legofreak777
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legofreak777's Stats
- Review Count79
- Helpfulness Votes1,359
- First ReviewOctober 24, 2009
- Last ReviewJuly 2, 2011
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4
Queen Anne’s Revenge
Queen Anne’s Revenge
Overall:
3
/
5
Pales in comparison to the Imperial Flagship
Posted:April 23, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" I have been (and still am) a big fan of both, the Lego group and also the PotC movies which makes this review somewhat hard to write. The last pirate ship that TLG released was the Imperial Flagship last year, which, in terms of build, design and playability made it truly one of the best sets ever released (not to mention one of the best toys in history). I guess Lego fans could have been forgiven for expecting more from the latest ship, the Queen Anne's revenge given the ingenuity of set 10210 but sadly, 4195 falls way short of the standards set by it's predecessor. To class this set as a disappointment would be too harsh, but that is exactly what was felt during the construction of what is, at best an ordinary pirate ship.
Minifigures
A real positive for this set. You get some incredibly detailed figures in Jack Sparrow, Angelica and Blackbeard, all of which are magnificent and very lifelike. In addition, there are 4 additional pirates/crew which have also been very well done. In fact, I'm struggling to remember another set where the figures have been this impressive. 9/10
A real positive for this set. You get some incredibly detailed figures in Jack Sparrow, Angelica and Blackbeard, all of which are magnificent and very lifelike. In addition, there are 4 additional pirates/crew which have also been very well done. In fact, I'm struggling to remember another set where the figures have been this impressive. 9/10
Build
The hull is made up of 7 large sections, with 5 of them making up the base of the ship. There are a few new pieces as well, including a new cutlass piece which is splendid. The build overall is quite straightforward and follows that of previous ships in the Lego world, with the hull being built first and everything else then being added on top. There aren't too many large pieces, the hull and the masts aside which makes the build an enjoyable one. There are a few stickers which need to be placed, but aside from the ones that add detail to the rear windows, the others don't really affect the appearance of the ship. Building this set overall will take the average Lego fan between 3-4 hours. 7/10
The hull is made up of 7 large sections, with 5 of them making up the base of the ship. There are a few new pieces as well, including a new cutlass piece which is splendid. The build overall is quite straightforward and follows that of previous ships in the Lego world, with the hull being built first and everything else then being added on top. There aren't too many large pieces, the hull and the masts aside which makes the build an enjoyable one. There are a few stickers which need to be placed, but aside from the ones that add detail to the rear windows, the others don't really affect the appearance of the ship. Building this set overall will take the average Lego fan between 3-4 hours. 7/10
Design
This is where things start to go downhill. Compared to the Imperial Flagship, which had an upper deck and greater detail, this set gets the thumbs down. Firstly, one pet hate of mine in ships is the lack of an enclosed cabin. The cabin at the rear of this ship does not have a door - instead, it is an open doorway. How many pirate ships in history (apart from the Lego world) have this kind of design? Seriously, it wouldn't have hurt to have added a door. In addition, detail inside the cabin is lacking. Apart from a table with a few objects on it. there's not much else. Having said that though, I must make special mention of the compass printed tiles as well as the bucket with detachable handle, both of which are new pieces.
This is where things start to go downhill. Compared to the Imperial Flagship, which had an upper deck and greater detail, this set gets the thumbs down. Firstly, one pet hate of mine in ships is the lack of an enclosed cabin. The cabin at the rear of this ship does not have a door - instead, it is an open doorway. How many pirate ships in history (apart from the Lego world) have this kind of design? Seriously, it wouldn't have hurt to have added a door. In addition, detail inside the cabin is lacking. Apart from a table with a few objects on it. there's not much else. Having said that though, I must make special mention of the compass printed tiles as well as the bucket with detachable handle, both of which are new pieces.
Secondly, I don't really like the use of bones as side railings. Yes, I know that this is supposed to be a replica of Blackbeard's real life vessel, but this is also a kids toy and I don't really like the darker tone which these bones (and skeleton for that matter) add.
Thirdly - only 3 cannons????? This has to be a joke, surely....... but to make things worse, none have wheels attached but are instead fixed onto the hull of the ship by a 2x2 plate........ please say that this isn't to save on the number of pieces......
