Review: 40769 SEGA Genesis Controller
Posted by SetToBuild,
To tide gaming fans over while they eagerly await the launch of 72046 Game Boy, this Sega-related brick-built accessory spin dashes in as a gift with purchase. This time, we’re invited to revel in another chapter of video game history. The jump from the 8-bit technology of its predecessor, the Sega Master System, to 16-bit gaming brought more pixels, colours, and higher fidelity music to our virtual adventures through the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.
40769 SEGA Genesis Controller is now available as a gift with purchase at LEGO.com, free when you spend over £115 / $130 / €130.
Thanks to Huw for building the set and supplying the photos!
Summary
40769 SEGA Genesis Controller, 260 pieces.
Another gaming icon is cleverly rendered in the brick
- Two ways to display
- Smart use of curved elements
- Stickers for multiple regions
- Not available for general purchase
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Several stickers give us the option to pick which controller some of us grew up with. In North America, the system was known as the Sega Genesis, so I appreciated the notations on the sticker sheet showing the regional differences between the red Japanese buttons and grey UK buttons.
The other stickers represent the grass of the first level in Sonic the Hedgehog, Green Hill Zone, and an indicator showing how many lives remain.
To easily swap between the different versions, extra tiles are included. There are enough tiles to apply all the optional stickers!
Other than a couple of 1x1s, there are no printed elements. In the Game Boy review, I showed off how we were spoiled by some impressive printing techniques. In this set, it would have been great to at least see ‘START’ printed on the 2x2 wedge plate above the T-bar.
Huw tells me that while building, the A/B/C stickers were difficult to get perfectly aligned at an angle!
Completed Model
The control pad pictured below is the item that this set is replicating. When you see these images side-by-side, the compromise the LEGO model made on the 2x6 tile sticker is evident. The ‘Mega Drive Control Pad’ text should actually be much further from the Sega logo.
Although this controller appears to have an unusual shape, it was ergonomically designed and very comfortable to hold!
Image credit: Amazon UK
Various curved elements accurately represent the bulbous manner of these controllers. Unfortunately for this model, LEGO elements are glossy, so this too-enticing-to-pick-up brick-built controller ends up with lots of fingerprints.
Having the start of the wire exposed at the top of the controller is slightly odd. A return of the pneumatic tube from the NES and Fender Stratocaster, along with a connector on the other end, would have been appreciated for added realism.
Similar to 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System, the model conceals some of the original game’s level architecture. All the elements depicting this scene are perfect picks: staggered inverted slopes as the ramps leading into the vertical loop, polo studs as rings that Sonic collects, and a red roller skate that is likely illustrating an enemy Badnik.
As you’ll see in a future review for 77006 Team Sonic Command Truck, the mini-build near Sonic’s bed was perplexing me. It seemed too deliberate a construction for what some speculated was an alarm clock. As it turns out, it was meant to be a model of an Item Box that also appears in the leftmost part of this scene! The Command Truck set also used this printed 1x1 round tile with Sonic performing a spin dash as a logo on the cab.
The stand is simple and vibrantly red. It invokes Sonic’s iconic sneakers without fully modelling them. There is just enough of a tilt to clearly display one side of the build.
The most interesting extra piece is a printed 1x1 round transparent tile with Sonic performing his famous spin dash.
Conclusion
While it would have been fun to see how LEGO would produce a brick-built console to pair with the controller, this was a nice way to allow the model to exist on its own, especially with the added depiction of an in-game scene.
It’s a little odd that this was released by itself as a gift with any £115 purchase, rather than coinciding with any other gaming-related releases. However, it’s a relief that this isn’t restricted to a particular purchase or theme. By today’s standards, this is a reasonably substantial freebie for this threshold.
There are many ways to experience this golden age of gaming; you could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive. Alternatively, with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, you can relive the classics with a Joy-Con or play with an optional Mega Drive wireless control pad for the full effect!
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50 comments on this article
No T piece in red? Cause in the rest of all of Europe the Start button is red. And the text in the middle is on the wrong place. I also miss the arrows around the D-Pad. Kinda of disapointing. But I'm loving the easter egg diorama!
PC dudes will fr find out how to make this thing work on their emulated games.
you could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive
_________________________________________________________________________________
I doubt it. My parents didn't even have a television until 1974.
To be this good takes AGES.
If you want a more practical Sega-esque controller, something like the 8BitDo M30 might be a better (and cheaper) option. It might have been interesting to see Lego model the 6-button version, although this one is obviously more familiar.
@GusG said:
"No T piece in red? Cause in the rest of all of Europe the Start button is red. And the text in the middle is on the wrong place. I also miss the arrows around the D-Pad. Kinda of disapointing. But I'm loving the easter egg diorama!"
