Review: Force FX Lightsabers (Detachable Blade)

If I could have one wish, it would be to have a fully functional lightsaber of my own design and specifications. Yes, there’s world peace, an end to hunger and homelessness, and the general advancement of humanity…but I REALLY want a lightsaber, y’know? Unfortunately, we do not have the technology now to produce such a wonderful thing. We do, however, have the technology to produce the Force FX Lightsaber with detachable blade, which is more than entertaining enough in the interim.

The Force FX Lightsaber epitomizes the spirit of Marooners’ Rock. Allow me to illustrate with anecdotal evidence:

Last week, my wife and I were re-watching Star Wars. The 2004 special edition, not the original theatrical, unfortunately. That aside, I was sitting on the couch in my Jedi robe, with my Obi-Wan Force FX lightsaber laying across my lap, waiting for one particular scene. Obi-Wan’s confrontation with Darth Vader on the original Death Star. As soon as Obi-Wan’s lightsaber flared to life, so too did my lightsaber. I matched him swing for swing…until my lightsaber caught the tip of the straw in a three day old to-go cup of Sprite that my darling wife left on the table in front of me. Darth Vader’s famous cry, “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!,” sped from my lips, as I extended my arm, somehow hoping that THIS would be the day that my Force powers manifested themselves. Alas, it was not to be. The Sprite was loosed, and flooded the table. The table that was also playing host to our brand new Move controllers, a 360 controller, and a 360 headset. Luckily, I was able to get everything cleaned up and sorted, so no damage was done.

I regret nothing.

Each Force FX Lightsaber is a replica of a well known character’s lightsaber. The units we received to review were, by request, Obi-Wan for myself, and Darth Vader for my unabashedly dark side assistant. From the base of the hilt to the tip of the blade, these are loving recreations. The hilts are scaled larger than 1:1 in order to fit the motion sensors and sound effect generators, but the larger size makes for a better grip, and a more impressive display. The weight of the lightsaber is very well balanced between the blade and the hilt, and feels good in your hand.

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As you can see, each lightsaber is unique in form and function. This does mean that there is no option to use your Obi-Wan hilt with a red blade, or your Vader hilt with a blue blade, but the unique design of each type of lightsaber does mean that you have a sturdy build that should last you a long time. Sturdiness aside, the Force FX Lightsaber is NOT designed to sustain heavy impact, so dueling with them is officially not recommended…

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I regret nothing.

ThinkGeek has an increasing selection of Force FX lightsabers with detachable blades (two new ones have been added since we received Obi-Wan and Darth Vader) that currently includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker (first lightsaber), and Kit Fisto. With Halloween just around the corner, anyone looking to have the Force as their ally during those dark times would do well to arm themselves with an officially licensed Force FX lightsaber. As Obi-Wan Kenobi said:

This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary.

Be above the ordinary.