Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber

Review by D Strick for Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber
Rating:
There is a very similar product called the Ultimate Light Saber from a few years back out there [not Clone Wars affiliated] so don’t confuse the two. This is new version and here are the Pros and Cons.

Pros:

Multiple looks – As the box implies, you can make several different looking saber hilts. I would not go so far as to say over 1000 combinations like the box does. You’d have to count every smallest variation, no matter how small, possible to make that number.. But you have enough parts to make several cool and distinct hilts.

Parts – And those parts are, 1 main hilt for all parts to attach to and where all the electronics are, 1 clear saber blade, 3 rings [the top that holds the blade] one of which has a detachable blade guard so could be counted twice, 4 hilt sleeves that can be placed in various combinations, 5 end caps, and 3 crystals [Blue, Red and Green].

Lights – These crystals can be stored in a compartment in the bottom of the hilt or placed in slots in another side compartment to control the color of the blade. You have red, blue and green but you can also mix and match the crystals to get purple, white (pinkish white), yellow and aqua for 7 colors. My favorite is to just leave the crystals out entirely so that every time the saber is activated is cycles to the next color. All these lights are generated by combinations of 9 LED lights in the hilt, not bulbs which is a big plus for durability and no lenses needed.

Sounds – Each color gets a sound. There are 3 distinct “saber hums” depending on what color the blade is. Where one generic hum probably would have been expected they put in 3 and that is pretty cool. Each hum also has its own distinctive active and deactivate sounds.

Hit Sounds – In addition to the hums and activation sounds there are about 4 hit sounds which are various swings and saber clashes that are activated when you strike something [like another saber]. It is not motion sensitive though, you do have to actually hit something but…

Durability – As much as I’ve changed the parts, pushed and pulled crystals and swung this around and banged it around with the kids it still looks like new and I’ve had no issues with anything breaking. That’s a big plus in my book.

Cons:

< 1000 - Like I said, you'd have to be counting all the sounds, lights, putting things on backwards and upside down and all kinds of crazy stuff to get up to 1000 combo's. But I have about 4 really cool hilts I like plus the different sounds and lights so I'm happy.

Fighting – Because of the interchangeable nature of the toy it can sometimes happen that the ring gets loose or the sleeves move around a bit. But, once I found my favorite hilts and was sure to tighten them down I was in good shape.

The “L” Cap – There’s some Sith [Maris Brood] that uses a handle on the side of the saber [like a billy club] and this cap is included but it is hard to use and a bit odd feeling plus for some reason they did not include a hole through which you can actually turn on the saber without doing that first then screwing the cap on. Weird. So, I just don’t use it.

So six to three, pros win! And really those 3 cons were a bit of a reach and don’t affect the fun of the toy really. With several cool looks and tons of different colors and sounds this is a solid fun and cool toy that I recommend.

Review by Richard Greenleaf for Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber
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A while ago Hasbro released the Star Wars Ultimate Lightsaber set. As those who got it or who saw it in stores well know, this set allowed you to build your own personalized lightsaber. Now flash forward to 2008. The Ultimate Lightsaber makes it’s return, this time as the Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Lightsaber.

This time around theres a few new items that those of the original set never got which allows you to recreate the lightsabers of Yoda, Mace Windu, Count Dooku, and even Maris Brood from the video game “The Force Unleashed.” Some elements from the original set are missing, such as the lens disks that went over the bulb and the bulb housing itself. Others, while still there, have changed in design, these are the sleeves, the hilt, and the caps.

The handle is, of course, the heart and soul of the set. In essence it’s an LED flashlight powered by three AA batteris. Depending on how many of the “Kyber crystals” put in place a minimum of three out of the nine bulbs will always come on. Each set of three is linked to a certian crystal slot so as to activate the bulb of that color when you turn the lightsaber on. Also, the placement of the crystals helps to determine the sound effects.

