Review: Shadow the Hedgehog
Posted by SetToBuild,
As discussed in the Mona Lisa review, organic figures and faces are challenging to represent in a brick-built format. However, at least in my experience, one of the most enjoyable aspects of building with LEGO is the challenge of designing something within limitations. With the growing palette of elements available these days, designers can tackle much more intricate forms.
Previously known for his work on Minecraft and Sonic sets with a younger target age range, LEGO Designer Aron Gerencser has now taken his first step into 18+ sets with 77000 Shadow the Hedgehog.
Summary
77000 Shadow the Hedgehog, 720 pieces.
£59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 | 8.3p/9.7c/9.7c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A surprisingly complex build to match Shadow’s complex personality
- Impressive building techniques
- Many element recolours
- Printed decorations
- Printed red poorly matches red bricks
- Fragile neck connection
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Build Experience
The set has many easter eggs for Sonic-savvy builders. The first of these is hidden away in the base. I first thought the rings referenced Shadow’s Limiter Rings, however, since there are only three, they are simply the series’ common collectable. Interestingly, this concealed box is the first appearance of the tall box element in red!
Since Chaos Emeralds amplify Shadow’s power, they are often on his mind. Therefore, a second shiny secret is found in the centre of Shadow’s brain. Here we can also see the anchor points for his head’s spines, which are attached by a series of technic beams and brackets on the back of the head.
The foundation of Shadow’s intricately sculpted head is made possible by stacks of brackets and SNOT bricks facing every which way. Since this is a Sonic set, it’s no surprise to see more gold rings hidden behind his chin, but they don’t seem to perform any function.
Unless I’ve missed something, this crab accompanying the back of Shadow’s mind is simply a representation of the Crabmeat enemy seen in various Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog games. Here you can also see an excellent usage of a rounded next to a spiked Technic element to provide detailed texture.
Completed Model
The completed bust stands about 20cm (8in) tall, which sounds small, but it’s almost the same depth so actually feels reasonably substantial on display. Unfortunately, I immediately noticed the head’s fragile connection to the base, and its top-heavy nature makes it difficult to pick up without dropping the head, flinging spines across the room—I learned this the hard way.
The shell element used as Shadow’s forehead creates the perfect scowl. Initially, I was pleased to report that this piece was sealed in its own bag! Unfortunately, micro scratches still managed to tarnish the surface.
The black elements printed with red don’t look too bad in photos, but in person, you can quickly identify the mismatching red shades. It doesn't ruin the whole experience, but the inconsistency means that some of the contrasts can be pretty egregious.
There’s clearly been great care and attention in using various sloped elements and unusual hidden techniques to create Shadow’s head, fur, and quills. Each spine is built on a SNOT-based ‘core’ and attached to the head with technic axles, which are angled to connect them in their intended position.
As complex as the build is with its mixture of Technic and system parts, the assembled model does well to cover most unsightly gaps. Any remaining exposed structural pieces of the interior are blended into the shadows cast by the dark pieces.
All the decoration in this set is printed, including the red detail on the back of the model for accuracy. This makes the bust attractive from all angles, which improves its versatility for display.
Although there aren’t many small parts to have spares, there are a couple of good ones: two extra gold rings, and an extra chaos emerald to give Shadow even more power!
Conclusion
I’ve been impressed by some of the techniques used in the Star Wars Helmet subtheme, but this is the most MOC-like construction in a ‘bust’ style set I’ve seen so far. It has detailed and accurate shaping, unusual connections—and unfortunately is quite fragile! Because the construction is so complex, it invites you to pick up and investigate the intriguing techniques, which only leads to disaster.
When compared to that range of helmets, the price per piece and total price compare reasonably, and it appears more substantial overall. It also has considerably more pieces than the less well-received 76285 Spider-Man's Mask and 76187 Venom, which were at the same price point.
As the main character, Sonic might have been the obvious subject, but I’m glad that this model is of Shadow. Printing process limitations aside, the black and red colouring makes for a more visually interesting display than an all-blue Sonic would have been. This 18+ set is based on a traditionally young children’s IP, one whose original fans are now in their late twenties and firmly within LEGO’s Adults Welcome target audience.
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40 comments on this article
From the front, top, and behind it looks pretty good (those spikes are pretty ingenious). Just don't look at it from the side (or the fact that it's a head on a pole)!
CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?
Poor decapitated Shadow
It's odd how some of it, particularly the forhead, looks really smooth and polished (due to the large pieces) but then that doesn't carry over to the rest of it, which is made from smaller bricks. It simply doesn't flow well, which is pretty sad, as I am excited to see other IPs getting busts other than marvel, starwars, and dc. Is there any other ones?
The red prints indeed don't look that bad in the pictures, and at least the opacity seems decent, which is all the more surprising considering it's on black. Is it really the tone that's off, or is it more the texture?
A poor showing for the ultimate life form.
Seems nearly every angle on this has a flaw of some kind. Straight on the eyes are too wide appart and the nose/muzzle section too narrow, from the side theres too much gapping again around the nose. Oddly the back is the best looking part. It gives too much of the 'head on a pike' look however like Shadows been decapitated, rather then this being a bust.
Also, I question the point of the easter egg parts when you can't see or access them without disassembling the model. Surely its just an excuse to push up the part count and the cost when they don't do anything for structural integrity, or play/display value.
@WizardOfOss said:
"The red prints indeed don't look that bad in the pictures, and at least the opacity seems decent, which is all the more surprising considering it's on black. Is it really the tone that's off, or is it more the texture?"
I'd say its the use of the textured slope parts, right next to the smoother printed sections and bricks that throws things off more then the colour match.
I still don't want a severed head on a pike.
For those in the UK, this one is only sold via Very and LEGO. Very currently have it £10 off at the moment.
@Classicsmiley said:
"I still don't want a severed head on a pike."
Highly unusual for the comments section!
Looks like a knockoff at first glance, not sure if it’s the wonky design or weird translucent stickers
I like it. Looking forward to seeing MOCs that use warm tan for non-skin tone purposes.
@b2_O said:
"CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?"
Not pieces just piece, they only make that one ring piece in chrome.
@ClutchPowers7306 said:
" @b2_O said:
"CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?"
Not pieces just piece, they only make that one ring piece in chrome. "
'One ring to rule them all,
one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all
and in the Chromeness bind them'
Cool set, but a hard pass.
Shadow the Hed
@Andrusi said:
"Shadow the Hed"
that hogs space on the shelf.
It's a good job I don't do these Sonic reviews any more lol. I honestly think this might be the worst official Lego set I have ever seen. From no angle does it look like him. Why make it?
We can fairly compliment this thing for having printed parts and complex, intricate building techniques all day long (I've perused the instructions, it is pretty clever how they've put this together) but the end result looks offputting and wonky and strange from nearly every angle... and I think the reviewer might agree with me, because the text of this article is conspicuously lacking in opinions of how the final product looks on display! Surely that's the point of reviewing a display-only set like this?
@PicnicBasketSam said:
"...the text of this article is conspicuously lacking in opinions of how the final product looks on display! Surely that's the point of reviewing a display-only set like this?"
Lots of opinions are in there, but I make you read the article for them!
How about this: Display good! 10/10 (Just don't ever pick it up) :)
This set makes me feel better about myself.
Great review. Sad that Lego quality has diminished to this point. Fragile design, scratches, poor color-matching, it's horrible.
I've built most of the other helmets and they are quite sturdy. How did this one pass review?! The amazing thing is the finished model looks good.
Jang is now doing reviews of non-Lego sets, and reports thier quality is higher than ever. @AustinPowers will be so proud.
@MisterBrickster said:
" @Classicsmiley said:
"I still don't want a severed head on a pike."
Highly unusual for the comments section!"
Nova disagrees with this post.
@b2_O said:
"CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?"
WALK INTO MY MYSTERY
@Billbuilds said:
" @b2_O said:
"CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?"
WALK INTO MY MYSTERY"
STEP INSIDE AND HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE
@Classicsmiley said:
"I still don't want a severed head on a pike."
Not even as a warning to the next ten generations that some 'favours' come with too high a price?
I've seen Sonic heads on a stick as ice cream treats sold by traveling vendors - however, Shadow's head on a stick is a new one to me.
@Classicsmiley said:
"I still don't want a severed head on a pike."
