to how they are painted. Some other features of this vehicle include fold-up landing gear. And the stabilizer strut serves multiple functions: balance and fires the projectiles and the center of gravity for the vehicle when holding it in your hand. Hasbro thought about the design and approach of this vehicle with great consideration. It seems to have paid off in our opinion.

We have to admit that we’re rather impressed with the Captain Poe Dameron figure that serves as the pack-in figure. It looks to be taken directly from the digital files of The Black Series [Phase III] Captain Poe Dameron (53) figure. It has relatively the same posture and silhouette as the 6” figure, and the likeness has clearly been inspired by it as well. Yes, Captain Poe Dameron comes with only five points of articulation, but he can sit inside of the cockpit with relative ease which is pretty much all you should care about here. Hasbro has tooled a headset for Dameron, and it fits pretty well. If you don’t secure it just right on the figure’s head, it can be a little loose. With a little patience, you can find the ideal placement of it on his head. It doesn’t look out of scale and has been given some cool detail. Along with the headset, you’re also given a blaster pistol. This blaster pistol can be housed in his functioning holster when not in use. The paint operations on this figure are done well, and this action figure represents the onscreen character well. Vehicle and figure interact well together. We’re interested in finding out more about the other pilots of these Resistance Ski Speeders seen in the film. Are they truly effective when it comes to battling the First Order? Is this the Episode 8 version of the snowspeeders from Episode V? Will the battle end in victory or defeat. These and more will all be answered in time. In the meantime, give the Resistance Ski Speeder a chance. We bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.