Today, it's time to take a closer look at the LEGO 71363: Desert Pokey set from the Super Mario line. As with previous Mario sets that I've looked at, this one comes with an action mechanism and a few bad guys for Mario to defeat. The real question is: How does the set stack up to the other Mario sets that I've reviewed so far and is there any reason for you to track this one down?
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Let's get right to it!
We'll begin with the main bad guy of the set (and the title character): the Pokey. In my personal Mario playing "career" as a kid, I first remember seeing Pokey enemies in Super Mario World. The version of Pokey that comes in this set is reminiscent of the Mario World design with the Pokey sporting a flower on its head as well as a nice smiley tile for its face.
While the Pokey may look like it's a single critter, it's actually a bunch of smaller blocks that are key for the LEGO set's play mechanism.
As you can see, the Pokey comes apart - and that's the main play feature of the set. The goal is to smash the Pokey until you get to the bar code which Mario can then scan to "defeat" the monster. To do so, Mario can slot into a swinging hammer and twist back and forth to smash out each body piece of the Pokey.
I must say, the mechanism works perfectly here and as an extra bonus the Pokey itself has a rod on the back of each body piece that allows it to slot into the stand behind the Pokey keeping the critter upright. Each whack of the hammer results in a single body piece flying out with the rest of the Pokey falling down (remaining upright) with a satisfying clunk.
While the Pokey and the hammer are the stars of the set, there's also a second included enemy which I think was a nice bonus - a Monty Mole.
Monty Mole looks quite similar to a Goomba but it's always nice to get another Mario enemy in a set.
The Bottom Line (out of 10):
Fun: 10
Play Value: 10
Kid Value: 10
Adult Value: 10
Overall: 10
With a great play mechanism which works perfectly (and is easy enough to reset for future play) along with a pair of enemies (and a bit of terrain including a simple but effective cactus build), this set has it all. Couple all that with a reasonable MSRP of about $20 and you've got one of (if not the) best LEGO Mario sets from the first wave of sets.
As a way to close out today's review, here's a look at our full LEGO Mario "level." My son is definitely enjoying these sets - and we are constantly moving things around to make new levels and new challenges!
Best LEGO Super Mario Expansions:
- Desert Pokey (10/10)
- Reznor Knockdown (review link, 9/10)
- Whomp's Lava Trouble (review link, 9/10)
- Boomer Bill Barrage (review link, 3/10)
- Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter (review link, 2/10)
Best LEGO Mario Power-Up Outfits:
- Fire Mario (3/10)
As you can see from the five sets I've reviewed to date, the LEGO Mario sets are a mixed bag in terms of quality! We've now found three sets with a rating of 9+ while the other two I've reviewed suffered with a score of 3 or less. I still have a few more LEGO Mario sets to build and review - so look for those in future posts!
Your level looks awesome! Just curious... how long does it take to go through a level of this size once?
ReplyDeleteP.S. Monty Mole rules!
When you start at the green pipe, the Mario figure gives you 60 seconds to reach the finish. The yellow pipe adds on a bit more time (15 seconds I think). I'd say that we can go fast and do this level in under 60 seconds but if you want to stomp each baddie and activate each play feature then you definitely need the extra time from the yellow pipe. The yellow pipe also offers up a second way to play where you try to get 50 coins as fast as possible (which rewards doing more of the action mechanisms). Both options are fun, especially for my son!
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