A couple of things I do like however.......
1. The design of the lantern at the rear of the ship.... really good.
2. The mechanism for raising the anchor - the same as used in the Imperial Flagship.
1. The design of the lantern at the rear of the ship.... really good.
2. The mechanism for raising the anchor - the same as used in the Imperial Flagship.
For the design, sorry, but it gets a 4/10. Could have been better.... should have been better. The Imperial Flagship is proof of this.
Pricing
Cheaper than the Imperial Flagship, but I'm certain that given a choice between the two, most of us would choose the pricier 10210. Is this set worth the money? I'm afraid not. It's expensive for what it is, and really for the price, it would have been reasonable to expect better. 4/10
Cheaper than the Imperial Flagship, but I'm certain that given a choice between the two, most of us would choose the pricier 10210. Is this set worth the money? I'm afraid not. It's expensive for what it is, and really for the price, it would have been reasonable to expect better. 4/10
In all fairness, this set probably suffers because Lego released a magnificent ship just last year which raised both the standard and our expectations. Perhaps if the Imperial Flagship had not been released, I would have looked upon this set more favorably. But now having known what Lego is capable of, I want more - especially since prices are going up, up and up.......
Overall rating - 6/10. Pass - but only just. "
Overall rating - 6/10. Pass - but only just. "
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+18points
24of 30found this review helpful.
Battle for Geonosis™
Battle for Geonosis™
Overall:
3
/
5
Monotonous build but great minifigures!
Posted:April 16, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
" Minifigures : very good. Luminara Unduli is excellent, as is Captain Rex who has only appeared in 1 other set so far. So some rare minifigures in this set. You also get a couple of standard battle droids, and a super battle droid.
8/10
8/10
Build : this is probably a down side to the set. The Barc speeder is exactly the same build as the one found in this years Clone Battle Pack just with a different colour scheme. Building the proton cannon is a monotonous affair - the four legs all follow the same build (2 are a mirror image of the other 2 but the build is more or less the same) and the cannon on top is more or less symmetrical as well, meaning that you build a few sections twice. In addition, the seat for the droid consists of tiles, not studs so there's no way to fix the droid into position.
There are some technic parts (and therefore techniques) used to build the proton cannon, whilst the use of the S-foil mechanism to adjust the angle of the cannon is quite ingenious.
6/10
There are some technic parts (and therefore techniques) used to build the proton cannon, whilst the use of the S-foil mechanism to adjust the angle of the cannon is quite ingenious.
6/10
Playability - very good. The proton cannon is actually quite large and the use of the S foil to change the angle shows the intelligence in the overall design. The cannon is also quite stable both on a flat surface as well as on a gentle slope.
8/10
8/10
Pricing - not so good I'm afraid. This set is a bit too pricey for the piece count. It's also a Special Edition set, which means that it's lack of availability has probably contributed to the price.
5/10
5/10
Overall : a good set for fans of the Clone Wars. For minifig collectors, a must to pick up Luminara Unduli and Captain Rex. Overpriced however and money may be better spent on other sets if you are not a Star Wars fan. In summary, a 7/10 set.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO® Minifigures Series 4
LEGO® Minifigures Series 4
Overall:
3
/
5
Here we go again.....
Posted:April 7, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
" It wasn't that long ago that I spent 40 minutes in my local toy shop feeling through plastic bags to try and work out what on earth it was that I was buying. Not even 3 months have past and again, I find myself doing the same thing. This time, I wasted 60 minutes identifying all 16 figures- seriously Lego, please, please just identify what is in each bag, or at least sell them in full sets of 16. There are other things we'd rather be doing than feeling bags amidst all the weird stares from other customers.
But enough of that. Onto the figures themselves..... there are some nice ones in this series, but it also feels like deja vu in a way too due to the release of some previously seen figures. Let's start from the best, and work our way down....
The Hazmat guy - just superb, and even better in real life than the actual image. One major problem with this figure is that it's hard to get him to grip the gun - the gun is semi-flexible - not rigid so it tends to bend a little on pressure. To identify - just feel for the helmet - it's a big piece as it also involves the protective suit that fits over the torso.
