FX-Sabers.com
Licensed Products: eFX Collectibles, Master Replicas, Hasbro and more => MR Force FX Reviews => Topic started by: The Abbot on July 15, 2005, 09:48:11 PM
-
Ok I just got my Vader ESB..I'm loving it.
Now I have used all the force fx except the anakin aotc(it would be last anyways)
I have to say they the Anakin ROTS is the BEST fx saber..
It is the brightest, (a little more then Luke ESB) the LOUDEST,this saber screams compaired to all the other ones even the Vader ESB.
The motion detection for the clash sounds seem to be the most sensitive of all the 2nd and 3rd gen fx.
The blade also seems fatter then the other fx sabers when lit,due to how bright it is.
2nd best saber would have to be the Vader ESB,it has its own sound and its nice,but next to a Anakin ROTS it gets out shined in brightness....But it feels,sounds,and looks great!!
Another great feature is the power on and off switch,it never gets accidentally turned off mid twirl like with my other fx.
Its no doubt my 2nd fav force fx...
3rd Would have to be the Luke ESB its just as bright as the Anakin ROTS just a little different..but in comparisen to the Anakins sounds it can`t compair,landing it in the #3 spot,beating the Windu by a hair..
Forth place would have to be the Windu AOTC,just for its hilt alone it could have easily tagged 3rd..but the blade could be more purple.It has a nice sound to it,its just not loud enough for me..and its heavy as xxx.You get the Windu more to admire its beauty hung on your wall,then to duel with.
Though I said the blade is not as purple as I had hoped(its almost silvery purple),it is still a VERY beautiful color...I REALLY like that saber,but not as much as 1-3
All 4 models mentioned are quality lightsabers and I recommend getting um all regardless of witch is best,they are ALL worth having.
They are have different personality's or lightsaberality's if you will, and they are are great!
I can`t wait for Luke Rots and Obi.
*note* This is not a review it is a opinion I have formed after trying all the fx models.
-
I have all four of those, and I'd have to agree with your order and assessments. The only reason that I could see some question of gen II over gen III is the weight and metal feel of the hilts. But when it comes to the look of the blade and the sound, no contest. Just I'd thought weigh in.
(maybe I'll make a proper review one of these days...)
-
Yes I to concur...
The 3rd Gen sabers are the ones to get.
Both the Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB are more robust
in blade mounting and sound quality.
However My third would be the mace simply for It's
difference in looks and the blade seems relatively well
attached. Yet due to it's lack of attachments is more
comfortable to hold.
The Luke ESB and Vader ANH are behind the Mace in my
opinion because they are the predecessor to the new 3rd Gen
so If you get one of these it's more for the collectability
factor than actually using is.
The First Gen? only if you really want them for collecting...
Or modification?
always
MERIDIAN
-
I'm split between my two ... Vader ESB and Anakin ROTS... The Anakin sounds are way better, but the Vader just feels better...I really cant pick...
-
^indeed,the Vader is very nice,if the hum where louder and the blade looked at fat as the Anakin Rots when lit it would be #1
-
Do I just have a particularly bright Luke ESB, or were all three of my Anakin ROTS dim, because the Luke out-shone them all. Here's my list of favourites:
1) Luke ESB - brightest blade of the lot, nicer looking hilt than the Anakin ROTS. The sounds are quieter than the Ani, and the poweroff sound doesn't match the blade retraction very well. On/off switch in a good location.
2) Vader ESB - I just love the deep, gutteral idle-hum, as though it really is oozing the Dark side of the Force. Slightly off on the motion detectors, and only one clash sound.
3) Anakin ROTS - Very loud, crisp sounds, but I think TOO loud. The dark spot on the blade is a shame.
4) Vader ANH - Not much different to the ESB Vader, apart from the largeer hilt. On/off switch in a good spot and very difficult to accidentally switch off when spinning, which is a good thing. idle-hum stops when you hit the power-off, which is a shame.
5) Luke ROTJ - My favourite hilt, despite people complaining that the next is too fat. They just want it exactly like the film prop...that sort of thing doesn't bother me. Sounds are a bit dull, EL blade isn't great, motion detectors not up to much. The LED version will almost definitely be the best.
Receiving a Mace Windu in a few days. The only other I've not seen is an Anakin AOTC.
-
I agree with your order illbeats
-
No doubt Mr.Griffin.
