First Impression
The packaging for R2D2 is pretty cool. It has the logo for the rebellion on the lid and it’s a cylinder of clear plastic which encases R2 and let’s you see him from all sides. Obviously, this R2D2 is much shorter than the version we have seen in the movies. R2 stands about 18” tall. The amount of detail that R2D2 has is impressive. The manufacturers and designers did a good job of including plenty of detail for a reasonable price.
Features
The first thing that I noticed about R2D2 was the lack of any kind of remote control. This is different from the other toy robots that we have reviewed but it is a welcome change. The voice recognition technology used to give R2D2 commands is much more fun to use than the remotes. Put simply, using a remote control is too much work. Giving verbal commands to R2D2 is fun and increases the level of interactivity considerably. There have been rumors of a Robosapien V3 which will respond to a wide range of verbal commands. Playing with R2D2 via verbal commands is so much fun that it has left me wanting more. I can’t wait for future robots who will have a more extensive vocabulary. R2D2’s voice recognition is definitely a key technology and I hope to see a lot more of this kind of interactivity. Just saying the words “hey R2” and having his head turn to look at me was continually entertaining. R2D2 is quite good at determining where the commands are coming from and at turning his head to look at the user.
Since R2D2 is based on it’s Star Wars model, it uses the same 3 legged “trash can” style design that exactly matches the R2 we see in the movies. This makes R2 authentic, and it also gives him the advantage in moving on different surfaces. R2D2 is propelled forward and backward by wheels in his back 2 legs and this gives him an advantage over other robots who walk on their legs. R2D2 also turns well. The wheel design allows R2 to move on many different surfaces, although he is best used on a hard surface. R2D2 is only about 10lbs which seems to be a good weight.
The range of activities that R2D2 can perform isn’t huge but it’s a good value for the cost of the robot which is around $120 at the time of this review. It is fun to watch R2 dance and to put him on patrol. His ability to consistently navigate around objects was impressive. His navigation software is good enough that he is able to roam around my mid to small sized house without too much trouble.
R2D2 has a small light built into his head. When you ask him to play the message from Princess Leia he will turn on the light and play her voice message to Luke Skywalker from the first movie (i.e. “help me OB1…” ). It isn’t much more than an average flashlight but its function is integrated well into R2’s personality and it adds value to the experience.
If you like games, R2D2 has some simple games that he can play with you. He does a good job of “seeing” you and this helps him play games with you. If you wave you hand in front of R2 he will back up and then move forward again. His ability to see your movements is done well.
Since R2D2 does not have any hands, he does not perform any tasks that would be of much real use to anyone. He does have a “drink holder” which is a little attachment similar to the one that R2D2 used to serve drinks in the Star Wars movies, but this is not a terribly impressive feature. His function is to play.
Personality
R2D2’s personality is communicated through a variety of computerized hoots and whistles which match the noises that he made in the movies. This is another good example of how the designers were able to use the range of noises from the movie to make this toy more effective. R2D2 has a spunky personality. Sometimes he would listen to my commands, and sometimes he seemed more interested in doing what he wanted to do. I could not tell if this was because R2D2 was not hearing my commands or if was because he was being independent, but either way, it was fun. When he didn’t understand my commands, he would shake his head no. His range of noises is unpredictable and yet appropriate to his current situation, which helps to give him personality.
Giving R2 a command that he understands, results in a consistent sound which could be translated as “yes sir”. This feedback helps you immediately determine if R2D2 is understanding your commands and will obey them, or if you need to start over. It also gives you the impression that R2D2 is listening to you and wants to please you.
Value
Judging the value of R2D2 is not difficult. At around $120, R2D2 is a great value considering that there are so few toy robots on the market and no other robot quite like R2D2. The experience that you get while playing with R2D2 is well worth the price and seems to have lasting value.
Target Audience
Older kids and adult Star Wars fans are probably the main target audience for this robot. I showed R2D2 to my wife and she wasn’t very impressed, but my wife is not much interested in these things. I also showed it to my 13 year niece and she was fairly interested for a time. My impression is that R2D2 isn’t yet the breakthrough robotic toy that will forever change the general public’s opinions about robots and convert the non-believers. It is close, but it is not quite to this level. I have no problem recommending R2D2 to children between the ages of 7 and 13 and to Star Wars fans of all ages. Other adults may want to try this product before they buy it. If you haven’t experienced the Star Wars movies yet, you may want to see these before you buy R2D2 so that you get the full effect.
Bottom Line
If this is what I can get buy spending $120 on a Toy Robotic R2D2 replica then I would be happy to spend $300 or even $500 to get more! Not everyone will share this perspective, but my point here is that R2D2 is so good that he leaves me wanting more. In general, many of the best Star Wars products including many of the movies, games and books are similar in this respect. But the problem is that currently there is nothing else to upgrade to. R2D2 is a lot of fun to play with. He’s good for children who are old enough to appreciate him. He is a great value for the money. I would highly recommend this toy robot to Star Wars fans and to anyone that is interested in experiencing the future of robotic toys.
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