REVIEW: 8967 Gold Tooth's Getaway

[Oky]

Name: Gold Tooth's Getaway

Set: 8967

Theme: Agents 2.0

Year: 2009

Pieces: 68

Minifigs: 2

Price: USD 9.99 (10.99 @ TRU)

Hello there! Just like I reviewed the smallest of the Agents 1.0 sets last year, I shall review the smallest of the Agents 2.0 sets this year. As you might know by now, most of the summer 2009 sets are already available at TRU. I didn't want to spend too much money, so I went for the smallest sets. This is one of them. Was it worth the buy? Let's find out!

The Box

The box is the same size as that of 5970 Freeze Ray Frenzy. This set, like the others, features a comic strip in the upper right corner. And as you can see, the missions in Agents 2.0 are no longer numbered. They only have the target object to identify them.

The back of the box shows thumbnails of the other Agents 2.0 sets, the flick-fire feature, the names of the figs, and a somewhat puzzling scene: After not having used any of his missiles during their entire vehicle chase, Agent Swipe fires a missile at an unarmed Gold Tooth. A strange thing to do for a "good guy", isn't it?

Content

Inside the box, there are two bags, the instructions, and a sticker sheet.

Notable pieces include the metallic-golden T-Rex idol, the orange spyglass piece, the new flick-fire missile holder piece, and the black motorcycle hull (which appears in black for only the second time).

Minifigs

The two minifigs in this set are Gold Tooth (Duh!) and the new and exclusive Agent Swipe. (Does anyone get why he is called "Swipe"? Because I don't. Does it have something to do with the fact that he is after Gold Tooth who "swiped" the Dino idol? idk.) Gold Tooth is the same as the one in the Mission 3: Gold Hunt set, right down to his golden hose. Agent Swipe is your average double-chinned City/Castle guy, but with a raised eye brow and an added headset, plus exclusive tan flat-top hair. Unfortunately, he does not have a double-sided face.

Here they are showing off their gear. The stuff on the bullet-proof vest is printed.

And here they are from the back. I took this shot with Swipe wearing his vest because, like all Agents, he does not have any back printing.

The Set

First up, you build the Agents trike thingy. You start out with building the chassis from right to left and then add the drivers seat and hood on top of it.

With the minifig on it:

The new FFM (flick-fire missile) holder pieces hold the FFM launchers pretty good (meaning they don't fall out easily), but they swivel around quite easily, which is rather annoying.

Next, you build Gold Tooth's getaway motorcycle. If you thought the Agents trike was an easy build, you're in for a surprise: When you follow the instructions correctly, you can finish this vehicle within a minute (excluding sticker appliance time)! Here it is before adding the one-piece top:

... and here it is after:

The front and back:

With minifig and cargo:

Below you can see that there are no actual handle bars for Gold Tooth to grab. Unless this is supposed to be some kind of high-tech motorcycle that drives itself, this is a major design flaw in my book.

Left-Over Parts

Two words: Not many.

Conclusion: I am disappointed. This set seemed somewhat cool looking at the box art, but now that I actually have it, I kinda wish I wouldn't have bought it. This is definitely the worst of the Agents sets, and I don't feel like I got enough for my money. The design is mediocre at best, and the parts are nearly useless if you aren't into Technic. If you don't have Gold Tooth yet and are interested in one or two of the exclusive parts in this set, go for it, but otherwise I advise you to stay away from this set. Rather spend your money on a good set of the same size, like Freeze Ray Frenzy.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[Svelte]

Thanks for another great review, with lovely pics

This set is even more disappointing than I thought That lack of handlebars is truly terrible.

The only good part is the gold dino, but even that isn't enough to make me want this set.

Agents 2.0 seems wildly erratic, with some really great stuff (such as Robo Attack) thrown in with the truly terrible.

Last year, the designers showed us they could do small, detailed, cool vehicles (like all the ones in the Mobile Command Center), but these Technic bikes are just variations on the same idea we've seen in Mars Mission and Power Miners.

Thanks again Oky!

[-JD-]

Excellent review Oky!

I really like this set. One more for the very, very long list.

Greetings,

JD

[Darth_Legois]

This set is even more disappointing than I thought That lack of handlebars is truly terrible.

The only good part is the gold dino, but even that isn't enough to make me want this set.

Agents 2.0 seems wildly erratic, with some really great stuff (such as Robo Attack) thrown in with the truly terrible.

Last year, the designers showed us they could do small, detailed, cool vehicles (like all the ones in the Mobile Command Center), but these Technic bikes are just variations on the same idea we've seen in Mars Mission and Power Miners.

The only reason im getting this set, is the new tan hairpiece. And maybe the gold dino. Thats it!

I agree with you svelte how the first agents was better with smaller vehicles. I still like the first agents line better.

[Lordofdragonss]

Another new set That I must get, Maybe it is not perfect, too mny technic pieces for me, But it easy way to get Gold tooth and gold hairs and pistol, and this cool dino statue.

