Gamers were introduced to the world of Horizon back in 2017. Developed by Guerrilla Games and released on PlayStation 4, Horizon Zero Dawn followed Aloy as she explored an Earth reclaimed by nature but inhabited by advanced animal-like machines. The adventures continue in the recently released sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. Now the game has inspired the first-ever PlayStation-inspired LEGO® set. As a fan of the game, I’ve been super excited to build this set so here’s a closer look at the LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck.
Product Details
Build the ultimate LEGO® brick model (76989) of the most iconic Horizon machine in the Forbidden West: the Tallneck. Use clever building techniques to capture authentic details of this Communications Class machine, from its smooth, disc-shaped head to its long, slim legs. Display the Tallneck on a stand with brick-built Horizon landscape details, including a birch tree and rusty stoplight. A new-for-May-2022 Aloy minifigure with weapons, plus a Watcher figure with a choice of blue, yellow or red eyes, complete a striking centrepiece.
- Set Name: Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck
- Set Number: 76989
- Pieces: 1222
- RRP: £69.99/$79.99/79.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 8
- Stickers: Sheet x 1
- Minifigures: Aloy plus buildable Watcher
- Instructions: Booklet x 1 + LEGO Building Instructions App
- Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online and General Retail
There are many mechanical creatures that roam the lush, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon. They are each inspired by real animals and were created to help repair the Earth after the Faro Swarm caused the extinction of life. Each machine was recreated to carry out a certain purpose. The Tallnecks have a similar appearance to a giraffe but on a much larger scale. They are found patrolling the lands and can be scaled by Aloy to reveal the surrounding area of the game’s map. They are also iconic parts of the Horizon series, often seen from far across the game’s sprawling open world. Making the perfect muse for a LEGO set.
And what a set it is, as soon as the LEGO Tallneck was first revealed, I knew I wanted to add it to my collection. It’s part of the LEGO for Adults range of sets, which have really propelled what’s possible from a LEGO set. No longer do they need to be suitable, in terms of the build difficulty, for kids. The Tallneck greatly benefits from this as it’s quite a complex build. This is needed to capture its unique shape as well as a lot of its detail. All the mechanical creatures of Horizon have a similar colour scheme, which is a mix of black and white components, with flashes of yellow used to note climbable sections. The LEGO version also uses sand blue and sand yellow elements to show some of the machines’ weathered sections. The blend of colours creates a striking looking build, especially when combined with the display base.
The Tallneck is mounted upon an oval-shaped plate which represents just a small section of the overgrown lands that were once the United States of America. This features a mix of lush greenery and some flashes of the old world, including a rusted traffic light and road. Admittedly, it does seem a little too green, maybe a different shade would have been better than classic bright green. But it does make the actual Tallneck pop again the colours of the base section. There are plenty of little nods to the game on the display base including tall grass to hide in along with red and blue flowers used to create potions. The Tallneck is connected to this scenic plate via four Technic pin plates, with each one slotting into a door of the machine.
But the Tallneck isn’t the only machine you’ll find in the set, as a Watcher is also included. These Raptor-like machines are one of the first Aloy encounters and are also one of the smallest machines to be created by GAIA. Despite the much smaller size and limited use of parts, the LEGO Watcher is a pretty cool recreation. You can even switch out the coloured stud used for its optical lens, to represent its varying stages of alertness.
The set includes one of the best minifigures to be released in recent times. Aloy is the lead character in both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Her minifigure uses a unique hairpiece, complete with Focus, which also pairs with print detail of the device on Aloy’s head. She’s also wearing her original Nora outfit, which is perfectly recreated, even with print detail on the arms. Aloy uses plenty of weapons in the games, so her minifigure includes a white bow and her special spear. It really is a great minifigure.
Review Round-up
If you are a fan of the Horizon games, this is the perfect set for you. In all honesty, even if you haven’t played the game this is a pretty amazing set. The build is great, the Tallneck looks incredible, the Watcher is cool and the Aloy minifigure is just amazing. It also has a decent price point for a licensed set. Do yourself a favour, please pick up this set. Not only will you have a great build experience, but it could also open the door to further Horizon sets and even more sets based on games.
For
+ Very detailed build
+ Perfectly captures a slice of the game
+ Aloy minifigure is amazing
+ An incredible set all-round
Against
– Green is a little too green
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