Yoda/Droideka - LC - Geonosis Arena Showdown (6 of 6)

The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars.

The TARGET exclusive Geonosis Arena Showdown sets are an excellent mix of updated figures, repacks and new offerings. The last and sixth set is not so much updated as it is rehashed, but it's definitely a worthwhile update and repack to two classic characters from Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. Yoda is a repaint ofthe figure from 2007's TAC Yoda & Kybuck (30 32) two-pack. This time around however, Yoda is made to be faithful to his Episode II likeness and to do this, Hasbro eliminated the white pants and bandolier. His skin color has been significantly darkened and the multiple finishing tones (washes) seen on the Clone Wars version have been omitted as well. Interestingly, Yoda has the same patterned soft-goods cloak as the TAC figure but this time has been cast in a softer and fuzzier material and in a very light tan instead. This was probably the best choice sculpt to use to update the Episode II Yoda (for now). We would have preferred better leg articulation and less of an awkward stance because you can't stand Yoda up straight without some awkward action stance. (This figure was deisgned to ride "something".) We have many times seen the ROTS Yoda (III 3) figures be used to create Episode II Yoda figures. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. So we count ourselves lucky that Hasbro revisited this awesome TAC sculpt. However, it is indeed difficult to make Yoda look good without the assistance of another figure or action figure stand. Yoda also comes with his small green lightsaber, the perfect finishing touch for a figure who is also of small stature.

While Yoda technically didn't fight with a lightsaber (or at all for that matter) in the Geonosis Arena, he is an excellent candidate for this series nonetheless and we think it's creative that Hasbro paired him with such a large metail nemesis as the Droideka. The Droideka (Destroyer Droid) is essentially a repack of 2007's TAC Destroyer Droid (30 59) figure. We could be wrong, but we believe this is the first time where Hasbro actually names this character a Droideka in the toy line. (It seems every other incarnation thus far has been entitled Destroyer Droid.) Besides very subtle coloring differences, this figure can easily be ascertained as a simple repack. Not an irrelevant purchase by any means, the Destroyer Droid in this two-pack is an essential army-builder figure and will absolutely help you grow your collection effectively. The Droideka also comes with two blast effects (we really don't see these add-ons that often any more) and it finishes the droid off very nicely. Just like the 2007 figure, the droid is covered in authentic scratches and wear and Hasbro really went the extra distance to give us the best Destroyer Droid to date for a second time. Seize the opportunity to pick this figure up again. It really is an impressive use of older molds and the piece work together beautifully. Coming with remarkable articulation, the Droideka is not in need of too much more to be considered definitive. The droid has a standout paint job and a "bendy" joint that allows for an infinite array of motion. This is a great benefit to the right kind of action figure. Droideka is a figure that needs this flexibility (no pun intended) to be the most it can.

So this set obviously concludes the first batch of Geonosis Arena Showdown two-packs. We are immediate fans of them and we hope that a second series will indeed see production in the near future (as it has been rumored already by Hasbro). (Editor's Note: A second series has seen release in October 2010!) During a time of VERY overpriced exclusives (mostly Walmart and Toys R Us exclusives to be exact), it is a very sobering and comforting thing to be able to purchase an exclusive of this quality that average less than $7.00 per figure. The Walmart exclusive Droid Factory from the Legacy Collection were excellent, but even with the Build A Droid component, they were severely overpriced for what it was. And since Hasbro did a great deal to improve existing sculpts and kit-bash others, the Geonosis Arena Showdown sets are simply a great deal. If Hasbro continues to come up with phenomenal ideas like this for exclusives and if the retail partners will holdfast and not waiver with increasing costs, we can continue to get value and quality with them. Ten dollars per action figure, thirty-five dollars for mid-size vehicles and seventy dollars for large-sized vehicles is an absolute travesty. We hope this particular example of an exclusive can be an axiom to Hasbro of what will be extremely successful at the retail level and how they should approach their exclusives. We recommend supporting this set right off the bat. Don't wait for clearance, it would be a crime to not support this set to guarantee an "act two " of it down the pike. (Editor's Note: "Act II" is here and it's awesome!!)