It’s often said that so-and-so is an iconic Star Wars vehicle, making it – after “most impressive” – one of the most over-used descriptive words applied to a galaxy far, far away.
That said, when it comes to the Imperial Walkers – the big, giant robot camels which lumbered from the Imperial staging area at the Moorsh Moraine – there is no better word to describe them. Except for archetypal, quintessential, classic or epochal, of course.
Having been developed as a successor to the All-Terrain Tactical-Enforcer, used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, the Imperial Army’s updated version, which clearly graduated from the shock-and-awe school of design, provided a command platform with a high vantage point, exceptional firepower, and impenetrable armor. During the Galactic Civil War, they were used to ferry troops and materiel in the Empire’s attempt to subjugate the galaxy and bring an end to the Rebellion.
The first AT-AT to come out of the house of LEGO didn’t come from the Star Wars team, but the Technic department, who – in an attempt to draw a new audience into programmable LEGO robotics – delivered 9754 Dark Side Developer, which included a proto-AT-AT, in September 2000. Its mechanized legs made it more of an Imperial Waddler and the lack of any plating made it look skeletal.
Arriving in May 2003, the first minifigure-scale AT-AT (4483) produced by LEGO took a similar duration from the start of the Star Wars license to reach toy store shelves as the time span that fans had to wait between the first installment of the Skywalker Saga and The Empire Strikes Back. It has posable legs, specially printed joints, a moveable head and – hidden in its interior – a white speeder bike that came straight out of Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections (DK, Sept 1998).
9754 Dark Side Developer 
4483 AT-AT
The next generation of the All-Terrain Armored-Transport came in October 2007 as 10178 Motorised Walking AT-AT, and was a combination of the best parts of the two previous iterations. This time around the cockpit could accommodate two minifigures – a seated AT-AT Driver with General Veers standing behind it. Propelled by the new Power Functions motor system, this exclusive direct to consumer (D2C) set could only be purchased through the LEGO shop@home website and brand stores.
A three-year gap followed before a third AT-AT (8129) was released in July 2010, and – atypically of LEGO – it was more of an retrogression than an improvement. Stripped of its motorization, it was boxy, lacked details and printed elements and was generally disappointing. Keeping to their roughly three to four year cycle of design renewal, LEGO followed this set up with 75054 AT-AT in August 2014, and it was an immediate hit. It, more so than the others, relied heavily on Technic elements and was a challenging build. Clever design implementation meant that final model was both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. To date, this is the only minifigure-scale AT-AT that doesn’t include a Luke Skywalker minifigure.
8129 AT-AT 
75054 AT-AT
And now, after a six-year hiatus – double the length of the normal release cycle – all the pent-up energy of the LEGO Star Wars team has been excised with the release of a new Imperial Walker, timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.
75288 AT-AT
Relive the Battle of Hoth and other classic Star Wars™ trilogy scenes with this AT-AT (75288) LEGO® building kit for kids! Different sections of the All Terrain Armored Transport vehicle open up for easy play, and it has spring-loaded shooters, plus a speeder bike inside. Fans will also love authentic details such as a winch to pull up Luke and his thermal detonator element.
The Empire vs. Rebel Alliance
This action-packed set includes 6 LEGO minifigures – Luke Skywalker, General Veers, 2 AT-AT Drivers and 2 Snowtroopers. They all have weapons, including Luke’s Lightsaber and the Snowtroopers’ tripod gun, to inspire Star Wars role-play missions. A wonderful gift idea for any LEGO Star Wars collector, it’s great for solo or group play.Love for LEGO Star Wars sets!
The LEGO Group has been recreating iconic starships, vehicles, locations and characters from the Star Wars universe for more than two decades and LEGO Star Wars has become a hugely successful theme. What’s not to love?
- Fans of the classic Star Wars™ trilogy and the LEGO® Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga video game will love recreating Battle of Hoth action with this detailed, posable LEGO brick version of the iconic AT-AT (75288) Walker.
- This fun, creative building toy for kids includes 6 LEGO® Star Wars™ minifigures – Luke Skywalker, General Veers, 2 AT-AT Drivers and 2 Snowtroopers, all with weapons to role-play the Empire vs. Rebel Alliance battles.