The Musketeer - very nice although the handle of the sword (epee) is very short so again, it's difficult to place. Very realistic and nice colours. To identify - feel for the sword and hat. The hat in particular is easy to feel.
The Hockey Player - just brilliant! One problem is where to put the skates if you place him on the stand. Comes with a piece that fits over the torso, which is very detailed and adds to the accuracy of the figure. To identify - locate the hockey stick. It's obvious.
The Viking - a bit of repetition here as we had a Viking theme not that long ago. All I can say is that this figure is very similar to previous Viking figures, except for the shield which is a new piece. It's also printed which is great! To identify - locate the shield. It's the only circular piece in the whole series.
The Punk Rocker - great details and new pieces - especially the mohawk and guitar. To identify, locate the guitar.
The Artist - again, another good looking figure supplemented by some new pieces in the beret, paintbrush and pastel. A unique figure - and a must have in my opinion. To identify feel for the paintbrush. Yes, it's small, but it's also surprisingly easy to find.
The Ice Skater - this figure was the hardest to locate due to the lack of accessories. You can feel for the hairpiece, but could easily get mixed up with the surfer girl. The skates are also hard to feel through the bag. To find this one, you need some luck. Overall, not a bad figure, but the skirt is difficult to put on and a real pain!
The Sailor - a very smart looking figure, but a bit boring since he's nearly all white. A very nice sailor's hat with an anchor printed on, but apart from this, no new pieces. To identify, feel for the hat and telescope. The hat is easy to locate.
The Geisha - very realistic and love the fan which is a new piece. Can see this being possibly used in future Ninjago sets. Easy to identify - locate the large block that has replaced the legs. Easiest of the figures to find.
The Soccer Star - quite boring actually. Nothing special at all here. To identify - locate the hairpiece, then the trophy. Yes the trophy is small, but it can be done.
The Mad Scientist - reminds me of Doc Inferno from the Agent's theme. The beaker is a new piece, and the hair is rubber, not plastic - but to me, this is too similar to Doc Inferno and a little disappointing. To identify - feel for the hairpiece - it's rubbery, not hard.
The Skaterboy - too similar to the Skater in series 1 - not sure why this figure was released. The skateboard is printed however, and I have to say that this skater is an improvement on the series 1 version. But again, an unnecessary release. To identify - locate the skateboard. Don't confuse it with the surfboard.
The Surfer - as above. Another rehash - and totally unnecessary. Like the skater, this surfer is better than it's predecessor in series 2 but that doesn't excuse the fact that it's a re-release. To identify - locate the surfboard.
The Gnome - is it just me, or is this the Fisherman from series 3 in miniature form? Seriously, I think ideas are wearing thin..... To identify - locate the fishing rod, then the short legs just to make sure it's not the musketeer's epee that you're feeling.
The werewolf - ugly. Then again, I've found all the monster's in the series to be ugly. To identify - locate the bone. Difficult, but it's the only way to be sure.
The monster - this is also ugly and also difficult to find. Having said that, it bears quite a striking resemblance to Frankenstein, even if it isn't meant to be. To identify - feel for the headpiece. The front of it should feel jagged and there should be a lack of accessories in the bag.
Overall, I would say that this series is probably weaker than Series 3 but stronger than Series 2. For me, Series 1 is still the best..... maybe because it was the first and I still remember the initial excitement that accompanied it....
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+14points
21of 28found this review helpful.
Police Chase
Police Chase
Overall:
4
/
5
Too Pricey
Posted:March 16, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
" In Australia, this set sells for $39 which is too pricey for what is effectively 2 cars and a trike. Admittedly, it's a "Special Edition" set meaning that it's quite hard to find, but that still doesn't justify the price.
One thing I do love about this set however, is the new designs and build of both the red sports car, and the police vehicle. Both have a very streamlined look to them and are longer than previous Lego City cars that have been released. The build of both cars is overall quite simple and can be completed in about 15 minutes. The framework of the trike comprises of 2 pieces that click together - then simply add 3 wheels, a few more pieces and that's it.
It's a good set for integrating into an existing Lego city - in fact, it's great as it also comes with traffic lights and a speed sign which are quite rare. But in terms of cost to piece ratio, it's rather on the expensive side and perhaps not really worth the price tag. Again, a must for City fans - for other fans, perhaps one to miss.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
7of 10found this review helpful.
