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Thanks for this review Brickster I really like the colour scheme and design of the tower. There are plenty of lovely details in the construction which gives the set a nice organic feel. My complaints about the set however are definitely towards the lack of furnished interior. There is a lot of empty space in there with plenty of potential which is just begging to be filled with kegs, tables, weapon racks etc. I was going to dedicate much of the Castle Advent Calender to fill up the larger castle set, however it seems I'll be putting an advent calender to use in making the Prison Tower more interesting too.

I was in my local TRU (Newmarket, Ontario) again today to check up on set availability. New since last weekend: 8078 Portal of Atlantis 5868 Ferocious Creatures 5892 Sonic Boom 3181 Passenger Plane 3221 LEGO City Truck No collectible minifigures, Kingdoms, or Star Wars.

Thank you so much for this review! This is easily one of my favorite Castle sets of all time (and one of my favorites regardless of theme). The castle is so eye catching, thanks to both it's size and amazing design. This set has got so much going on, there are seemingly endless details and hidden features. As with many older castles, there are plenty of wonderful minifigures and horses for them to ride on. I could honestly go on all day about all the great aspects of this set, it truly is an example of Lego castles at their best.

Another amazing recreation! You've really captured the shape well, and done a fine job on the details. Regarding the length of the pylons, it seems that they are perhaps just one stud too long on either side. If the distance between the cockpit and the little cutout midway along the pylon was one stud shorter, then it would be perfect. That's a very minor nit-pick though and overall it looks fantastic.

Well, since I got sucked into this thread, I might as well wish you a happy early birthday while I'm here. Best wishes, as I hope you have a fabulous day!

Thanks for this wonderful look at the Space Police Central! I had a lot of doubts about this base back when we first saw the preliminary pictures, but that's excellent proof that you shouldn't pass final judgment on a set until it's been officially released. If there is one more SP3 set that I have to pick up, it's definitely this one. The set is very reminiscent of space bases from the late 80s and early 90s, but with updated parts and building technics. I still say the base is a sci-fi version of Poolside Paradise, but that doesn't detract from it's awesomeness. I'm glad to see that I was right about those being garage door panels placed so that it slides horizontally - a very neat feature. I appreciate the amount of details in the main dome area, as well as in the smaller room beneath where those two mini-ships dock. I feel the amount of minifigs is very low for a set this size, however the baddies are great. This is a small complaint and is easily overlooked thanks to the fantastic base design and play features.

Thanks for the review! These World Racer sets look like they will be real winners in the playability department. The designs are very creative, and they seem to be loaded with functionality. An extra nod has to go out to the wild looking minifigs as well. I'm really not a fan of the excessive sticker usage (I don't mind applying them, I just always have fears of them getting damaged over time), but this set doesn't look too shabby with them left off as you've done.

Thank you very much for the lovely review! I definitely look forward to picking up all the sets in the Kingdoms line, and this castle is one of my favorites of the bunch. I don't mind that the castle is more compact than King's Castle Siege as it gives the impression of offering more substance and better defensive capabilities. My biggest complaint is the lack of details on the interior. The new Harry Potter Hogwarts is packed full of interesting details and accessories, where as this Kingdom's offering is quite bare. I'll definitely be modifying the interior by adding the contents of the castle advent calendar. I love the included minifigures as well, though it's a shame that the white printing is so thin that it appears light pink. Overall, King's Castle seems like a step in the right direction, though for the next outing I'd like something less retro looking (As in this being very reminiscent of early Lego castles. My preference would be to see a unique design not seen before) and with more details/accessories and functions/traps.

I have always found it a bit odd that some would go out of their way to collect sets that they honestly don't really like, just so that they can get one minifigure, or so that they can work towards completing a theme. Perhaps it's because Lego is an expensive hobby, and I simply don't have the cash to pick up all the sets I'd like to, but I always buy the set that I know I'll be the most satisfied with. I simply can't afford to go buying all the sets in a theme for completion sake, first because it's expensive, and second because it's very rare that all the sets in a theme are genuinely worth owning. Also, if the sets that are currently available don't really interest me, I don't go out buying them just to satisfy my spending needs, or to say that I own a set from *insert name* theme. Instead, I look to the past dozens of years in which I would have missed out on loads on truly amazing products, and I pursue some of those classics that I really desire. For example, just recently when the Atlantis theme first became available - none of the sets really seemed like 'must haves'. So instead of jumping aboard simply to have the latest, I went for a set that I'd been craving since 1998 (Pharaoh's Forbidden Ruins). Anyways, I don't want to rant any further, as everyone has their own preferences in their collection of Lego. Thanks for the read Brickster, I always enjoy your thought provoking articles.

