In 2005 during the Revenge of the Sith craze, Hasbro commemorated their 500th Star Wars figure with this set.  It was one of only a very few toys released in the ROTS packaging that was not from that film.  Personally, I also questioned the count of 500 at the time.  I’m not sure how the team was accounting for figures.  Did they included variants?  Repaints?  Pack-ins?  Exclusives?  Did they include things like the Mouse Droid or Salacious Crumb when they were just accessories (prior to their evil releases on TVC cards)?  I don’t recall my own count at the time, but I’m pretty sure I felt that Hasbro was well past the 500 mark in 2005.  But I can’t verify that anymore because my old spreadsheet is gone.  That thing was awesome, trust me.

The Darth Vader figure was technically new, but it wasn’t all that much different from the just released VOTC figure.  In fact, it actually devolved a bit because it ditched the ball jointed shoulders for some reason.  Despite commemorating the event with a premium-priced release, this was not the best available Episode V Darth Vader.  But in reality, it’s not a bad figure.  It most certainly has been surpassed, but it can still be used in a pinch.  The important thing is that the figure can sit in the included meditation chamber and the helmet works with the claw.  It’s designed well for the chamber.  The biggest annoyance with the figure is that even with the swappable right hand, it still can barely grip the lightsaber.  Weird.

The chamber is the star of the set, of course.  It’s nicely sculpted, although definitely on the small-ish side.  The packaging is actually part of the chamber.  The plastic bubble also doubles as the top part.  It doesn’t actually close, as is (barely) shown in ESB, but still serves that purpose.  It’s not great, by any stretch, but at least it’s there, unlike, say, the carbon freezing chamber claw in the upcoming TVC set.  The helmet crane is fully functional.  It works even inside the packaging, as the lever is exposed for operation.  Vader’s helmet dome fits snugly in the claw, which rotates, and raises and lowers perfectly over Anakin’s head.  The seat conforms to the figure nicely, and Vader looks pretty sweet sitting inside, making his officers uncomfortable.  The set could definitely be improved upon by today’s standards, 15 years later.  A larger chamber, with fully functional top half (minus the plastic “window”), on a dais would be excellent, especially if it came is packaging with a sturdy cardboard backdrop depicting the interior of the room, where Vader can freak out the likes of Veers or Piett.

A nice set.  The figure is dated, but passable.  The chamber is sufficient for the day, and still looks good, but could stand to receive the modern TVC treatment.  6/10.