Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) - EI - Playsets

In their attempt to liberate the Naboo people, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi face their deadliest foe...Darth Maul. While the desperate final battle against the Trade Federation rages on outside, Darth Maul corners the two Jedi inside the Theed hangar. Armed with a double bladed lightsaber, Maul leads Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan into a snare of deadly surprises-collapsing catwalks, secret traps and battle droid ambushes! Maneuvering through the hangar, Qui-Gon Jinn takes out a band of battle droids with his lightsaber and his mighty power kicks before coming face to face with Darth Maul!

In 1999, Hasbro produced two distinct playsets for the Episode I line. Although not initially revealed, the two playsets, Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) and the Theed Generator Complex, interconnected to give Star Wars collectors a more massive playset comprising of two critical environments seen during the Battle of Naboo. Unfortunately, each playset was only a thumbnail of the actual areas. The Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) set was experimental, and shouldn’t have been because the innovative components are unnecessary and don’t function all that well. How difficult is it for Hasbro to create a normal playset with some discrete play features that would serve as a display for action figures? Why do we need silly play features and motorized electronics added to add novelty and not much else? The Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) does have, however, a few redeemable aspects to it, but overall it’s mostly a waste of time and energy. Even the pack-in figures here are a waste. The packaging calls out the detail that a remote motorized joystick activates Jedi battle moves. Are you serious, Hasbro? We don’t believe that kids will be interested in this, let alone collectors.

Since when do collectors need a motorized joystick to play with our toys? Also, the functionality doesn’t work all that well, either. It gets caught in the many lands and grooves added to the base. And the problems create more frustration than enjoyment. Despite our initial consternation, there are quite a few features added here to enjoy, perhaps. Hasbro describes most of the interactivity here as remote-operated battle moves that put you in control. You can activate a collapsing catwalk as well. The remote action enables Battle Droid attack, battle-damaged panel “explosions,” and remote Qui-Gon Jinn activates burst-open doors. Some of the more manual operations here include the pulling of a slide lever. It opens both hangar doors. Hasbro always includes some projectile action in their playsets, and the same is valid here. You’ll find a heavy blaster cannon with articulation. It slides across the entire length of the catwalk, and that’s a wonderful feature to have here. You can utilize one of your many Episode I Battle Droid CommTech figures here to interact with the cannon. The included pack-in Battle Droid figures is not a good figure for this feature due to its lack of articulation.

The Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) is supposed to represent the extra-large hangar on Naboo. But it’s a snapshot of it, and barely shows the crucial aspects of it, save for the doors. The two included pack-in action figures here are interesting. You get a “Power Spin” Qui-Gon Jinn. It’s a decently sculpted action figure of actor Liam Neeson, but as an action figure, it’s a nightmare. The Qui-Gon Jinn action figure is utterly dependent on the playset. Its joints are the loosest we’ve seen on any Star Wars action figure to date, but that design is intentional. When you use the joystick, you can recreate some spinning and swinging moves with this figure. But, at best, it’s a novelty feature here. We believe kids would have rather received a standard Qui-Gon Jinn action figure and do what they want with it instead. The Battle Droid is a little more interesting. It splits at the torso, and its “halves” are held together by a magnet. If you recall, we see a Battle Droid get struck by the Jedi in the Naboo Hangar exactly like this action figure. So, it’s nice to have a figure like this in the basic figure line finally. It severely lacks in articulation. It only comes with a ball-socket head. Overall, we’re not impressed with this set. But it may serve a purpose for dioramas.