Review: 42622 Adventure Camp Archery Range
Posted by MeganL,
We've met some of the Friends at the cosy cabins in the Adventure Camp, two more at the Water Sports Centre. At this rate, it looks like the whole crew is spending time at the camp. The smallest set in this theme is 42622 Adventure Camp Archery Range, where two more of the Friends are refining their skills, this time at target practice.
Summary
42622 Adventure Camp Archery Range, 157 pieces.
£12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99 | 8.3p/9.5c/9.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
The smallest set in the adventure camp theme still provides some good play value
- Two minidolls
- Cute raccoon
- Good play value
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the box there four numbered bags, one 8x16 rounded plate, and instruction book, and a small sticker sheet. I didn't take a picture of the sheet as I expect you'll see them all in the set pictures.
Minidolls and animals
There are two minidolls in the set, both from the core cast. It's the first time we see Nova in the outdoors in this wave, and she's wearing a shirt with the camp logo underneath a purple cardigan. Autumn is joining her in this endeavour, equipped again with her prosthetic arm.
The cute Friends animal in the set is a raccoon, though I'm not sure what the link is to the archery, except that I hope the Friends don't think the raccoon is an appropriate target for their arrows!
Autumn also comes with an alternate expression - it looks like she's taking aim with her bow. Also included in this set (as with the others) is a book that features the collectable tile, which in this case features a bow.
The completed model
The smaller build for this set is a prep area that has a bow, a box for some arrows, and a scoreboard. Nova is winning, so it looks like she's translated her skills in gaming to an outdoor arena.
The main build includes the range, a tree, and a picnic area. The tree is constructed in the same manner as the trees in the other adventure camp sets.
The target is designed to be knocked over easily when struck by an area. The contoured portion of the archery range allows for the target to be moved forward or back, depending on how lucky the Friends feel about their aim.
Finally, there's a nice picnic area with a red and white blanket spread out. A water bottle is there to provide some refreshment, and two enormous sandwiches are included in the spread for when the Friends feel hungry. The sandwiches are so enormous, that the Friends might not mind sharing with a passer-by.
(Note: passer-by sloth not included in this set)
Overall thoughts
As one of the smaller sets, this has a lot of play value. Kids will have a great time working the bow and arrows toward the target. I like that there are two minidolls included in the set. This seems to be a good trend for including more minidolls in the smaller sets, and I'm glad to see it.
I don't know that you can say the target flopping down is a moving function, but with the bow and arrow setup, it's certainly not a static set (and a certain segment of the commenters will wonder why Nova has access to a deadly weapon). I'm not sure why a raccoon is included, though it is very cute.
The tree technique is good, and there are fun details. This is a nice pocket money set.
78 likes
25 comments on this article
I've never actually seen that shooting bow in action before. But I certainly ain't sifting through hundreds of YouTube reviews just to find that one feature.
I like this set, as shown by the fact that this is the first Friends set I've reviewed on Brickset. It has a nice-looking location build, two minidolls and a play feature too.
This is Nova we're talking about. Cute animals are always the target with her.
Good review! This set definitely brings back plenty of real-life summer camp memories for me, and hopefully kids will also enjoy using these sets to bring some of that sort of exciting outdoor fun into their LEGO play.
The build is naturally more basic than the larger Adventure Camp sets, but the big tree and mushrooms do a good job establishing the woodsy setting and maintaining consistency with the rest of the wave. I'm impressed by how playable the archery range is — the shooting arrow would be a nifty play feature on its own, but it's elevated even further by having a target that falls over when hit and can be re-positioned to change the "difficulty". The little picnic scene completes the model quite nicely, giving the Friends a relaxing spot to wait their turn to shoot (and to recharge and celebrate their achievements afterward)!
I like the characterization the sticker sheet provides Nova here, between the score sheet and her camp book. Both her competitive spirit and her analytical mindset are on full display here (the latter evidenced by the chart and mathematical formulas she's used to optimize her arrow's trajectory). Given her introverted nature and her high-tech interests, I have to imagine she wasn't looking forward to sleepaway camp nearly as much as her friends were, so I'm glad to see she's found a way to make the experience enjoyable for her!
This wave has also given the outdoorsy Autumn a great opportunity to take part in recreational activities that weren't accessible to her before getting her prosthetic arm — and given her second-place score, she's clearly taken quite well to archery! That said, it's a bit of a bummer that she doesn't get a camp book of her own (nor do Zac, Olly, or Leo in the other Adventure Camp sets) . I kind of wish the sticker sheets included alternate book cover stickers so you could choose which character you want each camp book to belong to.
