Customer Reviews

Star Wars E3 BASIC LIGHTSABER PURPLE

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We are very happy with the non-battery operated line of Hasbro lightsabres and we own four different models, this is one of them. We had first purchased the battery operated light sabers and were not happy with them. If you are interested in my review of those different, more expensive toys, see those items to find my review.

This purple bladed lightsabre is used by Mace Windu, a Jedi Master (on the "good side"). The Dark Side characters do not use the purple bladed lightsabre.

These less expensive and more durable light sabers are my children's favorites and preferred by my husband and I for these reasons:

a. They are more lightweight than the electronic models and therefore are easier to carry and easier to grip/hold with one hand.
b. The blades fully retract into the handle (just like they do in the movies---the electronic models don't do this) and they LOCK in the closed position so they don't fall open while carrying or wearing them.
c. The lock is easy to operate; you hold it down and flick the blade to extend the "laser blade".
d. When flicking it open, it takes just one quick flick to extend the blade completely open, and even children aged 4 can do this with one flick after a few practices.
e. It closes very easily. My children prefer to push it (gently) into the ground or into the floor to close it.
f. The built in clip works well to clip the closed unit onto the waistband of the pants, a pants pocket or a belt. Due to good design of the locking mechanism, the unit stays closed/retracted while worn in this manner.
g. The lack of electronic components and light bulbs allows for rougher play and not worrying about breakage while using it in lightsabre to lightsabre clashing together play.'
h. You won't have to replace light bulbs that can break in rough play (as the other models have).
i. There are no sensitive electronic components to break if it accidentally gets wet or left outside and is rained on.
j. At this low price we can afford to buy a couple of extras for visiting children to play with.
k. All of the blade lengths are of equal length allowing for safer play (unlike the electronic models).

Love this toy, but rated educational value as 1 as truly there is not much educational about this toy. I have no problem with this being non-educational, though, as my children have other venues to expand their education! Imaginative play is very important for children as is "unstructured free play time" and this falls into that category.

THE GOOD
Compared to my very old 1980's era saber, these lightsabers are so durable they are perfect for the active kid - just keep them away from your breakables.

No electronics, lights or fancy features; these sabers seem to be aimed at the lightsaber duelists and enthusiasts, not as collectors items but as real play-duelling sabers.

My 2 kids (8 and 3) thwack each other all day, lending the sabers to friends for impromptu duels.

The secret to their durability is a combination of the plastic (it keeps it's shape better now) and the design. I figure each section of telescoping plastic is about 2mm thick and about 8 inches long. As for design, the secret is the overlap. Each section overlaps the other with about 3 inches of plastic, making for very gently-sloped and strong conical sections.

How durable? Without any scientific testing, I have to put it this way: my 3-year old girl is about 25 lbs and she's not even half as strong her 100 pound 8-year old brother, but she's a fighter. To block one of his two-handed downward axe-chops, she grabs the handle in one hand and the blade with the other (about 6 inches from the end) and holds it over her head like she's pressing a barbell. He used to hit her timidly, now he let's her have it. The result? The saber doesn't even deflect by half an inch and it's still straight when you inspect it.

Drops from waist high all the way up to bunk-bed high onto concrete floors have resulted in no cracked plastic.

That's kid-proof!


THE BAD

The locking button locks the "blades" into the handle. Push the button down to unlock the blades, allowing you to swing the handle to extent them. The problem is the force required to push the button is pretty high. My kids need to really work at pushing it, and my wife has to use both thumbs for leverage. Since both are "stiff" to press, I figure this is by design, but I think they set it a little too tough.

As far as the grip, I know it's big for the blade. That's not so bad. What's bad is that below the hand grip, there's a crenelated portion with square protrusions running around the end. In use, kids will inadvertently hit each other and themselves with the grip. These crenels make for excellent bludgeoning points, and bruises are sure to result. I'd want a crenelated grip on a real weapon, not a play-weapon. These would only be a good idea for my kids toys if the alternative were sharp spikes or maybe saw-teeth.

Without the crenelated grip and with a slightly better lock button, this should be a 5 star.

THE UGLY
Things that could be improved include:

The length
It's a little short for a tween, teen or adult. It's great bcs. I had to get my daughter this one instead of the Yoda saber. I thought it'd be too long for her but it wasn't. My son is about to outgrow the length though (about 30+" blade)

The balance
All that thick overlapping plastic makes the toy front heavy when deployed. A 2 ounce counterweight in the grip would be great and not unwieldy even for small hands.

The belt clip
It's a little long. I suppose it's the right size for a sash-type belt, but for most others the belt clip is a bit long.


THE RATING
As for educational value, my kids have been playing with cardboard / styrofoam / umbrella swords for a long time (mostly without consent). I figure I'd rather have them use something made for play than to play with something made for other uses. Plus, I get to teach them about parry's, ripostes, lunges, beats and all sorts of fun stuff.


THE CONCLUSION
Undeniably the sturdiest, most usable lightsaber out there.

I bought this lightsaber so i could play with it. i battled my hardest against my brother who had a cool darth maul electronic ligtsaber and i accidentally broke it when we were battling. this purple lightsaber is much stronger than those more expanseve electronic lightsabers. so i bought another one and we battled our hardest, they didn't break or crack anywhere.

me and my friends love playing wit this lightsaber.I found i could hit this lightsaber with a stick and it wouldent break.unlike the expensive electronic one this one is much cheaper and durable.

Lightweight, full retractibility, and affordability initially come to mind when reviewing this lightsaber. It's a must have for all Mace fans..however, the hilt to the saber isn't exactly accurate, but that doesn't take away at all from its overall play value. These are truly entertaining, and I do prefer them over the over-hyped electronic variety of sabers. Those are more expensive, and don't even retract all the way! And for Mace fans, the hilt for the ROTS electronic lightsaber isn't accurate either, so you might as well save some money and purchase this one. Very fun: Highly reccommended.

My frist lightsaber was this lightsaber. A freind gave it to me because he had to many (YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY!). This one has never broke no matter how hard i hit something. And compaired to the flashy sound/light-up one's this one has a clip, it goes all the way in and locks, and it's light weight not like the electronic ones who take 2 to 3 batteries. i hope this helps you and bring your lightsaber(s) with you so you can duel other peolpe outside your territory!

me and my friends love playing wit this lightsaber.I found i could hit this lightsaber with a stick and it wouldent break.unlike the expensive electronic one this one is much cheaper and durable.

Purple is hard to find...none in stores. Thanks to Amazon for making my grandson very happy. He just had to pack it for his Disney vacation.

This is a very cool toy. It is better than the electronic light sabers because it comes into itself all the way. This makes it smaller and easier to transport. Also, it doesn't weigh as much as the electronic ones and you can fight more swiftly. When it is fully extended, it locks so it remains in place while you fight. It has a little trouble coming into itself, but this is not too difficult to overcome. I have a ton of fun when I play with this toy.

My 8 year old brother got one and he loves it.It is strong and durable.He also likes how it is a purpel blade but a obi one handel.He dules his hardest and it wont break.Now that he dules harder he is accutally a challenge.