- The AT-AT has a cockpit for 3 LEGO® minifigures, foldout panels, spring-loaded shooters, a speeder bike, winch, bottom hatch so Luke can throw in the thermal detonator element, and more for realistic, creative play.
- This 1,267-piece set makes a super birthday present, holiday gift or special treat for boys and girls aged 10+ who can look forward to a rewarding building challenge and hours of fun solo or social play.
- The AT-AT vehicle measures over 13” (34cm) high, 14.5” (38cm) long and 5.5” (15cm) wide. Fans can also drive it in the LEGO® Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga video game.
- No batteries are needed for this Star Wars™ AT-AT Walker building kit – it’s constructed purely with LEGO® bricks and powered by kids’ imaginations for unlimited galactic adventures and creative fun.
- Thinking of buying this awesome construction toy for a Star Wars™ fan new to LEGO® sets? No worries. It comes with step-by-step instructions so they can take on this complex building challenge with confidence.
- LEGO® Star Wars™ building toys are greatfor kids and adult fans to construct, display and recreate classic Star Wars saga scenes or create their own fun missions. There’s something for everyone!
- No need to summon up the Force to connect or pull apart LEGO® bricks! They meet the highest industry standards so you can be assured that the bricks in this construction playset fit together perfectly and with ease.
- LEGO® bricks and pieces are heated, crushed, dropped, twisted and analyzed to ensure that every action-packed Star Wars™ set meets the highest quality and safety standards here on Earth – and in galaxies far, far away!
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| Ages | Pieces | VIP Points | Item | Minifigures | Value |
Sure there are some repetitious sections but 75288 AT-AT is a surprisingly easy build and of all the AT-ATs that LEGO has come out with, this is easily in the top five.
There’s no getting away from the fact that the most noticeable feature of the AT-AT are the four spindly legs. With three points of articulation, you can put it in any pose, and the large feet ensure that it is largely stable. Don’t expect to do any stop motion with this set because it can’t balance in three legs though.
The angling of the different hull sections is spot on and the awkward rake of the back rear of 75054 AT-AT has been designed out. It’s hard to tell that this set is bigger by 1.2 inch/3 cm in height and 0.5 inch/1 cm in length until the hinged side panels are raised. Inside is ample room for five Snowtrooper minfigures, the E-web cannon, and the speeder bike, and there’s no doubt that some talented builder will figure out how to add an upper level to accommodate more troops, as shown in the cross-section of the AT-AT.
The three steering wheel elements behind the cockpit do a great job of recreating the umbilical corridor that allowed the Imperial crew to move between the head and the main troop compartment. Perhaps the best of 75288 AT-AT new features is – for the first time ever – the additional seat in the cockpit, allowing for two AT-AT Drivers to direct the walker and control the weaponry and a General Veers minifigure to command the Imperial assault on Echo Base.
The clever attention to canon – like the sand blue chairs in the troop compartment, the sliver of black that accurately replicates the viewport slit, and the yaw struts that connect the ankle to the foot – is important in ensuring accuracy and sufficient detail to draw in the fan, without putting off the casual builder.
As always, it’s the little things that only a stalwart fanboy would notice that niggle: the exposed Technic pins and rods next to the shoulders are distracting, and the exposed axle and pin connector behind the cockpit hatch rankles. Perhaps if LEGO was to use a bluish-grey – light or dark, it doesn’t matter – instead?
The mechanism that allows the Luke Skywalker minifigure to be elevated while hanging perilously from the grappling gun is nice, but a small handle on the exterior would have improved the play-value of this feature. No doubt, this addition would have detracted from the lines of the hull so its absence is understandable. Perhaps what’s missing most is a vertical axis to give the head some yaw to allow the AT-AT’s chin guns to take out loe level targets. Maybe next time, Jens?
The six minifigures that come with the set are the ones you’d expect to see – Luke Skywalker with lightsaber and thermal detonator, and blaster armed General Veers, AT-AT Driver (x2), and Snowtrooper (x2) minifigures – but what is surprising is that the drivers and troopers each come with different face prints.
At 1267 pieces – which includes six minifigures and two accessories (the speeder bike and the E-web tripod-mounted laser cannon) you get certainly get your money’s worth for a set with a $159.99 price tag.
Add this to your collection and support The Holo Brick Archive at the same time by shopping at Amazon.com, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart and LEGO.com, where it is currently available.
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