The Evil Emporer Has Arrived! (Lego Star Wars: Emporer Palpatine)

Member Name: benlepensive

Product:	Lego Star Wars: Emporer Palpatine
Date:	28/10/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good play value

Disadvantages: poor likeness

Star Wars Lego...whatever next! Well believe it or not, there is a lucrative Star Wars market in the Lego department. Playsets and single figures allow children and adults alike to build scenarios with all the versatility of Lego bricks. The good thing about the Lego sets is that they are a little more affordable than some of the Hasbro playsets, which come in quite dear in price.

Lego have produced this much in demand figure, the evil Emporer Palpatine, who made his debut in 'The Empire Strikes Back.' Trying to get a likeness on a Lego model is obviously going to be quite hard, as the figure is bare on an inch in height. Lego also have to strike a balance between a look which matches the character in the film and a look which won't scare younger children too much! As a die-hard collector, I can see that the likeness really is not very good at all. The face seems to be have drawn up in a matter of moments and could be any old rogue. The Emporer has what appears to be freckles or some kind of facial scarring, but it does not very authentic. Given that the Emporer's face in the films is pale, this yellow face looks odd too.

The clothing is bit better, a well sculptured cloak brings an air of importance and mystery and there is relatively good detail on the chest of the character. As with all Lego people, you can move him at the arms and legs and also twist the head. I would have liked to have seen a robe which covered the whole body, rather than exposing a pair of trousers, but for a less discerning collector, he is not a bad toy.

Hardcore Star Wars fans would be better sticking with the Hasbro toys, but for younger children, this chap might be worth a look.

Summary: not bad toy