This set has its good and bad qualities. For one thing, LEGO seems to have done away with numbered bags that help keep the individual elements from taking over a workspace. My table went back to being covered in pieces from all of the bags, which is a bit confusing when you’re looking for “that one friggin’ piece.” Also, it does not have the larger upper leg joint covers that the previous two sets had, nor do the covers have a printed joint image on them. Lastly, this set does not move on its own power like its motorized counterpart, but it is poseable and the main housing isn’t taken up with a motor, but has a control station for General Veers and two snowtroopers.
The AT-AT itself is a large set and stands about a foot high with the legs. As mentioned, while not motorized, you can pose it how you will. (I’m seriously tempted to make several poses referencing “Something, Something, Something, Dark Side.”) One complaint is that you have to be careful opening up the side panels, as the joints take some effort to open and the panels may come off if too much force is applied (fortunately, being LEGOs, they’re easily put back). Unlike the motorized version, another thing this set has in its favor is the return of an element with a window as opposed to several slanted 1×1 elements. This improves the look of the set.
Several minifigures come with this set, including (for whatever reason), Han Solo in Hoth Gear and C-3PO. There is also a new edition Hoth Trooper with a satellite dish laser, and, of course, Luke Skywalker. Something that was less exciting is that he just comes with a whip element that you have to connect to the underside of the AT-AT instead of the cable in the motorized version. Lastly, there is a new General Veers without goggles for all the Julian Glover fans.
To wrap up, this is a great set, but if you’re on the fence about buying it, you may want to save your money, as it is around $110. For the diehards, though, this is must-own, especially for the 30th anniversary. I don’t regret getting it, and it looks pretty cool with the rest of my Hoth sets. Now if I could just recreate the battle itself…
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
About the Author
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about John Rabon:
John got started on the path to geekdom thanks to his brother's collection of comic books and Star Wars toys but was cemented into the geek class forever when LeVar Burton took Reading Rainbow viewers on a backstage tour of Star Trek: The Next Generation. A love of Monty Python soon followed, and it wasn't long before he was starting to collect his own comics. The rest, as they say, is history. But really, who are they to say something?
Since discovering the BBC some years ago, John has become an obsessive Anglophile. In fact, he even likes the food they serve over there! As such, some of his favourite programmes include: Doctor Who, Primeval, Coupling, QI, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, and Shaun the Sheep.
Upon choosing a university, John enrolled in the University of South Carolina, which was nice enough to give him a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master's in Teaching. Feeling that he hadn't been put through enough academic torment with student teaching, John decided to enroll in law school at Campbell University.
Hobbies, when he can find time for them, include: writing, video games, reading, and wasting time in the pub.