This is a weird one.  One the one hand, it’s another example of a very deep cut backgrounder that proves why the 3.75” line is the G.O.A.T.  On the other hand, it’s an extremely strange design and sculpt, that is utterly underwhelming - if not off-putting.  The character design, which obviously has nothing to do with Hasbro, is like a combination of a Samurai warrior, a medieval Spanish soldier, and a turtle. 

When Anakin (A.K.A. Darth Vader) walks (like a boss) into the room where the Separatist leaders are gathering, you can see the Neimoidian guards on either side of the doorway.  They never move, and I don’t believe we ever see them again. 

So in that sense, you weirdo collectors out there that don’t mind under-articulation because the character “just stands there”, shouldn’t expect much from this figure.  It does do more than just stand there, but…not much more.  And it is burdened with a couple of odd accessories and an action feature.

While the design of the character was obviously all LFL, the figure design was all Hasbro.  And there’s just something off about it that seems like it’s from another toy line.  I can’t quite put my finger on it.  I’m not sure if it’s the quality of the plastic, the coloring, or the odd boxy armor/body shape.  It just doesn’t look like it belongs in the Star Wars line.  It almost seems like it’s a bootleg figure, but Disney wasn’t crapping on Hasbro’s constitutional right to be the exclusive manufacturer of 3.75” Star Wars figures yet.  (That would come later.)

Anyway, the figure’s articulation isn’t terrible for the day, but it’s limited by the choices that were made, as well as the action feature.  It has a ball jointed head, shoulders, and ankles, along with swivel elbows, wrists, waist, and hips.  No knees of course.  The elbows limit the rifle poses, while the spring loaded waist that is activated by squeezing the legs is just silly - but par for the course with this line.

The helmet is removable, but it’s not desirable to be so.  It falls off fairly easily, and just seems a bit pointless.  I do like that you get to see the bare head of a Neimoidian, but the novelty wore off about 3 seconds after it was out of the package.  The real tragedy here is the rifle.  While it looks to be inspired by the on screen design, it’s looks more like a bazooka in order to accommodate the unnecessary launching projectile.  So rather than the figure holding the rifle across its body like in the film, it can only really hold it vertically at its side, or in a shoulder-mounted position.  I guess I should feel a little pull towards this design, since I was in a Stinger Missile battalion a hundred years ago, but it just doesn’t work.

I love that this figure exists, but I don’t like the figure itself.  That may not make any sense, but here we are.

5 stars.
5/10 Banthaskulls.