Review: 75972 Dorado Showdown
Posted by CapnRex101,
Overwatch occurs during the 2070s so combines historic, contemporary and futuristic technology to create a distinctive environment. This striking design seems particularly conspicuous in 75972 Dorado Showdown as the set includes a brilliant hovering payload truck beside a traditional Latin American structure.
In addition, an appealing selection of characters are included and the set costs £29.99 or $29.99 so offers excellent value when compared with other Overwatch products. This may therefore prove to be an impressive set, especially given the considerable popularity of the urban Dorado Escort map that inspired it.
Minifigures
Many interesting characters populate Overwatch and McCree is probably among the most prominent, especially following his recent appearance in the 'Reunion' animation. This minifigure wears a reddish brown hat which looks alright, although I would rather a new piece had been created to represent long hair beneath the hat. Fortunately, an alternative dark brown hair piece is included as well.
The head is only decorated with one facial expression but this confident smirk captures considerable personality and the printed stubble looks remarkably realistic. I like the dark red poncho too, although this should feature a simple hexagonal pattern. His torso and legs, on the other hand, are both superb, lacking only the 'BAMF' design on the belt buckle which is understandable given its meaning.
McCree is armed with a standard dark bluish grey handgun that represents his Peacekeeper revolver from the video game. This accessory is certainly adequate but I favour the modern element produced for The Lone Ranger and would have been delighted to see that weapon return here.
Soldier: 76 appears in Dorado during the 'Hero' animated short so his presence here seems sensible and this is an outstanding. The white hair piece is brand new and includes some lovely texture, closely resembling the original character from the video game. He wears a metallic silver mask with a red visor which appears quite intimidating. Ideally, the scar above the mask would be more visible but this design still looks good.
Both the torso and legs are pearl dark grey, contrasting with the bright white, blue and red highlights. I love these bold colours and the '76' emblem on the reverse of the jacket is attractive. Some printing on the legs would have been welcome but is not an absolute necessity. In fact, this is among my favourite minifigures from the Overwatch range, despite its relative simplicity.
However, I think there is significant potential for improvement where Soldier: 76's unwieldy Pulse Rifle is concerned. This enormous accessory looks completely out of scale with the figure, surpassing other characters in that regard. I appreciate this effort to capture subtle details such as the enclosed grip but a simpler weapon would have been more effective.
75975 Watchpoint: Gibraltar contains a Reaper minifigure and he is also available here. This villain is exceptionally popular so including him in two sets was probably sensible, although a unique character would have been preferable. Even so, this figure looks marvellous, sporting a black hood and a fabric component that forms a trench coat and works remarkably well, combining with the printed design on his torso.
Some red shotgun shells are strapped around the character's chest and these really stand out against his black clothing. The skeletal mask looks fantastic too. Dual-moulded legs would probably have been appropriate here as Reaper wears a pair of enormous silver boots in the video game and this version of the character lacks the spectral component that appears in 75975 Watchpoint: Gibraltar. He does wield twin Hellfire Shotguns though.
The Completed Model
Dorado represents a unique atmosphere and environment in Overwatch, featuring narrow streets and traditional architecture. Capturing the location with fewer than 419 pieces must have been challenging but I think the designer has created an attractive model, beginning with a colourful market stall. This is very simple but looks good and the neighbouring dark orange post is similarly appealing. In addition, a red piñata hangs from the string of lights and this is a delightful detail.
The instructions suggest connecting the string of lights to the generator but I prefer attaching them to the archway, as demonstrated below. This structure is fairly shallow which is disappointing as there is little interior space, although it looks brilliant when viewed from the front. The bright red roof definitely captures the vibrant environment of Dorado and the light bluish grey frames around the archway and the windows are excellent.
Stickers are placed on the walls and these make reference to the 'Hero' animation, including a poster promoting the Overwatch group that shows Soldier: 76 as a younger man and another advertisement featuring Lúcio's musical world tour, known as Synaesthesia. Each poster is written in Spanish which suits the Mexican setting and I like how the characters are depicted as minifigures on the Overwatch poster.
Characters can spray symbols onto the walls during Overwatch matches and one of Reaper's sprays appears on the other side of the archway. This 'shrug' spray actually represents Reaper's true identity of Gabriel Reyes and Soldier: 76's metallic silver coin spray is found beneath the arch. These designs may only be stickers but such attention to detail is appreciated.
There is enough room for the payload truck to pass through the archway and you can also place some minifigures on the upper level. Both smaller windows include hinged shutters which is a lovely function and I like the candle on the central window ledge, indicating that Dorado's residents have been forced to take shelter quickly while the battle rages. The roof could wrap further around the building but I like this façade as well.
