Review: 8409 Spider Monkey

[parchioso]

Set No.：8409

Name：Spider Monkey

Theme：Ben 10

Parts： 21

Minifigs：None

Price： USD 14.99

Year：2010

I was not aware of this new theme called Ben 10 before I saw 6 boxes of these on display in local Toysrus, although I was not very interested, out of curiosity I purchased 2 boxes. Since I have already gotton some clues from the box, there was no shock.

As expected, there are some Bionicle like big parts, the whole thing can be assembled in minutes, in Bionicle sets there are usually technic parts and bricks, but there is none in this set, there is no minifig, you build the characters of the series.

A quick search over the web reveals quite some negative remarks about this series, I think Lego does this with a valid business reason, well, in the days of PSP, Wii and XBOX, the fans of the Cartoon series can be a promising customer source that Lego wish to target, and they may conclude that such design is best for the group.

Now on to the set, 8409, this is actually the only set in the theme that I have some interest, in fact, the creature is designed to be very flexible, aside from the official posture, I tried to turn it into a spider and it works, as a toy the playability is great.

The parts are not that bad actually, nice color mix, and like Bionicle parts, I think they are technic compatible, may be usable for MOCs.

The torso can actually be further broken down into 2 pieces, the one with many connectors can be useful in MOCs

Personally I am not in favor of such design, getting a box for fun is fine, but I hope this trend will not expand to the other theme, Lego as I see it, should be based on a design concept that focuses on building from small parts, with big flexibility for changes in very detail level, big parts simply is against such design concept.

I really don't know how to do a rating here because of the mix feeling, really wish that I can create a poll to know your opinion regarding this design trend. Such as: accept/agree, reject/disagree, observing, or no opinion (don't really care), I am doing such a poll in a Greater China forum and the interim result is quite interesting.

Review in My Blog: http://brickand.me/2010/02/01/LegoBen10840...nkeyReview.aspx

Edited May 22, 2010 by 3D Brickthing
Indexed and Title changed

[Jippon]

Thanks for the good review! I was curious how the ben 10 sets would look out of the box.

As an old bionicle fan I really like the torso, although the rest of the parts seem useless. Too bad there are no technic axle holes in the arm/leg pieces

kutgw.

[vexorian]

From close look the limbs are not really that bad, the pieces are small and not much worse than for example the Toa Nuva legs... The larger ones actually have cross insertion points.

The torso is definitely the worst part. Although it is good news that the blue part with logo can be extracted. It is still way too much of a piece that could be done by combining much smaller pieces.

I think it would be a fine set if it had a much, much lower price.

Edit: I guess the small holes in some of the parts are compatible with minifig accessory "sticks" ? (sorry, don't know what the official name is)

Edited February 2, 2010 by vexorian

[Lord Starkiller]

What? 21 pieces for $15! Thats a rip off!

[Svelte]

Thanks for the review, parchioso!

These are not my cup of tea, but I don't hate them, unlike most AFOLs seem too. I actually really like that they look totally different from Bionicle characters. Even the new Hero Factory sets look too Bionicleish for what is supposed to be a total relaunch. So yes, I do appreciate the design of these characters and I bet small kids will love 'em.

This poor Spidermonkey looks like a dissected frog in this pic

[prateek]

Nice review. As Svelte said, this is for kids so I won't be hard on this. It's a nice set, but it is overpriced so I won't get it.

[Ratbat]

While I do have a small grudge against Ben 10, I find that the sets are awfully, AWFULLY underrated.

I'll definitely buy one or two. I really like the limbs and torso. They look great for mocing.

[lightningtiger]

Well at least it does look like the character from the series, so he might be worth getting at least !

It can even be posed like in the series - cool !

My mind is still open on the rest !

Thanks 'Parchisco' for this review !

I'm a conformist! !

[Siegfried]

Thanks for the review. These sets don't interest me... at all. They are way too specialised and I hope that this is going to be a one wave theme.

I really don't know how to do a rating here because of the mix feeling, really wish that I can create a poll to know your opinion regarding this design trend. Such as: accept/agree, reject/disagree, observing, or no opinion (don't really care), I am doing such a poll in a Greater China forum and the interim result is quite interesting.

Done!

Even the new Hero Factory sets look too Bionicleish for what is supposed to be a total relaunch.

Yeah, that confused me too! I was expecting a compete rejection of the semi-organic look...

[Clone OPatra]

I'm with Seigfried, not interested.

I'd heard/read that these sets were made of crappy plastic, what is your opinion on that?

Even though these are more compatible and LEGO-ish than Galidor, I still see this as Galidor 2. Unless there are some system sets too, I hope this doesn't last long, but there has to be four more sets, right? Since it is Ben 10…

[Grimmy]

Great review. Nice pictures too. The colors and character, and the many points of articulation look like it would be a great figure for stopmotion animation.

What? 21 pieces for $15! Thats a rip off!

Are these pieces newly molded for the Ben 10 series? That would be my only guess as to why it would be this price.

I don't know much about Ben 10. I'm a bit confused because on the cartoon channel I've seen cartoon animated commercials of a Ben 10 show but the channel has also showed a live action movie with real people called Ben 10. I asked my niece if she knew what it was and she says it's a cartoon. I looked it up on wikipedia and it describes Ben 10 a kid who has a watch I think it was, which can change him into various things?

