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

Original Review:  Chris - 12/20/2011 11:44 PM

Another very good figure form 2012’s inaugural wave.  The primary negatives with this figure are all associated with the pelvis region.  First, it looks odd.  The hip joints are obvious and look dated.  Second the hip joints have a rather narrow stance.  This means that although the legs have the requisite articulation for some nifty action poses, the narrow stance limits the possibilities.  There are a couple secondary negatives.  One is that I feel the face sculpt has a somewhat dopey or aloof expression.  Another is that I don’t think Hasbro got the deco of the helmet correct.  The figure has a painted design whereas the coloration on the actual prop helmet is more of a ware pattern.

The positives are very nicely done sculpt.  From the folds in the fabric to the ribbing on the jacket to the intricacies of the boots and gloves it seems a great deal of attention was paid.  The figure also received a dark wash which helps accentuate these details.  On balance, this is a decent figure and a solid 8 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 8/17/2018 07:05 AM

The original figure of this character from the Episode I line was actually very good, and still holds up fairly well, albeit if you display it in a very specific action pose with a two-handed weapon grip.  It actually looks very good in a display, even today.  But this figure, as it should be, is far better than its predecessor, and is actually one of the better figures in this 16 TVC figure streak from The Phantom Menace.  The sculpting, as far as the detail, is tremendous.  The soldier’s soft body armor looks great, with a lot of texture throughout the outfit.  The tunic, the pants, the gloves, the boots, are all sculpted with a lot of depth.  The face sculpt is a little odd, as the character has a bit of a comical look, but it’s not bad.  The helmet is removable, but fits perfectly when worn, including the chin strap.  As Chris pointed out, the helmet coloring is odd, but I see it as Hasbro’s attempt to replicate the smooth, reflective surface.  It seems that THIS would be one of the images Hasbro used for reference.

This figure has the basic modern articulation level, but is missing ball jointed hips, which would be appropriate for an action-oriented soldier.  In fact, Chris mentioned the strange pelvis.  It’s always a good day when we discuss pelvises and crotches.  But I agree with him that the obvious T-crotch is very dated looking, so even without the ball jointed articulation, I think Hasbro could have done a better job with the sculpt here.  The rest of the articulation is solid.  The figure comes with a Naboo blaster, which is more appropriately sized than the larger E1 version.  The blaster fits nicely in the hip holster, and the figure can also grip it well, even performing a bit of a THWG.

I’ll call this definitive, because there just isn’t any reason for Hasbro to revisit this figure.  Sure, it could use ball jointed hips, or alternate head sculpts.  But it would almost certainly be a mistake for Hasbro to do that.  As it is, it’s an excellent figure, and if you’re into the prequels, it’s a must have.  I’ll stick with Chris’s score of 8.

Verdict: No Action 

Since I’m calling it definitive, and since the aftermarket values remain close to the actual MSRP, there’s no reason for Hasbro to revisit this character in the foreseeable future.  But, since prices are so affordable, if you are interested, these might be worth your time picking up a couple.  I have two, and kind of wish I had a couple more.  These guards appear in several scenes in TPM, so if you’re so inclined, you really can’t have too many.

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.