REVIEW: 1027 - Water Wheel Duel

[ApophisV]

*hides begind a huuuge Mega Bloks BURP in advance*

Okay guys, last week I bought this Pirates Of The Caribbean set from Mega Bloks and I think nobody gets any damage by having a look at what the "enemy" is producing! :-P

So have a close look and maybe you will think different about Mega Bloks afterwards. Or not. Judge for yourself ;-)

1027 - Water Wheel Duel (MEGA BLOKS)

The box:

Unlike most of TLC's standard paper boxes the Mega Blok boxes aren't completely rectangular but got a octagonal shape. This makes them optically more interesting though storing them is more difficult. (Hey, I'm working in a toy shop storage, I got to think about those aspects too! :-P )

The first impression after opening the box is somewhat similar to a opened LEGO box, you see several plastic bags stuffed with parts. Different is that EVERY SINGLE content of the box comes packaged into a bag, even the instruction booklet and huge parts.

Well let's talk about the set:

The front.

The back.

The overall idea of the set is really funny, actually it resembles the spirit of this particular movie scene quiet well. What is NOT that good is both the use of huge specialized parts and the quality of the bricks itself.

The building at the left is made out of TWO(!!!) huuuge wall parts which have a great realistic look but haven't the smallest LEGO feeling to it! BURP in the extremest way! Actually not really a BURP but a PBUWP (Painted Big Ugly Wall Piece). *n*

The roof of the right buiding is a single piece too! *n*

The walls itself are build from smaller pieces and resemble basic LEGO parts, but with a stone structure. THIS is an aspect I really like, Mega Bloks produces "basic bricks" with a slightly modified shape that produces a castle'ish stone wall effect! An example is the small wall at the right side. I wish they'd make sets with larger quantities of those particular bricks (and the slopes and arcs you saw at the right building), a huge castle made by this parts sure would look very interesting!

Let's finally discuss the parts, assessories and figures:

The figures:

(back) Somehow I like them, though I can't really see any LEGO spirit in them. They are more like tiny action figures. Especially Jack resembles its real life counterpart really good (considering they are minifig sized!) and also the Orlando Bloom fig (forgot the movie character's name) isn't that bad, in this case the picture doesn't give the real figs any justice. And even if it doesn't look like that you are able to take the figures apart, the legs, the arms and the head are all detachable from their ball joint connection. Oh, and both arms and legs have a hinge (or is it a joint?) in the middle, therefore they are a LOT more posable than minifigs (action figure feeling...)

Assessories and cool parts:

Yeah, the real positive aspect of the set! You might have noticed that I'm not really a LEGO purist, I'm always in search of nice parts that could expand my LEGO collection with new ideas. And those I got with this set!

The gold pieces are a great invention IMO, and also the small lantern looks great. But what I like really much are the new plants and the weapons, which could give some positive variation to the LEGO look we are used too. In my next Pirates MOC I will incorporate some of those parts to see if they fit to LEGO as nicely as I hope.

Fin.

[Aaron Morse]

Good review! I'm not a big fan of MegaBloks, I fact I believe i've passed on this dislike to my children, because whenever we go through the lego we buy at garage sales they always scream "Ewwwwh!" when they find a piece of MegaBloks mixed in with the lego. I think this review puts into sharp focus that Lego really does need a new Pirate line up. Like you said the only real useful pieces are the accessories and I really dont like the look of the minifigs, they look...cheap.

[Zarkan]

Yay, another traitor to TLC! :-D

Glad you did this great review, though. I agree almost completely with it, especially about the stone walls and the acessories. That's the main reason why I bought a couple MB Dragons kits, although they are fun to play with as well (and, IMO, they look pretty darn good). *y*

Man, I hope TLC realizes this and also starts making castle or pirates or both again (and yes, I know about the 2007 castle rumor). :)

[Mister Phes]

*hides begind a huuuge Mega Bloks BURP in advance* Okay guys, last week I bought this Pirates Of The Caribbean set from Mega Bloks and I think nobody gets any damage by having a look at what the "enemy" is producing :-P

So this is in the name of reconnaissance?

In my next Pirates MOC I will incorporate some of those parts to see if they fit to LEGO as nicely as I hope.

This will be quite interesting indeed. I haven't been brave enough to try this - but then again I haven't been MOCing much lately due to being disheartened with the results of my digital camera. I must get a new one soon.

[Governor Broadside]

*hides begind a huuuge Mega Bloks BURP in advance*

There's nothing to be afraid about; in fact I did enjoy reading this review.

But I guess you could be afraid of the subtitle below this subforum: Reviews of official Pirate LEGO sets designed by The LEGO Company.

I can't wait to see your MOCS; just hope that they stay together well. X-D

[oo7]

Lord Admiral, ready the gallows! It seems we have mant traitors among us.....At least you bought it on sale. lol.

Wow. This really isn't a construction toy anymore, is it? This is looking like P1@y M0b!1 nowadays. 8-|

Thanks for the review, but I still strongly despise this set. Even the minifigs look hideous and obese.