They used to do that all the time in jolly old England with the spikes on bridges. Just ask Oliver Cromwell - he was dead quite a while then they dug him up and put his head on a spike when the monarchy was restored! (Cromwell's the guy who had led the Parliamentary Army that deposed the English king Charles I, who, coincidentally, also lost his head!) See here for all the details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War
@StyleCounselor said:
"Jang is now doing reviews of non-Lego sets, and reports thier quality is higher than ever. @AustinPowers will be so proud."
I must admit, the first time I saw Jang so happy and amazed at how good some alternatives were, it made me smile. Because if someone as neutral and balanced as him can be so enthusiastic about an alternative product, everyone can.
The perfect thing I need so I can find that damn chaos emerald.
So much effort is put into techniques for a set that still doesn't look right and pass the correct silhouette tests. I'm not going to be as picky as some Sonic fans that argue about specific quill length or relationship between eye shape and muzzle, but from the angles that matter most it just doesn't work - specifically, his upper left and right spikes shouldn't be that low and be that inward; his front profile shouldn't be a triangle - if anything, the shaping looks like a Metal Sonic head that was repurposed into being Shadow for the marketing campaign. (Honestly that makes way more sense for the Helmet Collection...) It would also explain how sloppily the eye corner streaks are done, making them be tiles on the sclera that leave way too much white peeking through.
So I looked up when Shadow first appeared (2001) because I had a thought. What if you could take this back in time to when he made his debut and show it to someone who was into both Lego and video games? Fragility aside, there are so many pieces in this thing that didn't exist then.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @ClutchPowers7306 said:
" @b2_O said:
"CAN YOU SEE ALL OF ME
Wait, they still make chrome pieces?"
Not pieces just piece, they only make that one ring piece in chrome. "
'One ring to rule them all,
one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all
and in the Chromeness bind them'"
The set also has three non-chrome rings. For the Elven kings under the sky?
I can't help but feel this, and similar sets, would benefit greatly from being designed as proper busts, and not just... a head. The helmet sets work just fine. They're iconic headgear, sitting unworn on a display stand. An unworn head on a display stand doesn't possess quite the same... uh, charm.
@AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Jang is now doing reviews of non-Lego sets, and reports thier quality is higher than ever. @AustinPowers will be so proud."
I must admit, the first time I saw Jang so happy and amazed at how good some alternatives were, it made me smile. Because if someone as neutral and balanced as him can be so enthusiastic about an alternative product, everyone can.
"
Do you do a bunch of the lights for your sets?
Just asking for a friend.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Jang is now doing reviews of non-Lego sets, and reports thier quality is higher than ever. @AustinPowers will be so proud."
I must admit, the first time I saw Jang so happy and amazed at how good some alternatives were, it made me smile. Because if someone as neutral and balanced as him can be so enthusiastic about an alternative product, everyone can.
"
Do you do a bunch of the lights for your sets?"
I would love to answer, but I don't understand the question, to be honest. What bunch? Which lights?
@AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Jang is now doing reviews of non-Lego sets, and reports thier quality is higher than ever. @AustinPowers will be so proud."
I must admit, the first time I saw Jang so happy and amazed at how good some alternatives were, it made me smile. Because if someone as neutral and balanced as him can be so enthusiastic about an alternative product, everyone can.
"
Do you do a bunch of the lights for your sets?"
I would love to answer, but I don't understand the question, to be honest. What bunch? Which lights? "
Sorry. Not phrased well. I'll blame dictation enunciation and lact of editing.
Do you use lights in your sets? The most alluring thing to me about the alt-brand bricks (and, JANG, it would seem) is the products which allow easy use of lights.
@StyleCounselor : ah, understood.
No, I generally don't use lighting in my sets, unless a lighting system comes with the set as standard. But it's definitely not a priority of mine. So far I have only two sets with lighting anyway. One is from Panlos and one from Funwhole (don't ask, I know the name of the brand is stupid). The latter brand is certainly market leader in terms of well thought out lighting systems, as Jang agreed.
My current priority when it comes to alternative brands is Technic style sets. CaDa in particular is currently the market leader in that field imho.
@Spritetoggle said:
"I can't help but feel this, and similar sets, would benefit greatly from being designed as proper busts, and not just... a head. The helmet sets work just fine. They're iconic headgear, sitting unworn on a display stand. An unworn head on a display stand doesn't possess quite the same... uh, charm."
Eh. It's an extra life.
Hmm. Maybe not everything needs to be lego.
No? I'll see myself out.