Algernon

Well, my opinion is always slanted by what I look for in LEGO sets, which is design. That's mostly why I love the Ultra-Drill Walker so much; the design is top notch. Yeah, the legs don't really do anything, but they look good enough for that not to matter much to me. I also liked the Dropship from 2007, but that did suffer from the stupid orange tubes that constantly pour their contents onto the martian surface. I just don't like orange too much as a color; I never do anything with it, and now I have so much of it. I think white and black would have worked fine for this theme... would have looked like a real NASA expedition. If LEGO played that up a little bit, thought out the aliens a little better, and dispensed with the orange tubes I think this would have been an excellent theme. Even as it is I think it has an undeserved bad rap. As for stickers, they are the way of the future my friend. Don't blame Mars Mission, blame LEGO's cheap new policies.

Random thoughts on 2009 Castle... There aren't many Castle sets this year, and besides the big Troll fortress they don't look that appealing, but perhaps LEGO is setting us up for a huge release *cough*elves*cough* next year?

Heck yeah! Adventurers! This set isn't too special, but it's still Adventurers so I give it average. Good way to collect those awesome top hats.

This is very much a case-by-case basis for me. I have, in the past, picked up cheap ($10 and under) sets just for the figs and parts if they catch my eye. However, if I'm going to buy something more than twenty bucks, I have to have some kind of motivation besides the figs. I can always get them cheaper on BL and forget the set.

Been having rum again, Peppermint? The logical choice would be LEGO Town, since that involves less dying, but just for adrenaline I'd like to be in Mars Mission. Piloting huge industrial vehicles on the surface of Mars sounds like a lot of fun. I would just take the next shuttle back to earth when the crap-ariffic jellybean forces show up.

Besides the color scheme, how? The ugly orange tubes were taken out, the aliens were updated with a much improved commander, and vehicle designs were MUCH better, particularly the Ultra-Drill Walker (which remains one of my favorite Space sets to date). Even the alien spaceships were much improved, with better designs and cool techno-color stickers. Okay, the Hypersonic Operations Aircraft wasn't too great, but the Drill Walker and Crystal Reaper are both awesome sets, and the Infiltrator was at least decent and came with a cool MM robot. That's more than can be said for the 2007 wave, which only had one or two sets worth picking up at all... and even these weren't anything too special.

Oh, I suppose I forgot about that one. You're right, the colors were quite different. But I'll actually defend Mars Mission. In my opinion, the 2008 wave was actually quite good. If it's reputation hadn't been poisoned in 2007 I think it would have satisfied many Space fans.

I have to disagree with a few of your points. First of all, Star Wars is not Space and I wish people would stop mixing the two up. Star Wars is a licensed theme that has effectively replaced Space in recent years, but that doesn't make it the same thing. Space is a LEGO theme that contains many sub-themes and it actually has a connecting plot between many of these themes, albeit loose. Star Wars is a licensed theme and it has nothing to do with the universe that Space set up. It just follows the movies. While you could conceivably group the two together as LEGO sci-fi themes, Space is actually it's own theme and pretty well differentiated from Star Wars. I also have to disagree with your last point that it's held together with violence- while the sets LEGO markets are very much so, the previous point you made- which I agree with- kind of negates that fact. Since it IS a toy and it's completely driven by your imagination it's totally possible to make Space mocs that are intended for peace. I've seen it done. In fact: Futuron, M-Tron, Classic, Exploriens; all of these themes had no antagonist, and although some of the ships do appear to be armed, there was no violence at all and they could just as easily be transmission antennae judging by the look. There was no destruction going on here at all. Granted, in the newer themes Space is very much held together by violence, but my point is it doesn't at all have to be. I do highly agree with your second point though, that LEGO being LEGO you can make everything anything you want.

Space/Sci-Fi always has been and always will be my personal favorite LEGO theme/s. It allows the most imagination and creativity and it encompasses aspects of most other themes. It seems to allow the most free leg room to just sit down and do whatever you want with it. That's the main reason why I dislike Star Wars and Town. Town is a theme I find myself respecting but staying away from, because I can't see any motivation for collecting it other than creating a Town, and that seems incredibly monotonous and dull. Star Wars, or all licensed themes for that matter, is like the anti-LEGO. Almost nothing about them condones any kind of imagination. Sure, some of the designs are good and the parts can be terrific, but why the hell would I want to play in somebody else's world? I would just watch the movies for significantly less money. The joy of LEGO, in my view, is the ability to run with whatever you want to. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good lightsaber duel as much as the next guy, but I think it's completely out of place in LEGO. I can't understand why some people worship the theme and I think it's horrible that it's been eclipsing real Space for so long. Thank god for Space Police 3! Anyway, I love what I see people coming up with in real Space MOCing- Steam Punk, Sprocket, Military Space, Underwater Sci-Fi, etc. It's all so original and so well put together I have to say that I see the most imagination, passion, and effort in Space/Sci-Fi than any other theme. So yes, to me, it is the ultimate theme, and I'll never understand those Townies or SW heads.

Where on Earth did you get those minifig heads?? Awesome work!

Pretty damn nice. What's it called?

Rock Raiders for the win.

I'll have to agree with the majority here in saying that it would be unlikely, which is unfortunate because in my opinion Adventurers is way better than Indy.

Much improved.

Good thing I never really use pick a brick.

Your review is incredibly fleshed out and complete. Thanks a lot for putting time into this. However: This is kind of a lame way to grade a LEGO set. I don't actually like Star Wars that much, so giving it a 4/5 "because it's star wars and I LUUUUUUUUUUUV STAR WARS!!!!!!!!!111 <3 <3" isn't convincing me. Still, your review is great. I think the dropship looks pretty good, but the AT-OT is a little weak. And unfortunately the price will probably ultimately keep me away from this set.

Nobody should understand this post. Yet I know that plenty of people will and do.

People, this is best and worst sets, not themes. There have been a lot of good sets in the 2000s, and it's hard for me to pick an absolute favorite, but one of the best contenders would probably be the Ultra Drill Walker: There are a lot of others I like though. Of the worst, it's hard to say. A lot of the recent Star Wars sets have been totally abominable. For example: That set was really disappointing, and one hell of a rip-off. At least $10 overpriced. At least. However it's just about tied with this one. The construction is absolutely pathetic. The huge shaft of flick-fire missiles on top make me very sad.

I agree. It really underlined the idea behind LEGO. You can do anything you want with the set, it's not just the model on the front.

? I thought the ones at the Toy Fair ARE the first wave?

I certainly hope so. Does a June release sound realistic? My birthday is in June.

You mean we're actually getting a ground transport?

Lots of glowey. Great to see Insectoids getting some love, too. Nice work.

Yep, they've been posted in the SPIII topic. Look nice though. I will probably be getting my hands on the whole line.

Those look new to me. I wish we had a pic of Max Security Transport though. =(