Month: June 2020

Expanding LEGO Super Mario I: Pirhana Plant Power Slide[71365]

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Last week, we took our first look at the 71360 LEGO Super Mario Starter set, Adventures with Mario. Today, we are taking a look at one of the expansion sets, which adds an exciting, dynamic challenge to any level: 71365 Pirhana Plant Power Slide.

This set provides two enemies, some desert landscape, and a Time Bonus box. We also have the eponymous Piranha Power Slide, which can be incorporated in a larger layout, or used on its own in conjunction with the start and finish points. But does that make it a worthwhile purchase? Read on to find out.

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The Lego Group And National Geographic Inspire Kids To Develop Creative Solutions For Real Life Environmental Challenges

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You may have noticed that some of the recent (coming in August to North America) releases of LEGO City and LEGO Friends have been cobranded with the National Geographic brand.

The new City: Deep Sea Explorers, as well as Friends: Jungle Rescue subthemes have been developed in collaboration with National Geographic to encourage children to explore the world, and consider their own ways to solve some of the problems that we are facing, going forward.

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40411: Creative Fun 12in1 – Northern Summer’s Gift with Purchase [review]

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Despite the fact that I am based in Australia, 2/3 of my readers seem to be from the northern hemisphere. With this in mind, here is a review of a LEGO Store Gift with Purchase – which seems to line up with the northern summer nicely. Unfortunately, it does not look like it will be available Down Under for the time being… 1st July it looks like it will have Australian availability in July too.

If you live north of the equator, it must almost be time for a summer holiday. From July 1st, the gift with purchase really reflects that, with a new summer themed 12 in 1 building set: 40411 Creative Fun 12 in 1

The set will be available in conjunction with purchases over $85US/£85/€85 from the LEGO store from 1st July to the 26th, 2020. Update: in Australia it will be available from 1-9 July, with purchases over $AUD169. Read on to see what’s inside.

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The Wooden Duck 40501 [Review]

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This week, the LEGO House reopens after closure during the COVID19 lockdown. With its reopening, we have a new Limited Edition set released, available exclusively at the LEGO Store at the Billund attraction. The Wooden Duck 50401 was announced last week.

The Wooden Duck occupies an important place in the history of the LEGO Group – with the story of Godtfred Kristiansen trying to save his father’s manufacturing costs being a cornerstone in the LEGO Ethos of ‘Only the best is good enough’

The Wooden Duck itself, in particular the model with the pullalong quacking action, was in production from 1935 through to 1960.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of the set to review, courtesy of the team at the LEGO House. Here’s how it went together…

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LEGO Super Mario: Hands On Experience – Adventures with Mario 71360 [Review]

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When the LEGO Group and Nintendo announced the forthcoming release of LEGO Super Mario back in February, the announcement was met with both excitement and concern. Both companies have a history of producing great opportunities for families to play together, but what would a full blown collaboration between the two look like?

I have been looking closely at a few of the sets ahead of their August release, and will present my findings a over the next few posts. I have already posted a first look at the blind character bags – 71360. However, to get any value out of the game play in this theme, you need the Super Mario Starter set – 71360 Adventures with Mario – is essential to enjoy this theme: it is the only set where you can get the interactive Mario Brick.

Today, I hope to be able to bring you an insight into the set, and hopefully get an idea of how the set, and theme work together to incorporate different aspects of both companies core product.

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40501: The Wooden Duck – The Next LEGO House Exclusive Set Announced

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After the LEGO House announced that they were closing for the pandemic, they made the exclusive sets available through the online store, in some markets. This is in conjunction with the announcement that the Tree of Creativity set is to be retired. With the LEGO House hoping to reopen in the next week, today they are proud to announce the next Exclusive set: 40501 The Wooden Duck.

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LEGO Super Mario Blind Bags Revealed [71361 Reveal and Review]

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The Rambling Brick has had the good fortune to be invited to become familiar with LEGO Super Mario sets, ahead of release. This week, LEGO unveiled the complete range of sets in the LEGO Super Mario range.

One of these, previously undisclosed, is a series of blind Character Bags 71361. This comes with a brick built enemy for LEGO Super Mario. The Good news is that they each come with an ‘action brick’ – a tile with a pre-applied barcode – which Super Mario can scan and gain coins.

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Full Range of LEGO Super Mario Sets Revealed

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Today, the LEGO Group and Nintendo have finally revealed the full product range for LEGO Super Mario. With Game Play based around a real world brick built world, along with familiar friends, enemies, power ups and hazards, LEGO Super Mario is set to change the way players interact with Mario, based on the interactive Mario Brick.

I have had the opportunity to try out some of the new range, as well as take part in a Q&A with Jonathan Bennink – the Digital Design Lead. I will be presenting the results of these over the next few posts. BUT if you want to see the full range of sets, read on. We have pictures of them all, as well as US/ Euro AND Australia and New Zealand Pricing!

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43179: Mickey and Minnie Buildable Figures Announced

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Continuing with the ongoing strategy of marketing direct to AFOLs with the 18+ packaging, the LEGO Group and Disney today announce the forthcoming release on July 1 of their latest Direct to Consumer set: 41379 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters. This set has over 1700 elements, building two figures, and accessories. Each figure is over 30cm tall.

43179 LEGO® ǀ Disney Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters Ages 18+. 1739pieces US $179.99 –CA $229.99 –DE €179.99 –UK £169.99 – FR €179.99 – DK 1399DKK- AUD $279.99 – NZD $319.99

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Advanced Build, 10277 Crocodile Locomotive Announced.

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Under the old Creator Expert label, we could expect a train set released every few years. In the last decade or so, we have seen the legendary 10194 Emerald Night; the 10219 Maersk Train, the 10233 Horizon Express and the 10254 Winter Holiday Train. It must be time for a new one.

Today, LEGO unveils the 10277 Crocodile locomotive. With 1271 elements, and featuring the 18+ branding, where once we would see Creator Expert, this engine will be available from 1st July 2020. It will be priced at €99.99/ 899.99DKK/ $US99.99/ $AU169.99/ $NZ189.99. In Australia, it will be available from LEGO Branded retail, as well as David Jones department stores.

Unfortunately, no press release was forthcoming in advance of the announcement – so I am just going by what I can see in the photos:

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