R5-D2 - SW [S - P2] - Star Tours

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Many Star Wars collectors soon realized it was a shame that Disney didn’t use droids from the Star Wars saga in their popular STAR TOURS attraction. This hindsight was made a reality when Hasbro decided to make exclusive action figures based on the characters seen throughout the theme park ride. The reason for the slight disappointment is because Hasbro developed some of the best astromech droids of their career in this exclusive format. But fans of the films wanted the same quality as these in the basic figure line. So clearly the STAR TOURS figures were bittersweet. Thankfully, they looked good enough to be background fodder in various displays and dioramas. Beginning in 2002, Hasbro released three exclusive waves of STAR TOURS droids to Disney theme parks. The first two waves came packaged in the Power Of The Jedi line look, but the third came packaged in the Star Wars [Saga – Phase II] line look instead. The latter was an early 2003 release and Hasbro was well into the planning and development stages of the line and decided to go with the “new” line look instead. R5-D2, G2-9T and SK-Z38 made up this wave of droids and we feel that one, R5-D2 is one of the best looking astromechs in Hasbro’s career.

R5-D2 is essentially an all-new sculpt. Although it reuses the legs (including the third retractable leg) from 2002’s POTJ R4-M9 (Sneak Preview) figure, the dome and the body are all-new sculpts. What’s so enticing about this figure is that on top of a glorious sculpt, Hasbro has given it the antithesis of a glamorous paint job. R5-D2 is severely battle-damaged. It has a terrible blast on the center of its body and the damage runs up the side as well. This blast is actually three-dimensionally sculpted into this action figure. The texture is deep and Hasbro did a great job recreating the droid’s blast point. But that’s not the only impressive detail given to the astromech’s realistic paint job. R5-D2 has also been given a dramatically realistic final wash that recreates a covering of grease, grime and dirt. It’s apparent that R5-D2 has been through quite an ordeal and Hasbro ensured that they made this apparent on the action figure. If you look at reference images of this droid, you’ll see that although dirtier in images, Hasbro was faithful in recreating the various dirt, debris and damage that is strewn all over this astromech. If Hasbro could apply even a fraction of this detail to figures in the basic figure line, collectors would be happier people.

What’s also nice is that this is the first R5-unit (and astromech in general) that has the protruding photoreceptors in the basic figure scale. Although right now an exclusive, it would be wonderful if Hasbro was able to incorporate this detail into the future astromech droids from the films that have this unique feature.  You can see for yourself in the photo gallery, but R5-D2 really impresses us. We have complete satisfaction for this release. With an MSRP for $10, R5-D2 may be avoided by collectors not looking to pay double for this action figure, especially when the Star Wars “Saga” basic figures can be found for exactly half that price in general. But keeping in mind that basic figures and retailer exclusives are not equal counterparts, it is expected that you will be paying more for this muffler instead. Chalk it up to all-new sculpts, or the mark-up from Disney, but the STAR TOURS figures will likely be costing an arm and a leg from here on out. Packaged in the Star Wars “Saga” [Phase II] line look, R5-D2 also has Collection 3 added to the packaging inserts. Who knows what Hasbro’s reasoning is for that, but it’s odd and doesn’t make too much sense. Unless they’re considering this the “third” wave of STAR TOURS figures, then in that light it might make sense.