I'm just about certain that I like the figs in series 2 more than those in series 1, and I thought the first batch was outstanding. TLC seems to be out doing themselves all the time! As of now I'm in love with the Mexican (?) minifigure. The poncho, sombrero, and maracas are some of the greatest minifig accessories I've ever seen. I simply love the diversity of all the characters! Series 2 looks like another winner.

The Space Police Central has really grown on me. After checking out the box at my local TRU I became aware of even more details that I had not noticed before. For example, at the right hand side where those two mini flying vehicles can land, there is a room beneath them. In the room is a pair of chairs, a table, and a coffee maker. It's nice that in addition to the command area in the large trans domes, that there is a secondary office too. It's small details like that which I really appreciate. I'm finally convinced of this being a worthy space base.

That advent calender sure will go a long way to filling the castle with lots of nice odds and ends which it is currently lacking. The included minifigures are wonderful, and the choice of mini sets and accessories are really great. It will be a shame if the battle packs do indeed end up being of inferior quality. For me, they really look like the perfect army builders, and if I can ever get them for a satisfactory price then I'd be happy enough to pick up a couple of packs.

Thanks for the very detailed review! I'm going to be taking the plunge for the first time with Lego trains, and this is the set I look forward most to getting. It really is a thorough kit with plenty included for maximum playability. I too would have liked to have seen the lights added for example, but had you not pointed it would I probably would not have missed them. I've got a few dozen rechargeable AA batteries, but only a handful of AAAs. It will be interesting to see how efficient this solution is, though I see myself springing for the separate rechargeable battery box. Thanks again for the wonderful review.

Thanks for the find. Ouch for Schumacher! Though it seemed nasty that he overtook Alonso there, the commentators made it sound like it was a legit move. Jeez, getting bumped down to 12th place for that little stunt. What was Schumacher thinking?

1 car down, 23 remaining ... 12 cars down, 12 remaining That race sure had it's toll on the cars. I was expecting chaos and Monaco delivered. There were some nasty crashes in there, but it sure made things exciting. I was extremely pleased to see Alonso make that pit after the first lap and then make his way through the field knowing he wouldn't have to pit again while everyone else would. He really earned his spot in the top ten, and I was annoyed to see Schumacher pass him at the very end to steal 6th. Still, lots of great driving by many, so good job to them all.

Just reporting that many of the summer sets are starting to appear on shelves at TRU in Canada. Stopped into my local store in Newmarket (Ontario) and spotted the following: City 3182 Airport - $130 World Racers 8896 Snake Canyon - approx. $15 8863 Blizzard's Peak - $70 Space Police 5983 Undercover Cruiser - approx. $35 5984 Lunar Limo - approx. $55? 5985 Space Police Central - $110 Atlantis 8076 Deep Sea Striker - ? 8077 Atlantis Exploration HQ - $70 Hopefully these are or will be available at the rest of the stores across Canada. With any luck we may see other sets becoming available soon too.

So it seems Alonso had his accident during the third practice? A shame indeed as he was on fire in Monaco during the other sessions. I'm sure he'll have one heck of a race tomorrow anyways. Kubica! He dominated Q3 until the very end, good for him. Second on the grid is still going to be a great start for him. There were a lot of close shaves during qualification - with cars nearly out of control. With all the pressure during the race tomorrow, it's going to be nuts on the track. Here's looking forward to one heck of a race

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Thanks for the newer pics. Hogwarts is an absolute must have, and personally I think it's the best version of the castle yet. It's made up of far less massive wall pieces than previous incarnations, and instead uses mostly bricky goodness. Assuming the interior is still the same as what we saw during the Toy Fair, then we'll be treated to loads of details and accessories. Some of the other sets aren't too shabby (particularly the Burrow), but they don't present the same wow/must have factor as the Hogwarts set.

I actually like this station a lot. I find it simple, yet visually appealing. It's been a very long time since we've had a station similar to this, and I'm happy to see this design return. There are some lovely little details as well, such as the flowers, that make this set feel "alive" and not as sterile as some other recent sets. The taxi is a bonus in my opinion, and I'm glad that it's included.

