As we approach the pointy end of the year, we are now beginning to get some information about next year’s releases: first up are the next wave of LEGO Super Mario sets. Once again, we have a collection of Character Packs, as well as Expansion packs, large and small. Here is a quick overview of the new sets: I’ll bring more information later, when I have had a chance to think about them properly. In the meantime, I shall be brief…
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Bowser’s Airship plays a major role in a number of the Super Mario Games, and the LEGO form has been long awaited by many fans. I should not be surprised by its popularity, we saw a couple of versions of the airship submitted in our ‘What Next for LEGO Super Mario?’ Competition. The ‘Bowser’s Airship expansion’ is the largest expansion set seen to date with LEGO Super Mario sets, with over 1100 pieces. It will be officially on sale on August 1st 2021.
This set was sent over by the LEGO Group for review purposes, and its certainly quite a different experience to the other sets I have built and played with for this wave. It will be prices at $USD 99.99/€99.99, £89.99 and AUD149.99
We will take a look at the parts, the enemies, and some of the ‘action aspects’ of the set, as well as a playthrough video.
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We have been working through the second wave of LEGO Super Mario expansion sets lately, and we are almost at the end. Today I would like to look at 71383 LEGO® Super Mario™ Wiggler’s Poison Swamp Expansion Set. It has 374 pieces, the most of any set in the second wave of LEGO Super Mario, and is has a recommended retail price of 39.99 USD/EUR – 34.99 GBP – 59.99 AUD – 49.99 CAD.
Like all of the sets in this wave, the main biome is the Soda Jungle: purple (medium lilac) tiles and plates. If Mario is left standing on this colour for too long, he become stunned in stages – gradually entering a no-coin state. until the soda is washed off by standing in water, or brushed off by shaking him.
This set is an interesting build, and I found a few new building ideas included, as well as new elements in significant quantities.
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Today, we continue out exploration of the second wave of LEGO Super Mario Sets. The wave is significantly smaller than the first, featuring a range of Buildable Characters, three expansion sets, featuring the Soda Jungle biome, and finally 71380 Master Your Adventure. With 366 Pieces, and priced at $USD 59.95/EUR59.95/AUD89.99, this set will be released on January 1 2021. I was fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to get some experience with the set, thanks to the LEGO Group.
Continuing on with some of the themes we saw in the first wave of LEGO Super Mario sets, we still see the set requiring the LEGO Super Mario Starter set 71360 to use it, as well as the dependence on the App as a way to download instructions, as well as watch short videos outlining some of the more subtle aspects of gameplay. The App was updated to incorporate the new sets on the 18th of December, so it has been a bit of a crash course, both in building and getting to experience the functionality of these sets.
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The recently released LEGO Super Mario theme introduces over twenty ‘enemies’ for Mario to defeat over the course of different games: some are easy to beat with a single scan on their barcode; some require specific powerups; some need to be scanned multiple times by Mario. In this article, we look at the enemies that Mario encounters, consider some of the things unique to that character; and how many coins can be gained by defeating them.
You may have already bought a couple of LEGO Super Mario sets – the Starter pack is essential for Game Play, while the expansion sets provide us with more opportunities to have fun with the game. You might be trying to decide which expansion set is for you. You might be looking for a specific enemy, or you might be looking for a way to maximise your score in a run through the game: hopefully, this guide will help.
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We are rapidly running out of LEGO Super Mario expansion sets to look at (you will be glad to hear). With only 2 regular sets (as well as the power up suits) to go, today we come to 71377 King Boo and the Haunted Yard. With 431 parts, and costing 49,99 USD/EUR- $AUD 69.99, it offers an interesting play feature, a chance to take on the ghost King Boo, and explore the graveyard. Who knows what treasures are hidden within. Actually, is it a graveyard? I just presumed it was, but looking back at it, I don’t see any actual graves.
This is one if the few sets laid out to be almost an independent cul-de-sac, compared with other expansions. Unlike most of the other sets that we have it runs a little off the grid – with nodes heading off at various angles towards the edges.
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Continuing our survey of LEGO® Super Mario Expansion sets, today we look at one that is a little different: 71367 Mario’s House and Yoshi. Compared to the sets we have otherwise looked at, this one offers a change of pace: it provides not so much a place for action in the game, but rather a place for Mario to rest in-between. Mario’s house adds to the scenery, but does give us a place to conceal a power-up, and comes with a superstar. It also brings us Mario’s friend, Yoshi.
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