Yep I'm very psyched for the charging station bit. Happy to pay the extra for it. I like the glowing eye effect, and the red light tunnel thing on the back of the head doesn't bother me. I'm more impressed with this than I thought I would be. Conceptually, I was not totally psyched about how, in the story timeline, it took seven STAR WARS movies and a couple of Disney shows for the Empire to essentially re-invent CYLONS.
Damn you make me feel bad for not getting him on sale for $13 or $16 a couple days ago lol. Haven't been watching the mandalorian but I'm bigger into the Star Wars video games.
So, I think that your criticism of the head design to incorporate the "glowing eyes," is fair. For me, though, I think it's a really neat feature that we haven't seen since POTF 2 if I remember correctly. Yeah, it needs specific lighting for the feature to work correctly, but I think it adds more than it detracts. Great review as always! Can't wait to get mine!
I remember a figure of the Emperor Zurg with the feature of the glowing eyes, and that was 20 years ago (I was a kid, the figure was a Christmas present).
I think looking at the front, the Dark Troopers eyes look amazing! In a trade-off, I think the red brain patch at the back is worth it. It looks great in his recharging box. You can't see the details, only some white highlights, but this makes the figure more menacing. I also think if you have a modicum of electronic skills, getting a small LED drilled in his box would make this an even more impressive figure to have on the shelf. Thanks once again for the review. 👌
It would have been cool as a deluxe figure, to have the eyes actually light up with a built in led light. It wasn’t too far back we were getting light up sabres and even an R2 with a light with sounds as well. I have a bunch of Tron Legacy figures that their batteries have only now just died from 12 years ago.
The light tunnel thing was a very common feature in Transformers and some old school action figures, didn't expect to see it on a modern Star Wars figure
I give the design team the benefit of the doubt in the case of the light up eyes. I think they were really trying to do a cool throwback to what they did in the power of the force days (jawa, 8D8) and it *is* a cool touch. However, I do believe some oversights were made in terms of aesthetic. It would have been a total win if they threw in an extra head without the light up feature so collectors had the option.
Fun story: I just got this yesterday. Had my shipment sent to work since my last one disappeared. Two of my figures still ended up stolen. The asshole ripped this one right out the box. He was caught on camera and promptly returned my toys. Ironically this was the only VC figure I planned to open because you can't see it inside Hasbro's stupid packaging.
Very anticipated review BB! I currently only have 4 preordered on Amazon (they had them for $20 USD at one point) but I may grab more depending on how I feel with the first batch
Awesome video thank you for the side by side!!! I do like that they did the eyes that way because most of us will display them where you see their face. I do agree it does seem a little bit on the short side but in this case I’m not bothered by it. I hope we get a Luke Skywalker Deluxe set with the different hands from “The Rescue” scene. Especially a hand where he crushes the Dark Trooper, a force push etc. Hasbro read thy post and do good things!! Thanks Bossk
Great review! Thank you! I rather miss the light-piping on droid figures, honestly, but I'll just have to see what I think of this if I manage to get one.
The light piping takes me back to the POTF Jawas and various other droids. Not my thing. I have no intention of army building this guy, so I just ordered one in Black Series. Taking it’s sweet damn time as well...
Totally agree about the 'light well' panel, I actually mentioned this on another review of this figure and the other RU-vidr disagreed that time, so good to see I'm not alone in this viewpoint.
The light piping is an odd choice. I think I'd have much preferred just to have had an alternate head. One with the eyes painted to look lit up, and one with eyes that look like they're turned off.
It's called light piping not light tunnel. It super common on Transformers (another hasbro line). Unfortunately it works better on Transformers as most of the kibble is at the back and you tend to display them face forward (at least I do).
A welcome addition to the line. I think I'm OK with the light up feature. I don't yet have one in hand, but it looked good in the video. I do like the Jawas that came with the light up eyes, it was a more subtle design, but dang they photograph well. Great review, Mr Bossk!
The charging station is my favourite part about this thing. It compelled me to get a second figure and I was considering if I even wanted to get one when they're 48 bucks here in Canada. The charging stations just look too cool when put together.