Beyond the handle lightsaber construction is fairly simple once you get used to it. Simply place the telescopic blade over the LED end of the handle and then screw on one of the three sleeve rings to hold it in place. Select one of the three Kyber crystals, insert it into it’s housing (there are three slots in the crystal housing, each fitting a particular crystal only and the none can be put into the wrong slot), and you’re all set. In fact that’s all you need do as the handle itself is nicely decorated already but is unable to hold the blade in place by itself. But this only renders nine designs (remember there’s three different rings and you could choose to use just one of the three crystals at a time with each ring, so three times three), and the most basic designs at that. If you want to go beyond these nine you can add a second cyrstal to the crystal housing (or if you’re like me you can choose all three at once for a white/silver blade color). This adds another nine possible lightsabers as you can have and additional three different colors per ring.

Yet you can keep going further. Add one of the four endcaps to the mix. Slide on at least one of the four different hilt sleevs. Add the Tonfa handle. Add the blade-emitter guard to one of the sleeve rings. Sudenly the possibilities seem endless (well, Hasbro figues only a thousand possibile combinations, but that’s still a lot of possibilities to go through

The most noticeable difference between this and the original set is the lack of the second telescopic blade. The original set gave you the option of making a double-bladed lightsaber, much like Darth Maul’s weapon or one of the types wielded by the player character in “Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy” (or as those into the EU know, the design created by the fallen Jedi turned Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun). While it’s loss may be something to be mourned by owners of the original set, the inclussion of the tonfa handle, which produces a police riot club type lightsaber, and the LED handle seem to make up for it’s loss in my mind.

While the set is quite enjoyable, it falls a little shy of five stars for an over all score. The missing elements of the first set are excuseable as having them with all the new elements would have greatly increased the price. Plus why should those who own the original set buy the stuff they already have just to get new elements? But some of the elements of this new set have lowered the overall score.

Firstly, the tonfa handle. As I already said, it’s addition is one of the things that makes up for the loss of the second blade from the original set. But when wielding the lightsaber by this handle I’m a little worried it will break. While it may be just fine, I find myself wishing it were a solid piece. Though that would add to the weight, it would also increase the durability.

Secondly, I’m far too reminded of my first lightsaber, a C cell flashlight painted to look like a lightsaber with a white telescopic blade that screwed in place The bottom most part of the blade naturally never retracted so when collapsed it was little more that a flashlight baton, the kind you see police and others who control traffic at outdoor events such as fairs use to direct traffic. I purchased this lightsaber back in ’97 and have since purchased a Hasbro Qui-Gon lightsaber, a Darth Vader costume lightsaber, and a spring activated lightsaber. All of these the telescopic blade fully collapses into the handle, leaving you with something that looks more like what a lightsaber should look. And further there is less worrying about potentially damaging the blade when it’s collapsed. Yet this blade does not collapse into the handle.

Also, with the new spring action style the now classic flick of the wrist extending blade is a bit archaic. It would have been nice to see this new set incorporate the spring action for activating the blade as well as having the blade fully collapse into the handle. It’s understandable why they didn’t do so, but it’s still disappointing.

One of the disappointment’s I’ve got, and it may just be mine, is the duration the blade stays active for. After so many minutes it automatically shuts off. Why? Is it just to save power. I’m a collector of Star Wars items, and I admit to occasionally playing with the toys, particularly lightsabers. But if I were a kid learning to be a Jedi this would prove a huge turn off for me.

Finally, the blade-emitter guard. It’s required to make Dooku’s blade, But I have so far found it too difficult to remove without fear of breaking it. If I can ever get it off undamaged I am unsure I’ll want to put it back on.

However, despite it’s minuses, the biggest plus is that you can make your own personalized lightsaber. This is the greatest thing about both sets. Prior to the first set you had your choice, generic lightsaber or character specific. There was never a lightsaber to suit you personally. Folks who follow Star Wars know that each Jedi is expected to build his or her own lightsaber and it says something about who they are. But again, until the first set was released you had to settle on a generic design or that of a specific character. Yet no more with the sets. Now you can make a lightsaber to fit your personality.

Review by El for Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber
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Having read the four earlier excellent reviews, I have two additional comments to add.

#1 – I would like Hasbro to sell a connector piece to allow two lightsaber hilts to be connected together to make a double-bladed lightsaber like the one wielded by Darth Maul. The first lightsaber kit had the ability to make a double-bladed lightsaber, but it was with one hilt, thus making it a rather small area to hold onto. This concept seems like it would be a no-brainer to the people at Hasbro as it would encourage people to buy two kits, rather than just the one.

