$29.99.  $29.99!  Yes, that is how much this set of 5 super-articulated figures was retailing for as a Toys R Us (of all places) exclusive.  Unbelievable.  What a time to be alive!  Hasbro really pulled out all the stops as they supported The Force Unleashed video game.  This set included 2 repaints, 1 retool, and 2 all new figures.  The game was supported with figures through the end of The Legacy Collection, including this battle pack, as well as additional releases.  When all was said and done, I believe there may have been more collector-grade figures and toys made for this game than there were for all the Disney films combined.  And if my count is off, it isn’t by much. 

EVO Trooper

The EVO Trooper is a repaint of the basic TAC 08-09 Imperial EVO Trooper figure from 2008.  The sculpt and accessories are the same.  The figure is super-articulated and reasonably posable. The head’s range of motion is limited by the hoses when attached, but you can remove them to allow more movement if you wanted.  The figure is different in the paint applications.  This time the EVO Trooper is covered in a camouflage pattern, although the base color is still a bright white, bringing into question the effectiveness of such camouflage.  The accessories are the same, again except for color.  The pistols (which aren’t gripped well) are black, as is the entirety of the blaster rifle, including the strap.  There is no weathering, unlike the lower legs of the original figure.  It’s a nice, if not perfect, variant.

Juno Eclipse

Juno Eclipse was the pilot assigned to transport Starkiller to and from his his missions for Vader, but she grew fond of him while simultaneously growing dissatisfied with the Empire.  This figure is based on the original basic TAC 08-15 Juno Eclipse, but the torso is retooled so that she sports an open tunic.  It is otherwise essentially the same, but for this fashion choice.  Juno is super-articulated and nicely posable, and she can hold the Imperial blaster in a THWG.  The officer cap fits well, and won’t fall off too easily.  It’s a nice variant of this character.  These types of minor outfit changes are normally reserved for figures of well known characters like Luke or Han, so it’s another indication of just how far Hasbro went in providing toy support for The Force Unleashed.

Galen Marek

Galen Marek had a bunch of figures released that reflected his different outfits in both the original game and the sequel.  This figure is all-new, and represents Starkiller in the outfit he wore during his mission to the junk planet of Raxus Prime.  His removable shawl is nicely detailed, and is sculpted in such a way that it covers his nose and mouth from the harsh elements, while also revealing his intense eyes.  Even with the hard plastic shawl, the range of motion of the arms is not restricted too much, so you can engage the articulation freely.  When the shawl is removed, it reveals his well-sculpted face.  The figure’s forearms and hands are covered in a metallic armor.  It looks great, but the hands are sculpted a little too wide open, and he doesn’t maintain a firm grip on his lightsaber.  But if you have a little patience, you can pose the figure dynamically, and he can even perform the vaunted THWG (barely), which is key for a lightsaber-wielding figure.  Adding a lightsaber hilt to the belt would have been a nice touch.  It’s a striking looking figure with a well-executed plastic shawl.  It may be my favorite Starkiller figure of the many available.

Rahm Kota’s Militia Elite

Strange name, but accurate enough.  Exiled Jedi Rahm Kota had assembled a force of soldiers loyal to the cause of fighting the Empire and restoring the Republic.  The figure, like Galen Marek, is all new.  It looks like an up-armored version of the Rebel Fleet Trooper.  The figure is true to the video game character. He is protected by what appears to be pieces of hard and soft armor.  He is super-articulated, except, sadly, he has no ankles.  But the upper body is executed very well, as even the removable shoulder armor stays in place when engaging the shoulder joints and does not hinder the range of motion.  The helmet is removable.  On one of my figures, the helmet sits perfectly and the visor covers the eyes.  On another sample, the helmet rides high, and the visor does not cover the eyes.  The paint application is striking, and there is a nice wash to help bring out the details.  Besides the removable helmet, there is a huge shoulder mounted Gatling gun of sorts.  The figure can hold and aim it realistically, although it would be nice if he could reach across his body more effectively with his left hand to support his firing position.  Improvements would be ankles and the inclusion of a blaster for army building variety.  A really cool design and a nice figure that rivals the all-new Galen Marek in this set.

Shadow Trooper

A tough figure to pull off.  This is the Shadow Stormtrooper as it is phasing in and out of a cloaked state.  Hasbro essentially started with a clear version of a stormtrooper figure, and added a few paint details and glow effects to help make it convincing.  It was a valiant effort, but probably wasn’t an achievable look for a figure.  I think I was hating this at the time of release, but it has since grown on me.  The biggest drawback in 2019 is the outdated nature of the base sculpt, but the phasing attributes are kind of charming now.  Even the blaster is cast in a clear plastic.  The figure, as expected, is limited in the poses because of the sculpt, but it’s still an interesting addition to the TFU figure lineup.