Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Original Review:  Chris - 12/24/2011 07:30 PM

Ratts Tyerell has appeared on wish list polls for a while now.  He is finally realized in plastic form for the Vintage Collection.  Prior to this, he had been rumored for a long time.  Tyerell lacks many of the points of articulation we’ve come to expect these days in larger figures.  Smaller figures often sport fewer points of articulation.  But if I look at recent smaller figures like Wicket and Logray my sense is that Hasbro could have done a bit more with Tyerell.  Elbows would have been a nice addition.

If you’re like me, your pod racers will just be standing on a shelf.  No action poses like Jedi or clones.  No need to sit like a cantina patron.  So the lack of articulation isn’t something that damns the figure,  The sculpting and paint applications look the part.  The removable goggles fit easily on the figure and line up naturally.  The DUM-series pit droid sports five points of articulation and while it’s the same Episode 1 line mold, it does add a little more value to the pack.  7 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 8/27/2018 07:05 AM

In 2012, After 70 TVC figure without a single character from The Phantom Menace, Hasbro went on a tear with a streak of 15 figures from Episode I.  This was around the same time that Hasbro has introduced the “budget” line with Darth Maul packaging, which had a couple of different sublines.  Besides the under-articulated figures in the main line of Maul packaging, there was also the 12-figure run of the Discover the Force line of collector-grade figures that were exclusive to Walmart.  There were also vehicles and multipacks.  As you know by now, 4 of the DTF figures were originally planned to be released in sequence in TVC, but were delayed and rushed to retail under the DTF banner.  But besides the confusing state of Star Wars figures at retail, the main thing here was that there was a huge push of figures from The Phantom Menace.  As part of that push, Hasbro made sure to give us 10 pod racers between TVC and TPM3D (Walmart DTF and TRU TPM).  The only pod racer produced by Hasbro that wasn’t available at retail in 2012 was Ody Mandrell. 

Here we have Ratts Tyerell.  He was barely in the original cut of TPM, but on the home release, there was a greatly extended version of the pod racer introductions, and Tyerell had more screen time, along with showing his wife and 3 kids, including a newborn.  This was probably intended to give a bit of an emotional significance to Ratts Tyerell’s fiery death in the caverns during the race. 

The figure is actually the second made by Hasbro of the Aleena species, after the release of EU Jedi Tsui Choi from the Order 66 2-packs.  Aleena were also featured in The Clone Wars animated series.  So they weren’t just a one hit wonder.  The figure has a ball jointed head and shoulders, with swivel wrists and hips.  As such, it doesn’t exactly have TVC quality articulation, but as Chris said, it’s no big deal for a character like this.  The sculpt is outstanding, as is the deco.  I don’t believe the paint on the face is bold enough.  The face is kind of lost in the coloring.  Some boldness with the facial features would have gone a long way in improving the appearance. 

Ratts comes with goggles, which are sculpted excellently in that that they fit perfectly over the head, and can even be placed at rest above the eyes.  The clear plastic used for the lenses is a little foggier than ideal, but they work.  He also comes with a small blaster, although unfortunately he doesn’t really grip it too well in his hand.  I guess that’s okay, because he really shouldn’t be shooting anyone while racing.  Or maybe he should.  It’s not an actual 2-pack, but the included pit droid makes this a nice value.  The pit droid is a repaint of an old mold.  It’s got a ball jointed head, and swivel shoulders and hips.  It’s a good looking figure, but the plastic is soft, and after years of sitting in a bin, the legs on mine were a bit warped, making standing a chore.  Taking pictures was a bit frustrating, but these are lengths to which we go for our community. 

The figure is the definitive version of Ratts Tyerell.  Sure, Hasbro could probably pack a little more articulation into the figure, and maybe the paint on the face could be a little bolder, but none of that should be attempted in order to make a new figure. 
 
Verdict: No Action 

It’s definitive, but eBay prices are pretty low.  Hasbro shouldn’t consider doing anything with this character going forward.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.