Imperial Flametroopers are a relatively new addition to the Empire's roster having first appeared in 2017 in the Adventures in Wild Space junior novel series. They went on to be visualised in the 2019 release of EA's video game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It is from this medium that Hasbro designed their Flametrooper figure, releasing it under the Gaming Greats series of the Galaxy Collection. The Flametrooper is number 3 in the Gaming Greats series, following on from the Deluxe Cal Kestis and sitting before Zaalbar from Knights of the Old Republic.
The Flametrooper is packed in the standard Galaxy Collection box with a slanted side. A foil Gaming Greats hexagonal sticker is included on the bottom right window. The blue hue artwork o the side panel illustrates a Flametrooper in battle and connects as a wider montage with the figures on either side. This artwork is repeated on the back with a short piece of background text that focuses on the Trooper rather than the game synopsis itself as seen on some other releases.
"Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order features Flametroopers, specialized commandos that support the war machine of the Galactic Empire, highly proficient in the use of incendiary weapons"
The Flametrooper is a tweaked figure from the mainline, as is the lot of most Gaming Greats figures. It uses the 2016 Snowtrooper figure as a base, adding a brand new helmet to match what we see in the game. We also get new forearms, and the shoulder pauldrons are reversed so the embossed pattern is at the top, not the bottom, this is accurate to the game. The lower legs are also updated with a newer boot design.
The figure is cast in white for the amour and off white for the uniform, with a minimal amount of paint deco added. This is mainly around the helmet with a red stripe trim, black visor and silver breathing gear. More red is added to the chest armour, and we have some very pale grey added to the boots and belt to add variation to the white armour. The belt paint is not perfect and does not cover the parts it should all the way to the edge.
The figure has a new backpack piece that is similar to that of the Snowtroopers but is longer and features twin fuel tanks. Cast in white the backpack has more red trim, red & black indicator and grey around the fuel tanks - and this is also a little bit scruffy and doesn't cover the tanks right to the edges
The backpack has a fitting to one side that represents the valves and hose feeding fuel to the Flamethrower weapon. The white valves give way to a black flexible hose that has sufficient length and flexibility to come around the front of the figure and be slotted into a socket just under the handle of the new flamethrower weapon developed for the figure.
The flamethrower is cast in dark grey with a good level of sculpted detail but no paint apps or weathering to enhance them. The only deco on the gun is red added to the end of the barrel to try and replicate a glowing look. Considering a flame effect is already available from the Mandalorian Incinerator Trooper it is a shame that Hasbro couldn't adapt that piece for this figure and include it in the set.
While the Flametrooper has new forearms, he is given the same hands as the Snowtrooper and those hands were designed to hold a standard E-11 blaster. The right-hand works OK with the larger gun, but the grip on the left is not wide enough to easily grip the barrel. It needs a bit of head and stretching to get a grip into place. The two-handed grip is natural enough once positioned but make sure you don't let the right arm and elbow start to bend the back section of the gun - if this starts to happen you will get stress marks into the plastic.
Articulation is inherited directly from the Snowtrooper base figure with 16 points in total. The legs include double jointed knees, but the semi-rigid skirt section prevents kneeling poses. The arms could do with double joints in the elbows and perhaps butterfly shoulders to allow for a wider range of weapon poses with the flame unit. While the head looks fixed, it does rotate on the neck joint as far as either shoulder pauldron which does add some character for the figure on display.
The Gaming Greats line is another subline reliant on repaints and tweaks and is perhaps overlooked by more purist collectors who focus on the movies or the TV series content. What I love about all the Black Series iterations is that these more niche figures still have the same aesthetics as any other figures and the Flametrooper, therefore, sits brilliantly in any Imperial Stormtrooper display even if you've never played or are not a fan of Fallen Order. The figure looks great and has just a few niggles around paint apps and the arm articulation. The biggest issue it faces is the price - as an exclusive its RRP sits at £5 more than a general release, and this premium price is paid to get a repaint or tweaked figure?
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...