C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) - SW [S - P3] - Basic (’03 #21)

When C-3PO accompanies the Astromech Droid R2-D2 on a mission to deliver a plea for help to Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi, the protocol droid finds himself in the perilous midst of the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire.

The Star Wars “Saga” release of C-3PO has a couple of multiple-personality issues. But you would only know that from the packaging in which he is contained, and not the figure loose outside of it. Based on the scene where he is attacked by a Tusken Raider and loses his left arm, the packaging description, and even to a degree the subtitle of this figure are a bit misleading about which version of C-3PO this figure represents. Thankfully things are simplified when you hold the loose action figure in your hands. This may be trivial information for openers, but we found it somewhat interesting. One of Hasbro’s intents during the Star Wars “Saga” line was to get out classic action figures they’d already produced to not only pad the line, but to offer a second chance to kids and collectors with some of their best sellers. Originally released in The Power Of The Force “2”, the Episode I FlashBack Photo lineup. It’s actually a pretty excellent version of the protocol droid, although many feel that Hasbro goofed on the head sculpt. But the battle-damage and desert-worn paint job bring this iteration of him to life. Now this sculpt has been carried forward into the Star Wars “Saga” line.

C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) comes with six points of articulation. Keeping in mind that this is a sculpt from the opening of the modern era, Hasbro did a fairly decent job on this version of him. They had a few years under their belt with POTF2 and they were already beginning to approach action figures with new and invigorating methods. Honestly, the paint job is breathtaking. There are multiple layers of deco, but the outer layer is three-dimensional, almost as if clumps of dirt, debris and sand had attached to his golden shell. His left arm is removable, to recreate the result the unfair fighting advantage he experienced with a mean and nasty Tusken Raider. And it’s easy to reassemble him if you want to put him back together again. The details on C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) are excellent, but the figure is certainly not without its share of issues and faults. No matter how you slice this, C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) is a figure that was sculpted in 1998. Six years is a great deal of time for technology to make this sculpt obsolete. That being said, it’s evident that the final mold they produced has fought long and hard to remain relevant, which is why we can find favor with it even today.

It’s important to note that C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) is a repaint of 1999’s POTF2 C-3PO (Episode I FlashBack Photo) figure and not a straight repack. There are blatant differences between the two samples and how the details were applied. Logic probably dictates that man collectors are not worried about such things, but the differences are there and are at least worth noting if nothing else. Part of the very first wave of figures that sported the all-new third and final phase line look of the Star Wars “Saga” collection, C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) was a prime example of what collectors could expect in this last part of the line. A mix of old and new paired with the periodic repaint and repack, the Star Wars “Saga” line was taking on a relatively new meaning and focusing most of its efforts on collectors more so than kids. It may be true that you already own C-3PO (Tatooine Ambush) from The Power Of The Force “2” era, but for those like us who analyze every last difference on an action figure, this one can be considered “new enough”. Frankly, it was nice to see this particular Episode IV character get released amongst a sea of Episode II characters. Hasbro was certainly clever to keep the OT people reasonably satisfied during this heavy concentration of PT characters.