There have been approximately 3,618 R2-D2 figures over the history of the line.  While the sculpts and deco have slowly been perfected over time, Hasbro has also attempted to give us as many versions of the character as possible, no matter how minor or fleeting the source material may have been.  Different tools, jets, paint, deco, action features, sounds…whatever it takes to keep the R2-D2’s fresh, it’s been tried.  In this case, we have a figure that attempts to capture the few seconds during Revenge of the Sith when R2 is physically held by a couple of Super Battle Droids on board the Invisible Hand.  R2 defends himself by shooting some oil on them, and as they’re slip slidin’ away, R2 fires the ol’ leg jets, igniting the oil and leaving the super battle droids to burn in a hot concoction of destruction.

The figure itself is re-tooled from a previous mold so that it has peg hols on the legs to accommodate the removable jets.  Otherwise, there’s nothing new in the sculpt.  The head turns, by which the third leg is extended or retracted.  Once set in either mode, continuing to turn the head in the same direction results in the familiar clicking sound that dates back to the Kenner days.  All 3 feet have moving wheels.  The real draw is the paint job, which has two separate goals.  One is to simulate leaking oil/grease from when R2 doused the SBD’s.  The other is to replicate the glow from the flames cause by the jets igniting the oil.  A yellow and orange paint application, mostly on the lower part of the body and legs, accomplishes this extremely well.

The removable leg jets snap cleanly into the hole/slot that was made for them.  The jets themselves look nice, and include a short blue flame, which is accurate to the film scene. The translucent blue flames are shaped at the end into pins, which, in turn, plug into the large fiery accessory.  Something similar was included with some Boba Fett figures to simulate him taking off from the deck of the Sail Barge. However, this one is far superior.  The flame/stand that came with Boba Fett were a bit cartoonish in nature, while this one is done is a well colored translucent plastic that perfectly puts R2 in his flight mode.

Perhaps one of the most fun parts of collecting is when Hasbro successfully makes features interact between different figures.  The Super Battle Droid that was released in this same way is meant to connect to these flames in such a way that it depicts it flailing on the ground as R2 sets it on fire.  It’s pretty great, and one of my favorite little things that Hasbro pulls off once in a while.

This is an outstanding figure of R2-D2 as it represents him in this very specific scene.  Without the flames, R2 just looks like a strangely painted yellow astromech, so it really on works in this particular usage.  But it’s nearly flawless, and a great job by Hasbro.  It’s the definitive R2-D2 for this scene.  8/10.