[Brickus]

Thank you for the review, now that I have seen the pieces close up I still don't like these sets at all, and I won't be purchasing any of them.

[Makuta Plasmix]

That.. that torso is from hero factory!

Edited February 2, 2010 by Makuta Plasmix

[Lavalizard78]

This is the first time, after 8 years, that I say, megabluck you, LEGO.

[Tereglith]

I think that, out of all of the Ben 10 sets, this one is the best. That said, I still voted "Bad". The price per piece ratio is at the level of DUPLO, and the pieces are far more specialized than Bionicle pieces (which were at least technic-compatible). I will concede that the colors are good, and there are KNEES (Thank God, KNEES AND ELBOWS!), but that doesn't save this set or any of them. I hope that the second wave of Hero factory gets back to Bionicle goodness in a way that these sets don't.

[CaptainRex110]

Wow. This line sucks! (IMO) It had to be said. Thanks for the great review, however, I must say that I now hate these "sets" even more. Very disappointing for these to bear the LEGO logo. I can't wait for this theme to end so that we can get back to Systemy goodness! (i.e. Star Wars )

[vexorian]

Thanks for the review. These sets don't interest me... at all. They are way too specialised and I hope that this is going to be a one wave theme.

Done!

Yeah, that confused me too! I was expecting a compete rejection of the semi-organic look...

It seems to me the whole idea with getting rid of bionicle was to have a lighter story with less baggage that could be introduced to new fans and was lighter than Bionicle's. I think set-wise even in 2009 they sold well so it was unlikely LEGO would change that aspect.

[squidman85]

The best Ben 10 figure(for the price).Because he has a tail(as the Humungosaurus and Jet Ray)and two more arms(that much better than big big head,new arms,wings and claws).

[Front]

You can actually give a set like this to a five year old boy or girl, and they will be able to build this without help. This is why I rate this product very high. It does come with limited usability even compared to the more specialised Bionicle parts, but it's a trade of that is acceptable. This is Lego, pieces in a very high quality, and yes you can moc this with Bionicle for sure.

One thing to notice for Bionicle moc'ers is that the leg with two ball cups, although lacking Technic and Cross-holes, and only featuring a Rod-hole, is in an all new lenght, namely 6 modules compared to previous 5 and 7 modules of the Bionicle ball-cup beams.

[metalandi]

If there would be an award for "worst line ever" this one would for sure win it. Sorry

[Bricknave]

You can actually give a set like this to a five year old boy or girl, and they will be able to build this without help. This is why I rate this product very high. It does come with limited usability even compared to the more specialised Bionicle parts, but it's a trade of that is acceptable. This is Lego, pieces in a very high quality, and yes you can moc this with Bionicle for sure.

One thing to notice for Bionicle moc'ers is that the leg with two ball cups, although lacking Technic and Cross-holes, and only featuring a Rod-hole, is in an all new length, namely 6 modules compared to previous 5 and 7 modules of the Bionicle ball-cup beams.

True.

Although most Moc'ers like myself dislike what appears to us as Bionicle-ized Duplo, it appears to the theme's targeted audience as an awesome building system. In-fact, if I were a 6 year old right now, I would probably want to get all six of the Canisters. Yes, it might be something we brainy Moc'ers hate, but this is probably a very financially smart move for LEGO.

Who knows? Maybe the little kids who buy and enjoy the Ben-10 "Constraction" Canisters might switch to good old LEGO System Sets in their future.

[Big Cam]

Excellent review, I did not know what these were going to look like, they are very bionicle'esqe

I actually think it's kind of cool (coming from a non-bionicle fan)

[vexorian]

What? 21 pieces for $15! Thats a rip off!

Well, it is a line meant for 5-8 years old kids! Everybody knows that making their parents pay exorbitant amounts of money for their toy is one of the top priorities of little kids... Eh, wait nope, the age range does not help at all to explain the price, sorry...

Seriously, if you were a parent, would you buy these things? Sure there is some build ability that is sort of interesting, but once the kid does the 19 connections, what else? it is not like these are the only option for a young kid. I mean, look at the sort of creator sets you could get for two bucks less: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=5866-1 Even if the kid was too young for creator, then he would be better off with duplo or megabloks...

Edited February 2, 2010 by vexorian

[LegoAlex11]

I think i would only be interested in these sets if they included a minifigure of the alien( so Spidermonkey would be a blue monkey peice with 6 arms and dark blue hands(Humungasor would be the same shape as Hagrid)

[Ratbat]

Was thinking about getting this one for the large amount of limbs, but I think I'll get Swampfire. I actually think these sets are cool, because:

1. The style. They have loads of it. I love the cartoon look.

2. Articulation. I like the fact that the ankle joints have been turned 90 degrees. Allows for more wide-stance poses.

3. Parts. I'll build the figure, but I don't think it will stay built for long. By turning around the limbs, you can attach some armor. I actually have a few ideas in my head. The torso is wonderful, and so are the claws.

Although I'm not sure why these are $15. I've always thought the price to piece ratio was complete bullsh*t, and still do, but surely they don't have to be THAT much. But eh, an extra $5 won't kill me.

Edited February 2, 2010 by Ratbat