AAT Driver Battle Droid - TCW [R] - Basic (CW33)

Battle droids attack Yoda and his clone troopers during a secret mission to Toydaria. The Jedi Master must defeat the attacking droids to prove that the Republic can protect the Toydarian system better than the Separatists. Squads of battle droids hunt their quarry through coral forests supported by powerful AAT tanks.

While most of us expect new flavors of battle droids from The Clone Wars to enter the basic figure line sporadically, we're probably more surprised that they are even coming to us more slowly than that. An easy repaint, the battle droids are a character that should seem to make more frequent appearances in the line than the low frequency that they are coming. The AAT Driver Battle Droid also seems a bit overdue, mostly because he had appeared in the very first episode of the television show and had a relatively important role. But he is finally here and her also looks vaguely familiar. If you can rewind your collecting minds back to the end of 2006 in The Saga Collection basic figure assortment, Hasbro brought us a two-pack of "Kashyyyk-inspired" battle droids as 2006's TSC Battle Droids (SAGA 062). While the deco is completely different on this AAT Driver Battle Droid, it certainly could pass for a distant cousin of those 2006 battle droids. Both have the same camouflaged theme with varying green paint applications that give a military feel and look. But to be honest, we are not sure how well this figure fairs in the line. There has been a deterioration in the quality of the "battle droid" mold and we hope Hasbro can steer it back tot he original good quality we had before it.

So you musty be wondering what makes this figure inferior to the plain tan Battle Droid? Actually it is just one [but big] issue. The plastic used for the AAT Driver Battle Droid must be of a lesser or inferior quality the plastic used on the original battle droid. As soon as you remove it from the package, the droid is bowed terribly and after weeks out of the package, our sample is still misshapen. We dipped some parts of ours in hot water to re-form it for the photo shoot. We are not sure if this is a cost cutting move by Hasbro or just an inevitable change in production, but this action figure is significantly composed of weaker materials than its recent ancestor. If you can get past its twisted frame, the AAT Driver Battle Droid is painted very nicely and he has clean lines and colors that were applied very evenly and carefully. In fact, Hasbro even spent the time and money applying silver "scratch" marks on the droid's head, arms and legs to show battle-damage and wear. We were surprised to see these accents applied, but perhaps since this figure is a simple repaint, Hasbro felt they could give this figure a few extra details. They look great on the figure, but what good do excellent finishing touches due to a figure that can barely stand up straight? (We are just never happy, are we?) Sadly, this is a figure that impresses while in the package and disappoints once removed.

AAT Driver Battle Droid has a limited eight points of articulation. And this certainly limits the ability to deal with its terribly bent stature. Perhaps the worst joint affected by the packaging is its head and it makes it look very bizarre. The action poses we see in the carded figure packaging looks aesthetically pleasing, but it really damages the figures, especially if they are think and lean and have limited articulation. We ask that Hasbro consider the way in which they package the action figures. Certainly precautions can be taken to prevent the "permanent damage" caused by the trays and clear plastic bands that attach the weapons to the hands. Despite how we will receive out future action figures, the battle droids are certainly a very easy choice to round out waves and pad the line. And since they will continue to appear in The Clone Wars, we should expect to see many more in the future. While not a statuesque action figure by any means, AAT Driver Battle Droid will assist you in growing your droid armies, but we suggest you prepare yourself before removing it from the package. He may bring a level of disappointment you may not have expected. At least this droid did for us.