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I went to the city centre this afternoon, not expecting anything much but oh Behold!, when I entered the local toy shop (Bart Smits in City 2, Brussels, for those in Belgium who are interested), they just recieved the new Atlantis sets! But at first glance, they didn't seem to have the Squid Gate. In fact, I had to look deeper, because it was hidden ion the special stand behind a big box of the neptune sub. So I picked one up straight away and decided to make a review of it since it seems there hasn't been one yet.
So, the general info first :
8061: Gateway of the Squid
- Item №: 8061
- Pieces: 356?
- Minifigures:
- * 2 Divers
- * Squidman
- Price: US $? / EUR 39,99
- Ages: 7 - 14
- Released: January 2010
- Theme: Atlantis
I'll start with a pic of the Box. It's actually a long one rather than big. As you can see, it's the european version which is really spare on the info side of things... So I calculated 356 pieces from the piece count at the back of the manual but I might have left some by mistake...
(click pic for a higher res)
on of the sides of the box have the standard legal info and t two have the same illustration than the front. The last one has a pic of the minifigs :
(click pic for a higher res)
The back has a more generic view of the set
(click pic for a higher res)
and some nice close ups of some of the features (although, being a subaquatic theme, I have to say that they don't make much sense to me...)
A secret trap wherein the diver should fall (because underwater, we're supposed to walk, obviously...)
The gate that needs a special key to be opened (Don't ask me why they couldn't just go round... or even swim above it...)
Next are the manuals. There are two of them. The front is the same for both and the back of the second one has the usual legal info. But the back of the first one has a really great looking illustration of the various sets of the theme laid out in some kind of map leading to a mysterious temple with a portal on top. The whole thing is lavishly done and really nice.
close up of the back of book 1
(click pic for a higher res, it's worth it)
And finally, a really small DSS which I didn't use. It's supposed to go on the giant squid.
Now let's go on to the main thing.
There are 3 bags of happiness. Each numbered to ease the build.
Bag one contained all the figs and the pieces to build the 2 monsters
the 2 divers are really nice. I love their scuba pack. But of course, the crown of this set goes to the mighty Cthulhu himself (or Squidman, I don't know his official name).
The divers are a man and a woman. They both have dual printed head but I forgot to take a pic of the other side. The girl has a slight frown and the guy has a wierdly scared/confused expression like this one ->
<-I like the beauty spot near the girl's mouth. At first I thought it was a misprint but it's also on the other side. Nice little detail I didn't expect...
And here is a side pic of Cthulhu. The head and bottom tentacles are made of the same rubbery material. I thought it was the same as Kit Fisto's head or Plo Koon's but after checking, it feels a bit sturdier...
And underneath is hidden a little gem. I love that teethy mouth. It looks fantastic. The Rorshach print on the torso is a bit wierd but nice nonetheless. Maybe they're ink blotches that spilled from his mouth tentacles
Finally, the Trident is made of a rubbery material too. Which is wierd, because the one I got in the small wreck raider set was different...
Then we move on to the Monsters.
The first one is a small bone squid, all white with a red mouth and red eyes. Simple design yet quite effective.
And the the real meat of the set, the Giant Squid.
here I'm afraid I'll have to apologise for the bad lighting. But my room is pretty dark during the day and with the winter, there really isn't much to work with... And the squid being mostly black, it doesn't make it any easier... But I tried to capture it as best I could.
Here is a front shot of it trying to catch you, pour soul :
and a close up of that lovely mouth :
As you can see, it has 2 different sets of teeth. The standard horns we've had since the vikings and another one like a giant shark tooth. That one is molded in a flexible material, like Cthulhu's head.
And finally, the gateway itself.
It's built in two modular parts. The first with the gates and the mechanism that opens them and then the bigger part at the back.
The mechanism is an interesting use of rubber band hidden inside the build.
One of the band is twisted, so that the gate turns the other way. Unfortunately, it doesnt work that well as there is some desynchronisation between the two gates. Everytime I tried, the left gate opens first and then the right one follows... But still a nice idea.
The back of the 'key' has an axle hole and fits on the axle to control the gears :
Various shots of the gates :
And one from the back with the two pins to attach to the back part
Then there is the bigger rear part : the build here was pretty straight forward and didn't hold any surprise. Only at the end was there some slightly more interesting SNOT for the figurehead, but nothing much... and there's the trap but nothing unusual.
A front view :
and a back. The round 2x2 piece controls the trap mechanism (sorry, it's all blurry but I didn't realise it until too late...) :
The trap mechanism is just a technic gear piece (I don't know the exact name) that pushes the trap piece up when the knob on the back is turned :
The build is thus finished :
In the end, it does exactly as advertised, really... It's just a gateway
A nicely designed one, though. Which makes me hopefull for a temple later next year...
And some final action shots :
There is a support on the figure head to set the Giant Squid over the whole gateway, and the little pole on the side holds the bone squid to trap the divers like a cage as seen on the back of the box
What's left over, not much...
And a few intersting pieces :
the keyholder goes on top of the turntable base. And the grey piece seems to be a new mold to me.
And finally, the pieces inventory:
(click pic for a higher res)
All in all, it's a really nice set. The gateway itself isn't much. It's well designed but I don't think I'll keep it built for long. Depends on whether they make new buildings to go along, I guess. But the monsters are really good and of, course, the minifigs are absolutely fantastic. It gives me great hope for what's to come if they do more with this theme.
As for a spare parts use, I don't really know. There are a lot of interesting pieces, like the teeth, tentacles, algae etc... as well as quite a few plates in tan and a new color I didn't know of before. (some kind of sand beige or something)
So in the end, I'm quite happy with it.
EDIT : I took the time to take some more pics of the figs as requested:
here is the back of the divers and their alternate faces :
And some more shots of Cthulhu.
As you can see, he looks as good with his tentacles forward or backward. I find either way gives it a sense of motion in one direction or the other.
here is a side shot with the tentacles set backward :
And finally, a back shot of the fig with his tentacle hair which I forgot to do earlier :
And the full Brickshelf folder when public
Edited by yellost, 15 December 2009 - 04:11 PM.
Indexed and poll added
I love the divers so much, and the Squid thing is great aswell.
)
This set is a bit too expensive though 
You've made me begin to consider this set, but unfortunately I don't know if my bidget will allow! 
Not everyone in classic pirates would like to see potc theme but i definitely want- all those great monsters and nice new pieces would definitely be more cooler than recycling same piratepieces over and over again 
- although i personally see that buiding religious mocs is a little bit questionable 
