Tag Archives: R2-series Astromech Droid

It’s another impressive re-release! Hasbro FINALLY gets Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) right as an Episode IV version of the classic astromech droid. With a “clean” deco, a shinier silvery dome, corrected legs, and upgraded card art, collectors have much to be thankful for here. The figure hasn’t looked better. We took the time to summarize all the new details for you by producing an all-new 60-image gallery complete with comparison shots and a breakdown of what separates the 2019 version from the 2024 reissue in the Collector Notes. See this lovely figure updated in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

As expected, Hasbro repacked The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) figure in the standard basic lineup. Will you purchase this one as well? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Hasbro finally gives us a new 6-inch Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure, and it corrects all of the sins of the first-generation release. You’re going to love this one, folks! It also is part of The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] lineup. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The third and final Target exclusive Droids The Vintage Collection release is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). Click below for our full Visual Guide of this figure. You can also read our full review right here.

We have more The Vintage Collection Visual Guide updates! Tonight our featured update is the Fan Channel exclusive R2-SHW (Antoc Merrick’s Droid) (VC260). Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Make sure to also check out our review of this figure in our review database.

Let’s continue our Visual Guide updates for the Walmart exclusive Original 96 wave. Next up is ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) (VC234). Click below for our full Visual Guide, and click here to read our full review.

There are pros and cons to the R2-SHW (Antoc Merrick’s Droid) figure. Hasbro evidently tweaked the existing tooling to make almost all parts function as they did over a decade ago. So, that’s good. But this tooling needs to be retired. The scale is too small, and collectors deserve a premium astromech droid to fill the socket of Blue Leader’s X-Wing fighter. Oh, unrelated, and for trivia buffs, today is our 4,444th RDR! Enjoy! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

It’s another O96! Check out ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2), complete with classic nameplate typo and stunning card art with The Empire Strikes Back entertainment logo. Oh yeah, and the figure? Well, it sucks! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

The Star Wars “Saga” line is officially two decades old. We’re revisiting all of the figures that made up this unprecedented lineup. Today, we continue with 2002’s Star Wars “Saga” [Phase I] R2-D2 (Coruscant Sentry) (’02 #14) figure. Check out the new review template, the all-new Photo Gallery, the rewritten review, and the other content we updated as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the line that supported Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.

Walt Disney World celebrates 50 years this year. And they created R2-W50 to commemorate the event! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

Meh. The Vintage Collection Droids Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure is nothing special either. Hasbro didn’t even include the “pop-up” lightsaber accessory. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!

Shop Disney released a “greatest hits” package of their past Holiday astromech droids in their R2-H15/R2-H16/R3-H17/R4-H18 four-pack. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) with pop-up Lightsaber.

Full Story

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2).

Full Story

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently made a commitment to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that for every classic Kenner figure, there needs a modern counterpart. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done and we’ll figure out where we are step by step.

We’re right in alignment with Hasbro in our vintage Kenner database. There are 21 figures under the STAR WARS banner, 29 figures under THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK banner, 31 figures under the RETURN OF THE JEDI banner, and 15 figures under THE POWER OF THE FORCE banner. (Sy Snootles, Max Rebo, Droopy McCool, and Blue Snaggletooth brings the number to an even 100 figures.)

Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts into the comments. Let us know if you agree or disagree. If you’re a customizer, show us your custom definitive figure in the comments as well! Who knows? It might give Hasbro some ideas.

Full Story

We’re continuing to check out the vintage Kenner DROIDS line. Let’s move forward with Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). you won’t be able to afford this one either! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Tonight’s Visual Guide update takes a look at another Galaxy’s Edge exclusive, the Droid Depot set from The Black Series. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide page. You can also find this review in our review database right here.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

We are finishing the Trilogo line up with the final 15 The Power Of The Force Kenner figures. There weren’t any coins provided with these figures. Today we revisit Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) with pop-up Lightsaber. The card art features a horizontally-flipped image of the Kenner version that is darker and features a more complete image of C-3PO. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1985’s THE POWER OF THE FORCE Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) with pop-up Lightsaber figure HERE.

5POA is never OK, but at least Hasbro did something good with the Celebrate The Saga multipacks, a parting gift for collectors as they close the tooling archives on these figures forever. The Galactic Empire set includes a new take on R2-Q5, a figure we haven’t seen Hasbro release is 19 years. And the included TIE Fighter Pilot and Snowtrooper sculpts are better than their current super-articulated counterparts. The rest of the set is “meh.” Are you buying these sets for your collection? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

You saw our The Pathway To The Vintage Collection Special Report published on August 6th. Now let’s revisit the figures that set The Vintage Collection in motion. Let’s continue moving ahead with 2004’s VOTC Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (With Extension Arm) figure in our newly updated review, complete with new text and photos and Visual Guide.

Next up from wave 2 of The Black Series 40th anniversary line is our Visual Guide of Artoo-detoo (R2-D2) (Dagobah). Click below for our full Visual Guide page. You can also get the full breakdown of this figure right here in our complete review.

Hasbro misspelled the name. They designed a new card back and developed a character name that didn’t need to be created. Oh, and the paint operations are terrible. And lastly, the figure is still too small. Find out why The Black Series [The Empire Strikes Back 40] Artoo-detoo (R2-D2) (Dagobah) figure SHOULD have been released as 1982’s ESB ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) [Sensorscope] instead if they had to re-release it at all. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

In 1983, Mexico’s Lily Ledy toy company released a line of Return Of The Jedi action figures under the La Guerra De Las Galaxias: El Regreso Del Jedi line look. This range of Lily Ledy Star Wars figures is interesting for two specific reasons. Firstly, the original 1978 versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO were released in this lineup. Secondly, for each figure, Lily Ledy chose a never-before-utilized Lucasfilm reference image of the characters and these images were used nowhere else in the Star Wars toy line (for any other company including Kenner and Palitoy). Featured on 30-Back, the reverse of the card back features hand-drawn images of the line of 30 action figures in addition to a few other related toys including the Millennium Falcon and Jabba the Hutt.

Today we revisit Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). The 1978 version Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) was packaged for this line and the packaging features an exclusive image of the character.  Its name is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (Ar-tu-ri-to). The reference used is an official publicity image of the character against a hallway within the Bespin set. This Lily Ledy release is the only way to obtain this unique character image on the card art. The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1978’s STAR WARS Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure HERE.

Let’s take a look at the Episode I R2-D2 Carryall Playset. It’s a hybrid of playset and carry case. Check it out in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

It’s our 4000th Research Droids Reviews entry today! Holy cow. Let’s check out the Naboo Royal Starship Blockade Cruiser/Playset (Electronic) vehicle from the Episode I line? Relive this wonderful vehicle again in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.