Bantha With Tusken Raiders [Version 2] - TAC - Battle Packs (Exclusive)

Native lifeforms on Tatooine must adjust to the harsh desert conditions if they are to survive. The Tusken Raiders have carved a place for themselves in the barren Jundland Wastes, from which they emerge to raid colonist communities with deadly ferocity. To ride from place to place, they use banthas, a docile species that is easily trained and carries the fierce Tuskens swiftly through the desert.

Let’s face it, the films that make up the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy really didn’t come with that many surprises. Lines that began hearts thumping like “No, I am your father!” were nonexistent and other than establishing three new main heroes in the films and learning the story of how they met is pretty much the extent of what we didn’t know. However, we learned new facets of previously established Star Wars characters. Take for instance the Sand People. We knew them as violent nomadic desert dwellers. But in the Prequels we learned that they necessarily didn’t ride single file to hide their numbers and instead acted as snipers in broad daylight to passing podracers. But Episode II revealed what can probably be considered one of their most important cultural aspects, that they were a communal people who set up camp, albeit in a nomadic fashion very similar to native Americans, where families interacted and protected each other from outsiders. The savageness we witnessed in Episode IV was a bit diminished by the visual proof that they care for their uli-ah (Tusken Raider children) and then the women added some finesse to the species too as evidenced by their ornate gold enhancements to their protected masked faces. Honestly, this is when we realized for the first time that the Tusken Raiders had a very civilized familial structure. Whether this is something you wanted to know about this species or not, we have to say that these are the details that made the Prequel Trilogy worthwhile – and this statement comes from overzealous and protective fans of the Original Trilogy.

Hasbro took note of the scenes in Episode II that showed the Tusken Raiders and their respective camps and created a two unique Battle Packs sets based on them. This review focuses on the “brown” version which we have sometimes heard referred to as “red”. “Red” doesn’t make much sense to us so we’re calling this “Version 2” since on average the darker Bantha With Tusken Raiders Battle Packs sets arrived to stores after the lighter style. These Toys R Us exclusives didn’t sell that briskly on store shelves, but they did sell steadily and once they went on clearance they disappeared forever. If you were lucky, you could find the set on sale for less than $10. We were fortunate and why we are able to review the second version of this set for you in our Research Droids Reviews. The packaging comes in the standard and modern looking angular 30 (77-07) style with an attractive backdrop, but the methods in which Hasbro affixed the action figures inside of it was maddening to undo. In fact, the figures are bound so tightly via wires that we got a blister trying to remove them. That is a bit ridiculous folks. Keep in mind that this set has value based on the sum of the parts and not the individual figures themselves. That means that while not all of the figures are super-articulated masterpieces, they look fantastic together and we love the fact that they’ve been placed together to represent a Tusken Raider family. Don’t roll your eyes at us. This Battle Packs set is well done.

Inside the box you’ll received a completely revisited Bantha. It’s been repainted and have been given all-new (and much darker fur). You may want to know that the Bantha is the only piece that is exactly the same in both Version 1 and Version 2. Based on the original 1998 POTF2 creature, its been given an all-new dark paint job and comes with all-new soft-goods with a material that is used typically for Jedi robes this time around. Atop the Bantha is a super-articulated Tusken Raider [Rider] figure. It’s a repainted and repositioned figure originally based on 2006’s VTSC Sand People figure. It offers more of a stark contrast than a blended feature to the action figure, but at least Hasbro did something differently here. It’s the only figure that is super-articulated, so it’s the only one you’re going to be able to place as a rider for the included Bantha. The Tusken Raider [Female With Child] is a repaint of 2002’s SW Tusken Raider (Female With Child) (‘02 #08) figure. A very Egyptian-inspired look, she’s never looked better as an action figure even despite her extremely limited articulation. All of the original accessories are here for this release including the subtly articulated uli-ah and gaderffi stick. The Tusken Raider [Sniper] (along with his handheld Massiff) is a repaint of 2002’s SW Tusken Raider (With Massiff) (‘02 #52) figure. This figure also comes with the same accessories and has been given an all-new and very nice paint job too. We highly recommend these exclusive Battle Packs. They’ve truly been done very well and it’s nice to have a whole family of Tusken Raiders in a beautiful boxed set.