Gadget Reviews
Feel the force
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| The Delux Death Star Transformer |
If you missed out on collecting Star Wars merchandise the first
time around, a new cartoon and TV series will provide a second chance
SOME folk just don't know when to leave well alone. Despite a personal fortune
reported to be close to four billion dollars (£2bn) and a vow to leave behind
the space saga after six blockbusters of variable quality, George Lucas is backing
an animated Star Wars series starting later this year.
The long awaited cartoon will be followed by a TV series. Fans hope it will
give Lucas the chance to fill out the back stories of popular minor characters
from the feature films.
Not surprisingly, the prospect of a new Star Wars will lead to an avalanche
of merchandising.
And toy manufacturers have created a new range that's sure to appeal to fans
both old and new.
Star Wars Mimobots
from £59.95 www. firebox. com
Most USB storage devices are best kept tucked away, they are about as appealing
as a dinner date with Darth Vader.
This range of funky and highly collectable items are available in seven characters
with a storage capacity of 1GB and a couple with 2GB - each one contains a selection
of icons for your desktop too.
Light Sabers
£59.95 www. firebox. com
This superb replica of the weapon sported by Luke Skywalker in the original
trilogy is also available in the Darth Vader version to recreate your own scenes.
The hilt of the light saber is made from die-cast metal, has a permanently
attached glowing polypropylene blade and when you make your move original sound
effects come into play.
Deluxe Death Star Transformer
£39.95 www. thetoyshop. com
Inspired by last year's robotic blockbuster, this transforming Darth Vader
doesn't change into a vehicle of any kind but a formidable Death Star.
Inside the pack you'll also find a Darth Vader pilot mini figure, three TIE
Fighter mini vehicles and three Stormtrooper mini figures.
Anakin Jedi Starfighter
£19.99 www. lego. com
Based on Anakin Skywalker's customised Jedi starfighter from the Clone Wars
CG-Animated TV Series, this 153 piece set is a must have for younger fans.
Featuring flick-firing missiles, retractable landing gear and an ejection button
for R2-D2, I have a sneaky suspicion that another age group will be coveting
this piece too.
R2D2 Webcam
£300 www. red5. co. uk
This 1:5-scale remote control version of the deepspace dustbin features a webcam
and internet telephony, too.
The handset for making your calls and steering the unit are both contained
in the light saber replica, it is also available as a much larger unit, which
houses an 80-inch TV screen projector.
Mighty Muggs
£9.95 www. firebox. com
There have been plastic figures aplenty depicting the characters and these,
the very latest in the line of collectibles, are high-quality vinyl art toys.
Six characters styled in a cartoonesque fashion, described as "intergalactic
icons with a dollop of designer manga cuteness".
Some of them even come complete with weaponry. Time to clear some deskspace,
I say.
11:42am Thursday 28th February 2008
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