The Good: Exceptional detailing, Cool accessories, Generally decent balance
The Bad: Could always use more articulation...
The Basics: The Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker action figure is one of the best Star Wars toys Hasbro has ever created!
As the main cast of the Star Wars Sextet are cast and recast as action figures, it gets to becoming a real chore to tell the different variations apart and choosing which ones to recommend and which ones to advise serious collectors with space issues and taste to avoid (these are the collectors who might be reading this review, as opposed to the ones who will buy simply everything Hasbro puts out in the Star Wars toy line). So, it is with great pleasure when I can find a figure that is absolutely essential to the discriminating collector and in the Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker, I have found just such a figure. Like the Hoth Rescue Han Solo (click here for my review!), this is a recast of an often-done figure which came out amazing in the Original Trilogy Collection and got it all right!
For those unfamiliar with the Luke Skywalker as he appeared on Hoth, at the outset of The Empire Strikes Back (click here for my review of the film), the Rebels had hidden on the ice planet Hoth. There, Luke Skywalker was seen bundled up in cold weather gear to survive the blistering cold and the Wampa attacks. After being attacked by a giant Wampa creature, Luke was hung upside down in the animal's meat locker and he awoke moments before the monster was going to devour him!
The 4" Luke Skywalker figure is pretty impressive and because it is so well-detailed, it is easy to use this to replace every prior Hoth Luke figure released!
Basics
The Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker is a great sculpting of the familiar hero of the Star Wars Trilogy. Here, he is cast in his gear with everything from facial wounds to the detailed patches on his uniform evident! The figure stands 3 5/8" tall and he is dressed in the white and gray winter suit of the Rebels on Hoth. He is intended to look padded and able to keep warm on a frozen wasteland. The outfit is actually very clean, so it contradicts the facial wound this Luke has received! The Luke Skywalker figure is cast with the ability to look realistically like he is hanging and it is detailed from the patches on his chest to the straps on his boots! The figure is made almost entirely of soft plastic, though the chest does seem to be more solid than the rest of the toy.
This toy is a decent sculpt, looking precisely like Luke Skywalker as he was mauled on Hoth. The Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker is well-detailed in his coloring detail, except when it comes to his skin tones. There is no shading on his face, and his lips are not colored at all. However, he does have blood around his eye and dripping down his face from where the Wampa attacked him. As well, there is an exceptional level of costuming detailing, including rank insignias and tools on the figure's belt! As well, the Luke Skywalker does have intense little blue eyes with appropriately black pupils. There is no hair on the figure because the Luke Skywalker has a hood on.
The costume is incredibly detailed, from the commlink on his wrist to the wrappings on his boots. As well, he has both molded and painted details on his belt buckle and wonderful molded details on the figure's gun holster. His right shoulder even has the pins painted on that Luke had on his Hoth uniform! This is a surprisingly cool figure and one that it seems unlikely any toy manufacturer would be able to improve upon, at least in this scale.
Accessories
The Luke Skywalker is realistically armed for his Hoth misadventure. This Luke Skywalker is outfitted with a lightsaber, goggles and a stand that connects with the stand that came with the deluxe Wampa figure at the same time!
The lightsaber is the typical Jedi weapon, made in silver-gray plastic and bearing a 2" translucent plastic blade. The hilt and light blade may be separated from one another, but while the hilt has a peg to allow this to attach to Luke's belt, there is no hole in the belt for it to go in! Still, the removable blade looks cool and the weapon fits in either of Luke's hands!
Unique to this figure is a pair of lime green lensed goggles with a strap. This fits easily over Luke's eyes and looks good there. As well, because there is a strap, this may be held in Luke's hands as well.
The Original Trilogy Collection figures come with stands, including the Luke Skywalker. This stand, however, is a three inch in diameter ice-blue stand with a block of ice rising out of it. Unlike the display stands which come with most of the figures from this line, the Hoth Attack Luke's feet simply slide into custom holes. This allows Luke to stand firm or be hung in his stand, if one has the accompanying post from the Wampa set!
Playability
The four inch toy line was designed for play and Luke Skywalker is great in that regard. The figure is wonderfully articulated and has excellent balance when off his stand. The Luke Skywalker has great articulation and the figure is designed look ready to run or hang! So, for example, the scarf on this Luke Skywalker actually rotates, so if one is hanging their Luke from the ice cave ceiling, they may make it look entirely realistic, even with the appropriate sense of gravity's pull! This Luke Skywalker figure comes with only six points of articulation, but Hasbro makes good use of them! He has joints at the groin socket, shoulders, neck, and waist. Unlike most Star Wars figures, these are not all just simple swivel joints. The shoulders have ball and socket joints for an incredible range of straight-armed motion. As well, the head is on a hinge as well as the standard joint, so this Luke Skywalker actually nods in addition to turning his head from side to side!
This is a great figure for posing or for play!
Collectibility
The Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker is part of the 2003 Original Trilogy Collection four-inch series, a series of Star Wars action figures that was not very common at all, but largely recast figures that had been previously released by Kenner. Hasbro sought to improve the old figures by having a greater attention to detail, coloring and accessory detail and proportion. As such, this Luke Skywalker is a distinct improvement as far as balance, detailing and accessories from the earlier Hoth Luke Skywalker. Released as Original Trilogy Collection figure #03, this figure is a good idea for those creating an ultimate collection of each major character. It is hard to imagine how this figure might be improved upon, save with more articulation.
Overview
The Hoth Attack Luke Skywalker is an incredible sculpt made with realistic coloring and good articulation and accessories. What could be better than that?
For other renditions of Luke Skywalker, please check out my reviews of:
2006 Saga Collection Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot
Deluxe Luke Skywalker with Desert Sport Skiff
Hoth Luke Skywalker Mighty Muggs
10/10
For other toy reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!
© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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