My best guess about the raccoon's role is that it's here to try and steal the Friends' sandwiches while they're distracted on the archery range! After all, with their dark domino mask patterned faces and grabby little paws, they have a reputation as nature's little bandits!
Thanks for the review!
Is the alternate expression of Autumn a second mold? I do not recall seeing alternate expressions in friends set.
PS . a very nice review for a lovely set.
@kinggregus said:
"Is the alternate expression of Autumn a second mold? I do not recall seeing alternate expressions in friends set.
PS . a very nice review for a lovely set. "
Several recent Friends sets have included a second head with an alternate expression for a mini doll. Due to the shape of the mini doll head it can not be reversed like the completely round double sided minifigure head so this is the only way for mini dolls to have more than one expression.
Cut little set. City needs to do stuff like this, instead of another vehicle.
This set needs a Pugsley minidoll. And an extinct eagle.
Izzy from dreams showed up in friends land when my daughter built this. Friends and dreamz has quite a bit of crossover functionality.
Damn these "summer camp" sets would be fire if they were Town (minifig) instead of Friends (dolls). Glad I can skip them without the temptation!
It's the outdoors. Of course there's a raccoon!
@emQ said:
"Damn these "summer camp" sets would be fire if they were Town (minifig) instead of Friends (dolls). Glad I can skip them without the temptation!"
...or just forget about those minidolls and replace them by minigs instead. Feeling tempted already?
"(and a certain segment of the commenters will wonder why Nova has access to a deadly weapon)"
Well, yes, that.
But I'm also concerned that Nova has the highest archery score. That raccoon should be worried.
Autumn should be worried.
Love this set. All of the summer camp sets are very well done. The build isn’t all that crazy, but it’s an inventive little game that stands out among other sets in its price range.
Does the prosthetic hand attach to a standard bar size?
@konbinifriedchicken said:
"Does the prosthetic hand attach to a standard bar size?"
Yup! It’s essentially a shorter version of the bar holder with clip.
This set is a great little parts pack, especially on sale.
I love those €10-20 Friends sets , almost always come with at least 2 dolls and 1-2 small animals or some vehicle like a scooter, bicycle etc.
@Ridgeheart said:
"Of course Nova has the highest kill-count. Of course Autumn has an alternate expression where she winces with disgust and/or physical discomfort.
And of course 41755 is about to retire; there simply isn't enough room for Nova's grisly trophies. Did you honestly think that minifig-skull would be the last?"
Even before @MeganL said "(and a certain segment of the commenters will wonder why Nova has access to a deadly weapon)" I was thinking, "This set has Nova and an animal, oh I wonder what @Ridgeheart will say?
@paulvdb said:
" @kinggregus said:
"Is the alternate expression of Autumn a second mold? I do not recall seeing alternate expressions in friends set.
PS . a very nice review for a lovely set. "
Several recent Friends sets have included a second head with an alternate expression for a mini doll. Due to the shape of the mini doll head it can not be reversed like the completely round double sided minifigure head so this is the only way for mini dolls to have more than one expression."
Thanks for the answer. I was wondering as well.
As the bow is the main feature they should have included a 2nd one for the other Friend and more targets (rather than heads). I can imagine most kids will become tired of trying to stop the target falling over before firing the bow. A larger target supported on each side in a frame, so that it spins when hit would have worked better and stop the target getting lost.
Surely the trash panda will eat those giant sandwiches! Lovely parts pack with lots of little items in nice colours.
@konbinifriedchicken said:
"Does the prosthetic hand attach to a standard bar size?"
As has been answered, it does. And there is an extra in the set, offering interesting possibilities.
I just wanted to add that it is a very tight fit though. It really felt I had to use force to get it to connect with either a regular bar or Autumn's arm, and I do wonder if it will crack in the future.
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I've never actually seen that shooting bow in action before. But I certainly ain't sifting through hundreds of YouTube reviews just to find that one feature."
Same here, and I wish it was shown in this review. I remember when I first saw the Forest Men pop up in LEGO catalogs as a kid, I imagined those bows and borrows really worked. Obviously, I was somewhat disappointed when I found out they couldn't, so seeing LEGO making bows that can actually shoot arrows decades down the road is something that my 5-year-old self is really excited about.
Yes, please show more of the bow in use.
And I think those sandwiches are more like bait for Scooby-Doo than a random sloth (at least while there isn't a LEGO Yogi Bear).