Review: 71495 Mateo vs. Cyber Brain Mech
Posted by benbacardi,
It seems that the world of DREAMZzz is a constant battle between the Dream Chasers and the Nightmare Creatures, many different varieties of which have appeared in sets throughout the last three years of the theme.
Mateo, one of the main characters of the TV series, shows up in a large number of the sets, including the one we're looking at today, 71495 Mateo vs. Cyber Brain Mech. The poor chap never gets a rest, and this time he's up against the a Cyber Brain either in the form of a mech or a hulking scorpion. Can he save the Dreamling before it's too late?
Summary
71495 Mateo vs. Cyber Brain Mech, 368 pieces.
£24.99 / $34.99 / €29.99 | 6.8p/9.5c/8.1c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A great choice from the smaller-sized sets, you won't go wrong choosing either the mech or the scorpion in this build.
- Fantastic colours
- Detailed minifigure
- Both model choices are excellent
- None!
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Our titular protagonist, Mateo, is the lone minifigure in the set, accompanied by a Dreamling (which no, I don't class as a minifig, no matter what classification Bricklink applies!). Mateo is identical to his appearance in 71499 Mateo's Spray Paint Truck from this same wave of DREAMZzz sets—brand new prints, with excellent detail in the jacket and the multi-moulded legs.
The Dreamling has appeared once before, in 71491 Mateo and the Z-Blob Action Race Car, and has a drooling face behind a visor on one side, with differing size gold dots on the other. Mateo's dual expression shows off his cocky personality, with a choice between two different lopsided smiles.
He comes equipped with a large gun, which is for once a functional weapon—made from a single stud shooter and a handful of other small parts.
The Build
As usual, the model starts off by building a common core section that doesn't change, regardless of which alternative model you later decide to construct. In this case, that's a skinny central torso with multiple ball joint connections of differing sizes, with a large transparent pink dome on top housing the Cyber Brain.
The section on which the dome sits can rotate freely around its central point, and a sticker depicting a skull outlined in the anaglyph style used to make traditional 3D images provides a menacing face for the construction. Occasional bricks in teal blue are dotted throughout the build, providing a bright accent colour that contrasts against the black and white, and continues onto the circuitry detailing added by stickers.
Cyber Brain Mech
The first model option is the titular Cyber Brain Mech, which is completed by adding arms and legs to the torso built above. I'm not usually a big fan of mechs, but I was actually quite impressed by this one. Bright transparent pink "macaroni" tubes are used for the legs and arms, forming slightly curved knees and elbows that, while lacking the ability to bend themselves, add a sense of dynamism to the pose. Articulated at the shoulders—which are adorned with large spikes—the arms each terminate in a blocky three-clawed hand, both with an attached stud shooter and accented with fluorescent yellow.
The legs provide an additional point of articulation at the ankles, giving the mech a surprising amount of stability regardless of the pose you put it in. Coral pieces add yet another accent colour to the model in the mech's large, flat feet. I'm not sure why the designers didn't stick to the pink and blue, but they're easily swapped out if you're not a fan.
From the rear, the mech is a little disappointing—primarily, the underside of flat plates are visible, with no attempts to make it look more appealing from behind.
The mech's main weapon—aside from the pair of stud shooters—is a large crooked staff it bears, terminating at one end with the new transparent pink pixelated flame piece. The staff has been used to capture the Dreamling, and can be held in either of the mech's hands by attaching it using the Technic pin provided.
Cyber Brain Scorpion
If you don't fancy building the mech, your alternative is the Cyber Brain Scorpion, a terrifying-looking creature built by turning the torso horizontally, twisting the brain to face the other way, and attaching four legs, a large curved tail, and a pair of vicious pincers.
Both front and rear legs are constructed similarly, and terminate in a single claw. The individual articulation of each leg means it is slightly tricky to get the scorpion to stand steadily and not at a slanted angle, but it is possible. The tail, the end of which is equipped with the two stud shooters and the large pixel flame, is not attached with a ball joint but by a bar and clips, restricting its movement to raising and lowering it above the scorpion's face.
The claws at the front can be used to capture the Dreamling—the scorpion holds no staff—and attach the poor creature to the same contraption that presumably sucks its thoughts and dreams out through the top of its head.
Verdict
As I said above, I'm not usually a fan of mechs and I'll admit I don't see their appeal. Often, they are unstable on their feet, unwieldy in any pose but the most basic, and I would rather have any other kind of vehicle instead. However, this relatively small, black-and-white mech with pops of bright accent colours has impressed me! I love the brain piece that's been used in various DREAMZzz sets recently, and the way it's incorporated into different builds.
