Original review by Chris, 2014-08-15 08:00 AM

Here we are over six and a half years removed from the release of this figure and it’s every bit as good as the figures currently being released.  If I was worrying that today’s figures are regressing, opening this figure for the first time didn’t do anything to rest those concerns.  In early 2008, Hasbro delivered a super-articulated Rahm Kota figure with sturdy plastic on a vibrant, full-sized Thirtieth Anniversary Collection card.  Oh, and they did this with an MSRP of $6.99 which, when adjusted for inflation, comes to $7.74 today.  Of course to be fair, labor costs in China are rising faster than the inflation of the US dollar. 

Rahm Kota was sometimes pejoratively referred to as the “Samurai Jedi” due to his obvious styling cues.  Due to the heavy influence of Kurosawa on Lucas and, thus, Star Wars, I don’t view that as a particularly disparaging designation.  I think the design looks decidedly Star Wars.  One of my favorite parts of the figure is the sash that stows the lightsaber over the figure’s right shoulder.  Sure the toy requires you to sheath a lit saber which is a bit silly.  It would obviously burn right through it in “reality.”  We can suspend disbelief with regard to a physics-bending contained plasma beam, but placing said beam in a leather sash is just too unscientific for us to accept.  As a toy element, it’s pretty neat and I will probably display the figure that way.

The actual digital model of Rahm Kota from The Force Unleashed video game does have rather large shoulder armor, but it seems to be further exaggerated in action figure form.  Perhaps some scaling liberties should have been taken to deemphasize this design element.  Sadly, the large armor pieces affect the range of motion of the shoulders, and the variety of lightsaber dueling positions is somewhat limited as a result.  If you have read my reviews before, you know that I require Jedi figures to be able to achieve two-handed saber grips.  I remember as a kid getting frustrated having my figures hold the saber straight out in one hand.  But kids absolutely hate articulation because it prevents figures from sitting in vehicles, so this is clearly an incorrect memory.  That quick digression aside, this Rahm Kota figure certainly passes the two-handed saber grip test, but due to the tight range of motion, that passing grade is toward the “C” end of the spectrum.  The legs, too, offer the articulation needed to achieve enough different stances to make this figure dynamic, but by today’s standards, that leg articulation is the norm and not exceptional.  All Jedi figures greatly benefit from the current ball jointed hips and rocker ankles, which were not in use when this figure was released. 

Jedi are referred to as “warrior monks.” The digital model of the character has a contemplative and concerned expression that conveys the “monk” aspect, but the figure itself seems to err on the warrior side of the equation.  I don’t think it fully captures the essence of the character.  To be fair, capturing the soul of a character in a 3.75” scale head sculpt is a rare feat and not the norm.  Taking everything into account, this figure is a solid 8 out of 10 in the current landscape which is impressive for a six year old offering.  Since Lucasfilm has put a moratorium on Expanded Universe (or “Legends”) figures which Hasbro selectively honors, we’re not likely so see this figure re-released or updated probably ever.  Sadly, the secondary market appreciates this figure as much as I do and it fetches a premium.

One last bit of house keeping before the skulls.  The “sitting in vehicles” remark may be viewed as some as a slight against Adam Pawlus.  While I’m not above taking a playful jab at those in the community, it is not meant to be a jab of any kind.  Hasbro repeatedly used “sitting in vehicles” as a defense for the five point of articulation garbage at San Diego Comic Con.

Updated review by Bret, 7/31/19 9:01AM

I have more fun picking at some of the things in a review from 6 years ago than I do actually re-reviewing the figure.  To carry forward the inflation reference through today, I’ve carefully calculated that this $6.99 figure would now cost 14,552.93 Solar Credits.  And the cost of labor in China?  That’s not even a real place any more!  Not since the Great Sneeze of 2087.  [Wait, what? Oh dear.  Yes, Supreme Leader, right away, Supreme Leader.]  Ahem.  Please disregard everything you’ve just read.  I am definitely not from the future.  But if I were, I would tell you that 3.75” Star Wars figures have soundly defeated Hasbro’s 6”, 5”, 2.5”, 0.05” (that one was a real bust), 8”, 9”, 10”, 11.625”, 17.39”, and 56” figure scales, especially after the premiere of Episode XLII.  I would tell you this if I was from the future, but I’m totally not.  But seriously, keep on collecting the one true scale.  It will all pay off eventually.  Anyway…

Chris commended the figure for the two-handed saber grip.  He almost nailed it again.  Yesterday we saw that he successfully predicted the plot of Ted 2 before it hit theaters.  Here we see that he basically predicted our favorite acronym, THWG, which was totally invented by me and not in any way created by Trooper31. 

Meanwhile, it seems he jumped the gun with his assertion that “all Jedi figures greatly benefit from the current ball-jointed hips and rocker ankles.”  It seems that while a precious few figures with rocker ankles were trickling out of The Black Series 3.75” line around the time of the original review, it sadly never caught on.  Also, it makes me feel dirty even speaking of TBS 3.75.  From now on, we should refer to it as That Which Shall Not Be Named.

The figure is great.  Everything Chris said is true.  It’s a great looking figure, and the awesome sculpt makes up for any complaints with regard to some limits on the range of motion.  It can perform a THWG, and it can be sufficiently posed for battle.  It’s a great part of this wave of TFU figures, and it’s an awesome take on a Jedi that survived Order 66 and The Purge.  It’s a solid 8 even today.

As for the beef with Adam Pawlus, apparently that was a thing.  Or was it?  Who knows.