Apparently the button colours weren't always so consistent. According to this site, the Start button wasn't red in Europe until 1993. https://segaretro.org/Control_Pad_%28Mega_Drive%29
Offering it in grey was probably the safest bet. Also, as much as I love the T-bar, I don't think Lego would introduce it in two new colours in one GWP.
@8lackmagic said:
"To be this good takes AGES."
This reminded me of the advert Commodore created stating “To be this good takes SEGA AGES”…
I like the depth effect they achieved with the loop having the "off ramp" placed one layer behind the "on ramp."
All sets that offer a choice of which stickers to apply should always come with enough pieces to apply them all so they can be swapped out, it's very nice to see that here and I hope that becomes standard practice.
Interesting build, but not something I need.
Those black slope tiles all appear to be horribly scratched in the same place.
I like it, would buy it if regularly available, but I don't like it enough to make me purchase massively overpriced stuff from Lego directly.
@GusG said:
"No T piece in red? Cause in the rest of all of Europe the Start button is red. And the text in the middle is on the wrong place. I also miss the arrows around the D-Pad. Kinda of disapointing. But I'm loving the easter egg diorama!"
And in Japan it was bluish.
They should have used the ring piece instead of the 1x1 studs
https://brickset.com/parts/6009771/ring-%C3%B8-7-5-no-1
@StyleCounselor said:
"Those black slope tiles all appear to be horribly scratched in the same place. "
It's a 'moulding swirl' in the plastic which is not evident under normal lighting.
@Huw said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Those black slope tiles all appear to be horribly scratched in the same place. "
It's a 'moulding swirl' in the plastic which is not evident under normal lighting."
Looks like glacial striations. ;)
@Retroblox77 said:
"PC dudes will fr find out how to make this thing work on their emulated games."
It will run Doom soon enough
I would think a pneumatic hose as a cable would mostly just get annoying without anything to plug it into.
@Andrusi said:
"I would think a pneumatic hose as a cable would mostly just get annoying without anything to plug it into."
Maybe a clip on the back of the stand to hold it in place?
My point was more that the antenna thingy looked strange. It doesn't have a full wire, so why didn't they just smooth it off on the top?
Grass tiles were printed in 21331, so it is disappointing to see stickers here. If they've already made NES, Atari, and Game Boy, I'm a little surprised they didn't release an entire Sega console.
@CC said:
"Grass tiles were printed in 21331, so it is disappointing to see stickers here. If they've already made NES, Atari, and Game Boy, I'm a little surprised they didn't release an entire Sega console."
There's time!
"You could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive..."
You seem to be making some assumptions about the age of your readership, there. The first gaming system I ever owned was a DS Lite, but I was playing NES games on friends' systems before the SNES even came out.
@TheOtherMike said:
""You could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive..."
You seem to be making some assumptions about the age of your readership, there. The first gaming system I ever owned was a DS Lite, but I was playing NES games on friends' systems before the SNES even came out."
It's also not THAT old. I still have my own (not my parent's... lol) and I'm not in the 40s yet. Probably super old for the reviewer?
@TheOtherMike said:
"You seem to be making some assumptions about the age of your readership, there. The first gaming system I ever owned was a DS Lite, but I was playing NES games on friends' systems before the SNES even came out."
@GusG said:
"It's also not THAT old. I still have my own (not my parent's... lol) and I'm not in the 40s yet. Probably super old for the reviewer?"
I just like to throw some zingers in to make sure people are still paying attention.
My first console was the Game Boy, so I could be the parent in this scenario. Just cats for now though ;)
@TheOtherMike said:
""You could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive..."
You seem to be making some assumptions about the age of your readership, there. The first gaming system I ever owned was a DS Lite, but I was playing NES games on friends' systems before the SNES even came out."
Right? If I'm going to play a 16-bit system, it's my own loft I'm diving into! Except it'd be TurboGrafx in my case. I, uh, guess we probably shouldn't expect a Lego console of that one any time soon...
All I want gaming-wise, is a 1:1 scale PC Engine with all Bomberman 94 multiplayer minifigs, Bonk (with alternating exploded head), Doraemon and Jackie Chan.
I can't remember the last time we had a review of a set built/photographed by someone other than the reviewer, lol.
I happily found myself at the LEGO store yesterday, perusing my every growing Wish List. I ended up leaving with 31174 Creator Phone, 31175 Creator Unicorn Castle, and 40822 Tom Selleck Pumpkin Car....all for my little ones. I got within $40 of the GWP threshold but it simply did nothing for me so for like the first time ever, I let it go.
Great review! As a Mega Drive owner back in the day i knew I needed this even if it was a GWP, so I could display it next to my 10306 , another important part of my youth. So it gave me an excuse to finally get 76968 ...
