The LEGO® Super Mario Character Packs have been a fun and cheaper way to add many new characters from across the Mushroom Kingdom to the various Expansion Packs. The format of the Character Packs has changed somewhat for the 5th series. Instead of 10 characters to collect, there are now only 8 to collect and they are a little more substantial compared to the first 4 series. The bigger-sized characters also mean the packaging has been changed. But who appears in the fifth series of characters? Here’s my review upcoming new series of LEGO Super Mario Series 5 Character Packs.
Product Description
Kids can take their LEGO® Super Mario™ adventures to another level with collectible toy Character Packs – Series 5 (71410). Each pack contains a mystery buildable character with an Action Tag, plus a small build to use as a display stand or to enhance level play. There are 8 LEGO Super Mario characters to collect: Nabbit, plus a Purple Toad, Hammer Bro, Waddlewing, Toady, Baby Yoshi, Red Yoshi and Blue Shy Guy. Each is designed to be used with a Starter Course set (71360, 71387 or 71403), which is required for interactive play. Printed and digital building instructions A fun anytime gift or reward for kids aged 6 and up, each pack includes a building guide. Also, find instructions on the LEGO Super Mario app, plus digital viewing tools to add another dimension to the building experience. Unlimited possibilities LEGO Super Mario toy playsets bring Super Mario™ characters into the real world. The Starter Courses and Expansion Sets let builders expand, rebuild and create unique levels.
- Set Name: Character Packs – Series 5
- Set Number: 71410
- Pieces: Varies
- RRP: £4.99/$5.99/5.99€
- Action Bricks: Nabbit, Purple Toad, Hammer Bro, Waddlewing, Toady, Baby Yoshi, Red Yoshi and Blue Shy Guy
- Availability: August 1st, 2022
The change to how the Character Packs are presented means some of them have appeared in similar forms in previous LEGO Super Mario sets, along with a few new characters making their debuts. Each of the characters is still entirely brick-built and also features printed elements, continuing the trend of forgoing the need for stickers. Each character also includes a pre-applied Action Brick tag, these provide coins, power-ups and extra lives when scanned by both LEGO Mario, LEGO Luigi and the new LEGO Peach interactive figures. They also include a themed display base, which shows off the various characters in a cool way and allows them to be easily incorporated alongside other LEGO Super Mario Expansion Sets.
These display bases use a unique island plate and are themed to different biomes, found across the LEGO Super Mario sets and are also recognised by the trio of interactive figures. As the characters are a little bigger they now come mounted on a larger island plate, which also allows a little more detail to be added.
Although the inspiration for most of the LEGO Mario sets comes from the original 1985 game, the Character Packs have enemies from NES days right through to more modern Nintendo Switch outings. So here is a look at all eight characters found in the new style boxes. On a side note, I was sent a full box and it contained 2 full sets of characters. The order they appear below, matches the order in the box from front to the back of the box, each row is in the same order.
LEGO Super Mario Characters – Series 5
Nabbit
The kleptomaniac Nabbit first appeared in the 2012 Wii U title, New Super Mario Bros. U. This rabbit-like creature has become more cubic in LEGO form, but its overall look has been captured perfectly. It includes a trio of printed elements including the eyes, its fake grin painted on a scarf and a 2×2 tile featuring a mushroom, on the sack Nabbit is carrying. The Action Brick will bestow upon you various items including coins and power-ups.
Purple Toad
The happy-go-lucky Toads have a very similar appearance, with this one having a purple colour scheme. This could tie it to the Mailtoad character from Super Mario Galaxy. The build is identical to other versions of Toad, with a unique element used for Toad’s mushroom cap. This features purple dot print detail, with the head and body also including printed details. As a friendly character, the Action Brick doesn’t appear on the Toad character but on the platform, it stands on. Scanning it gives you coins.
Waddlewing
Waddlewing is another recent Mario character who was introduced in New Super Mario Bros. U. It’s a sort of flying-squirrel type enemy, with the LEGO version depicting it in flight, so its little wings are nicely recreated with slope bricks. Its printed face is rather angry-looking, matching how it looks in the games. The Action Brick is found on the tail and gives coins when hit. Waddlewing has the best display platform, with a cloud sitting atop a vine.
Red Yoshi
Yoshi is not actually a character but a species and there are many different colours of these hungry little dinosaurs. We met many of the different coloured Yoshi in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and again in the adorable N64 classic, Yoshi’s Story. As is the case with other versions of the same characters appearing elsewhere, Red Yoshi’s build is identical to other Yoshi’s but does switch out the pair of quarter tiles for a new half 2×2 round tile and it looks much better. Similar to Toad, Yoshi is a friend and so its Action Brick is found on the display plate, scanning it lets you ‘ride’ Yoshi and ‘eat’ any enemies you scan whilst doing so.
Blue Shy Guy
Similar to Yoshi, the Shy Guys are mainly used as generic characters and have appeared in various different coloured robes. They were introduced in the Japanese-only NES title, Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which was later rebranded and tweaked to include Mario characters, where it became Super Mario Bros. 2. The build is identical to other versions of the character, obviously with the red outfit switched to blue. The Shy Guy’s Action Brick gives you coins when scanned.
Hammer Bro
The Hammer Bro are members are Bowsers grand Koopa Army. They first appeared in the original 1985 classic, Super Mario Bros. So it’s quite surprising it’s taken so long for them to appear in LEGO form. It uses similar parts to other Koopa Troopa’s but adds the helmet and of course, a hammer. The Action Brick requires multiple hits or a power-up to take down the Hammer Bros.
Baby Yoshi
Yoshi has appeared in LEGO form in a couple of different sets and in different colours. This character depicts a newly hatched Baby Yoshi, first seen in Super Mario World. The difference compared to normal Yoshi is a stout version of the dino, something captured surprisingly well in its LEGO form. Action Brick allows one of the interactive figures to ride it, but for a shorter period of time compared to normal Yoshi.
Toady
The Toadies are followers of the Magikoopa, Kamek and first popped up in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. They have a similar look to the magical Kamek and have similar details in LEGO form. So the eyes are two 1×1 round tiles instead of being printed on a brick. Its red smock is really well done and also integrated the Action Brick, which gives you coins.
Although the LEGO Super Mario sets have divided fans, the Characters Packs seem to have more fans as they don’t require digital instructions. Each box includes traditional instructions. They are also cheaper than the large Expansion Packs, although this new series has been a price rise due to the characters becoming a little bigger in size. I wouldn’t say I prefer the difference compared to the previous series but I do like the new direction as it’s allowed some more characters to be transformed into LEGO versions.
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These sets were 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 or Nintendo. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
11th August 2022
Thanks for sharing the order the individual packs appear in the carton! That way we can buy only the figs we want. I’m not a fan of the boxes – they keep us from feeling the contents, they aren’t recyclable, and there’s a plastic bag holding all the pieces, so it’s definitely not an environmentally friendly decision. 🙁