Adrena1in yeah I love the deep, gutteral idle-humthe of the Vader...so these are what sinthetic sith crystals sounds like ah? Coo!!l ;D
-
The Luke TESB is the shizzle
-
Cool reading illbeats - I believe I've spoken to you over AIM about the Windu lightsaber. Mine should be arriving in a few days and it will be my first FX saber, and although I heard several negative things about it - heavy weight and blotchy blade being the most prominent - I still think it is the nicest looking hilt by far and I think the blade is still pretty sweet. As I said in my other post, I will hopefully be getting the Anakin Episode III and Vader ESB not long after, so hopefully I'll be able to do a proper comparison like yours then.
I got a sneaky feeling, however, that Mace will remain on top purely because it will be my first, and because the unique blade and hilt.
-
Kai;
Just be sure and use New batteries when you fist power it up.
then as they drain you will be able to monitor the look of the
blade and how long a set and type of battery lasts.
Use Duracell Digital Ultras or Energizer E2 type for best performance.
"see don't skimp on batteries" for more on this topic
-
As most of you know I wont be getting my saber until early August. But this thread has ensured that I made the right choice in choosing the ROTS Anakin Force FX. I will most definitely write a review when I get it. ;D
-
Illbeats - where would you place the ANH Vader lightsaber on your list and why?
cheers
-
I don`t really like the anh,I would place 2nd to last place,and last place would go to the anakin aotc.
-
Yes I have to agree there!
The VADER ANH is not a very sturdy constructed blade mount.
This has something to do with the inner emitter shroud being
a seperate chromed piece that makes the blade feel wobbly
even right out of the box.
Not to mention the DEEPER RUMBLE of the ESB is far ahead of
the almost wimpy sound of the ANH.
( I returned the ANH walmart sent me due to this very fact )
I too would put it in second to last place
always
MERIDIAN Oh... and thank you illbeats;)
-
thanks for the tips - back goes the ANH and I'll wait out for the ESB. You sold me on the DEEPER RUMBLE.
-
Yea the Vader ANH looks ok but performes kind of crappy
-
I own both generation III sabers and I think that the Vader is superior to the Anakin in just about every way. The only category I would give the Anakin is the clash effects, simply because the Anakin offers more.
-
Hey, I want a Vader ANH! Send it to me if you really don't want it! I will make sure it gets a good home, and is well taken care of.
Seriously! If anyone has one, let me know!
-
Here is my ranking of the 3 Sabers I own...
I am going to break it down though. All critiques based upon fresh Duracell Ultras in the the Hilt. I am writing this based upon feedback from myself, my buddy and some girl who as over my place checking things out.
Blade
* - note that there is a lot of personal preference in determining which is the best. I am going off of WOW factor...regardless of my favorite color, etc in trying to eliminate that subjectivity. Keep in mind that ALL of these are impressive and cool...just trying to help those that cannot find or purchase all of them.
1) Hands down Anakin ROTS looks the most stunning...bright as xxx.
2) Mace Windu AOTC - believe it or not...mine looks fantastic. The lavender is pale and mysterious.
3) Vader ESB - Bright and solid red, but nothing to write home to momma jedi about. the slower power up and down effect is a nice touch though.
Feel
For this one, passed them around and everybody waved the pieces around a bit...smacked 'em against each other a bit...and then provided thoughts.
1) Mace Windu - The MOST BALANCED saber. Spins/Twirls = No Problem. Close to 50/50 weight distribution at the "tang". Very comfortable grip...natural feeling - easy 2-handed use....substantial....heavy....the rubber is of a softer, more quality feel than the 3rd Gen's.
2) Anakin ROTS - 3rd Gen pieces are lighter. Much lighter than Mace. Has more of a toy feel than the Mace AOTC (and I would assume the other 2nd Gen models). Not too bad of a feel here...grip points on the blade are decent. Rubber grip fins on the base has a cheaper feel than does the Mace Windu model...
3) Vader ESB - Gripping is weird on this one. ..not as natural as the other two. The top grip position is a little awkward with the positioning of the power switch and accents. The lower grip is a little too fat due to the rubber fins...which feel rigid/waxy compared to the soft grippy feel of the Mace.
Sound
1) Anakin ROTS - Loud sounds and multiple crashes make this one the best. Also, as with other reports...this one is dead on with the sensitivity and motion detection pieces.. No lag with the sounds...you wave the thing...and it sounds like it should.
2) Vader ESB - Sound "tracking" a little off compared to Anakin. The sensors don't seem as sensitive...after 10 minutes with the Vader ESB it is easy to compensate for....the single crash sound is a bit of a bummer, but...it does add to the creepiness...that is why it is number two.
