Hasbro
Released August 2004
Reviewed by Adam Pawlus
Photography by Michael Sullenger
Reviewed on August 25, 2004
MORE IMAGES

With hundreds of characters spanning five movies, one would think that eventually, a figure from the new movie would end up being sold as an original trilogy item-- and one would be right. The Tusken Raider is a repaint of the Power of the Jedi figure Tusken Raider (Desert Sniper) which was originally slated to be packed with the new style CommTech chips for Episode I and needless to say, did not come out that way.

Like before, the figure includes his hunting rifle, but this is the first time a Tusken Raider has been packed with a rectangular base.

Sculpt/Articulation/Gimmicks/Paint

People complained about the 1996 Tusken Raider. And the 1998 one that was packaged with the Bantha. The 2000 Tusken Raider from POTJ was complained about mostly because it didn't have a gaffi stick, and when it was repainted in 2002, it didn't have a weapon at all. While all the previous versions were actually good, fact is fans have high expectations and this time around Hasbro did a good job of meeting them.

Like the other Original Trilogy Collection figures, this is an old mold in a new box. Unlike other OTC figures the new paint job is significantly different from its ancestors.



On the left, the 2000 POTJ Tusken. On the right, the 2004 OTC Tusken. Not shown: the 2002 Saga Tusken with Massiff.

As the figure's sculpt was left unchanged, Hasbro opted to dress the figure up with paint, a technique that can greatly enhance even the blandest sculpt. (Don't believe me? Look at Kubricks or Playmobil, most of which share a number of parts.) While the 2002 release was dirtied up a bit, this one was given more paint apps and the colors make all the difference. No more tan-and-slightly-different-tan, this figure has greys, browns, and really dark browns to bring out all the sculpt has to offer. The wash brings out all the creases that you thought you saw before... and a lot of ones you may have missed. I was impressed, at least.

Other than the extremely dark bandolier and the somewhat dark face mask, the figure is as true to the A New Hope decoration as you could hope for. The breathing apparatus is completely absent, though, and that is a little bit of a downer, especially considering that the 2003 decapitatable version did have it present. But hey, what are you gonna do? This mold has never looked better, and from a decent distance it's not like anybody will notice. This figure will look better in your display than any other Tusken you might own, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this one.

Accessories

This set includes the rifle and a stand.

The base is nothing new-- and for this figure, it's nice to have. He plugs right onto it and he looks like he belongs there, perhaps due to the pose, or maybe the color at the bottom of his costume blends so well with the gray. It's more of the same, but it's nice.

The gun has since been recolored from before. The old release was a highly unusual color-- silver with a sort of light sandy underside-- that really didn't scream realism. The new version looks like it was made of metal and wood, and the silver paint used really makes it look like Hasbro put as much thought into it as they did the figure. Well, maybe a little less thought. As it is merely a gun. But it is cool.

Packaging

Ladies and genltemen, boys and girls, behold. This is it. This is the cardback you've wanted from the start. The Bantha in the background is nothing short of one of the finest packages you're likely to ever see in Star Wars so be sure to snag one to keep in the bubble.

There's a lot to the packaging, surprisingly. The double-border is just like the original Kenner packaging, and the black background is also very similar to the old toys. Also, the font of the name plate is similar to (if not the same as) the old days. Beyond that, there aren't a lot of similarities to the old days. Instead of a big photo, there's a background showcasing the environment that character belongs in. In this case, the wastes of the desert with a giant Bantha in the background.

The back of the card is completely new, but quite colorful and striking. It's a departure from the past few years, but it's a welcome improvement and something I'd like to see more of in the future.

The nameplate for the figures is a sticker, and the plastic bubble is grooved so it fits snuggly in place and won't be off-center. Customizers will probably have a field day with this packaging, as there are a lot of generic elements you can easily change out andcreate a package that's very specific to your tastes.

Availability

As of today, this figure is just becoming available in the USA, but looking at future assortments he should be really easy to get and shipping for a while.

Fin

If you display your figures, play with your figures, build dioramas, or collect carded figures, there are several good reasons for you to buy this repaint. He looks great, is less filling, and has half the calories of other Tusken Raiders. As an added bonus, he looks excellent, is fairly cheap, and as an army builder do you really need an excuse to pick one up? The absent gaffi stick is a little disappointing, but hey-- he looks like one of the best ever repaints Hasbro has offered and his packaging is around the same level, so what are you waiting for?

Our review sample was obtained from Entertainment Earth in August 2004.