Who else had Atari Pong as their first game? ))
@VAG said:
"Who else had Atari Pong as their first game? ))"
Pitfall here. :o)
@ra226 said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
""You could go into the loft and dust off your parents’ Sega Mega Drive..."
You seem to be making some assumptions about the age of your readership, there. The first gaming system I ever owned was a DS Lite, but I was playing NES games on friends' systems before the SNES even came out."
Right? If I'm going to play a 16-bit system, it's my own loft I'm diving into! Except it'd be TurboGrafx in my case. I, uh, guess we probably shouldn't expect a Lego console of that one any time soon..."
Ah yes, the TurboGrafx. It has a decent Castlevania! And... presumably some other games as well? I'm almost willing to bet that it has other games.
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood was honestly pretty good, though hard as nails. It's just that it's been bundled with Symphony of the Night and ported so often, there's a decent chance that it came preinstalled on your phone, your watch, your pacemaker and your Smartfridge.
@yellowcastle said:
" 40822 Tom Selleck Pumpkin Car...."
Thanks for the laugh.
@yellowcastle said:
" @VAG said:
"Who else had Atari Pong as their first game? ))"
Pitfall here. :o)"
I had Atari Pong, or rather, my counsins did.
If all of you don't have parents who own a Genesis, I have one.
I'm not saying you can borrow it or anything, I'm just noting that it exists.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @VAG said:
"Who else had Atari Pong as their first game? ))"
Pitfall here. :o)"
I had Atari Pong, or rather, my counsins did."
And River Raid, and Breakout, and Adventure…
It’s strange we only get the controller, but maybe’s the console build will come with 6 button controllers so we can play SF2.
Luckily I hadn’t bought the LOTR book nook so I’ll have another controller to add the collection in a day or two. Just not sure if that’s my Lego collection or controller collection.
But I really want to see a Lego N64 controller, they can release it in multiple colors.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"If you want a more practical Sega-esque controller, something like the 8BitDo M30 might be a better (and cheaper) option. It might have been interesting to see Lego model the 6-button version, although this one is obviously more familiar."
An 8bitdo controller, as great as they are, kind of misses the point. You’re displaying a Lego set, not an actual controller. And if you wanted to display an actual controller, why not just display an actual Genesis controller? Or if you don’t know how to use eBay, get a NSO controller or a controller for one of the Genesis mini systems.
@yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @VAG said:
"Who else had Atari Pong as their first game? ))"
Pitfall here. :o)"
I had Atari Pong, or rather, my counsins did."
And River Raid, and Breakout, and Adventure…"
Sorry. That console has a lot of bas memories. I had a fight with my counsin that caused a fissure in the family. :[
The Atari 2600 was an unending dream.
@CapnRex101, @Huw: Just testing the comments, because it doesn't seem to be possible on the article about the Death Star minifigs. The field is there, but it looks strange, like integrated into the last comment available, and the "Post comment" button is just plain text with a rectangle around it, plus pressing it doesn't work. Seems like something is broken in the article.
@AustinPowers said:
" @CapnRex101, @Huw: Just testing the comments, because it doesn't seem to be possible on the article about the Death Star minifigs. The field is there, but it looks strange, like integrated into the last comment available, and the "Post comment" button is just plain text with a rectangle around it, plus pressing it doesn't work. Seems like something is broken in the article. "
Put a $1000 pricetag on it and ship it anyway, the fans won't mind.
@AustinPowers said:
" @CapnRex101, @Huw: Just testing the comments, because it doesn't seem to be possible on the article about the Death Star minifigs. The field is there, but it looks strange, like integrated into the last comment available, and the "Post comment" button is just plain text with a rectangle around it, plus pressing it doesn't work. Seems like something is broken in the article. "
A) Death Slice discussion has reached its max
2) This is how the Brickset Hellban works
3) @StyleCounselor broke it with angst
4) One too many alt brand comments
:o)
@yellowcastle said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @CapnRex101 , @Huw : Just testing the comments, because it doesn't seem to be possible on the article about the Death Star minifigs. The field is there, but it looks strange, like integrated into the last comment available, and the "Post comment" button is just plain text with a rectangle around it, plus pressing it doesn't work. Seems like something is broken in the article. "
A) Death Slice discussion has reached its max
2) This is how the Brickset Hellban works
3) @StyleCounselor broke it with angst
4) One too many alt brand comments
:o)"
Angst for the win! ExistentialismTour2025.
Here's the rest:
6. The sides don't matter only if you make it flatter. Then, it would be a $1k poster.
8. It would be nice if this UCS set could be displayed at any angle like most UCS sets. But, I get it. It's really a Master Builder playset. Yet, that confuses things even more.
10. I would love for anyone in the fan community to take over Lego SW. They couldn't be worse. The designers, like Lego reviewers, don't have to sacrifice their integrity. They can say no. They can get a different job. They are very, very, very lucky that people even care.
