Review: 72040 Captain Toad's Camp
Posted by SetToBuild,
Ready for adventure! As the leader of the Toad Brigade, Captain Toad made his debut in Super Mario Galaxy in 2007 and later got his own title, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, in 2014.
This small set adds a mining feature to the interactive heroes’ repertoire, for collecting digital coins and LEGO diamonds.
Summary
72040 Captain Toad's Camp, 159 pieces.
£12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99 | 8.2p/9.4c/9.4c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Captain Toad debuts in an affordable set with a new interactive feature
- Captain Toad new in an affordable set
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box
The smallish box contains four paper bags and paper instructions. The box art shows a few of the actions, highlighting the new pickaxe icon for the mining action, and subtly hints at the reconfigurability of the modular course components.
Characters
The only main character in this set is Captain Toad, though it does also contain a Goomba with an expression only seen in 71433 Goombas' Playground and a Turnip previously available in 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride. See more of them in the later images.
Captain Toad is adorable as usual, with his printed adventuring outfit and brick-built adjustable headlamp and detachable backpack. I love the accessories hanging off the pack!
Completed Model
The set has two independent build sections: the camp site with a campfire and a tent, and the rocky landscape with a rickety bridge over some lava.
Climb up the cliffs, but be careful—pull the 2x2 dome to release the bridge and drop foes (or unlucky friends) into the lava below.
From the top, the hero can surprise the Goomba sitting on the ledge, stomping on it to gain access to the hidden diamond.
Mario fans know when they see a turnip, it’s not just a tasty snack—there is something around to toss it at. The turnip, previously only available in 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride, is used in-game to throw at enemies and other obstacles. Scanning the barcode on its back makes a turnip icon appear on the hero’s screen, and making a throwing motion lets you ‘throw’ the turnip and get some coins. This rear view also reveals another diamond to collect under the lower platform.
The tent has just enough space to let Toad lay on his sleeping bag. Scanning the barcode at his feet apparently “gives the hero a pickaxe to look for treasure”, but this seems a little underwhelming. I had hoped for diamond barcodes that the player could ‘collect’. The app isn’t updated with these new features yet, but I’m guessing that tilting Mario forward, similar to the turnip action, will have him ‘mining diamonds’ and collecting coins.
Store your diamond-encrusted loot in a trunk-style chest behind the tent. Hopefully, Toad has some help to lug this heavy-looking chest back from the campsite!
This tiny set has an even tinier spare parts haul, with just five pieces. An extra diamond is included with the usuals—lucky Toad!
Conclusion
The £13 price feels like fair value for three characters and two settings, including a total of three action barcodes to scan: one common, one rare and one exclusive. This makes it stand alone satisfactorily as a mini play set, but also as a worthwhile add-on for a new feature to discover in a larger course.
I’m relieved that Captain Toad has been introduced in a small set. The fan-favourite character could have easily arrived in a giant MC Escher-style model that would be more in line with the Treasure Tracker game. However, it’s not too late for LEGO to start designing one of those!
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14 comments on this article
Hey, it's Johnny Fungi-er.
Usual boring Mario set. The only thing cool here is the new Captain Toad.
Captain Toad got a Chaos Emerald!
Nice review!
This set seems largely based on Treasure Tracker, so it's fitting that it has features suited to that game's "no jumping" gameplay—ladders, movable bridges, throwable turnips, and secrets tucked away at different angles. Apart from Captain Toad himself there's not much new here to speak of, but that's okay for a small set like this. Of course, I'd love to see another set based on that game sometime—perhaps with one of that game's "boss battles" and Toadette in her explorer gear!
Super Mario Galaxy reference!!!!!!
As a huge fan of the Mario Galaxy games and 3D World, I'm definitely going to be getting this at some point. Nice review!
One of the most complete mario sets in a while! And it's so affordable too!
I will definitely be getting this at some point... long have I waited for Captain Toad to make an appearance! Rest of the set is kinda meh, I've never seen Captain Toad with a tent (unless he has one in SMG?). I think a more cube-like set modeled after the game, reminiscent of the Minecraft Micro-worlds or 21265, would be cooler and more interesting of a model. But at least this one is cheap!
Shame that they didn't make Captain Toad's spaceship from Super Mario Odyssey
I’ve never played Captain Toad, but I’ve seen a gameplay video where Toad drops a giant rock on a dragon’s head. At that moment, my jaw drops to floor, eyes pop out of sockets accompanied by trumpets, heart beats out of chest, awooga awooga sound effect, pulls chain on train whistle that has appeared next to head as steam blows out, slams fists on table, rattling any plates, bowls or silverware, whistles loudly, fireworks shoot. This dragon is now my Mario crush.
Best 15€ set ever. Captain Toad is the goat.
My whole family loves Captain Toad. We played Treasure Tracker to death on the Wii U. I’ll definitely track this down.
@peterlmorris said:
"My whole family loves Captain Toad. We played Treasure Tracker to death on the Wii U. I’ll definitely track this down. "
You played the game until Captain Toad DIED?
@Trigger_ said:
" @peterlmorris said:
"My whole family loves Captain Toad. We played Treasure Tracker to death on the Wii U. I’ll definitely track this down. "
You played the game until Captain Toad DIED?
"
He died so many times. But my kids’ reflexes have gotten a lot better.