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Saga '02-'04 / Best/Worst of 2003?
« on: December 24, 2003, 02:05 AM »
Well someone has to start one of these threads and I figure since this was something I was thinking about earlier today I'd kick things off. A slight disclaimer though, I am including anything that was officially released in the year 2003 from the Saga line and it's Clone Wars subline, whether or not it was meant for 02 and came late, or meant for 04 and arrived early.
Best 3.75" action figure: Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker - I'm just a huge mark for Jedi Luke figs and this looks to be the ultimate Jedi Luke. A great sculpt, a copious amounts of articulation, and great accessories, top notch all around.
Runner-Up: Clone Wars Clone Trooper - If the Jedi Luke would have waited just a few more weeks to be released, the Clones would have definitely been the best to me.
Worst 3.75" action figure: Acklay Battle Obi-Wan Kenobi - A horrible sculpt, pathetic looking action feature and no waist articulation make this the worst of the worst.
Runner-Up: Total Control Mace Windu - Aka Lollipop Mace, while I'm sure a fun little toy to play with, it has a horrible implementation and up to this point they had yet to get an AOTC Mace head sculpt to look remotely good.
Best Deluxe action figure: Durge w/ Swoop - Now this IS a deluxe figure, a splendid sculpt with all the articulation one should expect from a $10 figure, all those bada$$ weapons and a swoop to boot!
Runner-Up: I can't say, none of the other deluxe figs this year struck me as being amazing, some were decent like the Spider Droid, but overall just a paltry deluxe year.
Worst Deluxe action figure: Destroyer Droid Launcher Set - Since it's not technically an army builder set, it has to be a deluxe set, and man does this thing just stink. We get the same old Droidekas (standing and rolled up) from different sets and a poorly functioning launcher. Plus the damn things are still clogging shelves 4-5 months after their release.
Runner-Up: Clonetrooper w/ Speederbike - While I like the concept, the poor sculpt on the figure makes him look like he's a pinada and the cheap plastic used on the Speederbike causes severe warping of the front vane. Hasbro was best left to just re-release the set they had in 2002 instead of resculpting parts.
Best Vehicle: Imperial Shuttle - It's the Imperial Shuttle, the ultimate cool in Star Wars ships. Outside of the issues revolving around its supposed exclusivity and price, this toy is just outstanding, especially as its a direct re-use of the 1984 mold, it shows how great Kenner was and how great toys can still be today. It just looks so great in either a landing mode surrounded by your Imperial troops or flying about as you make those engine sounds we're all prone to making now and then.
Runner-Up: Hailfire Droid - This is just a great toy, fun to put together, fun to look at, and most definitely fun to play with and looks true to the model in AOTC. All those rockets launching can be a blast, and the big wheels moving about your dining room floor just harken back to a simpler time of playing with toys.
Worst Vehicle: To me there aren't any, despite several repaints, the offering of vehicles this year from Hasbro was top-notch stuff and proves that vehicles can still sell and get the job done with kids and collectors alike.
Best Subline: Screen Scenes - A great concept, if not a bit high-priced based on the amount of toys received. But where else would we get such obscure characters as San Hill or Yaddle. Mostly great sculpts, with a couple of questions on articulation (namely Mace Windu, but hey at least they got his head sculpt right for once!) and a great set of accessories. Hopefully more will come down the line now that the Xmas rush has cleared most away.
Runner-Up: CW Army Builder 3-packs - Sure the lack of articulation is questionable, but for the average of $10, you get 3 nicely sculpted figures that will look great in any diorama you make. Due to them being placed in the same assortments as the aforementioned Droideka Launcher sets, its been hard to find them for many, but its apparent everyone wants them.
Best Move By Hasbro: Getting rid of the action features and putting an emphasis on detailed sculpts and articulation.
Runner-Up: Adding extra accessories and/or stands to the basic figure line.
Worst Move By Hasbro: Using cheaper and softer plastic on their toys has caused many to become easily warped and damage, i.e. the Clonetrooper Speederbike.
Runner-Up: Continued wackiness in case assortments. Continuously putting out Droideka Launcher sets (yeah I keep harping on it, but it's such a good example) with successive army builder cases had for months covered the pegs with stuff no one will buy until xmas when its a late push for gifts. Same thing goes for the CW Anakins and Yodas.
