Review: Star Wars Black Series Imperial Rocket Trooper, Gaming Greats, EA's Battlefront II
- Mephitsu
- Dec 8, 2021
- 3 min read
The Gaming Greats line of Star Wars Black Series had hung on to the Phase 3 packaging through 2020, but in 2021 the figures moved into the Galaxy Collection packaging with all of the Video Game figures packed into their own collection with an ice blue colour accent. The boxes still carry the foil Gaming Greats hexagonal sticker on the window.
The Imperial Rocket Trooper, as seen in EA's Battlefront 2 video game, is the debut figure in the Gaming Greats line with the side art kicking off the connecting montage. This artwork is repeated around the back of the box along with a short piece of background text.
"Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is the ultimate Star Wars battle fantasy, letting players call in reinforcements from the most skilled soldiers and units in the galaxy, including the Imperial Rocket Troopers who rain down fire from the sky"
While Hasbro has a new and much improved Imperial Stormtrooper figure, the Rocket Trooper does not utilise the new body and instead is a direct repaint of the 2019 Imperial Jump Trooper from Rebels. The Battlefront version loses the yellow paintwork from the helmet and shoulder pauldron while it retains the black Imperial symbols on the shoulders.
The body is cast in white bright plastic with the neck, shoulders and hips done in black to match the undersuit. The other joints like elbows and knees are painted over the base white plastic which does lead to some messy edges. The other paint apps on the helmet and the belt and backpack are neater with crisp edges.
The Imperial Rocket Trooper is armed with the standard E-11 Stormtrooper blaster, cast in black plastic and with a small silver section painted on the main barrel. The gun is a re-use from previous Imperial troops and slots into the right hand. I would want the left hand to grip and hold the barrel but the fingers are very stiff and curled and getting them around the barrel is hard work. When not in use the E-11 can be slid into the holster on the belt.
The backpack can be removed as it is just plugged into a hole in the back of the figure. But it is attached to the helmet by way of the grey hoses.
The articulation on the older Stormtrooper body is 18 points in total and hangs onto double jointed knees and elbows. That allows the Rocket Trooper to kneel and assume plenty of firing poses. All of this can be replicated by the new Stormtrooper body, but without the bow-legged look that comes with all the Imperial Troopers that utilise this original 2014 figure.
As a 'flying' Trooper the Rocket Trooper is articulated enough or basic flying poses if you utilise an aftermarket flight stand - see our images below.
The Gaming Greats line is essentially a tweak/repaint line and therefore the Rocket Trooper makes sense considering the helmet, shoulders and rocket pack were already in circulation. The figure would have benefited from using some or all of the new body from both an articulation and aesthetics perspective. As it stands it's a good inclusion for Imperial Troops but there were options available for it to be better.
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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...
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