Force Link 2.0 Starter Set/Han Solo - SW [S] - Miscellaneous

Force Link 2.0 wearable technology activates motion-controlled phrases, lights, and sounds in over 30 Force Link 1.0 and Force Link 2.0 toys!

Force Link is back and it is called Force Link 2.0! There is a great deal of unnecessary criticism for this pack-in premium with Hasbro’s latest Star Wars action figures. If the critics gave this gimmick a try, we bet that they’d fall head over heels for it too. It’s truly a fun addition to the Star Wars brand, and we hope it continues for as long as possible. It’s CommTech on steroids. But it’s more interesting and intriguing, and technology has allowed Force Link to be a much more ideal “thing.” Or has it? Well, for the Solo: A Star Wars Story line launch, something got lost in translation: “CODE” translation specifically. Aside from the included Han Solo figure and some older figures that interacted with the original Force Link technology from the Star Wars [The Last Jedi] line, IT DOESN’T WORK. Hasbro requires you to download an app with your smart device for this feature to work. Although Force Link 2.0 is available to download, you get a notice that the feature that allows figures to speak and make sound effects will be available soon. The lack of functionality "now" is a major issue. The Force Link 2.0 Starter Set/Han Solo is $29.99 and technically nonfunctional. We can only imagine the influx of calls Hasbro Customer Service is going to receive about this. They should have released a memo via email to let everyone know this fix will be in place. Or if it has a release date that follows after the Solo: A Star Wars Story product launch. (But why would this even be?)

When you try to utilize with other Force Link 2.0 figure you get a “Firmware Update Required!” incessant message that will not stop until you pull your figure away from the Force Link 2.0 device. The packaging of the Force Link 2.0 Starter Set/Han Solo set boasts Bluetooth capability. Perhaps Hasbro got too aggressive with this item’s technology, and it has set back the whole process here. Thankfully the Han Solo figure speaks, so let’s stay narrow in our review since everything in this “unboxing” works as intended. The Force Link 2.0 is an all-new device. We were certain initially that Hasbro just repainted the original Force Link device, but it’s a completely different sculpt. Instead of an aqua blue colored theme, Hasbro has gone with a chartreuse green color instead. A few more “technological” buttons and features (nonfunctional and all for aesthetics) visible on this year’s model, but it’s the same device (now with Bluetooth technology). There still isn’t enough slack on the Velcro wristband for adult collectors (it’s a tight fit), and it comes with the same articulation head for wrist flexibility. Everything is in place here that was in place with the original device. The volume is perfectly loud enough, and the clarity of the line is crystal clear. Silly, but crystal clear.

The included Han Solo figure is decent. We don’t think it looks like the young actor playing Han Solo, but it unequivocally has a Han Solo vibe to it. Tall, lean, athletic and with cocky body language, the Han Solo action figure from the Force Link 2.0 Starter Set is a great addition to the Star Wars [Solo] line. The figure comes with a removable jacket shell and a blaster pistol. The figure is designed with a functional holster. Hasbro designed his hands in a functional manner and it allows him to hold the blaster in both of them well. An incredible benefit here is Hasbro gave Han Solo two swivel wrists. We’ll take an enhanced articulation we can get! Sadly, he isn’t part of the first wave of Force Link 2.0 basic figures. We know what Hasbro did this. They aren’t dumb. But Han Solo is a MAJOR character in the film. He is the LEAD character for heaven’s sake. So not including him in the basic figure line feels like a major misstep in our opinion. Hasbro is essentially telling parent’s of kids AND collectors that if they want Han Solo, they need to pay $30 for him. And after you pay $30, the device inside doesn’t work with the rest of the figures in the line (as of the publication date of this review, if not further out). So, we feel Hasbro has a major issue on their hands. We hope they iron it out as soon as possible because this could cause irreversible backlash.