[DoctorDude234]

It looks okay, but maybe Goldtooth is skilled in the ways of the Force.

Who knows?

But this looks like something that might be good for an escort if you have the original Goldtooth set and another henchman.

[Natman8000]

I agree Oky, this set is really pathetic in my opinion. In the other 10$ set, they successfully made two vehichles that were not all technic and useful. They can throw in as many 'wow' parts as they want, but all it is a gimick. I'm really mad about those new flick fire holders, that means they will be on everything easily

[green dewback]

It looks like Agent Swipe is chasing his evil twin brother.

[CDC]

I think this set looks kinda stupid, i liked it more on the box art but i'll probably get it anyways.

[Algernon]

Meh. This set is a lot like the Crystal King in that it's only useful as a parts pack. Good review though.

[BlueBard]

Nice review, Oky Wan Kenobi!

This set is a lot like the Crystal King in that it's only useful as a parts pack.

I agree. The set is not bad but if I buy it it would be only for using MFs and most interesting parts. (It's a cheap way to have some golden hair and gun and one of those new armors, isn't it? )

[Luke McAwesome]

Thanks for the review, but this set looks just like a placeholder for the ten dollar sets that come in every theme now.

Sorry, LEGO, but this is going on my NOT-to-buy list.

[hewkii9]

Yay tan flattop hair! I can make a Number Two soon

The rest of the set does look pretty meh, though.

[Zarkan]

Thanks for the review. Oky.

Man, I just don't get it. The first year of Agents was easily one of the best suprisies of 2008, with some of the best and most inventive set designs we've seen in years. But now, 2009 rolls around, and the whole theme has taken a drastic drop in quality. For the most part, the vehicles just seem simply uninspired, and most of the new villians and agents are relatively boring. It seems that all the effort to make Agents a wonderful theme went into the first wave, and now the set designers have run out of ideas.

Ah well, at least this means that I won't feel bad about missing out on this theme.

[prateek]

enter the worst rated Lego set in the history of history TLC should've just made golden face's bike with a egular chassis instead of that technic junk. the blond agent guy's bit is ok since it looks better than a regular trike

[just2good]

Good review.

I like the new agent!

[Tom Bricks]

Way to many technic parts for me, and no handlebars???

It's a cheap way to have some golden hair and gun and one of those new armors, isn't it? )

This reminds me why arn't there and Agent impulse sets? I know I would buy one.

[Svelte]

enter the worst rated Lego set in the history of history

Well, at least on EB. Not even 7680 The Twilight fared so badly in the polls!

I don't mind the new flick-fire piece; at least it looks like it is designed to be easily removable rather than having the mechanism built into the structure of the set itself.

[user]

Great review Oky you have pursuaded me with your jedi mind tricks with your reviews again! I am definently not getting this set now that I've seen the review it is positivley terrible. But your review was fine thanks again!

~Computerbug

P.S It's mission 3 that has Goldtooth not mission 2!

[daxflame680]

Dude.....this set sucks. A few technic pieces plus a couple of studs and wheels, and then the motorcycle piece sitting on those flat tecknic pieces.

[xenologer]

I for one like the nontraditional construction used in the motorcycle. It's nice to see the designers using that body shell in a new way.

Plus now I can get one, and use it to make a spacey hoverscooter or whatnot, without having a leftover motorcycle underbody lying around after.

And who doesnt want a gold dinosaur?

[Peppermint_M]

You people are sooo grumpy.

I like the look of this set. Not only do we get a nice variation on the rather commen cleft chin'd eyebrowed minifig face but a Gold Tooth with all his exclusives in a cheap set, the new vest and tan flat top hair!!

The black chasis is very useful to me and my fleet of cosmic cycles (Gold Tooth can ride the orange coast guard bike and like it!) but some other useful parts too.

I will be getting this set early on as it is one that is quite likely to turn up in physical retail stores that I can get to easily.

Thanks for the review.

[Oky]

I don't mind the new flick-fire piece; at least it looks like it is designed to be easily removable rather than having the mechanism built into the structure of the set itself.

I agree. In fact, I welcome any new piece with a stick on it that can be hold by minifigs. Those are always useful in MOCs, especially brick-built weapons & tools.

I for one like the nontraditional construction used in the motorcycle. It's nice to see the designers using that body shell in a new way.

That's true, I guess. But I would still have preferred it if it was a regular motorcycle and would have some more bricks instead of Technic pieces in the set.

Btw, why hasn't this been frontpaged yet? Is the set so bad that it doesn't deserve to be frontpage news?

Just curious.

[-JD-]

Btw, why hasn't this been frontpaged yet? Is the set so bad that it doesn't deserve to be frontpage news?

Just curious.

No. It is the quality of the review! Nah. I don't know why either.

I like that new vest the agent has, and those new flick fire missile holder pieces will come in handy.

Greetings,

JD

[The Cobra]

I voted "Below average"; if it wasn't for some of the pieces (like the golden dino) i would have rated it "poor".

How stupid does the agent look? How ugly are those vehicles?