Well those are my thoughts on the Best and Worst for 2003, what about you? Anything else catch your eye that maybe most others have overlooked?
Best 3.75" action figure: Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker - I'm just a huge mark for Jedi Luke figs and this looks to be the ultimate Jedi Luke. A great sculpt, a copious amounts of articulation, and great accessories, top notch all around.
Runner-Up: Clone Wars Clone Trooper - If the Jedi Luke would have waited just a few more weeks to be released, the Clones would have definitely been the best to me.
Worst 3.75" action figure: Acklay Battle Obi-Wan Kenobi - A horrible sculpt, pathetic looking action feature and no waist articulation make this the worst of the worst.
Runner-Up: Total Control Mace Windu - Aka Lollipop Mace, while I'm sure a fun little toy to play with, it has a horrible implementation and up to this point they had yet to get an AOTC Mace head sculpt to look remotely good.
Best Deluxe action figure: Durge w/ Swoop - Now this IS a deluxe figure, a splendid sculpt with all the articulation one should expect from a $10 figure, all those bada$$ weapons and a swoop to boot!
Runner-Up: I can't say, none of the other deluxe figs this year struck me as being amazing, some were decent like the Spider Droid, but overall just a paltry deluxe year.
Worst Deluxe action figure: Destroyer Droid Launcher Set - Since it's not technically an army builder set, it has to be a deluxe set, and man does this thing just stink. We get the same old Droidekas (standing and rolled up) from different sets and a poorly functioning launcher. Plus the damn things are still clogging shelves 4-5 months after their release.
Runner-Up: Clonetrooper w/ Speederbike - While I like the concept, the poor sculpt on the figure makes him look like he's a pinada and the cheap plastic used on the Speederbike causes severe warping of the front vane. Hasbro was best left to just re-release the set they had in 2002 instead of resculpting parts.
Best Vehicle: Imperial Shuttle - It's the Imperial Shuttle, the ultimate cool in Star Wars ships. Outside of the issues revolving around its supposed exclusivity and price, this toy is just outstanding, especially as its a direct re-use of the 1984 mold, it shows how great Kenner was and how great toys can still be today. It just looks so great in either a landing mode surrounded by your Imperial troops or flying about as you make those engine sounds we're all prone to making now and then.
Runner-Up: Hailfire Droid - This is just a great toy, fun to put together, fun to look at, and most definitely fun to play with and looks true to the model in AOTC. All those rockets launching can be a blast, and the big wheels moving about your dining room floor just harken back to a simpler time of playing with toys.
Worst Vehicle: To me there aren't any, despite several repaints, the offering of vehicles this year from Hasbro was top-notch stuff and proves that vehicles can still sell and get the job done with kids and collectors alike.
Best Subline: Screen Scenes - A great concept, if not a bit high-priced based on the amount of toys received. But where else would we get such obscure characters as San Hill or Yaddle. Mostly great sculpts, with a couple of questions on articulation (namely Mace Windu, but hey at least they got his head sculpt right for once!) and a great set of accessories. Hopefully more will come down the line now that the Xmas rush has cleared most away.
Runner-Up: CW Army Builder 3-packs - Sure the lack of articulation is questionable, but for the average of $10, you get 3 nicely sculpted figures that will look great in any diorama you make. Due to them being placed in the same assortments as the aforementioned Droideka Launcher sets, its been hard to find them for many, but its apparent everyone wants them.
Best Move By Hasbro: Getting rid of the action features and putting an emphasis on detailed sculpts and articulation.
Runner-Up: Adding extra accessories and/or stands to the basic figure line.
Worst Move By Hasbro: Using cheaper and softer plastic on their toys has caused many to become easily warped and damage, i.e. the Clonetrooper Speederbike.
Runner-Up: Continued wackiness in case assortments. Continuously putting out Droideka Launcher sets (yeah I keep harping on it, but it's such a good example) with successive army builder cases had for months covered the pegs with stuff no one will buy until xmas when its a late push for gifts. Same thing goes for the CW Anakins and Yodas.
Well those are my thoughts on the Best and Worst for 2003, what about you? Anything else catch your eye that maybe most others have overlooked?