Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) - POTF2 [FB/CT] - Basic

While tinkering with his model T-16 skyhopper and tending to his uncle's new droids, Luke unwittingly short circuits R2-D2's recording system, triggering the holographic appearance of a young Princess Leia. The image implores the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but vanishes soon thereafter.

How do you make a new Luke Skywalker new enough to warrant another purchase? And how can you make it appealing enough so that collectors who have been with the modern line since 1995 feel like they’re not getting raked over coals plopping down another $7 for something that they “may” not need? If you ask us, the answer is 1999’s POTF2 [FB/CT] Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model). This all-new figure not only sports completely “from the ground up” new tooling, but the accessories should be enough to make even the most squeamish collectors jump on this figure like it was their last chance to buy a Luke Skywalker action figure. We’re of course most impressed with the T-16 model that accompanies Luke Skywalker. This wonderfully scaled accessory looks like a perfect scale model of the vehicle we received in full scale in The Power Of The Force [Green/Freeze Frame] line. Now we have the one Luke was playing with in the Lars’ garage and it is an accessory you’re going to want for your Luke Skywalker collection. If that T-16 model wasn’t good enough, would you believe Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) ALSO comes with a carbon scraper? This is just too much goodness for a single action figure. How could you pass up on this wonderful set?

Obviously not too many of us were pleased about getting another farm boy Luke Skywalker figure. But we believe the CommTech release will push away your reservations and you’ll eagerly anticipate its arrival into your collection. Sometimes action figures are worth buying for the sole purpose of acquiring the accessories that come packaged with them. That is about how we’re going to rank this release. Please don’t misunderstand us. We think Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) is a fantastic update to what we have received in the past, but it is the accessories that have us sold hook, line, and sinker. But we should probably talk about the Luke Skywalker figure a bit since that should be the star of this set. The inclusion of swivel elbows and hinge-jointed knees gives Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) a wee bit more movement, but you’re probably going to be disappointed overall because these points of articulation just cannot provide a full range of movement. Thankfully he can hold onto his accessories quite well and has no issue whatsoever standing up unassisted (as long as you don’t bend his hinge-jointed knees you’ll be fine). Obviously there is enough articulation here to make Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) useful.

It’s hard to break new ground when you’re producing the same character over and over and over again. Sure, even better articulation would have been sublime here, but we think Hasbro did an admirable job updating this figure. Besides, we don’t think Hasbro has mastered the human form (especially in the hands) completely yet, so until we see more lifelike accuracy, we hope they would hold off on updating the articulation. The likeness to Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) is just “meh” and the articulation is essentially moot, but it does provide a backdrop for the wonderful accessories included. We’re proud to own Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) just for the accessories alone. Also included with Luke Skywalker (With T-16 Skyhopper Model) is a CommTech chip. As you’re more than familiar with at this point, these items serve as display stands as well as independent devices to make your action figures “talk”. Because this line is concurrent with the Episode I line, it makes sense why Hasbro would apply this pack-in premium to the Original Trilogy characters as well. But if you’re not into such things, we would understand why you find the CommTech chips cumbersome.