Battle Droid - TVC - Basic (VC216)

Commemorate the first 50 years of Lucasfilm with figures inspired by Star Wars: Clone Wars!

If there is one “dud” in the Walmart exclusive Clone Wars wave, we’d have to give that assessment to the Battle Droid. It’s not the worst figure Hasbro produced for The Vintage Collection, but it serves as longstanding “salt in the wound” when there is a “better” B1 battle droid tooling that Hasbro could use in the line instead. But that dang 2012 TVC Battle Droid (VC78) figure made the figure from 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Battle Droid 2-Pack (SL20) set obsolete, but not by collector choice. We may never see that excellent interpretation of the B1 battle droid again, so we’re stuck with the smaller VC78 version, and Hasbro is using and reusing the tooling to bring us different Battel Droid action figures into the line. The Walmart exclusive Clone Wars Battle Droid (VC216) figure also utilizes the tooling of the 2012 Battle Droid (VC78) figure. Hasbro repainted the figure to match the reddish-orange color of the characters we see throughout Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars micro-series. Despite wishing Hasbro would reuse the other Battle Droid’s tooling for The Vintage Collection, the “new” Battle Droid doesn’t look half bad. Hasbro didn’t add any dirt or battle damage to the Battle Droid. It’s a clean interpretation. But its bright color fits in well with the rest of the figures in this excellent wave of action figures.

However, we still want to know why Hasbro can’t use reinforced plastic so figures keep their shape and don’t bend from natural forces like gravity. Why is this such an issue with our action figures, especially spindly ones like the Battle Droid? It’s becoming annoying at this point that Hasbro can’t give us action figures with some necessary rigidity and the ability to keep and hold positions endlessly. If you recall, Hasbro recently re-released 2012’s TVC Battle Droid (VC78) through the Fan Channel. It appeared that about 50% of the Star Wars collecting community was excited for the option to purchase the figure again, but when released, collectors soon realized how Hasbro phoned it in once again. Sure, the figure came with better paint operations, but the plastic used could barely sustain any poses, and the figure bent in your hands as you attempted to pose it. We have the same problems here with the Clone Wars Battle Droid. We didn’t expect Hasbro to tool an all-new figure, but why couldn’t they work with materials that have a sturdier makeup? For the Battle Droid, the best thing about it is the articulation system, and that is a bit obsolete by today’s standards too. That said, the figure complements the other five characters in the wave, and there are a few reasons to be excited by its release.

The Battle Droid does succeed in its packaging, however, and that’s no surprise because all of the Clone Wars figures’ packaging is gorgeous. Hasbro picked a picture-perfect character photo to adorn the card. The Battle Droid is pictured in a battle scene. You can see many elements of the Separatist Droid Army in the graphic. The most prominent character featured beside the Battle Droid is a Hailfire Droid in the background. The characters are behind the backdrop of a mint-green sky and sandy terrain. And the nameplate is red with black lettering. The Battle Droid’s card is a beautiful example of what Hasbro can do when they take the time to design packaging for figures in The Vintage Collection. If only the figure could achieve the same pose as the character reflected in the graphics. The Battle Droid’s articulation is alright in our eyes. The neck not only slides up and down, but the neck post can also articulate forward and backward, albeit minimally. And the Battle Droid also has two ball-socket shoulders and two ball-socket hips along with hinge-jointed elbows, knees, and ankles. And even with the head fully extended up, we still feel the Battle Droid is a tad too short compared to other characters in the line. That said, we’re still pleased Hasbro released this figure.