[WesternOutlaw]

Apophis: you actually bought this? *n*

I was actually looking at this set in the the store thinking, I should try building this with Lego pieces. Nice design, but poor quality inferior bricks. I would never consider adding a single piece of this set to my Lego collection. It really is too bad that Lego did not buy this license. The sets would have been fantastic.

Wow. This really isn't a construction toy anymore, is it? This is looking like P1@y M0b!13 nowadays. 8-|

Watch it! This set should never be compared to Lego or Playmobil. It's junk!

And on top of everything, my review of the Caribbean Clipper rests in the general forum while this non-Lego set is placed in the Great Library of Honduras as a Standard & Pictorial Set Review? I'm not too sure about the logic here... Not at all to say the review is bad, just the product!

[oo7]

Oh no, I better keep a look out, the adventurous sidekick's on my back! X-D

I wasn't comparing this to P1@Y M0b!1 as being a bad set, I was comparing it as not being a building toy.

[WesternOutlaw]

Oh no, I better keep a look out, the adventurous sidekick's on my back! X-D

I wasn't comparing this to P1@Y M0b!1 as being a bad set, I was comparing it as not being a building toy.

I don't even want to see the two names in the same thread! Where's my six-shooter?

I'll kick that set right out of Dodge! >:-(

[oo7]

Oh no! Now your making a mess of Apo's lovely little review too! Shooting up the whole place, what nerve!

Ok, we've gone of topic enough now, anyway this site here has a review of this set, here, take a look, if the owner ever gets a higher bandwidth. :-||

http://bloks.hyperboards.com/

[WesternOutlaw]

I can't get past the poor quality or the name brand here. Like I said before, it's not a bad review, just a poor inferior set. I think Lego 4+ sets are better than this.

And the figs are absolutely horrible! They remind me of the stuff used to decorate a birthday cake.

[oo7]

Agreed. Being somewhat of a Lego purist I would much rather take a 4+ over this garbage any day.

It reminds me of the stuff used to decorate a birthday cake.

Funny you should mention that...

http://eurobricks.hosting.ipsyn.com/eurofo...?showtopic=7254

[WesternOutlaw]

Now that's a cake *sweet*

[Norrington]

I haven't been brave enough to try this - but then again I haven't been MOCing much lately due to being disheartened with the results of my digital camera. I must get a new one soon.

How long have you been saying that? I lurked before i came here and as far as i can tell, it appears to have been over 2 years, or just 1, but anyway, it's been a long time you have been saying that you need one.

[Capn Kirk 911]

looks cool but I wish they used more pieces ;-)

[El Bucanero]

I believe I saw this set in a shop in Germany... In Aachen... Something with Teddy... Well NVM...

I don't like Megabloks, the Figs look blah, there are just too much BUPs.... LEGO all the time!!

[Opproperaar]

I don't get what people have against Mega Blocks, it's cheap and some sets really have massive amounts of blocks. Me and my bro (Errorist) bought two MB destroyers and the Kittyhawk aircraft carrier. => Demolish the models and you get massive amounts of cheap gray blocks *sweet*

I'll hand you that Lego has a wider assortment of bricks but overall, it serves as a great tool when building and in need of massive amounts of bricks of one colour. :) :) However I still tend to do the insides of a model with MB and do the outside with Lego so you can't see the MB :-D :-D

Edited August 9, 2007 by Hairy Ruben

[Siegfried]

I'll hand you that Lego has a wider assortment of bricks but overall, it serves as a great tool when building and in need of massive amounts of bricks of one colour. :) :)

I'd rather use Duplo for that job.

[Bonaparte]

I'd rather use Duplo for that job.

I used to build the hull of large ships with duplo and then build the deck with normal Lego bricks.

But I never owned any MB. Maybe you should have a look at this discussion: Megablocks vs Lego.

[Siegfried]

I used to build the hull of large ships with duplo and then build the deck with normal Lego bricks.

Any pictures?

[Bonaparte]

Any pictures?

I wished I had, but I was too young to take pictures at that time.

Must have been in '84 or something... the good old days...

[andy_0306uk]

Any pictures?

ooooooo now there's an idea *goes off and raids son's duplo stash*

[Siegfried]

ooooooo now there's an idea *goes off and raids son's duplo stash*

I did that but guilt got to me so I returned it all. :-$

[john cleese]

let me get this straight, you wasted money on this?

[SlyOwl]

I wasn't comparing this to P1@Y M0b!1 as being a bad set

I would never compare Lego to Playmobil in any way - they're two completely different toys! One is a construction toy, the other predominantly quick assembly and then play, but no alternative options. It's like comparing K'NEX or Meccano to a build your own robot set!

Megalox (I like to use an x 'cos it makes it look more tacky) can't compete - they go for the countries where Lego hasn't quite reached, like South Africa e.t.c. There are huge markets open to TLC that they just don't enter, so whatever they produce, they can sell.

Edited November 14, 2007 by Cap'n SlyOwl