While the previous range of LEGO Super Mario sets was starting to feel a bit same-old and refresh, despite the addition of the 2-player mechanic, Unlike previous waves of LEGO Super Mario, this wave does not feature any new Power-Up suits for Mario to wear. However, it introduces a vehicle mechanic in the form of 71401 Bowser Jr,’s Clown Car Expansion Set. This inexpensive set provides a new way for Mario to take on enemies and earn coins, all for the same price as an Power-up Pack.
The January 2022 wave of LEGO Super Mario sets follow two specific streams: Luigi’s Mansion and the Beachfront. Today, I’d like to present the 71400 Big Urchin Beach Ride expansion set. You need either the Mario or Luigi Starter sets to play with this set in the way it is intended. The set has 536 pieces, and will be released on January 1 2022. This set was sent to me by the AFOL Engagement team of the LEGO Group for review purposes. All opinions, however, are my own.
After the previous wave of expansion sets focussed on two-player, cooperative play this wave returns to the roots of single player gaming, although the 2 player option exists, with all of the potential advantages that brings.
This set brings some familiar gameplay from the Super Mario Video Game, as well as a few new characters, and game mechanics. With this set, I will take a look at the Characters encountered, Any Bonus boxes, as well as hazards and obstacles encountered in the gameplay.
As with all LEGO Super Mario sets, building instreuctions are accessed through Digital instructions in the LEGO Super Mario App, or using the LEGO Building Instructions App. Personally, I find the App quite acceptable to use on a tablet – it also allows demonstration videos for game play. the Instructions Plus engine also allows manipulation of the model in 3D space as you build it, ensuring construction is clear.
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MK’s friend Mei is descended from dragons (and in particular, a dragon that took on the form of a horse). As such, she has acquired a number of Dragon themed vehiclesover the last few years.The latest wave is no exception, bringing us 80031 Mei’s Dragon Car.
The set comes with 4 minifigures, 456 parts, 3 vehicles and an eye burning new colour. Due for release on January 1, 2022, it will cost $AUD 69.99 / £34.99 / $USD49.99 / 39.99€. How does this set stand up for play value and building experience? Read on to find out.
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Welcome Back to Builders’ Journeys, where we hear from AFOLs around the world talk about ‘that special set’ that helped to define the LEGO Builder and AFOL that they would become. Today, we hear from Harald, who succumbed to a flashy image on the cover of a LEGO catalogue, many years ago…
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I’ve been a little bit distracted over the last few weeks: a large number of new sets, which don’t seem to have been reviewed yet, arrived; Throwback Thursdays have been missed and I have been physically drained. I could blame COVID, or Christmas, but in reality, it has been Christmas Trees – and the selling thereof – as a fundraiser for our local Scout Groups. For the last few weeks, I have been part of a team procuring trees, selling them to our local community, all while fundraising for our youth facilities and programs. Aspects of the exercise have been a little harder this year: one of our team for the last 5 years passed away unexpectedly during the year, and his absence was sorely felt over the last few weeks.
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Fresh from the LEGO Newsroom: The LEGO Group have announced plans to start building a new, carbon neutral factory in Vietnam, during 2022, for completion in 2024. This will be the LEGO Group’s 6th manufacturing plant in the world, along with existing factories in Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico and China. As such, it will allow the company to continue to support the ongoing growth seen in the APAC market over recent years.
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It’s that time of the year. this is the year that we have seen modular building released, and this year they are taking us back to the beginning with a new take on a hotel, full of references to previous modular buildings. the set has 3066 pieces and is due for release on January 1, 2022.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
The Tyger, William Blake
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Organic forms were, once upon a time, difficult to construct with any significant degree of realism using LEGO bricks. If you were to attempt such shapes in before the turn of the century, you would have created a relatively blocky form. The continuing evolution of elements over the last 15 years has led to the parts palette including a significant number of curves, both along the vertical and horizontal planes of an element’s axis as well as bricks with studs on the side, and a variety of clip and bar connections. These have seen the LEGO System continue to evolve beyond a simple toy and into a model-making medium, allowing these organic shapes to become easier to replicate. Once restricted to fan creations, the 31129 Majestic Tiger brings a demonstration of complex techniques, and downright elemental trickery that would not have been so easily possible in 2020!
This set also has alternative models of a red panda, as well as a koi fish. I will come to these in a subsequent review, but I was keen to share the details of the tiger with you today.
I would like to thank the AFOL Engagement Team from the LEGO Group for sending this prerelease set to the Rambling Brick for an early review.
The set is due for release on the 1st of January 2022, and has 755 pieces. It will cost AUD79.99. International pricing is yet to be revealed.
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A few months ago, the LEGO Group announced their intention to eliminate gender bias from their marketing materials, ensuring that no set was going to be explicitly sold as a boy’s set or a girl’s set, but rather as toys for children. At that time we looked at the way that the marketing images in a number of LEGO® themes presented a degree of bias in their lifestyle ‘hero images.’
However, following this announcement, some people were concerned that it might spell the end of LEGO Friends. The theme was introduced back in 2012, as a result of focus groups suggesting that there was a large group of girls not engaging with LEGO Bricks. The theme is now enjoyed by boys and girls alike: embracing the everyday adventures in ‘real world’ settings.
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Welcome back to Builder’s Journeys, our throwback Thursday feature where we talk to AFOLs and find out about the LEGO Set that put them on the path to make them the AFOL they are today.
Today we hear from Holly from Sydney, Australia. Holly is on Youtube, talking about LEGO Harry Potter, Super Heroes and More at HollyOnFilm
Besides the CLASSIC boxes, my first LEGO set was Hogwarts Castle (5378). I remember opening it on Christmas Day in 2007 and the box was completely crushed as my Grandparents had shipped it from the UK after buying it from LEGOLAND Windsor. I built it instantly and played with it all day. It was my first and only LEGO Harry Potter set for years and those minifigures and pieces went on several adventures being rebuilt into so many different things. Somehow it’s still 98% complete despite all the play, a house move and being thrown into random bins, and now sits on my shelf with my Harry Potter books. I don’t know where I’d be today without it.”
The Harry Potter Castle 5378 was released in 2007, in conjunction with the film ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.’ It has 9 minifigures and 942 pieces. I love the way the Holly has set it up with her books, soft Harry Doll, as well as one of the 2021 sets.
Thanks for sharing this story Holly. And be sure to check out her channel on youtube and instagram.
I’ll be sharing more stories of different Builders’ Journeys over the next few months – Hopefully every week. Recently, life has been interfering a bit too much!.
If you have a story that you would like to submit, based on the LEGO set that set you on your path to AFOLdom, why not drop me a note.
Until next time,
Play Well.