Police Helicopter
Police Helicopter
Overall:
3
/
5
No Originality
Posted:March 16, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
" If you're after new designs, pieces or even a different building experience, then this set is not for you. As much as I hate to admit it, this set is basically a rehash of old designs thrown together into one set.
The yellow getaway van (looks more like a pickup truck) for example, is exactly the same design and build as the blue vehicle in the 2009 City Set "7642 Garage." It's an exact replica, with the exception of course being the colour scheme.
The helicopter too, follows a similar build to "7206 Fire Helicopter" which was released last year. It utilises several large pieces for the cockpit and also the rear and the differences between the two are only minor. I would have to say also that 7206 was a better helicopter, as it was more detailed and came with more features. In addition, although the police helicopter looks reasonable from the side that you see with the rope and chair, the other side is rather bare and disappointing.
One positive aspect of this set however is the new printed torso's for 2 of the police minifigures. They actually come with "Police" written on their backs, and it's a big improvement on the old designs.
Overall, I'm not really sold on this set - it was a must for me as I'm a big "City" fan, and the Police subtheme is a favourite of mine, but it fails to deliver and is rather uninspiring. Not the best that Lego have produced I'm sad to say, but by no means is it bad either.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+9points
12of 15found this review helpful.
LEGO Ninjago: Skull Motorbike(2259)
Battle Chopov to retrieve the nunchucks of lightening!
Overall:
3
/
5
Bought it just to get Jay
Posted:March 6, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
" To cut straight to the point, the only reason I bought this set was to pick up Jay, and hence, complete my ninja minifigure collection. This just so happened to be the cheapest set in which to get him.
I'm still struggling to get my head around this theme - I love ninja's but the idea of them fighting some supernatural force in skeletons baffles me. Would have much preferred a more traditional setting, like ninja's Vs. samurai, but then that's just me.
The set itself in terms of design and build is actually quite good, and the overall finished product is quite pleasing aesthetically. It also has a very nice "hammer" function at the front which Chopov can use to guard against any surprise attack. It's quite a quick build - about 15 minutes and generally straightforward with only 2 stickers!
The only problem I had with the motorbike is the difference in size between the 2 wheels - the front wheel (it's actually 2 wheels side by side) is too small and so it does look a little strange, but this is only a minor issue.
Most of you probably won't be too disappointed with this set, but since I'm not collecting the "dark side" of the NInjago theme, I'm not really sure what to do with it since it seems out of place with the rest of my Lego collection. For those of you who are really into this theme though, this is a set that you would enjoy.
"
Share:
+5points
5of 5found this review helpful.
T-6 Jedi Shuttle™
T-6 Jedi Shuttle™
Overall:
4
/
5
Excellent Minifigures, OK shuttle
Posted:February 19, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
" There's no doubt that the main reason to buy this set is for the new minifigures. And I'm glad to say that they don't disappoint. Both Shaak Ti and Saesee Tin have been done very well, although the inclusion of another Anakin is a bit disappointing since he's featured in more than his fair share of sets to date. The only complaint that I have is Shaak Ti's cape - the headpiece tends to squash it at the back and so I left it off.
The shuttle itself isn't too bad - it at least justifies the cost of this set. It's built in four sections - the rear/engine, followed by the two wing sections and finally the cockpit. There are also a couple of rather large stickers that need to be placed on the wing sections, but I'm glad to report that the cockpit is a printed piece.
A couple of issues I had - firstly, there's no mechanism to fix the wings into position, so they do tend to rotate a little too freely. Seconcly, the interior of the cockpit is a little ugly, with the use of black, tan and red. It would have looked much better if the designers had stuck to using just one colour.
Thirdly, you can only fit 2 figures in comfortably. You can squeee a third in if you want to, but it's a challenge. In addition, there's no place to store the lightsabers.
One major thing I do like about this set however is the fact that the cockpit can detach and act like an escape pod - absolutely brilliant!
It's quite a good set, but I have to confess that my main motivation for buying it was the minifigures that it included - the shuttle, whilst not bad, I could have actually passsed on. So overall, a must for Star Wars fans, probably not so for fans of other themes.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
4of 4found this review helpful.