12. C'mon! You don't want a fun function where a door pops open when R2 saves our beleaguered heros?! The placement of R2's terminal looks like they considered this, but it was also sacrificed for 'budgetary constraints.'
14. What???!!! Ba Sing Se is in danger. Mount up, heroes!!
I am not quite sure what is going on with the Death Star minifigure review's comments. But if we could keep the conversation on topic and not bring all of that stuff over here, that would be great! Thanks. :-)
Anyway, awesome review! I love this set, even though it would be even better if it weren't a gift-with-purchase. Excited to get it at some point soon!
A hollow voice says 'PLUGH'
The photography for the review on Hoth Bricks shows this model pristine- Oui Oui.. The photography here on Brickset is the honest reality- Lint, fingerprints, scratches, production blemishes….Batman might throw it at someone.
@namekuji said:
"The photography here on Brickset is the honest reality- Lint, fingerprints, scratches, production blemishes…"
I actually prefer it that way. Don't like LEGO's own fake and lying product images where every piece looks pristine, while what you actually get these days looks like what you see on the pictures here.
Scratched pieces, huge mouldmarks where there didn't use to be any in the past, etc.
Just more signs of missing quality control and cheaper production methods than in the past. But as long as most customers don't care and buy anyway, no matter the cost, why should LEGO change.
Just wanted to say great review, and I especially appreciate ‘not available for general purchase’ being a downside. I liked gwp when it was a bag of cool parts to build with, but the more it’s moved into being exclusive small sets, I’ve been left not being able to buy most sets I find interesting without extreme aftermarket markup, which in general has led me to get less Lego overall as it’s just not worth the hassle.
@TheBrickPal said:
"…if we could keep the conversation on topic and not bring all of that stuff over here, that would be great! Thanks. :-)"
Agreed.
I’ve decided to pass on the Sega Genesis Mega Brands controller GWP due to my current frustrations with LEGO over another large flat cut-cornered avaricious set and for the pain they have caused our friend and mountain barrister @StyleCounselor .
Not sure about the rest but I'm dusting off MY Mega Drive. Heck, I'll even dust off MY TV Pong console bought in the late 70s, if I still have it wih me. :-P
Been a gamer all my life starting with the Pong TV console, Sega Master System, then NES, Mega Drive, SNES, Saturn, Playstation, PS2, 3 different versions of PS3, PS4 Slim, PS5 & PS5 Pro. PC gaming follow similar route starting with the ZX Spectrum 48K, then Amstrad CPC 464, Turbo PC Clone (8088), 286, 386, 486DX, Pentium 90, now owning a few laptops and MiniPCs running Batocera.
My first handhelds were those portable electronic games like Pac-Man and Galaxian, then Game & Watch (Fire, Chef, Octopus), Game Boy Advance, GBA SP, DS Lite, PSP, PSP Slim, PS Vita. I do have the Evercade, Anbernic and Powkiddy devices and also smart phone with the Backbone One controller.
On the Lego Mega Drive Controller, I bought it from a local seller for US$20 as not planning to buy full price sets at Lego website to hit the GWP threshold.
@recce said:
"Not sure about the rest but I'm dusting off MY Mega Drive. Heck, I'll even dust off MY TV Pong console bought in the late 70s, if I still have it wih me. :-P
Been a gamer all my life starting with the Pong TV console, Sega Master System, then NES, Mega Drive, SNES, Saturn, Playstation, PS2, 3 different versions of PS3, PS4 Slim, PS5 & PS5 Pro. PC gaming follow similar route starting with the ZX Spectrum 48K, then Amstrad CPC 464, Turbo PC Clone (8088), 286, 386, 486DX, Pentium 90, now owning a few laptops and MiniPCs running Batocera.
My first handhelds were those portable electronic games like Pac-Man and Galaxian, then Game & Watch (Fire, Chef, Octopus), Game Boy Advance, GBA SP, DS Lite, PSP, PSP Slim, PS Vita. I do have the Evercade, Anbernic and Powkiddy devices and also smart phone with the Backbone One controller.
On the Lego Mega Drive Controller, I bought it from a local seller for US$20 as not planning to buy full price sets at Lego website to hit the GWP threshold.
"
I broke out my Gamecube and 1 game (Mariokart) recently for the kids and it's been a blast. I wish we still had a working Atari 2600 and original Nintendo for them. Games and systems back in the day were clearly simpler but there's something refreshing about just eating pellets and jumping over alligators.
@namekuji said:
"The photography for the review on Hoth Bricks shows this model pristine- Oui Oui.. The photography here on Brickset is the honest reality- Lint, fingerprints, scratches, production blemishes….Batman might throw it at someone."
Black is the worst colour to photograph and the harsh lighting shows up every blemish and speck of dust. None of it is noticeable under normal conditions.