I definitely agree about the minifigures. I looks like there should be seating for about six figs on both the bus and tram (not including an extra seat for a driver). However, by the time you have someone driving the car, and someone on the bicycle, there will only be one civilian left to ride either the bus or tram. I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask for a minimum of one more minifigure (total of seven), though of course more would have been better. There road side structures are also very small. If one were to literally combined the three structures into one, it would be a bit of an improvement. As it stands, they look fairly empty and even unfinished. As you said, hopefully some of the other sets (Truck Stop, City Square) will help to tie things together better. I can't see this set being much more expensive than the current Garage. The piece count looks to be somewhere between 700-1000 parts, so it would probably just be the "Fans Choice tax" that might bump up the overall price.

This is tough. I collect a lot of different themes, and I love them all. However, my current mood leads me to vote for these three: Adventurers - Pros: Fantastic looking models, love-able minifigures, loads of accessories, unlimited playability. I fell in love with the Desert theme in 1998, and I've been hooked on every subtheme since then. Cons: Discontinued Space - Pros: When I was young, I mainly collected space sets. I've got a soft spot for space bases and ships. It's easy to use ones imagination to create different missions while swooshing a ship around. Lots of interesting pieces for building different mocs. Cons: I have unfortunately been fairly disappointed with recent offerings. Town - Pros: There are so many different subthemes and sets to choose from. Sure there are some underwhelming sets here and there, but there are countless classics too. If you collect LEGO, building your own town or city is a must. Cons: Hard to keep up with everything Honorable mention to Aquazone, Star Wars, Western, and Technic. I better stop now before I start naming off all the themes I like...

First reaction: "Hurray, pictures!" Second reaction: "Is that it?" I do find myself being a bit disappointed by what I am seeing. However, I am still extremely glad a set like this exists, and it's an absolute must buy. I guess my biggest complaint is that although there is a lovely tram, there is no track or motor for it. I understand why those would be left out (to cut down on costs), but if it's even possible to pop a battery box in one of the cars and add the motor, then you'll be left with significantly less tram (I even have my doubts about getting the thing running). I also can't help but feel like this is three sets thrown into one, and ultimately the end product is less than the sum of it's parts. The set seems very cold and sterile too - the little stops and shops are small. If these were on larger base plates, then perhaps some trees or flowers could have been added. At the moment there is an overwhelming amount of concrete and asphalt. More detailed dissection of the set: Tram - Nice colour and neat design. I like the stock look of it, however I see many problems sprouting up if one were to try to motorize it and getting it running on tracks. Bus - Another nice big vehicle, and in a less common colour. Cargo room below seating is a plus. Street sweeper - Small, simple, but realistic. A great addition to any city. Sports car - Though it's similar to the current red sports car, this new one is different. Seems to be fairly detailed. Stops, shop - A bit small and underwhelming. I would have liked to have seen one big station for everything with a shop built in. On the plus side, these little stops will fit along a road baseplate quite easily. Minifigures - Good diversity, and some newer parts being used. It would have been nice to have gotten at least two more minifigures, as currently the bus and tram will be empty. Verdict: Despite all the negativity, I'm still really looking forward to this set. I do feel this is a wasted opportunity, but it's much better than nothing and certainly a step in the right direction.

Thanks for the review. This is certainly an interesting looking set, however there are just too many negative points for me. Having not watched any of the Clone Wars episodes, I can't relate very well to these special characters, so the minifigs are not important to me. At first glance the vehicle looks impressive, but then you notice the spindly little axles, and general lack of details. There is an absolute bare-bones interior, and asides from being able to place the little walker and other odds and ends in the tank, there are not really any play features or working functions. So, with very little emotional attachment to the characters (Aayla Secura for a couple of seconds in Episode 3), only a very minimal amount of screen time for the tank, I can't use those as reasons to pick up this set. However even if I knew nothing about the vehicle or characters but had a very well made set, I'd definitely consider the purchase. In this case though there is just nothing that justifies a buy here for me.

Deep Freeze Defender for me as well. It's been my favorite ship since it was first released and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I've got a bit of a soft spot for the Ice Planet 2002 theme, but 6973 easily takes the cake as the best set in the line. That colour scheme is my all time favorite, and combined with the design of the ship means it's a huge winner in the looks department. Add in amazing playability and simply nothing else can appeal to me as much.