3) Mace Windu - Good tracking of sound (not as good as Anakin's) but the sample sounds seem muddled. If MR could somehow tweak the high end EQ, it would seem louder. The idle hum of the MACE is the best...a growl of a sound....but just too darn overshadowed volume-wise.
There you have it, in my humble opinion. Any Questions? Want to know more? Lemme know....
-RotaryFiend
-
excellent review of the overall's... :)
anyone else notice how the Anakin is almost ALWAYS ranked first? ;)
-
I havent written my official review yet...
but ...
I just recieved my Luke ESB yesterday, and now I have in my poscession:
Vader ANH
Luke ESB
Mace
Vader ESB
Anakin ROTS
Out of these sabers the 6 battery sabers are definately brighter than the 3 battery sabers..
I will take pics..
The Luke ESB is insanely bright.. Definately brighter than the Anakin.
And the Vader ANH is marginally brighter than the Vader ESB. (The Vader ESB is a little more orange while the Vader ANH is a little more red/pinkish.)
To be fair, the Anakin's batteries were not quite as fresh as the Luke ESB... But the batteries in the Anakin were only a few weeks old..
The batteries in the Vader ANH were much older than the Vader ESB, yet the Vader ANH was still brighter.. (I use Duracell in everything)
I will eventually post a full review up with pics! I'm going to make sure all the batterys are BRAND NEW, to make the comparison equal, ;D (and I will have a Anakin AOTC on loan for the review as well)
I gotta tell you though, coming from someone who has ALL of the LED sabers made thus far..
The Luke ESB is far and away, my favorite of the bunch. The sound is not as good as the Anakin, and the hilt is a little oversized, but the detail on the hilt is insane! There is so much Metal! Its almost up to the level of my Luke ESB LE! And the blade blinds you with a brightness that I have not yet seen in a Force FX! ;D
Im not sure why everyone seems to think the 3 battery sabers are brighter..My 6 battery sabers are definately brighter, and it makes more sense to me, since the LEDS have more juice to draw from on the 6 battery sabers as opposed to the 3 battery sabers..
Dont miss my review coming soon ;D
-
Out of my 1 saber i rate the Anakin RotS the Best
-
I've got Vader ESB and Anakin ROTS and I think Annie wins... reasons are:
1. Blade looks BRIGHTER
2. Sound is perfect in all aspects (wish it was louder)
3. Lighter than vader ESB
I can't find anything wrong with it. The blade is not rattling/squeking/etc. It is perfect.
-
I don't personally use the grips on my vader ESB I use the bare part... great for tricks!
-
I don't personally use the grips on my vader ESB I use the bare part... great for tricks!
Likewise. I do the same with both Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB. It is more comfortable that way...
-
I don't personally use the grips on my vader ESB I use the bare part... great for tricks!
Likewise. I do the same with both Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB. It is more comfortable that way...
alot better... becuse of my thumb and index finger
-
I don't personally use the grips on my vader ESB I use the bare part... great for tricks!
Likewise. I do the same with both Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB. It is more comfortable that way...
alot better... becuse of my thumb and index finger
PLUS with the Anakin ROTS, your hand won't come into contact with the gold plating much if you hold it above the grips.
-
I don't personally use the grips on my vader ESB I use the bare part... great for tricks!
Likewise. I do the same with both Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB. It is more comfortable that way...
alot better... becuse of my thumb and index finger
very true
PLUS with the Anakin ROTS, your hand won't come into contact with the gold plating much if you hold it above the grips.
-
Hi all,
New here but been reading for awhile.
I have the Gen 3 Anakin and Vader as well as the second run Windu(with the box error stating color of blade as red).
I like the Vader for the sound and color of the blade. I think the Vader has a much "fuller" sound than the other sabers and the deep red of my blade really replicates the movie effects well.
I like the Anakin for the brilliant blue blade. It's bright even in daylight and in the dark it's incredible.
But my favorite of all 3 is the Mace Windu. I can't get over how nice the hilt feels to hold and use. As stated earlier, its very evenly balanced and with its lack of doodads jutting out here and there, its very easy to wield and do anything you want with it without poking your hand or thinking about where to place your hand. The rubber sections are also extremely soft and grippy compared to the other sabers. The purple blade is very unique and although its a bit pinkish in daylight, in the dark it is a dead sexy purple very much like the one you see in the movies. The sounds are a little subdued compared to the 3 cell sabers but they are adequate. Motion and clash detection are on par with the gen 3 sabers from my experience and the blade seems well attached.
