Actually no, it’s an All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer, a massive new Star Wars toy from Hasbro’s new Clone Wars line. This one’s so big, I decided I’d have to borrow my wife’s car just so I could get it home from Toys ‘R’ Us!
The AT-TE is a pretty imposing sight, heavily armored and bristling with cannons, although the driver looks a little exposed in the front there. I’d feel much safer in the cockpit of an AT-AT, an AT-ST, or even on a speeder bike…!
It’s too crowded in the toy room to get decent shots of this behemoth, so I brought it down to the living room. I’d love to fill it with Clone Troopers, but (as you can see in the background) all my loose clones are already in the Republic Gunship!
There are two interior sections to the AT-TE, both of which feature gunner stations for each of the projectile-launching cannons. The forward section features four highly detailed stations, from the grating on the floor to the ceiling controls.
The back section features gunner stations for the two rear cannons, as well as weapons racks and space for twelve additional Clone Troopers.
Watch this video demonstration of the sophisticated mechanism that controls the disembarkation ramp, and hear the sound it makes as it automatically lowers. So cool!
As has been the case since the early days of Kenner’s Star Wars playsets, strategically-placed pegs molded into the floors allow for figures to be firmly attached all over the surface, making for some pretty dynamic poses!
In fact, I liked this pose so much I took a few more pictures.
The rear-projected background is just the screensaver my computer happened to be running at the time.
Now, if only I had as many Clone Trooper figures as Hasbro had on display at the San Diego Comicon…!
It’s been a long time since Hasbro released a Star Wars toy this large — larger, in fact, than any released during the twenty years Kenner produced Star Wars toys. It’s not as tall as the Kenner AT-AT or the Imperial Shuttle, nor as long as the Rebel Transport or the Naboo Royal Starship, but it’s bulkier and more sophisticated than any of them.
What’s more, it’s got one important advantage over every other Star Wars playset or vehicle produced at this size, even the new “Legacy Collection” Millennium Falcon: it’s actually to scale with the action figures! Way to go, Hasbro! It’s about time.
July 28, 2008 at 9:47 pm |
Super wicked. In defense of the Falcon however, a scale Falcon would be what? the size of a small car? Clearly sometimes scale has to be sacrificed for playability.
I keep asking, and I’ll keep asking, How goes your Falcon project? :p
July 28, 2008 at 9:50 pm |
Didn’t Hasbro also produce a scale x-wing and Tie fighter?
July 29, 2008 at 12:40 am |
cool review Ted, thanks!
August 3, 2008 at 4:31 pm |
Sweet! Just don’t have the space for this…..