This set is as cool as it is frustrating.  I was escared when this repaint was announced, because of the major issues with the loose articulation of the AT-ST.  It’s been around for a while, most recently as the uninspired Black Series AT-ST Imperial Walker, which was a direct descendent of the TVC AT-ST (ROTJ), which had also been released in the Shadows of the Dark Side Attack on Hoth.  That last one (or first one?) may have been okay, but for the most part, this has just been a maddening toy.

We could only cross our fingers in hopes that Hasbro would have done something to the leg joints to improve the looseness.  I believe that there is some improvement, but not enough to make it acceptable.  On my sample the left leg is definitely tighter than in the past.  But the right leg has a problem with the “ankle” joint, where it doesn’t seem to lock into place in the same fashion as the right.  So to start, it’s almost impossible to get a neutral stance.  The right “hip”, along with the always weird swing-out double joint, is definitely loose in the same fashion as past iterations.  I tried tightening the little screws at each joint, and that also had a marginal effect.  But sadly, the overall result is that it’s almost as frustrating as in the past.  But if you can get it to stand, then you’re in for a treat because it has a great looking paint job.

The vehicle, which we have yet to see on screen, of course, is covered in war paint that is very well done.  There’s a nice weathering effect.  Additionally, there are a few interesting highlights, like the skull and crossbones (which apparently is a universal symbol of “pirate”) and what might be kill marks.  There are three small pieces of tarp (I assume), which are strapped to various points on the legs with elastic bands.  They would seem to be removable, should you be so inclined.  There’s also a small net that hangs off the left leg.  We obviously don’t know what it’s for, but perhaps it’s a way to carry captured bounty.  Beyond that, the features are the same as with previous releases (thankfully, minus the switch out missile-launching chin gun).  It’s got the flip up top, small hatch, eye ports, rotating cheek guns, and the screen accurate chin gun.

The included figure is almost perfect.  The Klatooinian Raider is just terrific.  It’s a well done kit bash / repaint, with a new removable helmet and a separately sculpted shoulder armor/bandolier piece.  It’s nearly unidentifiable as a kit bash.  I never cared that Hasbro re-used parts in order to give us a new character.  This is simply “new” in my book.  The sculpt is excellent, the articulation is perfectly cromulent.  I have no issues with the lack of more modern ball jointed wrists, hips, waist, etc.  The head is sculpted well, although it appears that one shortcut Hasbro took was that the head lacks some paint details beyond the face.  Maybe that’s intentional, but it seems like a miss.  You’ll likely never notice, so long as you keep the hemet/cowl on.  The plastic skirt is only slightly limiting to the range of motion. You’re also able to get the figure to achieve a sitting position in order to fit into the AT-ST (although not perfectly).  One frustrating shortcut was the choice to include a sculpted blaster onto the chest piece.  This is strange and upsetting.  A TVC figure should not have this.  I had zero issue forgiving the missing articulation and paint apps on the head, but the sculpted blaster is a bummer.  Nevertheless, the figure is still a winner.  Most of us will celebrate a familiar alien that could easily have been plucked out of the cantina or Jabba’s palace. 

[Editor’s Note:  It was noted in our comments section that there is, in fact, a separate blaster included with the figure. I may have misplaced mine out of the package.]

[Editor’s Note:  It’s true.  The gun.  The figure.  All of it.  It’s all true.  Pics added]

The $80 price tag may be a bit tough for some collectors to handle, but by now, we should all know that this is they way it is.  TVC is expensive, and there’s no way around it.  The AT-ST leg articulation is improved, but still annoying.  The figure is outstanding (especially for a pack-in), but the sculpted blaster is annoying.  I’m going to give this a shaky 7.  If you can get the AT-ST to stand upright, it’s a great looking set.