The current 5POA line is generally the worst thing to have happened to 3.75” collecting since the 6” line.  However, one of the saving graces has been that vehicles, while maybe not as prevalent as we would like, are pretty much the same as they would be if released in an SA figure line.  I love Star Wars vehicles, and rarely do I come across one I don’t like.  I’m not really ready to say that I don’t like this one, but I can’t say I love it.

It’s a strange design.  Hard to really pass judgement without the benefit of having seen it on screen yet, but it is kind of odd.  I guess I would say that if a TIE Interceptor had a skeleton, it might be similar to this. It’s like an open cockpit mini-rig speeder version of the TIE Interceptor.  Really, that doesn’t sound like a terrible toy, does it?  The design is definitely different than anything we’ve seen on screen, while it still seems to have TIE DNA.  Again, that sounds like it hits the sweet spot:  not a rehashed design, but not straying too far from the familiar.  And yet, it’s just…odd.  I mean, look at it.  LOOK AT IT!

The Speeder has some “action” features.  The wing panels rotate, although I’m not sure if they spin on film, or if it’s just a byproduct of the toy design.  There are wing stabilizers that move.  The open cockpit has a central console assembly that moves into what seems like open and closed positions.  The foot pedals flex, to accommodate different foot positions (somewhat irrelevant for the 5POA pilot), as do the steering grips for the same moot purpose.  It shoots two missiles, which travel a respectable distance.  There are two small, rotating blasters at the bottom of the cockpit console.  In short, there are quite a few moving parts on this Speeder, but I’m not sure about the practical play value of most of them.

The pilot has an interesting look.  I suppose it’s what a Star Warsy police officer should look like.  He has Aurebesh writing on his helmet that says “CBPD”, in case you were wondering. The pilot can hold his pistol firmly, and it otherwise fits snugly in the holster.  When seated in the cockpit of the Speeder, it’s a better fit than a lot of other 5POA pilots in their corresponding vehicles.  It’s not perfect, despite the various articulated cockpit parts.

The Force Link allows the figure to say some rather “Earthy” phrases, but I like the sounds the Speeder makes, including the sirens.  I was only disappointed that it didn’t make Rathtar noises, as my Rathtar actually made Police Speeder sounds.  Now I’ll never know what a Hasbro Rathtar sounds like!

So the jury is out on the ship design, as I’ll need to see the movie to better judge.  Otherwise, it’s not bad toy.  A little strange, but apparently Canto Bight is unlike anything we’ve seen in Star Wars, so there you go.  As I said, I like it but I don’t love it.  I liked the other vehicles released on Force Friday for The Last Jedi better, but I could foresee this one growing on me.