#2 – I would appreciate if Hasbro would take the time to align the threads of the screw on pieces better so that they sit at better and straighter angles and are not lop-sided and misaligned. When you try to attach a front piece like Count Dooku’s sleeve ring with Count Dooku’s end cap, they are badly misaligned to each other.

Also, in regard to D Strick’s comment, “Like I said, you’d have to be counting all the sounds, lights, putting things on backwards and upside down and all kinds of crazy stuff to get up to 1000 combo’s.” Well, naturally they are counting each and every nuance of all the variations. It is all in the wording. It doesn’t say “Over 1,000 completely different and wholly unique variations of lightsabers possible.” They aren’t going to lie, just maybe use their verbiage to their benefit.

I want to say that I greatly appreciate the quality reviews so far written. It is nice to see that people other than trolls can still write reviews.

Review by Stephanie E. Evans for Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber
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First off, I’ve read Richard’s user review and must compliment him on the detail in reviewing this toy. I purchased it for my son for his preschool graduation gift. Tonight, while “testing” it out, I too noticed some things that made me a little less than satisfied.

First, the instructions. I’ve never understood why a company’s instructions for any product wouldn’t actually match the product itself. They outline crystal combinations to make certain colors, but their instructions for making orange, using the red and green crystals, results in…green light, not orange. So it’s impossible to make an orange light, it seems. Rhe other colors seem right on, and in fact a little obvious..red and blue for purple, green and blue for aqua, for instance.

The instructions for making the “famous” lightsabers is also a little messed up, and doesn’t even match the photos on the back of the box. When making Dooku’s lightsaber, they left out a piece in the instructions, but it’s obvious to see which was omitted by reviewing the photo. (on a side note…Richard, to remove the blade emitter guard from the sleeve ring from the “Dooku” model, you can use a screw driver to push one of the “pins” from the inside of the sleeve ring…no fear of breaking it.)

Even something as simple as light saber color was messed up. The back of the box shows Maris Brood’s lightsaber to be red, but the instructions state to use a green crystal…editing needs done before the instructions are printed. Also, this model uses 2 hilt sleeves…the instructions have the smaller sleeve in the wrong place, and it doesn’t work at all, if instructions are followed. Additionally, if you follow the instructions, AND the photo of Maris Broods lightsaber, using the correct positioning of the Tonfa handle, you make the lightsaber completely unusable. The tonfa handle doesn’t have a hole in it for the power button, so attaching it correctly forces the power button to be covered up…therefore, if you want to use the tonfa handle, then you will be unable to power on the lightsaber. I plan on modifying the tonfa handle myself, and drilling a hole into it where the factory hole SHOULD have been…The reason Richard feels like he’s going to break the handle is becuase he’s putting it on backwards, I assume, as this is the only way to get it to power on. When attached this way, it is certainly flimsy.

Anyway, regardless of the complete lack of correct instructions, the toy itself does lend to many hours of fun, changing, creating, etc…my son has 3 of the spring loaded lightsabers, and I agree, it would have been nice to see it incorporated into this one, but as Richard said, that may have been too much to ask, and it’s obvious why it wasn’t done.

On a side note, I was at Disney world last week, and they now have a “build your own lightsaber” portion in the gift shop at the end of the Star Tours ride (which desperately needs updated) in Hollywood Disney…they charge an arm and a leg for similar pieces that were available in the original “Ultimate Lightsaber” set, but you can only make one variety, then you are stuck…This was a MUCH better deal, and I’m glad we didn’t buy one there for my son.

P.S. I didn’t buy this through Amazon, but wanted to follow up to Richard’s post, after reading it.

Review by M. Alliston for Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber
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Got this for my son’s 5th birthday and he LOVES it. But I do have to agree with another reviewer that the compartment door to store the crystals in got the white indentions in the plastic indicating it was going to break with in 2 days of use. Also, the compartment to insert the crystals into the saber comes off easily, and the instructions don’t indicate which side to open it from. Disappointed at the quality of the compartment doors, but my son will play with it regardless of whether it’s missing or not. However, it would be better if this were more durable for repeated use by kids.