Original Review:  Chris - 7/04/2013 1:36 PM

The figure almost makes me feel like I fell asleep a Star Wars collector and woke up a G.I. Joe collector due to the number of integrated accessories.  I believe this is the first human Star Wars figure to come with a knife assuming Yarna’s mammary excess is due to speciation and not the result of a birth defect or some fetishist’s genetic manipulation.  The knife itself tucks neatly into a sheath on the figure’s hip which is a godsend to those of us with an irrational fear of losing small accessories.  As is increasingly the norm (EXCEPT ON THE REBEL FLEET TROOPER), the blaster also stores in a working holster.  My favorite accessory is the cannon which the figure interacts with seamlessly.  A lot of times larger accessories seem like throw ins and any interaction with the figure is coincidental.  Not so here.  The figure and cannon go together like nerds and wedgies. 

Also as is the current norm, the Republic Trooper features a removable helmet.  Despite the generic name on the card’s name pill, once the helmet is removed, the figure seems to be based on the likeness of the specifically named character Jace Malcom.  As I’ve yet to play the game despite buying it last black Friday, I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing.  As I am NOT a Debbie Downer, I’m going to assume this is a good thing.

The only knock I can come up with is that once the helmet is removed, the human head lacks a good range of motion.  This can be seen in the last image above where Mr. Malcom can’t bring himself to look Darth Malgus in the eyes.  9 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 10/12/2018 07:05 AM

Another great figure from The Old Republic video game.  That’s three from Hasbro, along with Darth Malgus and Shae Vizla.  As I had said in those reviews, I never played the game, but I did see the trailer.  After Chris reminded me about it in time for those reviews, I agreed with him that it looks like it is from the Star Wars movie we never got.  Here it is again, in case you missed it.  Cool beans.

The Republic Trooper is fully articulated (for the time) along with a ball-jointed waist, and can be posed in a some nice positions for a dynamic display.  He could definitely benefit from ball jointed hips and wrists, but the figure works well with the then-standard 14 points.  The sculpt is tremendous, and is a nice addition to the long line of armored troops serving the galaxy’s reigning government.  The helmet is distinctive, and is removable.  Normally, we’re not fans of removable helmets, but it works very well in this case.  The figure comes with an array of accessories and weapons that can be mixed and matched for varying display options.  The bandolier/pauldron combo is removable, as is the ammo pouch.  On the belt, there is a removable knife pouch, which houses a (you guessed it!) knife.  There is also a working holster for the blaster.  Both the knife pouch and the working holster do their jobs well, just like Jango’s clones.  The figure, in turn, can grip solidly both the knife and the blaster.  Finally, the figure comes with a huge cannon, which he can wield perfectly.  As Chris mentioned, weapons like this are usually meant as off-screen extras to add perceived value for the consumer.  However, this cannon is not only straight from the trailer, it can be held perfectly by the figure using both hands.  The trooper has no problem standing and aiming, which surprised me.  I absolutely expected to be unable to get the figure to stand unassisted.  It’s one of the best THWG’s I’ve seen on any figure.

Finally, when the helmet is removed, it reveals a head sculpt and likeness that seems specifically meant to match the character of Jace Malcom.  If you watch the trailer (and you’re a schmuck if you haven’t already) you’ll see that Jace is a bad-a**.  He takes on Darth Malgus, who (according to Wookieepedia) is regarded as one of the most powerful (both physically and in The Force) and capable Sith to have ever lived.  Jace physically attacks Malgus, and actually withstands a barrage of Sith lightning for a few seconds before finally succumbing.  He then regains conciousness, and does a flying tackle on Malgus, saving Satele Shan in the process.  Malcom then sets off a grenade he is holding in his hand in an attempt to destroy Malgus.  The guy is a one man army.  He would have made a tremendous genetic template for the Republic clones 4000 years later.  The figure’s face has a tough personality built in.  Hasbro chose not to name the character, keep the generic “Republic Trooper” moniker, in much the same way as they did with Captain Fordo.  Maybe they felt consumers would be more inclined to army build a nameless trooper, and that it would sell better than if it were given a specific name.  Either way, we can safely assume this is Jace Malcom.

While the figure could benefit from some more modern ball-jointed articulation, it’s not necessary.  It’s the definitive The Old Republic trooper, and goes well with Malgus and Vizla. 

The figure was initially difficult to get in TVC, but with effort, they could be found for around MSRP at many online sources.  It was later re-released in the first phase (orange) of the Black Series as an also difficult to find international exclusive (numbered #31).  It goes for many shekels on eBay today, approaching $150 in many cases for carded samples.  Loose figures are also expensive, maybe as much as $50.  You can get Black Series versions for about that or less, but no matter what you try, it’s going to cost you.  It would seem kind of random for Hasbro to consider another basic release, but in a TOR-themed set, packed with Malgus, Vizla, and maybe a new character (Shan), that would sell pretty well.

Updated Review by Bret (6/1/2022)

The Republic Trooper (The Old Republic) was tricky to find in both the original VC113 in 2012 as well as the international re-release in the 3.75” Black Series in 2016.  It was a popular figure among collectors, and won a Fan’s Choice poll for re-release in TVC.  This time, it is a shared exclusive with Hasbro Pulse and ShopDisney. 

The PhotoReal is the main difference in the figure here, but also with one notable upgrade to the paint application on the armor.  If there’s anything else, I didn’t catch it.

The PhotoReal is good.  The face is a bit more realistic looking, and the scar looks better as well.  It isn’t the most overwhelming application of this technology, as some TVC figures are markedly better.  This is an incremental improvement. 

The other notable change is in the emblem on the right shoulder.  Whereas it was originally just a circle, this time it includes the full Havoc Squad emblem.  Very nice!

Neither of these things may be enough to make this a special purchase, but the real reason to buy this is because it’s a cool figure that was hard to get. It’s loaded with accessories (rare for TVC these days), and the articulation is excellent, at least by 2012 standards.  It could have benefitted from rocker ankles and other JLA joints, but we knew that wasn’t going to happen here.

Cool figure.  Get at least one for your shelf.