Obi-Wan Kenobi (Coruscant Chase) - SW [S - P1] - Basic (’02 #03)

There were some action-packed sequences in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. One notable scene featured Obi-Wan Kenobi breaking through Padme’s bedroom window and clinging onto an ASN-121 assassin droid. This droid delivered the Kouhun centipedes, courtesy of Zam Wesell, to her apartment to kill her. The agile yet powerful droid managed an escape, but Obi-Wan clung onto it and went for the ride of his life through the bustling skyway on Coruscant before getting rescued by Anakin Skywalker. Following the assassin droid ultimately brought them to Zam Wesell, a freelance bounty hunter responsible for multiple attempts on Padme’s life. And then one thing leads to another until they begin a hunt looking for the source of the Kamino sabredart and come upon Jango Fett. Hasbro determined that their first Episode II version of Obi-Wan Kenobi should be designed after this energetic scene. The concept here is golden, but the execution fails as far as we’re concerned. The included ASN-121 assassin droid is well-sculpted, but Hasbro cast it in a very pliable plastic that doesn’t keep its shape. But the sculpt of Obi-Wan Kenobi is worse. The figure is too short and has aesthetics issues that fight against the character’s likeness. It’s so bad that we wish for a new version immediately out of the gate. We sometimes empathize and often understand the need for action features in action figures, but this figure set doesn’t deliver the way it should.

Admittedly, the combination of assassin droid and Obi-Wan Kenobi looks excellent together. However, a “huge” magnet Hasbro added into Obi-Wan Kenobi’s right hand, and an opposite magnet worked into the body of the ASN-121 assassin droid obstruct the seamlessly of both characters. It’s a shame they had to include the magnets because they ruin both figures. An excellent detail here is that you can hold the assassin droid by the handle (which is removable, by the way) and have Obi-Wan Kenobi hang from it identically to the film with relative ease. From that perspective, we find this release is a successful toy. But as a collectible action figure, you will find that it just won’t meet your expectations for many reasons. From the “too short” appearance of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the lack of articulation and obtrusive action features, this isn’t a version of the Jedi you will want for your collection. Hasbro was excited to announce in the Star Wars “Saga” line that action figures would be “real scanned” to make them with the best-looking likenesses possible. Sadly, it didn’t translate well at this smaller scale, and especially Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hasbro would ultimately abandon this method by the end of the Star Wars “Saga” basic figure line. As you can imagine, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Coruscant Chase) didn’t reap the benefits of the “real scan” either, and its likeness leaves a lot to be desired.

To make most of the magnetic features of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Coruscant Chase), Hasbro included a metal hilt with a removable blade so that these features would provide some extra play value as needed or warranted. We especially appreciate the removable “handle” for the ASN-121 assassin droid. It offers additional play value, too, and allows the action feature to work to its fullest. You can also make the droid screen-accurate (save for the bulky magnet) by removing it. It’s sad to say, but the ASN-121 assassin droid is the star of this package. Its sculpt is genuinely excellent, and there is a ton of detail to appreciate, especially for collectors. But as a whole, we still feel that this basic figure set is weak. We understand the need for Hasbro to approach Obi-Wan Kenobi in this manner. But truth be told, we think it would have been a more significant success if they included a standard Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure with the ability to hold onto the ASN-121 assassin droid with its hands, not a magnetic attachment. We should also point out that the posture of the figure makes Obi-Wan Kenobi appear too short. Ultimately, this isn't a great action figure at all. But that’s not what the Collection 1 portion of Star Wars “Saga” figures intend to deliver: the play features interrupt the figures' aesthetics. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Coruscant Chase) comes with some neat accessories, but the figure will want you wishing for more.