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

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

I don’t know where the light blue comes from.  In the movie and on the card, the costume seems somewhere between black and a deep purple.  Admittedly this could likely be due to environmental lighting.  However, the publicity shots of the costume, which do show some hints of blue, don’t appear this blue. So the color palette is a tad disappointing to me.

Having said that, I like just about everything else about the figure. The quality of the head sculpt makes me want updates to the old Episode 1 line Neimodians, and I never thought I’d say that.  One thing I’m a sucker for is well executed soft goods on a figure and I find the cloth portions of the Daultay Dofine figure to be well done.  The blending of the soft goods elements and sculpted elements works in this case and adds a sense of richness.  The plastic tabard does have the effect of limiting the movement of the arms. For example, I could not pose Dofine with a two handed grip on the blaster.  I’m not too concerned about this because getting in a shoot out seems out of character for the Neimodian captain. This is a solid entry.  8 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 8/25/2018 07:05 AM

I hadn’t realized how many different Neimodians figures there were, until I was setting up the group shot for the gallery.  It doesn’t included the repainted AOTC Nute Gunray (with new hat!).  But as Chris alluded to in his original review, most of them are outdated.  Nute Gunray and probably Rune Haako should have been updated by now, and for many collectors who don’t dismiss the PT, Tey How is near the top of many wishlists.  While Hasbro has released several different characters from this species, it would seem that there is some kind of injustice happening here because Daultay Dofine is the only super-articulated figure in the lot.  The most prominent Separatist species should have more modern representation in the line.

Daultay Dofine was the captain of the flagship Trade Federation Droid Control ship during the blockade of Naboo.  You would think that someone of his rank should display more leadership traits, but this guy was pretty much a schmoe.  Darth Sidious had zero tolerance for his nonsense, and dismissed him with an insult.  But he came from a prominent Neimodian family, like his relative, Lushros Dofine, a more capable leader who had impressed General Grievous enough to have been appointed captain of The Invisible hand.  Both were killed during conflicts with Anakin Skywalker - Daultay directly when young Anakin destroyed the Droid Control Ship, and Lushros indirectly when he was killed escaping from the Invisible Hand, which was commandeered by Anakin 13 years later.

The figure is excellent.  The sculpt is well-done, with the basic amount of super-articulation.  The paint job is good on the uniform, although the face is mottled a bit strangely.  Nevertheless, the character gives of some personality.  The soft goods robes are among the most well done by Hasbro to date.  They fit the figure well, don’t appear to bulky, and add to the outstanding aesthetic.  The figure comes with a soft plastic tabard, which fits nicely over the robes, and completes the look.  The whole shebang gives the figure adequate space to accommodate a nice range of motion of the arms and legs, although not necessarily to their full potential.  It’s okay, because Daultay isn’t exactly the type of person who is going to do much in the way of dynamic activity.  I don’t know, maybe he does pilates in his spare time.

Daultay comes with a cone-head-like hat, so I assume he’s originally from France.  The hat fits very snugly, but when removed, reveals the full head and visage of Daultay Dofine.  He also comes with a E-5 Battle Droid Blaster, although he has no holster or other means of hands-free carrying.  Maybe he keeps it under his hat.  He grips the weapon a bit loosely, but securely enough.  Chris mentioned he couldn’t get his sample to perform a THWG.  I don’t know if the judges would allow my result, but I came pretty close.  But as he mentioned, it doesn’t matter, because Daultay isn’t bursting into a room full of Jedi, yelling “Get some!”  as he mows down his victims.

I think my favorite part of the figure is the jester-like upturned toes on his shoes. The length of the robe perfectly allows the toes to peek out from underneath, which is just…silliness.  And who does’t love a little side order of silliness with their Neimoidians?

The figure is a definitive version of Daultay Dofine, no doubt.  It should be a model for Hasbro to move forward at some point with upgrades to the main Neimodians.  I concur with Chris’s score of 8.

Verdict: No Action 

It’s a very good figure, and definitive for this character.  Not surprisingly, eBay prices are relatively low, as they seem to be for most of the TPM figures we’ve reviewed recently.  If you’re a fan of PT figures, you should have him in your collection.  Hasbro should take no action on Daultay Dofine. 

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.