Theed Generator Complex - EI - Playsets

The adventure continues with this exclusive playset from Star Wars: Episode !! Authentically styled with incredible detail, the THEED GENERATOR COMPLEX captures all the suspense of the fierce lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi!

The better of the two “straight-up” playset in 1999 was the Theed Generator Complex set. The Theed Hangar Playset (Motorized) set pales in comparison. However, the beautiful thing is that they interconnected to each other 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 Generator Complex focuses on the area where Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul battle each other while the Battle of Naboo is transpiring outdoors. You get a sense of the scene from the playset. But there are too many components missing to be a direct interpretation of the environment at hand. There is one central platform where the action figures battle each other, and then two ramps on the front and back lead to the leading platform. Adjacent to the slopes is two console areas with control panels. These are the areas you can assume to place the included Battle Droid to stand at command. The Theed Generator Complex is an excellent display piece, but there isn’t much else it offers to the collector, other than connecting another, a more massive playset.

The official features of the Theed Generator Complex include the aforementioned retractable ramps. These are used to connect to other playsets. As explained, you can join the Theed Hangar and Theed Generator Complex together to make the most extensive and most awesome playset ever. The command stations both have an action feature. You can catapult the platforms for flipping and tumbling action figure action. The sides of the center platform have gears that spin the “stands” on the top of the platform to make the action figures turn and move as needed. Also, the control panels explode and fire a projectile. Again, there aren’t that many features here, but it is the better of the two playsets. The action features aren’t as “in your face” as the other playset. Despite its relatively small size, there is realistic detail here, and Hasbro ensured they developed a toy that has authentic movie styling. The set comes with a decal sheet, and the decals are relatively easy to apply to the playset. They also add detail and color to otherwise drab gray plastic. We wish there were more to this set, but we believe it’s intended to be a simple display piece. It’s not meant to be more than it is.

The Theed Generator Complex includes an exclusive Battle Droid action figure. It comes with adequate articulation, including a ball-socket head, a hinge-jointed neck, two swivel shoulders, and two swivel hips. No matter how much you like this new Battle Droid figure, it’s not nearly as good as the B1 Battle Droid part of the basic figure line. Unfortunately, the blaster is permanently affixed to the right hand. What’s worse, there are no bendable elbows, so you can’t do much but outstretch the arm holding the blaster, and it looks unnatural. We’re not sure why Hasbro chose to add a pack-in Battle Droid here, but it’s an odd figure and ultimately strange addition to the Theed Generator Complex playset. These characters weren’t part of this scene, so there is no need to include them in the playset. Overall, the Theed Generator Complex is a nice-looking playset for the Episode I line. We don’t like criticizing playsets too harshly, because it’s so rare when we do get them added to a Star Wars toy line. A set like this might not be your first choice, but it does present a backdrop for your many Episode I basic figures. We’d like to see more memorable scenes get converted into playsets, however. That’s not asking too much.