'Star Wars' action figures review: 'Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader: Final Duel' two-figure set

Photo Credit: 2DayDelivery.com

Pros: Very nicely detailed, pose looks very dynamic.

Cons: Not recommended for very young children.

Hasbro's third Star Wars 25th Anniversary Deluxe Boxed Set, Final Duel, captures a pivotal moment in the film A New Hope -- the turning point, perhaps, of the entire Star Wars saga: the legendary Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi facing off against his former Padawan apprentice and now Sith Lord, Darth Vader. His simple Jedi robes and blue lightsaber blade contrast starkly against the Death Star hangar interior and his former apprentice's menacing armored visage and red Sith saber blade.

I have been collecting Star Wars figures almost since Kenner (now Hasbro) started selling them in the wake of the success of Star Wars (now known as Episode IV: A New Hope).

I own several variations of both Darth Vader and Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, including the original 1978 figures with telescoping lightsabers and plastic cloaks, but I was impressed at the fine details of these two figures, which (like the others in Swing To Freedom and Death Star Escape) come already posed in front of a backdrop to create a mini-diorama depicting a scene from A New Hope.

Although these figures are roughly the same size as their 1978 forerunners, the details (ranging from the "folds" of Obi-Wan's robes to the lightsabers themselves) are far, far better. 

The lightsabers, for instance, are not just simple plastic "syringes" (that is what they always reminded me of!) that are permanently fixed to the figure's right arm, as they were in the original Luke, Ben, and Vader figures. Nor are they solid-colored detachable accessories along the lines of the 1980 "The Empire Strikes Back" Luke Skywalker in Bespin Fatigues. 

Like the Kenner/Hasbro figures of the late 1990s, the lightsabers are now not only detachable, but instead of being mono-colored (handle AND blade only in yellow or green), the handles are painted silver and black to match the look of the movie's sabers. The energy blades have also changed, going from solid to translucent plastic, Sith red and Jedi blue.

Vader's armor and flowing cape are very nicely replicated, particularly the detailing of his belt and the chest "control panel" of his life-support system. The helmet mask is almost identical to the 1978 figure's -- the design is, of course, unchangeable -- but the lenses through which the Sith Lord stares balefully at the universe are subtly tinted red.

Obi-Wan Kenobi's figure is also well done. Particular care was taken with his face and robes -- the latter looking even nicer than Luke Skywalker's Tatooine outfit as seen in the Swing To Freedom Special Deluxe Boxed Set. The figure's pose looks dynamic and captures the essence of the scene (again, based on a publicity still rather than an actual frame from A New Hope) so well that one can almost hear the hum of the clashing lightsabers.

While the figures themselves are as durable as the average Star Wars action figure, I don't recommend this as a toy for a child who wants to play with it. The figures are sturdy and the base looks solid enough, but the lightsabers might get loose and be lost or even broken, and unless lots of care is taken while opening the package, the backdrop can -- and more than likely will -- be damaged. Final Duel is a fine present to older children who are keen on showing it off in its displayable package, or for adult collectors who cherish their memories of seeing the Classic Trilogy in their younger days.