Month: January 2024

Posted on in Cars and Trucks, Icon Cars

911

#10295
1458 Pieces
Ages 18+
$169.99

Design   *****
Build   *****
Cost    **
Playability **

Better call 911 because this set is HOT! The Porsche 911 Icons set released in 2022 is a must have for any enthusiast of Porsches, auto-racing, or the other vehicles in this theme.

The set achieves full points in design and build as the two blend seamlessly. The techniques of SNOT on the front and rear fenders, the hinges in the rear to give the perfect angle on the trunk and spoiler, and the incredibly detailed nose all compliment each other perfectly. My favorite part to build was the nose which includes the front bumper, license plate, turn signals, headlights, and tip of the hood all sit flush with minimal stud stacking. By far the most gratifying part of the build and design of this set is the handful of included printed bricks rather than the flimsy sticker sheet. This use of printed elements alone edges this set just ahead of the Corvette which features stickers.

The inflated Cost of the set and impractical Playability bring this set back to reality with an average overall score. I think this set would earn an additional star for Cost if the price was $149.99 or less.

Buy this set if you are 911 enthusiast or are looking to expand your ICONS Dream Car theme.

Posted on in Video Games

Piranha Plant from Super Mario

#71426
540 Pieces
Ages 18+
$59.99

Design  *****
Build   ***
Cost    ***
Playability ***

Introducing the first build of 2024, the Super Mario Piranha Plant. It’s a Super Mario set, it’s a Botanicals set. It’s a fantastic sculpture, it’s a fun playset. And at $59.99 it’s an absolute steel.

True to it’s iconic subject, the Piranha Plant is a copy realized in 3D with LEGO. The minimal colors, articulating pedals, and bobbing head are simple details that bring this display to life. Earning full points in design, this set looks impeccably real for being a copy of fiction. 

The elements of SNOT in the pipe/pot, the trap-door base, and curved-chunky bricks for the lips and domed head made for a unique build experience. While most Botanical themed sets lack in Playability, the Piranha Plant’s fluttering petals and chomping jaw pose a thread to your minifigures. And the best Playable element is the trap door at the bottom of the pot which dispenses included 2 included coins.

Get this set if you’re looking for a clever way to show off your Super Mario fanhood.

Posted on in Ideas

Best Lego Ideas Set 2023

#21338
2082 Pieces
Ages 18+
$179.99

Design  *****
Build   *** 
Cost    ***
Playability *****

Bygge Hygge, or “build cozy” is the theme and accompanying Ad campaign for this set when it was released in early 2023. Resembling a modern cabin tucked into a sleepy wooded landscape, this set includes all the hallmarks of a cabin getaway like sipping hot cocoa, photographing birds, playing the guitar, and even canoeing. The minifig crew of 4, various camping and leisure accoutrement, canoe, and wildlife guarantees a wide range of play for any owner.

I gave this set full points for Design and Playability. The visual details are limitless and follow the set in a full 360 spin. The front of the cabin is inviting and beautiful, the roof and sides feature 4 frame windows on 2 stories with wood grain lintels, and the rear depicts the stove pipe as it exits the cabin and an outdoor shower. Dynamic fields of play are offered with accompanying gadgets like type writer, high resolution camera, canoe with paddles and life jackets, vinyl records, acoustic guitar and tea kettle.

There was an opportunity for this set to score higher in Build and Cost but some of the elements felt simple, redundant, and in terms of price – wasteful. Anytime Lego builds trees, they are almost always repetitive and boring. While the changing colors of the leaves offer needed textures of greens, yellows and reds, 3 trees is too many. The roof builds were clones and had a lot of plain brown tiles which also felt repetitive and tedious. Eliminating some of these redundant elements allows for the opportunity of a lower price tag.

Buy this set if you are going on a cabin trip, or if you’re looking for something cozy to do on a rainy day.

Posted on in Star Wars Sets

Best Lego Star Wars Helmet

#75304
834 Pieces
Ages 18+
$79.99

Design   *****
Build   *****
Cost    **
Playability *

The Darth Vader helmet is a must have for anyone collecting the Star Wars helmets. Darth Vader is known as the baddest of the bad and so is this build when complete and on the top shelf where it belongs. A lot of expert building techniques and clever piece usage help this set earn full points in design and build. These complicated techniques, lack of function, high price tag, and no minifig in sight means it scores low for Cost and Playability.

What I like most about this set are the details used to make the iconic face mask. Plenty of curved, sloped and rigid pieces are held in place by cleverly spaced studs under the eyes and on the jowls, as well as rods and clips which hold in place the eyes and jaw.

I have not decided if I will begin collecting the helmets or not. They are expensive and offer limited fields of play. While building the helmet, however, I couldn’t help but think the solid base and connecting stem inside the helmet would make an exceptional stand for a larger airplane or space ship.

Posted on in Batman

Best LEGO Polybag 2023

#30653
40 pieces
Ages 6+
$4.99

Design *****
Build   *****
Cost  *****
Playability ***

I looked forward to owning this set since the first teaser images surfaced on the internet earlier in 2023. Composed of 2 subjects, the edge of a building decorated with a gargoyle and the 1992 Batman, the polybag retails for around $4.99. While inexpensive, I struggled to get my hands on one until late December of 2023 due in part to availability at local retailers like Target and Walmart. After finally getting my hands on one, I can say it lives up to they hype.

The completed set stands at about 4 inches with the minifig on top. It is a simple and elegant set that looks great at home on the shelf, at your office workstation, or as the focal point for your Gotham City MOC. I gave full design points even though the set is designed to look good from most angles, but not from directly behind. The build was not complex but still offered expert details with the combination inverted slopes, molded brick pieces and SNOT elements featured on the gargoyle. I especially liked the binoculars and curved spike pieces to make the head.

The set scores full points in cost for it’s parts ratio, and 3 out of 5 for playability as it there are limited fields of play for this as a standalone set but the Bat-a-rangs, and swooshing cape of the figure means he can still zip around and target practice in anticipation of his next encounter with a super villain.

The figure alone may be worth more than the $4.99 the polybag retails for, citing $20 and up on some sites. This may be why it took so long for me to come across one as fans are scooping up multiples and clearing the shelves. As a big fan of the Batman franchise and of the various Lego Batman themes, I can see why as this figure stands out as one of the best. The iconic 1992 Batman had a thick, rubbery looking cowl and cloak which was fantastically captured here as 1 large piece that sits over the head and shoulders of the minifig. Most Lego Batman figures include a combination of plastic helmet cowl and a cloth cape which emphasizes they are separate components and do not match well.