The latest wave of LEGO® Super Mario sets is mostly inspired by the more recent Mario games, with a heavy focus on the Wii U era of games. Although many of the enemies featured in these games have a long history within the world of Mario. This is the case with the set as both characters debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3 but their LEGO designs are inspired by their modern-day appearances. It’s another Expansion Set which is filled with working elements, Action Bricks and some interesting new elements. Here’s a look at the next LEGO Super Mario Expansion Set – Big Spike’s Cloudtop Challenge.
Product Details
Kids can create their own LEGO® Super Mario™ sky level with the Big Spike’s Cloudtop Challenge Expansion Set (71409). It features familiar challenges from the Super Mario™ video games and LEGO figures of 3 popular enemies – a Big Spike, a Boomerang Bro and a Piranha Plant. Players earn digital coins for helping their LEGO® Mario™, LEGO® Luigi™ or LEGO® Peach™ figures (not included) battle the Big Spike, jump on the orange Mushroom Trampolines to get to the Boomerang Bro, use the Super Star Block and more. (Note: the 71360, 71387 or 71403 Starter Course is required for play.)
- Set Name: Big Spike’s Cloudtop Challenge
- Set Number: 71409
- Pieces: 540
- Action Bricks: 7
- RRP: £59.99/$69.99/69.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 6
- Instructions: LEGO Super Mario App
- Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail From August 1st
The Big Spikes first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, as members of the Koopa army, they are commonly considered foes. They are often found throwing spiked objects at Mario and chums. The design of the Big Spike in this set is inspired by Super Mario World 3D, here they switched their normal spiked balls for a large spiked roller. The Boomerang Bro has had a similar change between games, originally appearing in a black shell, before becoming blue as it is in this set.
This Expansion Set is similar in style to most of the others, so it’s intended to become a section of a more significant level when connected to other sets. Because of this, it’s made up of several different sections, each connected with a number of plates. Many of them offer fun play features. Big Spike uses a new springer brick, which is connected to the arms. When the Action Brick plate is pressed down, the arms move back and when released, Spike throws the spiked roller.
The tall cloud-topped section features a pair of mushroom platforms, these act as a sort of see-saw. When each side is pressed down the large tower is rocked from side to side and hopefully, this will displace the Boomerang Bro standing on top of it. Finally, there is another see-saw-like build, which has been used in other Expansion Sets. This is more like a traditional see-saw, with the addition of a man-eating plant. Hitting each side of the see-saw causes the Pirahna Plant to flip from side to side.
The set also includes an interesting new element. It’s not one I’ve seen before and as the LEGO Super Mario sets don’t use the traditional instructions, I can’t find the element number. But it basically 2×4 plate on the base with a spring-mounted 2×2 column. It’s a single piece but made up of two sections connected by the springy bit. I could see it being used in interesting ways.
One of those springer bricks is also used on one of the two mushroom platforms, like most of the mushroom platforms in this latest wave, they have a pale red cap instead of the usual bright red. Along with these two mushroom platforms, there are two vine cloud towers. These use a stack of vines which are similar looking to the vine ropes from the Friends sets but are thicker and in sections, which makes them a lot more stable, plus they run up a clear Technic tower rod, which is another useful piece.
In terms of characters, the features 3, all of whom are bad guys. The main one is Big Spike, who is part of the Koopa Army and is best described as a frog-like creature. It’s been integrated into the set, which is unusual for the Mario sets. Most characters are included in the same way as the Boomerang Bro is. This is a buildable character with a similar appearance to many of the other Koopa Troopa. It uses a number of printed elements to capture its details including the eyes, beak, helmet and chest plate. They are joined by a Piranha Plant, which is found on the see-saw.
There are 7 Action Bricks in the set, they include a Super Star Block, with two on the Pirahna Plant see-saw, two on Big Spike along with one of the Mushroom Trampoline’s cloud tower and the Boomerang Bro. The enemy Action Bricks require a few ‘hits’ to take them down before you get coins unless the Super Star Block is scanned first. Due to the sky connection, it’s a nice companion piece for the 71405: Fuzzy Flippers and 71389: Laktiu Sky World Expansion Sets.
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This set was provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
