I WANT MY ROLLING DROIDEKA!  Just like flying cars, I feel like in 2020 we should have had a rolling Destroyer Droid already.  And not the pre-rolled non-articulated type that Hasbro released twice, but an actual 3.75” Destroyer Droid action figure with Roll-Up feature.  Yeah, I know that the CGI on-screen version probably functions in a way that is likely physically impossible in the real world.  That’s fine.  I’ll accept a figure where Hasbro takes some liberties with the design.  After all, this is the company that created Transformers.  There can be no excuse.  Let’s do this already.

In the meantime, we’ve got many versions of the Destroyer Droid.  Come to think of it, I don’t think a single one of them actually goes by the name “droideka.”  Weird.  Anyway, we got the first one in the Episode I line which was quickly followed by a battle damaged one in the same line.  This variant not only sported some paint scratches, but also actual gouges and dings.  Both were excellent, although the third “eye” wasn’t extended accurately as we see them on screen.  This version corrects the eye issue.  Beyond some slight changes to the coloring of the figure, it otherwise would be nearly the same figure, were it not for the inclusion of an action feature.

In the EU, the destroyer droids that were manufactured during the outbreak of the Clone Wars had increased firepower over their Battle of Naboo-era predecessors.  I have no idea if Hasbro was aware of this, or they just independently decided to include the firing “missiles” as a gimmick.  But while it’s perhaps screen accurate from a firepower perspective, visually, there’s virtually no differences between films in the driod models to the viewer. 

In order to accommodate the launching projectiles, Hasbro had to sculpt what might best be described as large “gauntlets” on the droideka’s wrists.  They house the spring-loaded mechanism that enables the included missiles (or more accurately, “blast effects”) to fire.  They’re a little large, and definitely have an impact on the aesthetic.  I’ve seen worse, so if you can get past this, the figure is otherwise suitable for display.

One other note:  there is a small lever on the lower back of the figure which activates an action feature.  The Droideka’s arms will pump forward and back as if to imitate the shooting motion of their on-screen counterparts.  The button isn’t really too obtrusive, and you can safely ignore it if you choose.  The feature itself is a bit overdone, as it looks more like the droid is swinging its arms as if it’s running really fast, rather than like the more subtle firing recoil that we see in the film.  It would also be better if the button would actually shoot the blast effects as the arms are recoiling, but you have to do that separately by flicking the back end of the projectile to trigger the spring to uncoil.  The whole thing is clumsy and unnecessary, but Hasbro was definitely action feature-happy in 2002, so this type of thing is no surprise.

Again, if you ignore these features, and if you can get past the heavy wrists, these figures can do well enough to join to your CIS army, as you scatter them throughout your battle displays.  Better destroyer droids have been made, but don’t throw this one away.  They’re all we have until we get our proper transforming rolling droidekas.  6/10.