LEGO review #2 - Mars Mission LEGOs

OK, so instead of posting reviews we've been busy acquiring more review material! Today we take a look at Mars Mission. At first glance, I wasn't too crazy about these. I mean, hello, orange and white LEGOs? What is this, LEGO Creamsicle Mission? But months later, I'm totally into this product line. Check it out:

7648 – MT-21 Mobile Mining Unit: I love kits like this. First of all, it retails for only $10. Second, the value for your money is excellent. Included are the truck/lab, the detachable drilling unit, a miniature robot helper, one astronaut minifigure, and one alien (with jetpack!) minifigure.

The truck/lab is a neat vehicle. The sides flip up to reveal the portable lab, and the front opens and closes to allow the driver access. The drilling unit has a drill bit on an extending arm, and stabilizers that fold down to keep the unit from tipping over during drilling operations. The small robot helper clips on to the drilling unit, and has a small arm of its own to hold a crystal. The alien has a crystal-powered jetpack that snaps into his back.

The downside? Small pieces that come off easily during regular play. There’s an antenna/radar dish assembly that went straight into the parts bag, a 3-piece missile that clips on to the back, and a portable radio on the truck. The stabilizer feet on the drilling unit come off easily, and the portable saw often gets set aside. The miniature robot helper is a study in small parts in and of itself. And I’m not a huge fan of the alien’s jetpack – it looks cool, but falls off and falls apart too much in my opinion.

If you are looking to give Mars Mission a try, you really can’t go wrong with this kit. As long as you are prepared to deal with a lot of small pieces, it’s some serious fun. I give it a 7 out of 10.

7695 – MX-11 Astro Fighter: Another Mars Mission bargain ($5). You get a nifty little fighter craft, an astronaut, and an alien. The fighter’s wings can adjust up or down, as does the blaster cannon. The canopy opens and shuts, allowing easy access for your astronaut pilot.

The crystal on the cannon tends to fall off, and the cannon itself frequently comes apart right where the round pieces meet the square base. Other than that, I liked this kit so much I bought my boys a second one. 8 out of 10.

7647 – MX-41 Switch Fighter: Can you say dual-purpose? The Switch Fighter is a medium-sized spacecraft that can also turn into a six-wheeled vehicle, piloted by a stalwart astronaut minifigure. They are harried by an alien in his small black and green fighter. Once again I am pleased with what you get for what you pay.

The fighter fits together nicely, and the transition from spacecraft to vehicle is pretty smooth. There are two flick-fire missiles up top, and two missiles that clip on to the sides. Aft you will find a long orange tube with a white sled that can hold three crystals or one alien prisoner. The wingtips fold, and there are four movable fins – two on the nose, and two more on the top of the fuselage. The only downer for me were the small orange wingtip lights that seem to constantly fall off.

The alien fighter has that classic tech-meets-organic look. It is powered by two small engines and armed with four lasers/blasters. The lasers have limited movement on their small pylons. The alien pilot is secured in place nicely by a peg that fits into his back. His cockpit is an open-air affair, with two green curving beams on either side to keep him in place. The beams are tipped with some menacing red claws. This assembly flips up and down, much as a traditional glass canopy (think roller coaster safety bar). On my kit, the little claw that holds the crystal at the very front of the fighter keeps flipping upside down. And there are two green flames that attach to the engines – great for display, but not for hands-on play. Those are my only nitpicks with the alien fighter.

And since we are talking LEGOs instead of reality, you won’t mind that the Switch Fighter’s engines double as wheels when it’s in vehicle mode ;)

I give this distant cousin to Optimus Prime a solid 8 out of 10.

5616 – Mini Robot: This was a stocking…I mean, an Easter Basket stuffer. It’s one astronaut minifigure with his trusty robot pal. My kids call it the “Gonk Droid” in a classic case of cross-property pollination (in this case, Mars Mission meets Star Wars). The robot will topple over if you don’t position his feet to provide maximum stability. But his front opens and shuts, he has a pair of binocular eyes, and he can grasp his tools (a pick and a crystal detector) in his robotic arms. 5 out of 10.