Star Wars duplicate Lego Boxes Old and New - Where did they do it right and wrong?

I brought this up on the forums today and several people agreed and gave opinions about boxes and how they have changed for the newer sets. Lego changes their boxes every couple of years to give things a new look, but honestly this stands out more with Star Wars because they have redone so many sets. As new ones come out, you start comparing the actual sets to each other and you can't do anything but compare the boxes as well.

After going through all the Star Wars sets, I was pretty surprised that there were actually plenty of sets with boxes that were much better than the originals. So I decided to create a blog with what I thought were the 5 best improvements and the 5 worst declines. They are ranked as well because who
doesn't love rankings?

5. Luke's Landspeeder (7110 and 8092)

It's hard to compare because the second set has more minifigures and its naturally a lot better than the older one in terms of detail and looks. But if you just look at the two boxes, the second one is a lot better.

Though it won't win any awards, the Landspeeder looks like it is actually moving much better than the old set. The colors on the new box compliments the sets colors a lot better and I really like the minifigures being shown all together on the front of the box.

The Star Wars theme looks a lot better as well as the Star Wars characters being shown at top right hand side of the box.

4. Death Star (10143 and 10188)

I do like the old Death Star 2 box and the set is amazing, but it seems a little bland because the set and backdrop just don't match for me. If the Death Star were completely whole I think it would look a little better, but something about the openness of it just doesn't fit with the planet in the background. It could be that there is not a border around it at all.

The new set's box has the same feel with the planet in the background, but besides fitting just a little bit better, there is enough going on that you don't notice. I love the left side and bottom that show close ups of all the sets features. The box is great to with Darth Vader at the top looking on and Darth Vader's Tie flying towards it in the foreground. This shows this sets playability and its display qualities off on the front of the box which is hard to find.

3. Gungan Sub (7161 and 9499)

To be honest, it's possible I am not being fair because the first set is a travesty compared to the nice sleek look of the new set. But hey, that's what time does. Looking at the rest of the box though it just looks very cheesy and more like a little kids toy than a underwater ship. The background is a little dull as well with the gray color that blends in with the front of the sub.

The new one again has the lines that show movement and though there isn't much going on behind the sub itself, the colors make the ship stand out a lot more. Again, I really like the minifigures down the side and the Star Wars logo and Lego logo look a lot more natural. The colors on the box just really flow together. This is one of my favorite boxes.

2. Jabba's Palace (4480 and 9516)

Though I really love the old set, the box just feels like I need to squint to figure out what is going on. Jabba, the most important piece and one of the best minifigures of all time, is just chillin' out in the back and you can't really see him. The background colors really just pull the set in like all of it is in the background. It really looks like I am looking at it through a telescope.

The new set looks way better because they gave it a natural looking background. Even though Jabba is not right out in the foreground, he has minifigures right next to him that are showing his size and impressiveness. The rest of the box has the blue and white which really work well with the tan set. I think this one is really done and one of my favorites of the new sets.

1. A-wing Fighter (7184 and 75003)

So, no offense Lego, but this box is just a mess. It may only be me, but in the left there is a minifigure which looks fine and that just transitions into... ship in outer-space? On top of that there is a lot of yellow protruding out the back of the ship which just seems overdone. When I look at this I just feel like it was made in 1970.

Though I am not a huge fan of the new one's green color, the old one is just so bad that next to it makes this set like the UCS Millenium Falcon. The Yoda is pretty awesome up in the top right corner and the ship itself has much better lighting. The planet behind it is very tastefully done as well. The whole box looks more natural. We will give you a pass this time Lego

Now for the sets that took a step backwards:

5. Imperial Star Destroyer (6211 and 10030)

The old Star Destroyer is great. The Lego set is flying out in space but is very well complimented by the background. Really though, the thing that makes this box for me is the giant planet in the background that is eclipsing a star. It gives it this elegant creepiness that just makes the set all the more daunting as you look at it.

The new one looks too much like a toy honestly. The Death Star in the background is a cool idea, but it just doesn't look natural at all – it looks like a toy as well. I also don't like the lasers going back and forth from it. They just don't fit in with the set itself and the elegance of the Star Destroyer.

4. Clone Turbo Tank (7261 and 8098)

This one was always going to be here because the original has a part of the box where you can try one of the minifgures! That is game, set, match. The background is great to as it's rolling through the forest and all of the minifigures are participating in some manner.

On the new box, the tank looks pretty good, but the background is just smokey looking. Its hard to tell whats actually going on in the background and it blends in with the color and line that were added to make it look like the tank is moving (wheels spinning). Plus you can't try anything and that is a crime.

3. Rebel Blockade Runner – Tantive IV (10198 and 10019)

This old set box is part of the three best boxes in the Star Wars theme IMO which are all coming up. This is modeled just like the Star Destroyer with the eclipse in the background and and it just gives a certain majesty to this ship. The lasers on this box are actually tastefully done as well and I think the engines on the back lighting up are amazing.

The new box just has, again, that toy look. The pictures showing what it does on the front are cool , but there is nothing in the background and really nothing to make the ship look like more than a toy. Plus the engines on the back have that weird yellowish light from them like some of the other sets we talked about. They should have looked at the first box to see how to do it right.

2. UCS X-wing (7191 and 10240)

Part of my disdain with the new box for the UCS X-wing is that it looks a lot like the 9493 X-wing. This set just doesn't stand out on the box like a UCS set should. It looks like a bigger box for the same X-wing. The planet at the bottom is alright, but I don't love the lasers and the green doesn't fit well for some reason. It's not an awful box, but it just doesn't compare to the old one.

The old box honestly looks way better than the actual ship. That glow in the background is awesome. The border makes the ship look incredible and I love the blueprints outlined behind it. The giant “X-WING” really makes a big difference too as it is close to the same color. The fully black background really makes the set stand out as well.

1. Tie Interceptor (6206 and 7181)

Alright, these don't compare well because one is UCS and the other is a smaller model, but I had to include this box because the old UCS Tie Interceptor is the best box of all time in my opinion. The newer model just looks like a small toy. Though the planet on the left looks ok, the explosion on the right is just too much flash. The Death Star 2 in the background just looks wrong ; it looks like a toy.

The old box is incredible. The ship itself has great features but that awesome glow just perfectly supplements them. The angle is perfect for a symmetrical ship as you can see all of the detail of it as well. I also love the gold Star Wars theme in the top corner. I know if I ever crossed this in a store, I would have been immediately drawn to it. Again, I think I would have been drawn to the box more than the actual ship.

That sums it up. What are your favorite boxes?

Note: All of the information here are my own opinions and are pulled from my experiences. You may or may not have success with these methods.