Snowtrooper - TLC - Saga Legends (SL 25)

These specially trained stormtroopers wear customized armor well suited to the climate extremes on ice planets such as Hoth. These cold environment specialists stormed the Rebel Alliance's base at the Battle of Hoth, brandishing blaster rifles with precise skill and undeterred by the subzero conditions.

After a “Clone Wars” heavy influenced first couple of waves, Hasbro decided that The Legacy Collection needed a little more love again from the films. In what could be considered an even mix of both Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy characters, the third wave of The Legacy Collection Saga Legends line featured a figure that not too many collectors expected to see again. It was almost two years to the day that 2007’s VTSC Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) figure was reissued as 2009’s TLC Snowtrooper (SL 25) figure and most collectors were extremely happy to see the figure again. It’s safe to say that it is a straight repack of the 2007 The Saga Collection figure. We inspected the figures together closely and couldn’t find any differences between them. All that being said, it’s wonderful to see such a prominent character from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back get some love and stand out from so many other figures in The Legacy Collection line look. After many attempts made by Hasbro to bring a definitive version of the Snowtrooper to the basic figure line, many believed that they came pretty darn close with this one. Many still would like to see Hasbro abandon the removable helmet, but for all intents and purposes, a Snowtrooper action figure really doesn’t get much better than this.

At first glance, you might struggle with the illusion that this figure is a little short for an Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear), but when you compare it to other figures in the line you’ll find that it is almost the same height as the 1980 vintage figure. The 1997 POTF2 [FF/TKC] Snowtrooper figure was clearly too tall and the 2003 SW [S - P3] Snowtrooper (The Battle Of Hoth) (’03 #19) figure may have been given the correct height, but his crouching action stance made it difficult to tell for sure. Besides having the slightest bit of a too wide stance in his legs, this figure is one that will surely remain a standard in the action figure line for years to come. Not too dirty, the Snowtrooper does have beautiful dirt deco where he needs it and these are in all the right places definitely. The boots and shin armor are smear with brown dirt while the chest armor is speckled with realistic black dirt (which may be intended to be wear) almost as if the trooper had rubbed up against something or encountered one or two many battles with the Rebel Alliance. And these battle-damaged and dirt markings are very subtle, so the figure remains white as he should without looking like he’s been bleached. In short, this deco is what we’d consider flawless. This figure comes with a removable backpack, blaster pistol and of course the removable helmet with ghastly clone head underneath.

The Snowtrooper will probably remain one of the most popular military figures in the Star Wars toy line. Collectors tend to hold Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back in very high regards and we all remember loving to play in the snow. This figure gives us both memories mashed up into one and for that he has quite a fond place in our hearts. It is unlikely that Hasbro will be able to improve this figure that much, if at all. Of course ball-jointed hips will make this figure even better, but Hasbro is very picky about what figures get this ultra-articulated treatment. It would be nice if every figure got this articulation standard like the GI Joe line, but we will just have to be a little more patient we suppose. Still, this enhanced Snowtrooper is definitive for right now and even if Hasbro makes some marked improvement on a future figure, this one is not likely to age with time or in comparison! As part of The Legacy Collection Saga Legends line, the Snowtrooper comes with a locker full of extra weapons, most of which you won’t use with him, but perhaps other Star Wars action figures where you’ve lost their weapons. We think an action figure display stand would have served as a much better pack-in premium than extra weapons, but that’s just our opinion. The Snowtrooper will always remain a popular action figure. Expect to see it many more times throughout the Star Wars basic figure line.