The scorpion is pretty good too, and either one makes for a formidable foe for Mateo and his oversized stud shooter. The craziness of DREAMZzz continues…
71495 Mateo vs. Cyber Brain Mech is available at LEGO.com for £24.99 / $34.99 / €29.99.
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26 comments on this article
Yeah, I'm not sold on the scorpion build.
I love both builds so I had to get 2 copies of this set. The mech would be perfect for an umibozu-based MOC.
The scorpion was my favourite build, I guess mechs are easier to put on the front of the box.
If you're going to make a mech, this is how to make a mech.
Dreamz continues to be such a great series. (The builds, and the show both.)
Parts selection is this sets greatest strength IMO. Nice amount of black parts, like those speed champs slopes on the shoulders. Lots of cool colours too.
Makes me think of the Mastermind from Doom 2.
I love it and I will make sure to get it sometime in the coming months :D
Is Mateo gradually turning more and more into slime with each season?
And if so, did Dreamz get cancelled because he fully transforms into a blob?
Such a fun and creepy design; I can't wait to get one (or perhaps two)
I really like this set. I'm a little vague on the narrative of Dreamzzz, so I don't know if this is a specific character or a minion in this year's army. I'm not really clear on who the main antagonist is this year, I thought it was Zero, but then there's this Dreamsmasher who only comes in 71500, and then I know there was rumored sets which were cancelled... I quite like this years' sets, but the narrative seems less obvious than before.
I like this set a lot better compared to 71455 Grimkeeper the Cage Monster , and this one is cheaper too.
Likely going to pick this up for a nice DC Brain villain. Not a bad price for pieces that can make a character that pads out the villain.
This is so cool. Easily one of the best Dreamzzz sets. I like how it can be used outside of Dreamzzz and in say, an alien invasion MOC.
I'm finding Dreamzzz to be a really great theme, and while I agree that the narrative this year isn't as clear, the 2025 sets have been pretty good.
I really liked this guy too. The mech just looks so menacing. I really like the silver claws on the hands, it adds to the menacing effect of the thing.
Is there just one cyber-brain creature, or is there a whole bunch of them? Because one of them came with the gaming jet, but that just had tentacles.
I also really like the pixelated flame piece, but I wonder how much other places Lego will have reason to use that piece.
I’m a sucker for brains in things, so I definitely am drawn to this. I’m just not sure I like it enough to grab it.
@peterlmorris said:
"I’m a sucker for brains in things, so I definitely am drawn to this. I’m just not sure I like it enough to grab it. "
I once bought a gaming miniature that was a brain in a walking jar. Even before my stroke, when I was gaming on the regular, I had no idea where I would have used it, but I couldn't *not* buy it. But, of course, I was much cheaper than this, only a few dollars.
Must have brain...
Mother Brain!?!?!?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @peterlmorris said:
"I’m a sucker for brains in things, so I definitely am drawn to this. I’m just not sure I like it enough to grab it. "
I once bought a gaming miniature that was a brain in a walking jar. Even before my stroke, when I was gaming on the regular, I had no idea where I would have used it, but I couldn't *not* buy it. But, of course, I was much cheaper than this, only a few dollars."
Aargh, I mean *it* was much cheaper!
Nice bot, I had a similar idea with the brain creature from Mind Flayer CMF. I'll build it someday...
@Zordboy said:
"I also really like the pixelated flame piece, but I wonder how much other places Lego will have reason to use that piece."
The pixelated flame piece was going appear in larger numbers in this year's flagship set... which also contained an important-looking antagonist and was cancelled, so now it only appears once in two sets each.
Like most specialised pieces from homegrown IPs I doubt it'll outlast this year, so if you want some, now's the time!
Should there be a VOTE for TLG next IN-HOUSE theme?
1.) Adventure
2.) Agent
3.) Sci-fi (Aliens, Predators, Monsters)
4.) Spooky
5.) UFO & UAP
That brain would be very useful for a Metroid or DnD mind player hive MOC.
@Mateo said:
"Izzy, be careful! Attack while it's tail is up!"
@Mateo said:
"It'll counterattack with its laser!"
@Izzy said:
"Ow, dang man, what the heck dude? Also, it's "its", not "it's". What is wrong with you today? Were you translated by Ted Woolsey or something?"
"I'm not usually a fan of mechs and I'll admit I don't see their appeal."
Come on, Big O!!
@TheOtherMike said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @peterlmorris said:
"I’m a sucker for brains in things, so I definitely am drawn to this. I’m just not sure I like it enough to grab it. "
I once bought a gaming miniature that was a brain in a walking jar. Even before my stroke, when I was gaming on the regular, I had no idea where I would have used it, but I couldn't *not* buy it. But, of course, I was much cheaper than this, only a few dollars."
Aargh, I mean *it* was much cheaper!"
Freud: there are no mistakes. ;)