I didn't know about the light-piping feature. I think it is really cool. I loved it on the POTF2 Jawas and on the red astromech that came with the Naboo royal starship. I may even drill a small hole in that charging station, behind his head, and put an l.e.d. there. (I have three of these sets coming, which I will glue down to some kind of floor piece.) Now I am looking forward to these even more. 😁
G'dayTim, as always thanks for your sharing your thoughts on a TVC figure. When I first saw the Dark Trooper in the show the Battlestar Galactica Cylons came to my mind so I wasn't that much impressed. When the figure came out same thing. However I gave the guy a try -I think it is a figure with reasonable value in the future- I must admit that I find him pretty cool. The "glowing eyes effect is pretty cool as well. You put the Trooper in the charging pod the eyes go black caused by the black background so you know he is going to be charged up. You put him out and immediately his eyes go red and you know for sure this deadly machine is coming to life to do his job. Concerning the red spot on the back of his head, think about this, who ever saw a Dark Trooper from behind despite Luke Skywalker. With that said I don't bother at all. :) BR Michael
This looks great IMO, no issues from me personally in terms of the head design, it looks good from the front so I'm good with it.......Am sure this will turn up as a mainline carded figure at some point, Hasbro will not miss an opportunity to reuse a figure, particularly as this is a completely new sculpt - an easy win to repack onto a card sans charging station down the road to fill a wave out......
Got to admit they look amazing but ya need at least four of them to make em look awesome wich can be very expensive sad face.. also reminds me of the Borg
Great review Bossk. Looks great this figure definitely agree his not cheap for us to get a bunch of these to connect the recharge docking station. I agree there was no need for the eyes to have that feature does look good from the front but not the back. Not like many of us will actually have a light source displayed behind it for the full effect. Great they added the weapon connecting to the leg feature that's a nice touch just like in the show, very nicely done. Great articulation overall really like the look of these I'll be grabbing afew!!
Amazing video Bossk sorry for late view lol been getting back from covid and all well. Awesome review and can’t wait for mine. The glowing eyes I do like it but it might be based on POTF2 nostalgia. It’s a passing grade for me but the back is an eyesore. Maybe they could have made the back smaller or put a dark color wash over the back to help cover it but not intrude on its lighting effect.
Excellent review as usual. But far and above the best part was the demonstration of the troopers flying ability. The effect of the cinematography was outstanding 👏 👌
Light piping for days! Love it. Also, re. connecting the chambers, I imagine they share the same 'wall' so if you have 3 or a four you'll end up with spare bits of wall.
Great review Bossk! I’m Very excited to get these figures as I’ve ordered two of them!!! I do toy photography so I love the eye effects, very cool! For the large price tag, I agree this figure could have been a bit taller.👊🏼
I get whet your saying about the back of the head but it is cool at the front , I have some POTF2 Jawas with the same trick and if your cabinet is lit then there are very cool … WhooTayNeee !!! Always a pleasure to listen and watch you Tim 👍
Yeah I'm a big fan of the light pipeing effect. The POTF Jawa and 8-D8 plus the 6" 4-LOM look great with this...can't wait until they reach Australia..pre ordered 4..great review..cheers Tim 🍺🍺🍻
Thank God mate! Finally got mine 3 days ago! It’s a lil bit overpriced, but looks really good in person, can’t wait to buy a car back version of it in the future 🤞🏻
This figure is definitely worth the increase with the station and all. I cannot edit to get mine 3 on pre-order from Amazon when they were on sale. Outstanding review as always!
I have never been a fan of light piping. It is very difficult to get light shining from the back properly in order to actually have it work properly. They have been doing this with transformers for years, and I always would prefer good paint to light piping. Thanks for the review.
Very interesting that Hasbro went with that red window on the back for the eyes effect. I for one think it takes away from the figure. TVC is supposed to aim for screen accurate figures (or at least so I thought) and so that is disappointing. Can you think of another example in TVC where they did something sort of gimmicky like this to achieve an effect? I cannot. You mentioned the POTF 8D8 and there was a 3PO I think in the animated Clone Wars line that did that but I think this is a first for TVC. I really hope we can get a separate release of this figure on a traditional cardback (maybe one without the eye effect).
The light tunnel should have been smaller with silver outlining to simulate a camera/visor in the back of the head. It would make more sense because it is a machine. it would be like a tesla car with all the cameras surrounding the car or a gundam's back camera if you have ever heard of gundam.
Hi BB, thanks for the cool review. Looking forward to my Darktrooper. I'm with you; not into those eyes illuminated from behind. You mentioned POTF2 8D8 - the Jawas also had that feature and it didn't look good on them either (from a certain point of view). Cheers man!
Well, comparing it to the Vader we’ve just had, which is probably the best figure in terms of value for we’ve had this year, and looks awesome, I think this is worth more yes, maybe not more than double though, which it was
Regarding the eyes, I guess it depends on whether the figure is meant to be displayed (especially on card) or taken out and played with. If it's the latter, then the eye feature seems a cool addition.
