As the release date for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga inevitably grows closer, the hype surrounding the game and all of its content grows as well. To distract ourselves from the prolonged waiting, let’s see how in-game characters have changed over time. With May the 4th right around the corner, it was only fitting for R2-D2 to get his video game breakdown!
R2-D2
- Weapon: Electro-shock prod
- Accessory: Periscope
- Abilities: Astromech Access, Jet Boosters, Pass through gases
- Playable: Yes
The first version of R2-D2 was featured in LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game. Unsurprisingly he was based off of the sw0028 minifigure version which was found in fourteen different sets and various other items prior to being replaced. The virtual design of the character would remain the same in both The Original Trilogy as well as The Complete Saga.
It wouldn’t be until LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars that another version would appear. Consistent with what we saw in physical form, R2-D2 was updated within the game. This version was based on sw0255 which only appeared in 8037 Anakin’s Y-wing Starfighter. In both cases, these were one-off designs and would not be seen again.
By the time LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens came around, we had seen a significant change in the overall appearance of R2-D2. While the printing of this version is similar to sw0527, fans couldn’t help but notice that the dome was chrome! Since 2007 when the Chrome Gold C-3PO was released, a subset of minifigure collectors have hoped for a chrome R2-D2 – although admittedly many characters have been suggested. This game design is most likely the closest we will ever come, but all hope isn’t lost because even though LEGO hasn’t used chrome silver since 2018, chrome gold elements have still been found in sets this year!
Now that we’ve recounted the video game variants it’s time to discuss the features that R2-D2 has within the game that we don’t see in physical form. One of these is the electro-shock prod which is the only way he can “attack” in the game. This tool comes out from a panel on the front of the minifigure. While the design of the R2-D2 figure would preclude anything such as the prod, a more realistic possibility is the third leg that he is shown with. Although there have been various ways of modding Artoo to get this look in physical form, no official version has done so. Interestingly the reflection in the game shows that the leg tucks into the body which would not be possible with the current astromech element. The third feature that he has is a retractable periscope. Just as with the electro-shock prod, a minifigure would be unable to accommodate this accessory.
Which of the expected 300 playable characters in the LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga are you most excited for?
Founder and owner of The Holo-Brick Archives, Kevin Downard maintains and curates the Database Catalog as a collecting resource for all fans and covers new product releases.
Getting in at the ground floor when the LEGO Star Wars theme first launched, Kevin has been collecting ever since. He is a self-proclaimed minifigure guru and has a passion for tracking down and cataloging every minifig variation – no matter how obscure. He has assisted Rebrickable and Bricklink in maintaining their set inventories, helped overhaul the rebelscum.com LEGO forum, and created the LSW Collector mobile app.
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