While it may not have made it onto my Force Link 2.0 hunt list, Han Solo's Landspeeder has been calling my name for some time now. I love the design, and the unique lines and colour scheme are sure to stand out amongst any shelf of 3 3/4" action figures. So, when HasbroToyShop.com had a 20% discount and free shipping on all Star Wars products for May 4th, I finally gave in to temptation.
While definitely a pleasing design, this speeder is certainly more of a display piece than a play piece - not really boasting much in the way of interactive features. This is understandable however, given its role in the film. Han's landspeeder is an open-topped transport, not a vehicle of war, so there's no real opportunity for the usual hinging canopies, firing missiles, and associated play features. The one included mechanism is an Incredible-Crash-Dummies-esque collapsible rubberised front that allows you to ram the landspeeder into an obstacle and have Han projectile-launched from his seat. It's a nifty gimmick for kids, but one that also remains happily hidden while the vehicle is on display.
There are a couple of minor improvements that could have been made to improve this displayability, however. Firstly, the landspeeder is in dire need of some sort of stand or wheels to get the vehicle off the ground. That kind of feature has been standard for Star Wars landspeeders ever since the Vintage Kenner line, so its puzzling as to why it was left out here. Secondly, it would have been nice if a little more thought had been given to the positioning of the seat and steering wheel in relation to Han. In order for Han to properly grip the steering wheel, he has to be posed in an unnatural forward lean. When the figure is sitting in anything resembling a normal position, his hands are instead left floating in mid-air. Don't get me wrong, it's a small problem, but one that could have been easily remedied by simply making the steering stalk half an inch longer.
The pack-in figure itself is a great likeness of a Alden Ehrenreich, and features some nice little touches - like a smattering of brine up the legs. He also comes with a single sidearm. Given that this is the first actual Han Solo figure I've picked up from the Solo line, he's a very welcome addition to my collection!
