Sandtrooper - TVC - Basic (VC14)

Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you!

The Vintage Collection Sandtrooper, while not flawless, still holds up well. We especially love how the figure looks in its Kenner-inspired packaging, as this line tends to make mediocre figures look better. The Sandtrooper is undoubtedly a figure you’ll want to buy an extra to keep carded because it looks good. This Sandtrooper sergeant isn’t Hasbro’s finest work but fits well into this collector-focused line. Let’s face it. We have wanted a Sandtrooper packaged this way for over 30 years. So kudos go to Hasbro for finally delivering it to us, even if it isn’t the most accurate Sandtrooper they’ve produced. Where is the dirt, for heaven’s sake? The orange nameplate and figure backer completely complement the all-white Sandtrooper, making it a striking package. We aren’t so crazy, however, about the back of the card because we believe Hasbro made another error. Specifically, we have to nitpick their choice of the original reference figure. They have interestingly dug out the original 1996 The Power Of The Force "2" “Tatooine Stormtrooper/Sandtrooper” figure, which was only available in 1996. That particular version of Sandtrooper was a squad leader, and the figure in The Vintage Collection is a sergeant. So, the correct original first-time available basic carded reference figure should have been the 2007 30 (77-07) Sandtrooper [Version 1] figure from the Saga Legends lineup. This oversight isn’t a huge deal, but it also doesn’t mean we haven’t received plenty of sergeants before this one and with better paint operations. They’ve arrived as pack-ins and figures from multipacks, but this figure should have been reflected in the historical depiction of this character. This fact certainly changes the figure’s history.

The Sandtrooper, from 2009’s Legacy Collection Dewback With Imperial Sandtrooper Walmart exclusive set, was an expected re-release. We knew it would only be a matter of time before Hasbro got this excellent figure into the basic figure line, but now it’s here! It is a versatile addition to the line as it has decent articulation and numerous accessories, making it capable of completing various scenes from the film. Unless they do a retool from the ground up, it will likely remain the definitive version of this character for a while. It would have been a much wiser choice to make this figure a squad leader as they are more iconic. The orange pauldron is the most recognizable detail on this Star Wars character, and it would have been nice to get this packaged on a vintage Kenner-styled card. And it would have looked excellent with the orange background, too! And since Hasbro has made it clear that running changes won’t be part of their process from now on, we are saddened that this may never come to pass. Perhaps the biggest problem with the Sandtrooper is the lack of battle damage and dirt, which is a drawback. The Sandtrooper is one action figure desperately needing this enhancement to be effective. We didn’t see one clean Sandtrooper in the film, and it’s kind of a bitter pill to swallow. The action figure looks like it never stepped onto Tatooine’s sandy surface. We can almost understand clean clone troopers, but Hasbro, please, give us dirty Sandtrooper action figures! With an action figure as good as this one, it is a shame that Hasbro didn’t finish it to completion. We know some affordable paint operations are available to help with this figure’s aesthetics.

The Sandtrooper packaged in this way is a powerful sight. It’s reminiscent of the 2005 post-Original Trilogy Collection Sandtrooper (Tatooine Search) ('05 #12) figure, which was just a repack of the 2001 Power Of The Jedi Sandtrooper (Tatooine Patrol) figure yet looked fantastic in that packaging. We can all get a great, super-articulated version of this character with ‘real deal’ packaging. This figure, the very first in The Vintage Collection to show up on a card with the ‘Star Wars’ entertainment logo, may hold a special place in the hearts of collectors. We hope Hasbro can do whatever it can to make the figures they include in The Vintage Collection as best as possible. Take off the pauldron at worst, and you’ll have a super-articulated Stormtrooper. And it’s about time this figure became affordable enough for the army to build. You can find the Sandtrooper in regular The Vintage Collection packaging and “upgraded/chase” 'Ultimate Galactic Hunt' (not officially referred to this way) with silver foiled detail. We’re not too crazy about any of the silver-packaged figures, but your mileage may vary. As the very first figure in The Vintage Collection to show up on a “Star Wars” card back, this figure may hold a special place in the hearts of collectors. We hope Hasbro can do whatever it can to make the figures they include in The Vintage Collection as best as possible. This preferred approach may mean throwing more pennies into a figure’s paint job or changing some details to make it different from its previous availability. But that honestly alter our affection with this figure because it is quite amazing to see him in this packaging.