The first Cal Kestis figure from the EA Games Jedi: Fallen Order video game was released on Triple Force Friday in 2019 packed along with his droid, BD-1. This 2nd version of Cal, released in 2021 as a Deluxe figure, see's the first Jedi: Fallen Order figure in the new Phase 4 Galaxy Collection Packaging with Cal the 2nd figure in the new Galaxy Collection Gaming Greats series. The figure is a Gamestop Exclusive in the US, with availability through the Fan Channel elsewhere.
Cal's Deluxe packaging is the same height and depth as the standard Galaxy Collection series boxes but is wider to accommodate what would usually be a bigger character or a raft of accessories and packed in parts. The figure is still badged under Gaming Greats with the foil sticker on the front window. These now form the Gaming Greats series in the Galaxy Collection with an electric blue hue used as the collection colour. Cal is number #02 with his side artwork connecting directly to the previous release, the Battlefront 2 Rocket Trooper.
The artwork is repeated on the back of the box along with the background text. Rather than written as a character snippet, this text reads more as a premise for the game itself.
"Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order lets players evade the Empire's forces as Cal Kestis, a Padawan fugitive on a quest to complete his training and rebuild the fallen Jedi Order"
Out of the box we find Cal packed into an inner tray that is wrapped in a cardboard grey backing section and the window of the box as a cover over the figure and not attached to the box itself.
This new version of Cal is meant to recreate his Scrappers Guild uniform from Bracca, and is actually a repaint of the original figure in the orange colouring, but with a new soft PVC jacket added to create the poncho. Most of the body is cast in the base colour with limited paint picking out buckles, straps and Cal's gloved left hand.
The poncho carries most of the paint apps with a painted brown shoulder strap and the orange panel painted just beneath the hood. Considering the state of Bracca and Cal's role as a Scrapper the costume is a touch too clean.
Like the body, the head is a direct carry over from the original figure. It uses photo-real print to recreate Cal's likeness. The hairpiece looks to be an individual piece with a telltale gap around the sides. It is well sculpted but left in the base plastic colour.
Considering the customizability in the game with outfits and poncho's, I had expected the poncho to be removable from the body. While it is a loose piece, the way it is glued with the strap under the right arm - there is no easy way of getting it off to reveal the body underneath. What you do get is the option to have the hood up or hood down - or indeed no hood - by swapping out parts over the head.
These hood parts are the same soft PVC as the poncho and are meant to notch into a slot on the back of the poncho. Sadly, the material is too soft and you will find both hoods are prone to free movement. The hood up option is not the worst I've seen, it certainly sits more naturally than the Supreme Leader Kylo Ren hood.
When we have a standard figure in a Deluxe set, then we are expecting a raft of accessories to justify the additional £10 on the price tag. Cal starts with a Jedi Holocron which is the first time this piece of Jedi history has appeared in the Black Series. It is very well executed with a translucent green cube that is then painted with silver trim for the framework.
The issue is in Cal being able to hold it. We have no extra hands in the set, and what we needed is at least one shaped hand to hold the Holocron rather than simply propping it on top of the gripping hands and hoping it stays put.
We then move on to Cal's weapons, and the first of these is the same lightsaber hilt as was included with the first release. It comes with a removable blue translucent blade, and this can be swapped out if you wish to one of the included green blades.
Again, considering the customising options in the game, it would have been awesome to have some other coloured blades included like the orange and the purple.
The aforementioned green blade is for the dual-blade lightsaber that is included. This is a new hilt piece and you get two green blades allowing for a full double blade option. Again, other blade colours would have been great - and at least as a minimum an extra blue blade so you could have had a blue dual blade option.
The saber hilts fit well into either or both hands. The blades are also thicker than some of the recent saber blades and therefore they arrive straight in the box and have less risk of snapping at the connection point.
BD-1 is another included part, again a repainted piece from the original release. He is now in a deep red paint job with some white panels on his head and some yellow wiring on his leg. BD-1 is articulated with a ball joint at the head, at the hips, and a pivot at the knee section.
They have also done something we did ask for after the first release and cut a slot into the poncho so we can slide in BD-1's foot and have him ride on Cal's shoulder. Like the hood, the fit is not perfect - but it does give a neat display option, although you may need a bit of Blutack or something similar to hold him in situ on display.
There is another companion piece in the shape of the Bogling you can pick up in the game from Bogano. Unlike BD-1, this is a single-cast piece with no articulation. It is sculpted in an upright position with the tail used to create a solid standing position. The figure is cast in the orange fur colour with painted feet, collar, and face - and with the big black glossy black eyes.
Cal Kestis has 19 points of articulation, coming with the twin jointed neck with articulation top and bottom, and with the butterfly shoulders. The latter is somewhat restricted by the poncho which is why a removable poncho would have opened up some more posing options.
All the joints are secure and do what they are designed to do and Cal stands perfectly well.
In summing up, this is a figure I would have been happy with as a single release - perhaps without the Bogling or one of the saber options. As a Deluxe figure it feels like it is lacking a little considering it is only the Bogling, Dual Saber, and Holcron that are over and above from the first release.
It would have been good to see Hasbro play more with the custom options, perhaps with other poncho options - soft goods maybe - and definitely expanded our blader options for the sabers. The figure itself looks the part and is only missing a bit of weathering to really finish it off.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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