Star Wars has been a major part of holiday celebrations since 1977, but back then toymakers couldn’t get products into stores in time for Christmas. Instead, kids received an empty box (seriously!) containing a mail-away “Early Bird” certificate that promised the delivery of toys … eventually.
By the time Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters in 1980, the toys were a huge deal and there was nothing bigger than the Imperial Walkers that Luke Skywalker and other members of the Rebel Alliance’s Rogue Squadron faced off against during the Battle of Hoth.
The Imperial All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) was a must-have holiday gift, and this year, it is once more. It’s just a tad smaller.
Jazwares’ Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron is packing BIG fun into a more manageable space with its line of fully in-scale figures, ships, and other vehicles inspired by a galaxy far, far away. “In-scale” means that these vehicles have the same proportions that they have on-screen — a trick that isn’t always easy to pull off in the toy department.
For the AT-AT, Jazwares created a 10-inch version of the mighty vehicle, packed with features including laser cannons, a front viewport, and a command center that all light up. It has sound effects and dialogue from the movie and comes with five one-inch micro action figures and a Hoth Speeder Bike.
Everything that kids need to help General Veers and the AT-AT Pilot lead the assault on Echo Base is here and there’s room for expansion!
The AT-AT’s side door opens to reveal a detailed environment with space for additional figures and speeder bikes that kids may already have in their collections, and a troop deployment crane that has a retractable rope for additional action.
Luke’s Snowspeeder and the Imperial AT-ST (aka “Chicken Walker”) are sold separately, so to mount the full battle you’ll need to build out the fleet. After all, that pesky Skywalker and his band of Rebels need to be able to fire their tow cables at the AT-AT’s legs to take them down!
And, to continue the battle beyond the snowy landscape of Hoth (or the backyard), Jazwares has something else that’s quite cool: an Endor version of AT-AT.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the AT-AT Walker (Endor Edition) features an exclusive, dirtied-up colorway inspired by the Forest Moon of Endor, right down to the mud and grass on its feet. If you want that version, Amazon is your only hope.
May the Force be with you, always!
STAR WARS MICRO GALAXY SQUADRON AT-AT WALKER
This 10-inch vehicle features an opening side panel with four play areas, light-up laser cannons, a light-up command center, a crane with a retractable rope, and more. It comes with five 1-inch micro figures of Star Wars characters.
