andreimatei
Share andreimatei's profile
 
Facebook Twitter
 
 
 
andreimatei's Stats
andreimatei's Stats
 
  • 5
    Average Rating
  • 27
    Helpfulness Votes
  • 0
    Featured Reviews
  • 1
    Review Count
  • January 7, 2018
    First Review
  • January 7, 2018
    Last Review
 
 
andreimatei's Reviews
 
 Darth Vader™
Darth Vader™
Darth Vader™
 
Posted:January 7, 2018
Customer Avatar
Age: 19-24 years old
Customer Type:  LEGO Fan
Building Experience:  Expert LEGO builder
Overall: 
5 / 5
5 / 5
A 22 year old student's review of a "kids toy"
" Where to begin... I went to the local LEGO store overwhelmed by nostalgia after finding this online. As a huge Star Wars fan and having grown up with LEGO, especially Star Wars and the old BIONICLE series( first gen), I got a momentary urge to use some of my student pocket money to give an old hobby a try. Objectively, here is what I found out:
I. Building: - I found the assembly amazingly fun and it gave me a thrilling chill down my spine to feel my hands work with the small pieces. Objectively, while to some extent fitting to the new LEGO figure assembly formula, one started by Hero Factory and BIONICLE gen II, The build was surprisingly complexe, especially the torso. It got me thinking back to the older BIONICLE titan sets, and was overall a very enjoyable build, of average-easy difficulty.
II. Functionality: - the set has a callback to the old BIONICLE of the first generation, with an internal gear system allowing the controlled movement of one hand with the wheel on the back. While not exceedingly complex, the hands can be freely switched upon assembly with minimal modification, and the system has included a wheel giving some friction to the mechanism, allowing posing. While it is possible to make the system move both hands simultaneously in different directions, it requires either some slight appearance change( you need the gear on his back which you leave either empty or replace with the piece holding the normally still arm in place) or another gear from a different set. This, however, is the only fault I found, pointing back to the fact the old BIONICLEs used to have an additional gear to use should you so desire.
III. Design and posability: - While i imagine it is insanely fun to play with, the piece to me is worth more as a collectible than an actual toy, so I will speak from this perspective. The posability of the model is flawless, allowing very natural posing related to the arms, legs, torso and head. While lacking a torso articulation, the legs and hands both have 3 articulations and the head is also connected to a ball articulation making it fully able to rotate and tilt. the 3 saber hilt segments can be arbitrarily removed to provide a two-handed grip as well as shorten the handle should one so choose. When it comes to design, the only complaint I have is related to the chest piece, which is a painted stormtrooper armor chest, thus lacking a proper box for his chest buttons, while also having an obvious painted look, even more so due to the ribcage limit existing in the shape of the said piece, which crosses the box yet remains black. While a question of taste, I also find the boots to look a little bulky.
Conclusion: Overall, I would gladly recommend this set as a collection piece, presenting a good design, made even more so with the two cloth pieces, one for the back and one for the waist. It features excellent posability and a simple, yet very smooth and easily modifiable internal gear system. The mask can be removed for extra immersion shots, while the lightsaber can be adjusted to taste, fitting well with a two handed pose as well. While relatively easy to build, it is a fun construction process with few repeatable parts and it provides a great figure for your Star Wars collection.
P.S. LEGO please add Romania to your country collection so I can select my actual country. Thank you. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From:  United Kingdom
Age: 19-24 years old
Customer Type:  LEGO Fan
Building Experience:  Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For: Self
Play Experience (Optional)
5 / 5
5 / 5
Value for Money (Optional)
4 / 5
4 / 5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
+21points
27of 33found this review helpful.