So with the new J.K. Rowling/Harry Potter movie announcement I have seen several 'the fandom lives again' memes and such. I don't get it, did we go away? Was there some kind of fan protection program? As we get older and have kids we share the books and movies with them. They are becoming part of lesson plans. There is still merchandise being sold. I, no we still talk about all these things. We have a section of a theme park!
We never left and we are not going to leave. We will be a generations fandom, we are with Star Wars, Star Trek and Firefly along with many more.
Keeping up the tradition of using Mantis King's system.
Today we have Galaxy Squad's Mini Mech which I picked up from Target. I have been eyeing this one for awhile because it looked neat and I like the use of orange with it. Let's get started.
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away?
This is going to have to be a no BUT it makes for a great starting point for a four legged walker. -5
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?
Well we have a retail price of $3.99 with 28 pieces for $0.14 but I saw this coming. In the many times I looked at it I had checked the golden ratio which stopped me from buying it in the past. I decided I wanted the set and not the pieces themselves so I swallowed the G ratio on this one for personal enjoyment. Above for -10.
If you can't build a frame right away, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?
Yes and in fact if you just kick the minifigure guy out, it might work as a good base platform to convert it into a full frame. +5
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?
This is very true, many of these parts are good for building frames and if you remove the driver I think you have a good base to get started with in fact. +5
So the results! Doing our math we come up with a total of -5 for a B- for this set. This is the worse score I have given and I really don't have any gut feeling about uping it or lowering it either. I think it is pretty much where it stands. If you like the look and think you can use it as a base as I recommend then go for it. I on the other hand will put it on the shelf with my minifigures. Might one more to see if I can turn it into a frame..hmm.
I originally planning to to do a review on a different set next but then ran into this set while at Target which demanding to be reviewed tonight for reasons I will discuss a little bit further down. Also this post might aiming to be a bit biased...
This time our review system is a bit revised but still based on the Mantis King and you will see as we go.
Can you build a piece or pieces of terrain, right away?
Yes! This set is pretty much a frickin tree that can be blown apart! +5
Is it below, at, or above the golden ration?
This is where it gets complicated. This set is currently (9-22-13) on sale at Target for $3.99 until 9-28-13 vs the usual price of $4.99. I also get an extra 5% off for having a Red Card. So we have 35 pieces so here is our math.
Regular price is $0.14 so no. -10
Sale price is $0.11 so still no -10.
Red Card with Sale price $0.10 at ratio so +0.
If you can't build a piece of terrain right away, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?
Yes, you could use the pieces to build different styles of woodland terrain or some other pieces in frames if you are looking for unique coloring. To be honest I am thinking of putting that bow on one of my Chubs, even if I have to glue it. Also the mushroom could be used on other terrain as well, giant mushroom worlds! Short answer: +5
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?
If you want to make a tree, hell yeah but I would keep off the 'flower and fruit' bits because I would be a bit ticked that I have to 'shoot through' all that before I could really drop the tree or just rule they don't count. Also thinking of putting those cherry looking pieces in a truck for a station. +5
So the results.
Regular Price B+
Sale Price B+
Red Card and Sale A
Though if you really want some tree terrain that can be shot up and don't have a Red Card then I would dare say for you this might be a B++ or A- set just for you so get it while it on sale for the rest of this week.
I bought this because it was on sale and I wanted the tree. Now that I have dissected it I think I will pick up one or two more before the end of the week.
Special mention: The Puppy's Playhouse set has bricks that look like actual mortar bricks. Not enough to justifying the purchase if that is all you want BUT you might want to take a closer look to the Friends line or it up a LEGO Secondary Market.
(After the comment by the Mantis King I have decided to update this blog post by adding additional material that I hope makes this even better post. New material shall be in this font color.)
This is a Review for the Kraang Laser Turret for the Game Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack that I should have posted about first but it is coming soon. Will be using the system established by the Mantis King to do this review, hope I do it justice.
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away?
Yes, sort of. The set itself could be used as a very small scout frame but very limiting so I will give it a +5.
I have to say this because technically it meets the yes BUT looking at our 'pre-built' frame it just doesn't give me a very good fuzzy feeling. I mean it really just looks like random parts with legs and a missile.
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?
Due to a weekend special I only payed 3.39 but the retail price at $3.99 at Toys R Us with 36 pieces. The ratio comes out to be $0.11 so above giving a -10.
If you can't build a frame right away, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?
Yes, giving it a +5.
This is honestly the best part about this set. Just about every piece in this bag is an active frame building piece or terrain. The bonus (or minus) is that some of these pieces are in some uncommon colors
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?
Given that the whole bag is usable minus the minifigure I say yes giving it a +5.
See statement above.
This gives us a total of B+ though the gut is B.
Originally my gut was going with B but after thinking about it I really figured out what my issue is. It was the turret build itself. That was the B hanging in my gut but the reality is minus the recommended build plans this is a great poly bag I think. It above the ratio but at only by 1 cent, $3.99 over all and just about every piece in the bag is a frame viable piece so all that could make it a A- ish or so I think.
If I were to field it straight I would be.
Single Shot Rocket 
Multi-Leg 
Scanner 
Body 
Why my frame layout choice?
Again I really don't like the idea of using the suggested build as a frame BUT if I did it looks like a scout to me that runs and hides spotting other frames to report back to a bigger gun. It one shot missile is for self defense so it can run or perhaps to ambush snipe an open unaware target. That is what it make me think so based on this flavor in my head is what equals the above build choice.
Icons by Soren.
