Scout Trooper - TVC - Basic (VC196)

Well, first of all, it’s excellent to see the updated Biker Scout/Scout Trooper finally realized as a basic figure in The Vintage Collection! The bad? Well, Hasbro went a little too light on the paint operations but included new gear and weapons to make the release a little more interesting this time. But the bad here? Well, egregiously, Hasbro neglected to include the basic EC-17 blaster pistol, which is essential for every Biker Scout/Scout Trooper action figure, in our opinion. The Gaming Greats Scout Trooper arrives in The Vintage Collection with little to no surprises and is based on the Jedi Fallen Order video game. Hasbro eliminated much of the more delicate deco paint operations like the details on the helmet and the midsection to incorporate new accessories like the electro riot baton with an “energy” attachment. Hasbro worked in the new parts with fluidity, and it feels like they’ve always been part of this action figure. That’s the good news. The bad news is that if you strip the Scout Trooper down to its essential components (removing accessories), you’re left with an inferiorly decorated Scout Trooper that is begging for more attention when it comes to its deco. It’s a bittersweet release. We’re thrilled to see an essential character like the Scout Trooper in The Vintage Collection, but we’re sad to see all of the shortcuts Hasbro took to get it to us.

Scout Trooper is a repaint of the pack-in figure from 2012’s SW [TPM3D] Speeder Bike With Scout Trooper Toys R Us exclusive set. Hasbro subsequently released the pack-in figure as a basic figure as 2013’s TBS [P1] Biker Scout (#07) figure. For this release, Hasbro eliminated most of the original deco found within the helmet and the midsection. Then they added an all-new harness and electro riot baton with energy attachment and felt it was complete. It is a bit painful to admit that our first Scout Trooper is part of the Gaming Greats collection (not sourced to Return Of The Jedi), but at least we have it. The gear is easily removable, and if you can forgive the “bright white” belly, you’ll be able to army build this figure once again, despite its imperfections. We’re not crazy about the packaging for this figure. We strongly feel that Hasbro needs to develop a new logo to encompass all Star Wars canon outside the films. They’ve placed the Scout Trooper on a Star Wars card (with the Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa image in the corner), and it sticks out like a sore thumb). The rest of the card’s graphics are excellent. The colors pop, and the image used for the Scout Trooper is specific to the game. The composite here is stunning. Let’s hope that “Expanded Universe” no longer is a dirty word to the weirdos at Lucasfilm for much longer. Also, what's up with the $14.99 MSRP? What do these figures have that commands that ridiculous new price?

We’re happy to see Hasbro acknowledge the relevance of Gaming Greats characters in the 3.75-inch Star Wars line. After all, the 3.75-inch scale was always associated with video games. All one needs to do is think of The Force Unleashed and how many action figures Hasbro produced based on this source. It was a momentous event, and you can still feel the movement today. The Jedi Fallen Order Scout Trooper is an action figure that will interest most 3.75-inch collectors, and we’re happy it’s part of The Vintage Collection. If you’re not aware, the Scout Trooper comes with an impressive 26 points of articulation. The ball-jointed hips add a wealth of options for collectors, whether you’re posing the figure on a speeder bike or in any action pose in a diorama. Hasbro gave collectors a lot to work with here, and most of us are thankful that this figure has evolved as it has and not meets definitive status as an action figure. Hasbro also worked in a double ball-socket joint into the neck and head areas of the figure. This joint offers a fantastic range of motion, and it’s beneficial when posing the figure on a speeder bike. It will be interesting to see how far Hasbro develops the Gaming Greats subset of action figures in The Vintage Collection. To date, they’re only available through the Fan Channel and not part of any assortment. Also, one of the first four is exclusive to Entertainment Earth. We hope more are in discussion. We don’t want this group of figures to stop.