Review of ED-209 - Robocop 1/6th action figure

Introduction

The original Robocop remains a fan favorite, a brutal movie that pushed the limits of an R rating but still managed to give voice to an excellent sci-fi story at its core.

Hot Toys has had the license for the original film for a number of years now, and one of their early figures that indicated their desire to move from simple sixth scale to intricate licensed products was the Robocop. This was the first real example of the sort of out of the box thinking and engineering that would eventually become a hallmark for the company.

They followed up that release with an ED-209. This was 8 years ago, and looking back on this guest review from Jeff Parker, it's amazing to see how far they've come.

They're revisiting the license this year, and are releasing two new versions of the Robocop (with or without diorama chair) as well as this new ED-209. This big bad will run you around $400, nearly double what the original release did in 2006.

Packaging - ***1/2
The box is pretty basic for a large figure such as this. It opens on top, and inside is a large Styrofoam 'box', with a snap in lid. The pieces (there are 6 including the extra left arm) are all nestled in the tray.

Nothing super exciting overall, but it does keep everything safe.

Sculpting - ****
The sculpt is a thing of beauty - no doubt about it. Comparing this guy to their first release shows how far they've come with using various materials and producing truly realistic figures.

However, there is one area of major concern. The speaker cloth type covering on the 'face' of the figure is made from rubber, just as it was with the original release. Unfortunately, the original has had major issues with this covering over the years, and most have deteriorated and broken down. This one is tacky right out of the box, and regular Hot Toys collectors know that is not a great sign. I have my fingers crossed that they have done their research and used a rubber - and they do exist - that will be less prone to deterioration over time.

I'm particularly impressed by the detail work on the various controls, gears, wires and tubes. They've used a combination of materials to achieve the most realistic look possible.

This guy can vary in size, but with the back legs fully extended he'll top 15". You can get him even a little higher than that, depending on how you tilt the torso.

Paint - ***1/2
Overall, the paint work is extremely impressive. Again, with a combination of color and wear, they've produced a much more life-like ED-209 than their previous attempt.

Small details are clean, cut lines are sharp, and there's just the right amount of wear and damage.  Of course, the blasted left hand has tons of damage, but even that has been given a nice variation in black that helps show off the detail sculpting.

My one nit is with some of the bolt heads, where it appears as though oil is leaking through. It's a cute effect, but they went a bit crazy with it. Far too many of the bolts are showing these leaks, going against the idea that less is more.

Articulation - ****
This guy is far more articulated than I expected, but then they've been doing a wonderful job designing complex joint systems on robotic figures.

The shoulders, neck, and legs have ball joints that are covered with thick rubber sleeves. The arms also extended and turn at the elbows, and some of the various pieces on both arms slide or slip in different directions for the maximum effect.

Other pieces also move to get out of the way, like the shoulder armor. The flat pieces tilt up and down to allow the arms greater mobility.

The legs can only turn at the point where you attach them to the body, and they cal also extend and retract along the main square post. Each of the 'toes' can move as well, and the armor around them is on springs, allowing the feet to get into position.

You can shift or flip several pieces out of the way of the other joints, increasing the range of movement in the main areas. Other pieces, like the wires, tubes and hoses, are made from materials that are soft or bendable, making them less likely to break or get in the way.

Take your time with the joints, and you'll find all kinds of great poses. Working with the hips and neck will get you a long way, but take your time and don't force anything. Remember, certain pieces in certain poses will get in the way of arms and legs, so make sure everything is clear before putting too much pressure on any joint.

Accessories - ***
There's three extras, although whether you count them all as 'accessories' or not is up to you.

The extra damaged left hand is clearly an accessory. Swapping them isn't too hard, but you do want to be very careful. You'll need to grip the body and the arm tightly to remove it, and you don't want to damage the tubes or wires.

There are also three red rockets which slip inside tubes on the right arm. They don't fire, but they look good and snap into place so you won't easily lose them.

Finally, there's a small extendable piece that fits on the right arm as well. Whether this is an accessory, or just a main piece that had to come separately is your choice.

Sound Feature - **1/2
The sound feature is a bit disappointing, particularly considering how good the light up features usually are on any Hot Toys release.

The main figure will take three AAA batteries, not included. Yea, with this kind of price point, you'd think they'd throw in some batteries, but I suspect it has to do with changes in the laws around shipping larger batteries through customs.

The small remote - designed to look like the Robocop logo - does come with the required watch batteries. Press a button (it's a couple of the letters in the name) and the ED will make several noises from the film, including warning you that you have only so many seconds left before he ends your existence.

The remote doesn't work all that great, and you often have to press it two or three times to get him to sound off. Perhaps a new set of watch batteries will help, but it was still an issue right out of the box. The sound is fairly clear and loud though, and the use of a remote is a nice touch. I'd like to see something like this with the lights on their Iron Man figures. I'd be more inclined to use them if they were this easy to turn on.

My biggest problem is with the voice used in the recordings - this is not what I remember from the film. Not even close. I'm not sure why they re-recorded these lines, but it definitely isn't screen accurate.

Fun Factor - ***
This is another one of those cool figures that is a ton of fun for anyone looking to pose and repose their figures over time. Add one of the Robocop figures - you have to, obviously - and you can recreate some great movie scenes.

Value - **
This is a huge figure, no doubt about it. Stretch those legs out and he can tower over your sixth scale figures. But $400? That's a lot of cash, particularly when even complex figures like the Iron Patriot are half metal and running less than $300.

If you're a major fan of the film, you have to have this guy to go with your new Robocop. But for the casual fan, the main protagonist might be enough in your collection.

Things to Watch Out For -
While the figure is much more posable than you'll first assume, still take care with the various joints, especially in the legs. You'll want them to move in ways they can't, so don't force anything.

Overall - ***1/2
When they first announced that they were re-doing the Robocop and ED figures, I thought that I could skip the main character and just pick up this guy. After all, I have the Robocop from 2006, but I never bought one of the original ED-209's. Now that I have this guy in hand, and can appreciate the difference in the level of quality from then and now, I realize that I have to order a new Robocop as well. Damn you Hot Toys and you're always improving.

I will say that the one disappointment here is the sound feature. Perhaps they are trying to ensure they keep up with Enterbay, who have already used sound features as a selling point, but they must understand that they need to stick with screen accurate clips. Going with something this obtuse seems out of character for them, and I'm hoping it won't become a regular situation.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ****
Accessories - ***
Sound Feature - **1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Sideshow has him for $410.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other Robocop reviews include the cool Sideshow Premium Format statue, the original Hot Toys Robocop, and the first ED-209. On a smaller scale, they did a Movie Maniacs version, and there's some action figures for the reboot movie.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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