This set as a whole is not bad. The not fully assembled Episode I C-3PO, while lacking the 14 points of articulation we see as standard today, is as solidly sculpted and painted now as it was back in 1999. The only drawback is that he can't hold the included Anakin Podracer flag as he should be able to. The Power of the Jedi Sebulba (Boonta Eve Challenge) sculpt is good enough and Anakin Skywalker, from 2000's POTJ "mechanic" figure, is marginal for what he is due to the limited articulation. This Anakin mold is also used for the Target 2 Pack exclusive, with the "dirtier" variation for this Battle Pack. 

Walmart appears to be the retailer of choice for exclusives in 2012 with their "Discover The Force" campaign. Each Hasbro Star Wars merchandise includes a pair of 3D glasses and a 3D image on the packaging to share the concept with the TPM re-rerelease. The Royal Starship Droids aren't entirely new but it is a great Battle Pack that evokes one of my favorite scenes in the film which re-introduces R2-D2 as always saving the day.

Comparing the new Vintage Collection Battle Droid to the first versions from 1999 is almost like comparing a Vintage Kenner Stormtrooper with a modern super-articulated version. They're just worlds of sculpt, design, and engineering apart.

Ratts Tyerell was originally supposed to be included as a 2 pack with BD11 Clegg Holdfast but was held back to be released in 2012 as part of The Vintage Collection. The date stamp on the figure even indicates 2009. How does he hold up over 2 years later? Hasbro executed a decent design and sculpt albeit we would have liked to have seen the "screaming" face instead of a calmer, grinning Ratts. The included Pit Droid has a nice new deco and is a re-used mold from the Bonus Pit Droids packed in place of Commtech Chips that were only released in Asia for The Episode I Collection.

Presenting the Susan Lucci of the Fan's Choice Polls. Always the bridesmaid never the bride and all that stuff. Ben Quadinaros finally gets plasticized and in good style as a figure with good sculpt and likeness to the character and a workmanlike 12 points of articulation. He's packed with an Otoga-222 pit droid that was originally included with the 1999 Ody Mandrell figure. With the upcoming release of Mawhonic, the circle of pod racers are complete.

As far as figures in action are concerned, Neimoidians probably are up there with Imperial Dignitaries. They're just supposed to stand, sometimes speak, and scheme. The captain of the Trade Federation battleship blockading Naboo was remembered more as a "stunted slime" than anything, but Hasbro chose to put some real thought in his figure and give him a fully sculpted body and soft goods. Daultay Dofine is excellently designed with a removable headpiece and sculpted robe with a cloth material that drapes well. We're hoping Hasbro gives the same treatment when they finally (hopefully) release Sim Aloo. 

It’s not news that Darth Maul is back in 2012. The tattooed Sith Lord is the face of the Hasbro 2012 line and also will make a much anticipated appearance in The Clone Wars series. For his Vintage Collection figure, Hasbro achieves a masterstroke of sculpt, articulation, and even tailoring.

Yep, it’s the same figure as you’ll find in the 2008 Jedi Legacy Evolutions set and then again in the Eopie Mailaway. It’s a decent enough version, with good articulation and passing likeness to Neeson, but it’s time to update the noble Jedi for the new decade. Like Obi-Wan, there’s nothing new here so move along if you’re a loose collector.

The poet Charles Baudelaire (or was it Verbal Kint?) once said that "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist." This new Darth Sidious figure is certainly a revelation. We were completely prepared to be underwhelmed by Hasbro's latest effort of "The Phantom Menace" himself mainly because he didn't look anything special in the package. The VC12 Darth Sidious, while certainly sporting a great face sculpt, fell short with the soft goods and fur coat giving him more of an evil "bag lady" look.

Technically speaking, this isn't a "Character Debut" for the Naboo Royal Guard since a version was released in 1999 for The Episode I Collection. Aesthetically speaking, this all new iteration is worlds and 12 years of sculpt and design evolution apart from that TPM figure. This Guard deserves a variant head sculpt/running change for troop/squad building purposes. You can head swap yourself with the ball jointed neck so pick a couple up for that Naboo Hangar diorama that will be immediately enhanced by this worthy upgrade.

Hasbro re-issues the Padawan Kenobi from 2009's The Legacy Collection and includes a commlink this time around. This figure could have been vastly improved by an updated head sculpt as the likeness to McGregor falls short. It's not as premium a Vintage Collection figure as we'd like it to be and one of the weaker releases of this assortment. If you're an opener and already have the '09 release, you're good with skipping this.

Hasbro expanded upon The Phantom Menace Celebration scene finale where we witness little Ani in full Padawan garb. The figure includes a lightsaber, training helmet, and training remote orb. This is a super articulated, with great likeness, vast improvement from the 1999 "Naboo" figure, which until now had been the only version of Padawan Anakin released. It's worth the wait as Hasbro packed in 14 points of articulation, incredible detail, and even a soft goods skirt to plus it up. Can I get a "Yipeee"?

Hasbro has hardly disappointed with the various versions of Queen Amidala and her ornate dresses. We're glad they ditched the salt shaker bodies and went with sound design. While not super-articulated because it doesn't make much sense unless they can engineer appropriate soft goods, they do include swivel elbows and sculpted legs. The likeness is decent and the sculpt and paint app for the Foreign Residence Dress is superb. 

We like our Jedis dark, brooding, conflicted, and dreadlocked with warpaint. Easily one of my favorite figures of this wave, the new Quinlan Vos is finely detailed and articulated to include ball jointed hips to be battle posed in many ways. Vos was a blink and you'll miss him Easter Egg in Episode I, but Hasbro made every effort to make sure this figure stands out as one of the better ones to kick off 2012.

Hasbro does a great job with an all new, nicely articulated Logray and even better having him in his original Kenner card. While the figure included in the POTF2 Ewok 2 pack wasn't bad for its time,  this will be the definite version of the furry shaman for awhile.

A head swap for Rebel troop builders is always welcome.  Hasbro essentially took the head from the TSC 2006 Rebel Trooper and popped it into the new TVC body and voila! "New figure". Both head variants are readily available on store pegs in both the "Return" and "Revenge" cardbacks.

The 2005 Revenge of the Sith Clone Trooper figure with "Quick Draw" action feature is re-released for the 2012 Movie Heroes assortment. The Shock Trooper also includes a character card, figure stand, and die for the Galactic Battle game.

A slightly repainted figure from the 2008 Rebel Pilots Evolutions set (which one can still find lingering around a few ToysRUs shelves by the way), Keyan Farlander's timely  release nicely converges with that of the K-Mart B-Wing. While the figure is redubbed after a character from the 1993 X-Wing PC game, he's still one of the original Kenner 93 and neat to see in a Vintage style card.

It appears white is in vogue these days, especially when it comes to iPhones, ninjas, and bounty hunters. The mailaway figure for 2011 gives tribute to another sidestory in Star Wars production lore; that of the first "prototype" white Boba Fett. While the figure itself is a repaint of the most excellent 2005 VOTC Fett and holster from the TAC Animated Fett, it's not as accurate to the prototype design as we'd like it to be. However, the overall presentation is superb. For $6.99 and 5 UPC codes, you can own one and don't forget you only have until March 31st!

When Hasbro released this Slave Leia figure in 2009, she came with interchangeable legs to be alternately posed sitting down in Jabba's throne. From a purely aesthetic point of view, we thought the POTJ Deluxe Slave Leia was one of the better versions of our bikini clad Princess, but the '09 figure was truly  creative. Slave Leia never was released in the Vintage line making VC64 a pick for carded collectors.