For the final of my LEGO® Super Mario 2022 Expansion Set reviews, we stay on the beach with a face-off with Big Urchin. This is one of the largest of the upcoming expansion sets and includes a number of really fun play features, in particular, a rollercoaster track-mounted dolphin and a bridge flanked by a pair of Cheep Cheeps. But what does it add to the already bustling world of LEGO Super Mario and is it worth adding to your collection? Here’s a closer look Big Urchin Beach Ride Expansion Set.
Product Description
Create an action-packed level with the LEGO® Super Mario™ Big Urchin Beach Ride Expansion Set (71400) for ages 7 and up. It features a roller coaster with a Dolphin LEGO figure for LEGO® Mario™ or LEGO® Luigi™ (figures not included) to ride on while trying to shake the Super Star Block out of the palm tree and topple a Big Urchin. Make Cheep Cheeps ‘leap’ by jumping on the bridge and collect more digital coins for spectacular dives off the springboard and fun interactions with the Yellow Yoshi toy figure. (Note: the 71360 or 71387 Starter Course is required for interactive play.)
- Set Name: Big Urchin Beach Ride Expansion Set
- Set Number: 71400
- Pieces: 536
- RRP: £54.99/$69.99/69.99€
- Action Bricks: Cheep Cheeps X 2, Diving Platform, Dolphin, Big Urchin, Yoshi Platform & Star Block
- Availability: January 1st, 2022
Although Mario’s most famous beachside outing is the GameCube classic, Super Mario Sunshine, his brick-built seaside adventures are inspired by New Super Mario Bros. on the Wii. The set includes a circular track, which is home to a speedy dolphin and a huge Urchin enemy. This aspect of the set is the main focus of the build and includes a couple of fun functional play features. Namely, the dolphin is built around a rollercoaster carriage, which sits on a circular track. Once LEGO Mario or Luigi is placed on its back, you can move the dolphin around the track using one of three extension rods around the outside of the track. The fourth sits underneaths Big Urchin’s rocky perch and as the track tilts it causes a Technic beam, along with two water jets to shoot up. This is merely a fun visual feature connected to the track.
As the dolphin passes by Big Urchin, providing someone is sitting on its back, it will eventually cause the large sea creature to fall from its perch, giving access to the Action Brick on its back. But you’ll need to scan a Power Star block first. There is one latched onto the palm tree in the centre of the track section. As the track moves the tree also jiggles and the block falls with ease.
Other play features include a diving board, this as an Action Brick on it and once LEGO Mario or Luigi springs on it and lands in the water plate beneath, you grab a few coins as well as being treated to a satisfying splash sound effect.
There’s a bridge section, flanked by two Cheep Cheep fish, these are mounted on a pair of clear rods and a mechanism running between the two. The central slat on the bridge can be slammed, causing the two fish to leap back and forth. This is a great way of capturing the Cheep Cheeps attacks from the games.
The LEGO Yoshi clan gains another member thanks to this set. So far we’ve been treated to a classic green Yoshi and a pink one, this set includes a yellow one. As is the case with non-enemy characters, its corresponding Action Brick is mounted on a plate in front of it. This gives you a cheery greeting when scanned as well as some bonus coins as you play on.
Beyond the playable sections of the set, there are a couple of extra connector plates and islands to bring all aspects of the set together. But obviously, it’s the main island which is where you’ll have all the fun, blasting the dolphin around the track as coins ping upon LEGO Mario’s screen is oddly hypnotic and the way other features are built into the set is almost as satisfying. I’ve been impressed how the LEGO Super Mario Design Team have been able to translate the much-loved gameplay of the Mario games into a physical play experience. It’s not always a 1:1 translation but the inspiration of gameplay combined with the ability of physical bricks really does give you a taste of the magic woven into Nintendo’s numerous game consoles and handhelds.
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This set was provided to BricksFanz.com by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Nintendo. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