Very nice, I guess a bit of gloss black paint on the back of the head would solve the 'red block' A few astromechs and a couple of Jawa's had the same function. Great on a droid, poor on this & the Jawa's. If Lego can get a light up light sabre into a minifigure, perhaps Hasbro could've done it that way on this? Dissapointed on the neck not being more detailed as it is in the show, but the extra hands are nice. non-connecting charging booths is another missed trick! I've got two on the way, was hoping for better, but slightly disappointed, oh well, I'm sure they'll be plenty of buyers for the spare.
Damn, why didn't they do the chamber for black series, they will probably do an exclusive version with one. I can see a whole line of them in collections.
I do like the translucent lightpiping effect for the eyes. I was a transformers collector first before anything else, and transformers often has this effect. But I totally understand this being a very weird concept introduced into the Star Wars line.
I always love watching your channel and I love your reviews and how you get the figures early. I love that episode when we first saw the dark Troopers fly in the Mandalorian. Yeah he's in his charging station like a Tesla.
Great looking set and an awesome review Tim! My new collection room will have a Mandalorian shelf and these will look great lined up in the back! And Hasbro brought back the light pipe! Honestly, I hope the regular figure does not have that little feature.
Overall, I really like the figure. The two rocket effects might be my favorite part? My only grip I’d say is that I feel like it’s scale is too small 🤔 standing next to Mando, it doesn’t seem as menacing. I rewatched the scene where Mando is taking one on and it seemed taller than Mando on the show?!
Another great Video BB! I'm not happy with his height, totally inaccurate, and secondly i agree with you on the fists! they look small in scale and perspective. In regards to the chamber, I would vote that it's not worth it for extra cost and how he really doesnt "pop" nor any wow factor on that chamber to justify for me. Thanks! Cheers!
It's an awesome figure but I'll have to pass due to me already having one that from 25 years ago, but as always sweet review BB i'm enjoying these a bunch.
that weird eye thing they did here they also did with jawas many years ago... i don't know. it's a cool effect from the front but then the view from the back is compromised. i'd rather they not do this in the future. great review, thanks.
It’s a cool figure but I’m hoping for a single carded release maybe without the glowing eyes and without the extra accessories for army building since I would love 4 to go with the rest of the empire
I wish they had just released this on a cardback but Hasbro just knew how much people wanted this so they tried to justify making it as expensive as possible 😕 it does look good though! 👍 Light up eyes is a nice feature for the kids too... oh wait, but TVC is for... I give up 🤷♂️🤣
Truly an awesome figure. I wasn’t pumped about the price but with multiple, the charging station does look pretty cool. I maxed out at 4 lol side note: the images used for the front of the boxes on these deluxe figures are ten times better than the plastic free packaging hasbro has been using for black series/marvel legends/etc. it’s an actual photo of the figure and not a computer generated image. So they have that going for them? lol
Great review as always Tim. I'm excited to get a few of these, although they are $60 NZ dollars each! I quite like the light up eyes as it's a call back to the POTF2 Jawas and R2. But I do agree it makes the back unsightly. I can't wait to line up a few charging stations but they do look a little bland.
It seems an odd choice for me, is it a toy for kids? A collectible for adults? A figure for photographers? POTF2 was mainly for kids so it’s odd seeing the light pipe in 2022. Does look good when the light shines through though.
Looks good but I am avoiding these 'deluxe' figures even if they are TVC. If Hasbro releases it on a single carded bubble then I am in. I don't need the extra parts or chamber.
I was wondering if I could get any advice. My Darktrooper arrived today and I the knee joins are extremely tight, what is the best method to loosen them up safely so I can move them?
@@BossksBounty After my soul almost leaving my body I managed to get the knees moving, but the seam between the ball hinge and the rest of joint is almost none existent. All I need to do know is find a way to straighten the neck joint and see if I can get a replacement coolant pipe for the charging station as there was only one in the package.
I do not like the panel on the back. It cheapens it for me. Tim is right about those of us that don’t do toy photography are losing out on display options.
Looks cool but I would of thought the Dark troopers would be bigger and wider than Vader. I like the eye light feature gimmick but I understand that it's not great for dioramas. This figure is a definite pass because everything is getting to expensive and I am trying to stay with Original trilogy. 💪🤓
As much as I like the eyes, does look a bit irritating and unsightly from the back yes mate, waited ages for this, great figure, but it would have been nice on card and yes there's a couple of cons
I’m really disappointed with the back of the helmet and I’m a 95%carded collector but ordered6 of these to display loose with Luke Skywalker fighting them That idea is now ruined A better idea being a deluxe set would of been different heads solving any issues
