Editor’s Note:  Although we re-shot the gallery to be more consistent with our current photo standards, we’re leaving Chris’s review from 5 years ago as is.  Mostly because I liked it; partly because I’m being lazy.

Original Review by Chris in 2014

Like the Galactic Marine, fans were instantly drawn to the clone troopers seen battling on Kashyyyk because of their similarity to an Original Trilogy trooper.  Specifically the Kashyyyk Troopers were reminiscent of the Scout Troopers / Biker Scouts from Return of the Jedi.  Because of those similarities, Hasbro repainted the 2006 VTSC Biker Scout with camouflage paint applications to represent the Kashyyyk Clone when they needed several repaint waves at the culmination of The Saga Collection.  This was a nice inclusion in the line, but really didn’t satisfy the requirements for a true Kashyyyk Trooper (or Clone Scout as they now appear to be called).  There are a few differences between the designs of the OT and PT scouts.  Most noticeably, the helmets and mid sections are different.  The 2006 figure was more a suggestion of a Kashyyyk Trooper than a true Kashyyyk Tooper.

Hasbro knew fans would never settle for these inaccuracies, so in only a little more than a year later, they went back to this source with an all new and accurate sculpt.  That accuracy is one of the positives of the figure, as the helmet now closely matches the Episode III representation.  The visor flips up to reveal the clone face underneath.  As with most collectors, I wish Hasbro would abandon this type of feature because it seems the detail is never very crisp on the helmet as a result.  What makes matters worse is that Hasbro forgot to apply eyebrows to the underlying face.  There is something disconcerting about a man with no eyebrows.  Whether it’s the Terminator or Lt. Mauser in Police Academy 2, we know there is something off about eyebrowlessness.  Another positive about this new sculpt is that it’s super articulated.  Today we expect ball jointed hips, wrists and even rocker ankles on Clone Troopers, but even without those premium articulation points, the figure can achieve sufficient battle poses. 

I’m burying the big problem with the figure because I don’t think you can come back from it from a review stand point.  If I mentioned this in the second paragraph, it would have been hard to later extol the figure’s virtues.  This is one of the most jarringly underscaled figures in the line.  Somehow while improving the visual accuracy of the sculpt, Hasbro managed to derail the size of the figure.  It’s not just off in terms of height, but the overall bulk of the figure is noticeably reduced.  This isn’t merely a perception issue either.  If you try to use this figure on a BARC speeder, it looks like a child riding a ten speed bicycle where it’s a challenge to simultaneously make contact with the handles, pedals and seat.  Admittedly this is hyperbole, but it feels more like a M.A.S.K pilot than a Star Wars action figure.  Because this figure is still viable as long as you remove context that highlights the scaling issue, this isn’t a fatal flaw.  I personally have my Turbo Tank manned to the teeth with these guys.  This score is a struggle for me, but I think an otherwise eight needs a two point deduction due to the scaling issue.  6 out of 10.