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HISS Tank Reviews The Sky Striker XP21F
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07-20-2011, 02:19 PM
Shin Densetsu
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
Here are some shots from different angles, showing the Sky Striker XP21F. After over 2 decades absent from US retail shelves, the Sky Striker finally returned this summer. Now that you've gone through this review, you're probably wondering, is it worth getting?
Honestly, yes, it is. For one thing you are getting a large vehicle for $35+. Look at the $20 VAMP, HISS, Black Dragon VTOL, then compare them to this, and you tell me which one is a better bargain. This vehicle is substantially bigger and heftier than the aforementioned vehicles. Compare this to the small ROC Night Raven which sold for $10 more. The ROC Night Raven was a small vehicle sold at the pricepoint of a large one. The new Sky Striker is a large vehicle sold at a pricepoint that's "just right". You are most definitely getting your moneys worth with the new Sky Striker. If you want this, do not wait for this thing to go on clearance/go to ROSS.
I did not feel ripped off at all buying this for $35+. It is worth it. I think the pricing of this was a good decision on Hasbro's part. Why?
I was one of the folks questioning why was it that Power Team Elite and True Heroes could come out with big planes like the F/A-18 Hornet and F-22 Raptor respectively, for $30 at Big Lots and TRU. Yet substantially smaller vehicles like the ROC Dragonhawk would go for $24 and the ROC Night Raven was $40-44.
I felt like I was getting my moneys worth with the F/A-18 and F-22, and felt like I was overpaying with the Dragonhawk and ROC Night Raven.
Yet with the new Sky Striker, the price is right, and to me, Hasbro has now raised the bar for $30+ large vehicles. While the quality on the PTE F/A-18 and True Heroes F-22 is generally good, and while they are sturdy, the new Sky Striker is even moreso. The new Sky Striker is more robust, and more durable.
While the ROC Night Raven may have lost retailers' faith in large GI Joe vehicles, I think the new Sky Striker will restore it. Now is not the time to wait for it to go on clearance. I could justify waiting for most of the Rise Of Cobra vehicles to go on clearance. Many of them were overpriced, even by Brian Goldner's public admission.
Yet the Sky Striker? No, don't wait. It's worth it at full price.
On a personal note, since the early 2000's, I was a fan eagerly excited for the planned Skystriker reissue at Toys R Us for GI Joe VS Cobra. I refused to buy vintage samples with the hopes that Hasbro would finally reissue the Skystriker. By 2010, after years of rumors, and Hasbro's revelation that not only was the mold destroyed, but that it was better to seek a vintage one, I had pretty much discarded the thought of ever seeing it reissued. This, after countless debates over the years on why it should be reissued/retooled, why I thought it had a chance at succeeding.
It is now Summer 2011. I now have a new Sky Striker in my hands. Was it worth the wait?
YES!
.
Now some folks have asked why start with the a Sky Striker based on the original, why not make it futuristic? I have a feeling a futuristic one is inevitable. Why? Look what Hasbro did to the
GI Joe 25th Anniversary Ghost HAWK
for the
Pursuit Of Cobra
line. Nearly all the modular parts on the 25th Ghost HAWK were swapped with new parts for the POC release. My gut instinct is that this is what will happen with the Sky Striker eventually.
However would a futuristic Sky Striker make a bigger splash at retail than the classic one? I highly doubt it. In fact, had tables been turned, had a futuristic one been released in lieu of the classic, I have a feeling while the classic would've been planned for release eventually, it might've not made it onto shelves much due to the futuristic one not selling as much, and retailers losing confidence. This is not to say that a retooled futuristic one won't sell, I think it will(and hell, I want one!), but timing is important. GI Joe NEEDS a hot selling item right now. Having the classic Sky Striker pave the way for potential futuristic retools and other large vehicles at the same pricepoint is a step which I think is vital. There's something to be said about brand recognition, and the classic Sky Striker has it.
I'm sure Hasbro will love to recoup the money made invested in cutting the new tools for the Sky Striker, so repaints and retooled releases are not out of the question. Maybe the box art with red missles is a hint(was it an accident? Or subliminal message that the
Night Boomer
is on the way?.....). Or maybe a Toys R Us exclusive repaint in white with retooled cockpit with 2 seats and vintage box? Hmm...I wonder..
GI Joe II
is said to be the primary GI Joe product of next year. Enjoy the 30th Anniversary while it lasts. Hasbro had a hell of a way to kick it off with the Sky Striker! Glad to see it finally return!
I give the Sky Striker XP21F an 8 out of 10
Tighten the missles connections, cut out part of the front windscreen sticker, and have Ace seated further forward and it would be close to a 10. Wings that could sweep independent of the landing gear would be cool too!
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