You can’t have any sort of Star Wars celebration without the saga’s most enduring character. The plucky Droid R2-D2 was one of the first characters to appear on screen back in 1977. Since then Artoo has appeared in many other Star Wars adventures including all three trilogies, spin-off Star Wars stories and numerous animated shows. In the world of LEGO®, Artoo has been portrayed in plenty of different ways and has been featured in some form in over 60 LEGO sets. Artoo’s latest appearance is as a buildable Droid. Here’s a closer look at the LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary R2-D2 set.
Product Details
Set Name: R2-D2 | Set Number: 75379 | Pieces: 1050 | Theme: Star Wars
RRP: £89.99/$99.99/99.99€ | Number of Bags: Bags x 12 | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: Sheet x 1 | Characters: R2-D2 plus 25th Anniversary Darth Malak | Insiders QR: Yes
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail
You may be wondering why there is another displayable version of R2-D2 so soon after the last one. Well, the 2021 version and the 2012 before it were considered a sort of Ultimate Collector Series version of Artoo. Offering highly detailed versions of the Astromech. This set may look similar but it’s a more basic version and has a more affordable price point but it still features all the aspects of Artoo you’d expect.
As a little more basic version of Artoo, the build process is also a little easier. The body of the Droid acts as the set’s core. This is where all the other parts of Artoo are added. The head is a separate piece which connects to the body by a turntable plate. The shell of the body is added as panels and the two legs are popped on the side of the body with the feet being connected by loose Technic bars.
Those other versions of Artoo featured many of the Droid’s Swiss Army-like gadgets. These were built into the set and resulted in a more complex overall build. For this version, the extras are still included but they are implemented differently. So instead of Artoo’s scanning antenna coming out of his head, it’s simply an extra piece which you can connect to the head. Two gaps run down the front of Artoo, which can be used to add a couple of tools. These can also be swapped out for two flat tiles. Finally, R2-D2 has a third extension leg which is deployed when Artoo moves. This simply slots into the bottom of the Droid via a Technic rod.
Similar to the other displayable R2-D2 sets mentioned above, the set includes an information plaque. This is a printed panel which is connected to a black stand. This doesn’t physically connect to Artoo but it does include an R2-D2 figure.
The second of the revealed LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary minifigures is Darth Malak. This formidable Sith Lord was introduced in the fan-favourite Star Wars RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The once-promising Jedi fell to the Darkside and became the apprentice of Darth Raven. Malak’s appearance was altered after a disagreement with his Sith Master and that is why he wears a metal collar around his lower face. The minifigure features a unique piece which slots between the torso and the head of the character. Similar pieces have been used for similar Star Wars characters. As with all the 25th Anniversary characters, they are mounted on a special display stand featuring the LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary logo.
It looks like Artoo, it has the extra tools used by Artoo, and it even has a display plaque. But it’s certainly not as detailed as the previous buildable R2-D2 sets. Calling it a budget version feels a little unfair, so consider it a more affordable version. The tools and traversal leg may have to be connected, instead of built into the Droid, but I suppose they add to the playability of the set and also offers a different build experience compared to the more expensive and detailed versions of the much-loved Astromech.
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The LEGO Group provided this set for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Disney. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
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