LEGO DREAMZzz is shaping up to be one of the most significant theme launches in the recent history of the LEGO group – with an original IP, an appealing story, as well as the wide open scope for storytelling in the dream realm, the scope for creativity is endless. Lots of the appealing aspects of this new theme are seen in 71454Matteo and Z-Blob the Robot, which is where I will start my reviews. You can find it on YouTube and Netflix if you have not yet caught up with the animated series. It’s reasonably engaging, even for an adult who has allegedly outgrown such things.
Lets read on… This review features UV lighting and home-built dream realms using cardboard, glue and cotton wool.
We were fortunate to have the chance to receive an Awesome Edition download code for the new LEGO 2K Drive. Released a month or two ago, I passed it on to Harry, our in-house gamer, to look at. Here are his thoughts…
A fun kart racer that exemplifies some of the gaming industry’s worst habits.
So, let’s talk about the kids’ game about building wild and wacky vehicles to get around and accomplish a variety of esoteric tasks in an open world that came out in early-to-mid-May, 2023. No, not Tears of the Kingdom; the other one. I’ll admit, I don’t envy the team at 2K right now because that’s got to have been a bit of a blow already, even before the whole micropayment issue, but I’ll get to that in due time.
Earlier in the year, we all got terribly excited when we got our first look at the so called Otter Battle Pack: With 2 otters lurking in a stream, while a human maintains the national park on their quad bike, all at an exceptionally reasonable price.
In the second half of the year, the LEGO Group have brought another similarly priced set to the market in line with the Arctic research/Deep Sea subtheme, this time with seals.
And does this set have much to offer, and is it reasonable to call it a battle pack? Let’s take a look.
I am writing this review on a train, during the start of the European summer, so apologies if the photos are not all up to scratch. I know there will be more reviews to do when I get home, so I’d better get something done while I am travelling!
It feels just like last year when you could get a Disney Castle LEGO Set with over 4000 pieces and came with 7 minifigures. Wait, it was, and with classic iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy, along with the signature Tinker Bell, and a random statue. Back at the time the set was released (September 2016), this was the first time we would see Tinker Bell in true minifigure form. And it has taken another 7 years before she would appear as a minifigure once more!
But we are not going to talk about that set much today (initially at least)
Instead, we are going to talk about a brand New Disney Castle, set to form the centerpiece of the 100 years of Disney Celebrations, in LEGO form. The minifigure selection Highlights Disney Princesses from across the years, including Snow White (her first time in minfigure form)and Prince Florian; Cinderella and Prince Charming; Princess Tiana and Prince Nareen; Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. With 4837 pieces, the set is due for release on July 1 (VIPs) and July 4 (every one else). It is priced at £344.99/ €399.99/$399.99/8999.9 TRY/169990.0 HUF/3299.0 CNY/519.99 CAD/ 599.99 AUD.
Now, as I implied earlier, the previous Castle was retired just 6 months ago. Does this set offer enough reasons to make chasing it down worthwhile, despite the increased price tag? Let’s take a closer look at the set, and perhaps compare what we know of the two. (And read the press copy along the way.)
I’ve just finished watching the first wave of episodes of Dragons Rising, and something struck my mind: Rapton, Lord Ras, and the Imperium Claw soldiers all fly the same type of small craft- a so called Chariot – which carries one rider and deploys a flotilla of drones to aid the hunters in their hunt for Dragons. That said, in the sets related to the series, the chariots are all a bit different to each other. At the same time they seem just a little bit familiar. And then there are the droids in the Dragon Power Spinzitzu sets…
And it got me thinking. Are these sets revisiting Classic Space, with a contemporary aesthetic?
As the deep fandom from around the world migrates towards Brickworld Chicago, the LEGO Group is making sure that there will be something for everyone to be talking about once they arrive – Old school fans can talk about the Eldorado Fortress, while Disneyfans can talk all about the Ideas Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage revealed on Monday. Today: fans of contemplative, mindful builds get a look at the another Icons set: 10315 Tranquil Gardens.
And out of nowhere, the Lego group have announced 10508 El Dorado fortress: a reimagining of the classic 1234 from 1989. This set will be released on 4thJuly 2023 (VIPs; 7th July for others), has 2508 pieces and comes with 8 mini figures, along with a monkey (but perhaps not the classic monkey we nostalgically long for, but rather the 2022 version) as well as a small boat for the Imperials. It is priced at $aud329.99/$USD 214.99/€214.99/£189.99.
The fort can open up for classic play experiences after the kids have gone to bed, and can be closed up to help keep the living room table tidy. In its open configuration, the model measures over 10.5 in. (27 cm) high, 27.5 in. (70 cm) wide and 9.5 in. (24 cm) deep.
I’m not going to lie. I have never seen Disney’s Hocus Pocus. I first heard of this film when the Ideas submission made it through the review phase. I have subsequently heard that while the film started life with lack-lustre reviews, it has become an annual Halloween Children’s Viewing Staple in some parts of the world. Halloween has not held much traction in Australia, historically. In recent years, however, we have see a significant upswing in the number of kids roaming the streets in late October, hoping that someone will give them the lollies and sweets (sorry- I can’t bring myself to call it candy) that their parents restrict for the rest of the year. But I digress.
The original film is now over 30 years old, had a much anticipated sequel full of questioning reviews on IMDB and apparently a third film is entering development. As such, there is certainly a nostalgic drive behind the LEGO Ideas submission made by Belgian Fan Amber Veyt is palpable, and with the appeal held by sets such as the LEGO Haunted House and the perennial recurring Halloween themes minifigures and Iconic sets, I can see that this will probably hold a much broader appeal than just fans of the movie (s?).
The set is due for release on July 1(VIPs) or July 4 for those who didn’t sign up, and wish to spend their US Independence Day taking on LEGO.com. It has 2316 pieces, 6 minifigures and a Catand will cost $AUD349.99/ $USD229.99/€229.99/£199.99/5199.9 TRY/97990.0 HUF/299.99 CAD.
Since the very beginning, Ninjago sets have involved some sort of play gimmick – be it character spinners wihin an arena, flyers or fist powered tornado spinners, and the latest wave, coinciding with the new story of Dragons Rising is no exception. With the least expensive boxed sets in the theme, and containing one each of Core ‘veteran’ ninja that feature regularly in the series, these sets have some new elements, new minifigures and interesting play potential. To say nothing of inconsistent fluorescence under UV light.
We have 3 such sets in this Dragon Power range: 71777 Kai’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Flip; 71778 Nya’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Drift; and 71779 Lloyd’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Spin. Each set comes with a Ninja minifigure, a Droid like figure from the Imperium, Some Gates and a trap, holding a golden Dragon Elemental Orb. The orbs are perhaps the most interesting new elements included in these sets. We will come to these shortly.But first, here are the elements included in all of these sets:
The news dropped yesterday that there were some new Ninjago related figures present in the Build a MiniStations at LEGO Stores Worldwide. (when is yesterday any more? I am currently in Scotland, this morning was in Dubai, and on Tuesday morning was in Melbourne).
This afternoon I touched down in Glasgow and made a B-Line to the Glasgow LEGO Store. While there I was able to check out the build a mini station – the new BAM elements were all present and accounted for: Lloyd Kai and Nya were there, in their ‘Core’ form, as seen in the first half year releases this year and last.
