Right now Toy Fair is happening in New York. For a toy-loving geek, there is no better place to be. I’m…not there. But toymakers are there pimping their lines for the year. LEGO has been making Star Wars sets since 1999, and 2015 continues that run with sets from all six existing movies, television series, and video games. With sets available at various price points, there’s probably something for every Star Wars fan.
Here’s their copy about the sets from the Toy Fair press release, with my picks for each section:
Bringing Star Wars: Rebels TV Episodes to the Playroom
Six new LEGO sets help fans build the exciting adventures from the Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels, five available now and one launching in June. Fans looking to build their collection of Stormtroopers will love the Imperial Troop Transport ($12.99), featuring four of the iconic troopers in minifigure form plus an armored transport pod. With Ezra’s Speeder Bike ($19.99), the young rebel hero and his confidant Sabine can outrun the Stormtroopers. In the ultimate expression of the power of the dark side, rogue rebels are tracked by the experimental TIE Advanced Prototype™ ($39.99), complete with folding wings for flight and landing modes, spring-loaded shooters and functional top hatch. Builders can search the streets of Capital City for rebels in the twin-legged AT-DP™ ($49.99), featuring Agent Kallus, a Stormtrooper and two AT-DP pilots. Fans can protect Wullffwarro and his Jedi friend, Kanan Jarrus, with the powerful Wookiee™ Gunship ($69.99), featuring movable front and top cannons, folding wings and two Wookiee minifigures.
If you’re a fan of “Rebels,” you’ll like any of these sets, although the best of the sets is the Ghost, which came out last fall and is still available. It’s the only way to get Hera and Zeb, and “Rebels” without them just isn’t “Rebels.” Of this new wave, my first recommendation is to buy as many of the Imperial Troop Transports as possible. They’re undersized in comparison to their “real” appearance, but they come with four frigging Stormtroopers, so suck it up. The other one I’d say is a must-have is Ezra’s Speeder, just because that’s the only way to get Sabine…even though she doesn’t have her Mandalorian helmet, which bugs the hell out of me. Also hard to find is the TIE Advanced Prototype, which is the only set with the Inquisitor. I personally feel you should be able to get the Big Bad in multiple sets, but LEGO knows how to get my money. Damn them.
Rebuild Favorite Star Wars: The Clone Wars Battles
Fans can safeguard the security of the Senate with the elite Senate Commando Troopers™ set ($12.99), featuring a never-before-seen buildable rapid shooter plus Senate Commando Captain minifigure and three Senate Commandos. Or builders can support the clone army at the Battle of Geonosis with the Geonosis Troopers™ set ($12.99), featuring a walker, two Geonosis Clone Troopers and two Geonosis Airborne Clone Troopers. Builders travel to Coruscant to relive the epic lightsaber battle between Asajj Ventress and Anakin with Anakin’s Custom Jedi Starfighter™ ($39.99), featuring detachable escape pod, droid eject function, retractable front landing gear, lightsaber storage, four spring-loaded shooters and an Astromech Droid. All are available now.
By now, they’ve made probably a dozen different kinds of specialized LEGO Clone Troopers, so it kind of depends on if you’re building an army of swamp troopers or desert or space or…whatever. Of the Clone Wars sets, I’m only picking up the Senate Commando Troopers, because…well, look at them.
Revisit Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Fans can protect the Empire with the silent and mysterious Shadow Guards ($12.99 available now) by using their deadly lightsaber staffs, or call in the Shadow Stormtroopers if backup is needed.
I’m not a gamer, but damn. These guys are sweet. I guess I just like building armies.
Classic Star Wars Sets Feature Big Action from the Saga
Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace – Builders can relive the riveting battle scene where the Trade Federation tightens its grip on Naboo and the local Gungans must stop the advancing AAT™ (available now for $24.99). Includes Jar Jar Binks minifigure, Battle Droid and Pilot Battle Droid figures. An additional set launches later in the year.
Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones – Fans can build the Republic Gunship™ Microfighter to defend against the heavily armored Homing Spider Droid™ Microfighter ($9.99 each). To defeat the clone army on Geonosis, builders can assemble the Hailfire Droid™ ($19.99), featuring giant rotating wheels and four spring-loaded shooters. Reinforcements at the Battle of Naboo arrive in the Battle Droid Troop™ Carrier ($39.99), featuring detachable driver compartment, hidden wheels to help it glide, Gungan Warrior minifigure, two Pilot Battle Droids and 12 Battle Droids. All are now available. An additional set launches later in the year.
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith – Builders can choose sides and reenact the ultimate showdown to defend or attack the Republic. High above Coruscant flies the advanced ARC-170 Starfighter™ Microfighter, perfect for defending against the attack of the deadly Separatist Vulture Droid™ Microfighter ($9.99 each, available now).
Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope – Fans can swoop through the canyons of Tatooine chasing down womp rats and trying to avoid Tusken Raiders in the T-16 Skyhopper™ ($24.99, available now), featuring adjustable wings, detachable storage box and dual spring-loaded shooters, Skyhopper Pilot and Tusken Raider minifigure.
Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back– Builders can relive one of the most exciting battles in the entire Star Wars universe as they speed over the icy planet of Hoth in the agile Snowspeeder™ Microfighter to protect the Rebel Alliance and assault the Rebel base with the AT-AT™ Microfighter. Both are available now for $9.99.
Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi – Two exciting sets launch later in the year.
I’m loving the Microfighters — they just launched these last year, and they’re a lot of fun. You can still get the first wave, including the Millennium Falcon, X-Wing and TIE Fighters, but the new ones are on the shelves now too. Great toys, especially if you just want one for a Star Wars fan who happens to be a casual LEGO fan.
First Star Wars Constraction Sets Unveiled
Expanding the way children can build and play within the Star Wars universe, the company also unveiled new constraction – constructable figures – sets featuring, among others, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker ($19.99 and up in September). Additional constraction figures in the collection will be unveiled throughout the year.
…sounds like they were unveiled to the nerds at Toy Fair, but we don’t have pics of that yet. To give you an idea of what they’re talking about, these are similar kits that LEGO produced in 2012:
So…like that. But more Star Wars-y. Following Luke and Vader, we’ll get General Grievous, Clone Wars Obi-Wan, Jango Fett and Commander Cody. Could be cool.
LEGO Slave I™ will Delight Even the Most Skilled Fan Builders
Builders can assemble and pilot an unbelievable detailed replica of the iconic Slave I™ spaceship owned and piloted by the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett™. With 1,996 pieces, this set will inspire fans to search the galaxy for fugitives using the realistic rotating cockpit and wings for flight and landing mode along with dual blasters to repel attackers, then reenact the capture of Han Solo™ in Bespin’s Cloud City. Includes minifigures of Boba Fett™, Bespin Guard™, Stormtrooper™ and Han Solo™ and is available now for $199.99.
This thing is just beautiful. And it’s $200. And my birthday is in June. I like unexpected gifts.