The world of LEGO® is filled with various phases and abbreviations. AFOL is, of course, Adult Fan of LEGO, SNOT is short for studs not on top and BURP is used to describe big ugly rock pieces. The list goes on and it seems LEGO fans are too busy building to use full words or sentences. Which is why NPU is used to highlight areas of builds which make ingenious use of elements or nice use of parts. This can be used for LEGO sets of any size but are often used for detailed sets such as the Modular Buildings Collection. As I’ve found, this clever use of elements is why those sets are so greatly loved. The Modulars also acted as the inspiration for the first NINJAGO City set and of course the two additional sets to follow it, including NINJAGO City Gardens. But anything the Modular Buildings can do, NINJAGO City sets turns it up to 11.
Due to Brexit, those of use in the UK received the NINJAGO City Gardens review sets a little later than would have been preferred, so I’ll be reviewing the set a little differently. First up is the amazing use of parts across the set and how they are incorporated into small sections of the build to create an amazing level of detail to the bustling extension to NINJAGO City.
One of the first elements of NPU you’ll come across can be found within the watery foundations of the NINJAGO City Gardens. Here, sitting on an island is a lonely tree which leafy foliage crafted from green Wolverine claws and next to it is a neat looking rock, which upon closer inspection is a beanie hat. Another element often connected to Minifigures is a trans blue power blast used here as a jet of water babbling from an underground sewer.
The various buildings dotting around the ground level of the set are rift with interesting part usage. Paint Roller handles are used as pipes. The larger ski elements, often used on snow-based vehicles, frame a roof. Even the simplest element can be used in a usual way to amazing effect. I’d have never thought to use one half of a book cover as a window shelf.
It’s not all System elements getting a look in here. A Technic wheel rim, found on the Technic Ducati bike, is repurposed as a unique looking window.
Rising up the levels of the NINJAGO City Gardens, more elements often attributed to Minifigures are used to add various architectural flourishes. These include a mix of Asian conical hats, crown elements, Prime Empire ninja armour and even a snowflake, combine to create interestingly ornate looking details.
One of the coolest aspects of the set is a NINJAGO museum which celebrates the theme’s 10th anniversary by shrinking down a number of past sets into museum exhibits. The museum building also includes a number of examples of NPU. One is fairly obvious, with a curved piece of roller coaster track used on the exterior of the building. Inside and a little less obvious is the base of a chest element combined with a windowpane to create an amazingly little display case for a golden weapon.
Whilst on the subject of chests, they are used elsewhere in the set to create an interesting roof to one of the upper buildings. In fact, roofing is the source for quite a few examples of Nice Part Use. Blank game controller elements, black sausage elements and even rows of meat cleavers are all used to create amazing roof slopes on a number of different sections of the set. Even on the smaller memorial garden section, you’ll notice classic megaphone elements woven into the point of the pergola. Most of these aren’t that obvious until you start building them.
As well as roof-based sausages, Chen’s Noodle shop also uses a Minifigure to create a 3D sign. Simply twisting the legs around allows it to be connected to the building and create a unique looking sign above the doorway.
Towards the end of the build, you build a non-Minifigure called Scoop. This robotic character has clear inspiration from the classic LEGO Exo-force theme but uses current elements to create it. These include a baby carrier piece, normally worn by Minifigures to carry the baby figure. Instead, it’s filled with a transparent red brick to achieve its eyes. Roller Skate elements are used to connect the arms and the part created for Friend’s Zobo robot is also slipped into the character for good measure.
If you want a definition of NPU then look no further than the ninja hideout, found in the base of the cool-looking tower. The glasses elements introduced in the Go Brick Yourself BrickHeadz set are repurposed to create railings but it’s a small orange and white fish which truly represent NPU. This combines an array of crazy elements including the feet used on characters in the LEGO Super Mario sets, feathers used in Minifigure helmets and even a Star Wars Battle Droid torso. The result is an amazing koi carp.
All these impressive uses of elements, really add to the appearance of the set but also result in a great build experience. Opening a bag of elements to being greeted by masses of sausages or treasure chest lids and then seeing how they are incorporated into the section you are building is delightful. The journey across NINJAGO City Gardens isn’t over just yet. I’ll be taking a look at the numerous Minifigures found in the set as well as a more general look the overall set.
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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 the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
28th February 2022
Great article, thank you for pointing out all those details!