Clone Trooper™ Battle Pack
Clone Trooper™ Battle Pack
Overall:
4
/
5
Good but not an ideal army builder
Posted:February 18, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
" Usually these sets are great for building your Star Wars army, but I'm not too sure about this one. It doesn't come with your average Clone trooper which can be either good or bad. Instead, this set come with 2 bomb squad troopers which I think is a first, a very well designed ARF trooper and a new Clone Commander. The set would be worth buying just for the new figures alone, but it's probably not going to be one that you'd buy over and over again - I mean, how many bomb squad troopers do you need?
In addition, the set comes with a new BARC speeder - which is excellent in my opinion and a significant improvement over the old one. It's very streamlined and a great build. One problem is what to do with the blaster of the trooper who's riding it - the addition of a clip to the speeder for this would have been nice, but I'm nitpicking.
Overall, a unique set with a very well designed speeder, and an excellent ARF trooper. A set well worth getting.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+1point
1of 1found this review helpful.
LEGO Ninjago: Spinjitzu Dojo(2504)
Fight for the shurikens of ice at the Spinjitzu Dojo!
Overall:
3
/
5
A bit of a let down
Posted:February 18, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
3
/
5
Value for Money:
2
/
5
" I had been looking forward to purchasing this set for several weeks now and finally managed to get it on discount a few days ago. After building it though, I have to say that I am disappointed and am wondering if I should have purchased another Lego product instead.
I think my disappointment stems from the size of the set - I expected it to be much bigger, especially given the price of it. However, once built, it's surprisingly small. I also found the overall design to be a bit confusing - is what we see on the box supposed to be the inside of the Dojo, or the outside? And whichever side it is, it still doesn't excuse the appearance from behind. Whilst the set does look quite good from front on, if you view it from behind, it doesn't look like much effort, if any at all has been put into making this side look even half decent. That's a major disappointment.
My other main problem with this set is that the name is misleading. This isn't much of a Dojo - I would have expected an enclosed arena, or at least 3 sides. What we get instead is more of a backdrop than a Dojo. Given the design of the wall is nice, and it's got some very clever features such as the rotating katanas and falling axe's, but let's be honest, this is not a Dojo - far from it.
One good thing about this set however, is the printed pieces. There are some stickers, but the white panels with Chinese writing on it are printed, which is good as this would have been a nightmare to try and stick on straight - especially four times over!!
If I had my time again, I think that I may have passed on this set - there are so many other great sets that have been released this year that are still on my list, and this one unfortunately did not meet my expectations. It's not a bad set - it's just that for the price, it's not unreasonable to expect more.
"
Share:
+4points
5of 6found this review helpful.
Log Cabin
Log Cabin
Overall:
4
/
5
Not bad but the least impressive Creator Home
Posted:February 5, 2011
legofreak777
From: Melbourne, Australia
From:
Australia
Age:
25-34
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Play Experience:
4
/
5
Value for Money:
3
/
5
" This is not a bad set, but it is by far the least impressive home in the Creator series to date. It's pricing is on par with the 2008 Creator Home "Beach House" but that's about where the similarities end. The 2008 set had a more detailed design and a better overall appearance as well as a greater piece count. Whilst this set is by no means poor, it does pale in comparison.
I usually buy these homes to put into my Lego city as I've found that thye blend in quite well. Unfortunately, this set does live up to it's name - Log Cabin. It really does give you the feeling that it belongs in a forest somewhere, not in a City and admittedly, it does look odd next to the "Apple Tree House" and the "Family Home" sets. I guess from that point of view, you cold say that it's been very well designed!!
The build is the same as other Creator homes - no large pieces meaning that you build it brick by brick (also meaning that it's far more enjoyably than your standard Lego set). The back wall opens via a hinge mechanism and in addition, the roof is detachable meaning that access into the house is not a problem at all.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this set is the inclusion of a minifig - the first I believe for a Creator set. Yes the figure is plain, but it is also an added bonus and a major pro for this set.
Overall, a good set as long as you don't compare it to the previoius Homes in the Creator series - but like the title suggests, it is definitely the least impressive Creator home so far.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.