Hasbro Star Wars Transformers Darth Vader/Death Star
by Hasbro
|
Our Price: $123.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $114.99 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
|---|
Toys and Games Reviews of Hasbro Star Wars Transformers Darth Vader/Death Star
Customer Review: The Darth Vader robot that transforms into the Death Star!
Summary: 4 Stars
As the third entry in Hasbro's Supreme-class "planet-formers" (previous two being Primus and Unicron), this figure can be said to be the final evolution of this concept. You can see the evolution as Primus is closer to a spherical form than Unicron and Darth even more closer (in fact, almost perfect) in form. Vader accomplishes this by being a huge shell-former (which will likely draw some disdain from certain TF purists), however the results I say are definitely worth it as both Vader and Death Star modes look fairly awesome as a result. Not only do the toy look good but it's packed with gimmicks. We have the spring loaded Super Laser, a cloth cape for Darth to wear in robot mode, and, my favorite part, the light and sound gimmicks. As with RID's Air Attack Optimus Primal, the light and sound gimmicks really raise this Darth toy to another level. A button on Darth's belt will light up his chest lights (which double as the Death Star mode's Super Laser lights) and sound out one of a set of spoken lines followed by Vader's classic breathing sound. Same is done with a button on the back of the Death Star mode with even more voice clips activated by holding down the button. A button on the right arm will activate laser blasting sound (holding it down will activate an exploding sound). Inserting the lightsaber in the right hand will activate light saber sounds and light up the saber too (push button while active for even more sounds). Although Darth is smaller than the other two planet-formers, his light and sound gimmicks makes him just as fun, if not more so, than the other two.
One bit of warning however is that Darth's transformation to Death Star can be rather difficult to some as it's one of those transformations that will either result in perfection or a mess of popping panels. However once you master transforming him, you'll find it isn't too bad and his Death Star mode is rather stable considering how difficult it was to him into that mode. Definitely not something for the Transformer newbies.
Customer Review: Wow, What a Pain!
Summary: 2 Stars
My 10 year old son got this from his grandfather for Christmas. My son is very good at working through things, builds complicated Lego sets easily and creates many of his own all the time. He was very excited to get this toy and went right at it, but was frusrated very quickly. After about 1/2 hour of messing with it I jumped in to help, and the result wasn't much better. Bit by bit we started to make it transform, but it was a terrible process. We wrestled with the thing for over an hour before we were really close to finishing, and then it was another 15 or so minutes trying to get the last couple pieces fit in just right.
As someone else stated, the instructions are small and difficult to decipher. They are all just pictures, which wouldn't be a problem if they weren't so small and undetailed. The pieces to move are highlighted, but it doesn't give much guidance in that. The last piece we couldn't get to work in wouldn't fit because Darth's hand was twisted around the wrong way. We had it palm out instead of the other way around, not a huge difference but enough I guess, but there is no way to know that through the instructions. If something that minor is a problem, it should be in there.
The box says for ages 5+. Don't believe it. And don't attempt this unless you've got mountains of patience. Neat idea, and my son had fun with the noises and such, but wow, what a pain. Ours also came without a cape, though my son wasn't overly concerned about it.
Customer Review: Didn't they play-test this hunk of plastic?
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm a big fan of all the smaller new Transformer figures. My 7-year-old is a fanatic and plays with them for hours. I thought the Darth Vader Transformer would be great for him, but this thing is extremely difficult to assemble into the Death Star form. I spent two hours out of the box and much irritation and mumbled swearing later managed to get it finished.
My know-it-all 12-year old told me I was too old to understand these toys and said he could do it with no problem. 45 minutes later he came into the living room and said, "This is stupid ~ how do they expect anyone to put this together?"
It got a LITTLE easier after I assembled it a few times, but even after I got the process down and tried to explain it to my sons (both of them), they were unable to complete it without my help. Plus, some of the pieces ~ in particular, the Death Star "shell" pieces attached to his arms ~ keep popping off at inopportune times.
In all, I wish I'd save the $50 and bought five smaller Transformers. Now I have a useless hunk of plastic sitting in the bottom of my son's closet.
In general, way too complicated and the tolerances for fitting together are too exact. Certainly not recommended for anyone under the age of 50.
Customer Review: This thing is horrid. It's worse than Darth Vader himself!
Summary: 1 Stars
This toy was purchased as a Christmas gift for my son. I remember him opening it and being very excited. Christmas Day it took me an hour to get it enough together so the parts weren't "popping" out. After my struggles, my son promptly took it apart and turned it back into Darth Vader. It has never seen it's Death Star shape since that day. Well, today he pulled it out and asked me to transform back into the Death Star. This thing really sucks. I tried to follow the worthless instructions to no avail. I have been working on it for about a half hour and finally said enough was enough. My son was watching me and trying to help but it just does not fit together well. Like some of the other reviewers have stated... the tolerances are just to TIGHT! Once you get one part in it's place, another pops off. Then you go back and put the popped off piece back in place another one pops off. It's a never ending cycle. As I'm writing this, my son is singing a new song he made up... "I hate this Death Star... lalalala". I think we will play a game with it and destroy it outside later by smashing it with a sledge hammer and then setting it on fire. What a waste of $$$$.Customer Review: DIFFICULT TO TURN INTO DEATH STAR BUT CAPTURES A VERY UNIQUE DARTH VADER FIGURE
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't enjoy puzzles too much, however, my son does. Infact, he was able to turn the figure into the Death Star in less than ten minutes. It would have taken me ten hours. I think Darth Vader Transformer's point of view for a ten year old it's great. For me, I would rather display the figure along with all of my other Darth Vader Collectibles because of it is so uniqueness.
This is the kind of toy that will be very difficult to purchase around the holidays. Target has a few left at about $45.00, a little steep, but the engineering that went into its creation probably cost quite a lot as well. As a toy, any child is going to love it. As a collector, I enjoy bending the pieces and placing the character back together for display.
If you are worried that it won't be available in a few weeks, and you are a Darth Vader fan, get it now before they are all gone and/or the price goes up to $100.00 on ebay. This is not my favorite Darth Vader, but for its uniqness I would give it a rating between a B and an A-. It is also durable.