R2-D2 has had more releases in the history of the line than I think we’d care to count.  He even had 3 releases during the Kenner run - four if you want to count the animated Droids version.  In the Hasbro era, he’s had 629 releases (approximately).  Each one has generally been different enough to warrant consideration for purchase. 

In 2006, Hasbro was still in love with the 2004 VOTC mold, and had released many slightly altered versions in subsequent years.  This one has a dirt wash and the utility panel glued shut.  The third leg is removable, and each foot has a working wheel.

It’s a pretty nice looking sculpt, but has a couple of issues, mostly with the dome.  While fans lament the disappearance of vac metalization when it comes to C-3PO, we couldn’t wait until Hasbro ditched it for R2’s dome.  While newer versions of the character use a dull silver paint, this one has the ol’ chrome dome.  It also houses an action feature, which is the ancient click-as-it-rotates trick.  When doing so, the sensorscope raises and lowers.  It doesn’t go very high, and it only extends when the head is turned far away from center, so it’s a little underwhelming.  VC25 has a much improved sensor aesthetically, and it can be removed and replaced with Luke’s hilt.  It’s much more versatile in that respect.  However, in a trade off, it can’t retract unless the third leg is extended.  Life is weird.

The real draw for this TSC release relates to the accessories.  While the figure card photo and wave-mate lineup would indicate that this R2 is meant to be from Echo Base, the accessories are from Luke’s survival kit on Dagobah.  And while those accessories are pretty nifty, they are not unique.  They were previously released with Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter from the (blue) SAGA line as a Toys R Us exclusive in 2002.  Those versions had a blue metallic coloring, vs. the gray here, but more importantly, had better paint applications.  Specifically, each bit of food inside the small case was painted before, but not here. 

This is not a bad mold, but the, uh, BAD (build-a-droid) astromech mold was certainly already better in most respects a couple of years later in 2008, even before it was improved upon when the body holes were filled in for the TLJ version in 2017.  It was released again in the Solo line with some weathering, and then finally made it into TVC on an Episode IV card as VC149.  But none of those are actually the analog to the Kenner Artoo with Sensorscope.  Nevertheless, VC25 featured an R2 with an all new sculpt that could swap the scope for Luke’s hilt, and also came with the bar and glasses from Jabba’s sail barge. For some collectors, VC25 is enough of an analog to the Kenner version, although it sports an ROTJ logo on the card. Other collectors may prefer a re-release on an ESB card, without the bar and glasses.  Not sure how wise that would be, but whatever.

If you have that SAGA X-Wing and the VC25 R2-D2, then you likely will have no need for this figure.  But if you prefer the VOTC mold and want the accessories, or if you prefer the vac metallized dome, this isn’t a bad pickup.  For these reasons, along with the nostalgic clicking dome, this figure avoids the Bantha Skull declaration of obsolescence.  It has just enough “other value” to keep it marginally relevant in your collection.