I would not hesitiate to buy any one of these sabers but if I could only pick one to keep, it would be the Windu.
But...The Luke ROTJ may change all of that. That green blade is calling my name;)
-
...in the dark it is a dead sexy purple...
I like the sound of that! ;D
-
am i the only one who's not satisfied w/ the Mace?? the blade's blotchy as xxx even with E2 batteries used!! :-[
-
The Windu blade does have some blotchiness in bright light and on close inspection but it's not really noticeable in the dark. In daylight it looks a bit pinkish with purple areas but once the lights go off it looks a lot better and a more uniform purple. The hilt on the Windu makes up for any of it's other downfalls IMHO. The feel and look of the hilt is awesome. The gold accents and areas of rubber grip are unique. I think the only hilt I can say is more unique is the Sidious and that looks very organic and definitely evil. Could the Windu blade be better? I would say yes. Is the blade a reason not to buy the Windu saber? I would definitively say no.
-
just the fact that it is the ONLY purple lightsaber is enough to get one. I will add one to the collection soon.
-
I use Duracell ultra batteries and I can safely say that there is zero blotchiness on my Mace Windu blade. ;D
This one is a replacement one for one which was blotchy and had a few broken led contacts which made them flicker a little. This blade is now perfect and is far probably even brighter with smooter colour than the vader ESB (my favourite)
Having seen a few pictures and heard about various different peoples experiences, coupled with my first mace saber, it appears there is a mixed quality of these blades going around. ???
-
Ok, tonight's the night. I'm going to buy an FX lightsaber. The only problem is that thanks to this thread I'm torn between two sabers. Grrr >:(
Only joking ;) but it is a hard choice as I'm torn between Vader's ESB and Anakin's ROTS. I'm going to buy from http://www.play.com/ as suggested by fellow UK posters.
I just wanted to say thank you! I've spent the week with you guys, reading your reviews (which are very helpfull, btw) and sharing your stories and now I think you've converted me to the FX side ;D
If only I can decide which saber I want... ;)
-
Flip a coin heads its Vader tails is Anakin you can go wrong with either to be honest
-
Flip a coin heads its Vader tails is Anakin you can go wrong with either to be honest
Lol :) good idea though!
-
My advice go with the Anakin ROTS to start with, its just a great saber. I think it depends on what you prefer the OT or the PT, if you where a big Vader fan as a kid that changes everything. Sorry i think this is pretty useless to you i went one way then done a 180. Go with darthirishmans idea flip a coin.
-
Ok here goes:
Heads it's Vader, tails it's Anakin. Wait I'll just go get a coin...
-
Ok Anakin wins after best of five ( used a 2p coin - still the best for flippin' ;) )
That's it! I'll place my order and wait. not to long here's hoping :)
-
If you ordered from Play.com and you live in the mainland UK, you should have it within 48 hours. If I'm being honest i think the coin did you a favor, although you will want the Vader after a few days with the Anakin, trust me i know ;D.
-
I hope I get it on Saturday that would rock!
But now I just have to play the waiting game.
Aww, the waiting game sucks, lets play Hungry, Hungry Hippos! ;D
-
Scottish Jedi is right, dark fox, as soon as you get the Anakin you'll love it, but you'll want a Vader too. Then a new Luke ROTJ. Then a Mace to complete the colour-set. Then an old Anakin or Luke to see what the EL blades were like. Then the Luke ESB to see if the blade really is the brightest. Then the Vader ANH. Then the other old EL blade saber to complete the set.
Then the Darth Maul, because that will be out by then. :D
-
Oh please no! Not another addiction, Adrena1in, I don't think my wallet could handle it :'(
Lol - I expect you're right though as I'm already thinking about making some space on a wall for the full set :D
-
I like to think of it as a hobby i really like rather than an addiction. Calling it an addiction would imply that there is something wrong with it ;D.
-
I like to think of it as a hobby i really like rather than an addiction. Calling it an addiction would imply that there is something wrong with it
True. Ok then it's a rather catchy hobby ;)
-
Oh man! My account on play.com still says my FX is being packed. It has said that all day which means it hasn't been shipped yet. How long does it take to pack the darned thing? >:(
It's 23.10 in the UK and the status hasn't changed all day.
I was hoping against hope that I would get it tomorrow but definately not now! Grrrrr.
-
Ah well Monday it is then, just try to enjoy the weekend and think about how great the crappiest day of the week Monday is going to be now.