Unique payloads appear on each Escort map and that role is occupied by a hovering truck in Dorado. This dark red vehicle measures 15cm in length so corresponds with many standard trucks from LEGO City and its curved bodywork looks great when compared with the source material, consisting primarily of some curved slopes and 2x3 wedge bricks which are only available here in dark red.
The truck appears particularly smooth when viewed from the front, featuring no visible studs other than those on the roof. I like the prominent fenders and the trans-blue headlights correspond almost exactly with the video game. The radiator grille, on the other hand, could have been improved and there is no number plate which is unfortunate as I think the bumper seems rather bland without it.
Wheels are hidden behind the angled repulsor units, allowing the vehicle to move across surfaces as though it is hovering. These cannot be seen from most angles which is pleasing, although I think they could have been concealed more effectively at the rear. Nevertheless, the wheels are perfect for play and the glowing trans-blue repulsors on the exterior look reasonable in my opinion.
You can remove the roof and windscreen from the cab to place a minifigure inside. The doors cannot open but stickers represent the door handles and the steps on either side are superb. Furthermore, a couple of trans-black 1x2x2 panels form the rear windscreen and the roof is supported by dark bluish grey 1x1 round tiles which are only found in four other sets, following their introduction last year.
I love the combination of flame yellowish orange and light bluish grey parts on the flatbed, contrasting with the dark red bodywork. This colourful design looks wonderful in relation to the source material but the light bluish grey 1x1 round bricks located behind the cab appear out of place, particularly since the colour scheme is otherwise consistent.
Dorado is powered by several enormous ziggurats situated around the city and gameplay on this map involves escorting, or blocking, a LumériCo fusion core which is being delivered to a ziggurat. Several 3x3 dishes are stacked to form the power generator and the resultant design looks reasonably faithful to that shown in the game, albeit lacking a control panel which should be mounted on the side.
Overall
The success of each Overwatch set is heavily reliant upon their minifigure selection and I think 75972 Dorado Showdown fares reasonably well in that regard. Soldier: 76 looks marvellous when compared with the video game and I love Reaper's design too, even though his spectral form is absent from this set. McCree could probably be improved though, particularly with the addition of a combined hair and hat component.
However, my favourite aspect of this set are actually the models. The hovering payload truck is faithful to the source material and I love the combined historical and futuristic technology. There is relatively little scenery but the archway and market stall definitely capture the atmosphere of Dorado and I think the prices of £29.99 or $29.99 are very reasonable. On that basis, I would recommend 75972 Dorado Showdown but 75973 D.Va & Reinhardt remains the highlight of the Overwatch series.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
You can read our reviews of the entire Overwatch range here:
- 75970 Tracer vs. Widowmaker
- 75971 Hanzo vs. Genji
- 75973 D.Va & Reinhardt
- 75974 Bastion
- 75975 Watchpoint: Gibraltar
- 75987 Omnic Bastion
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23 comments on this article
I think this set would work well in my city and that’s the reason I would get it. Never played the game and have no interest in the other sets. Great review
My favorite map in the game (with the possible exceptions of Paris and Hanamura), and my favorite of the sets as well. The design is captured so well.
I really wish LEGO would start including panels for the empty window pieces in sets, would make this set a lot better and couldn't possibly increase the cost that much.
Probably the best way to make a custom Clint Eastwood figure
I'm not familiar at all with the game but I love the setting, prone to be used in many ways (post-modern, urban, western, an so on). Just great for creative AFOLs (wish I were one of them!)
I don’t have this set and the McCree fig probably looks much better in person, but from the images I’ve seen, the stirrups printed on his legs seem to be the same color as his flesh tone, which seems a little strange if viewed from far away. I think Lego could’ve corrected this with a little more printing on the legs. Also, I agree with @TomKazutara, the hat mold from TLM2 CMF Vest Friend Rex would’ve been close to perfect for McCree and was only released what, a month or two later? I’m sure they could’ve released it early, but they didn’t so it would seem more new and exclusive for the CMF series. Welp, that’s TLG for you.
No interest in the game but I like the Western, Mexican style of the building. I'm hoping to pick this up either in sale or second hand.
The building is so two dimensional looking. Yep easy pass.
The scenery is not appealing. Lego could have only make it cheaper if they had used a cardboard backdrop. The figures are fine, but the rest is quite dull.
The truck is about the best thing to come out of the set the minifigs are fine but the 2 story building is abit blehh, could of been more detailed lego..
Fortnite. PLEASE!
I still don't even really know what Overwatch is, and while the sets are interesting, they're two-dimensional and kind of cheap-looking (in a way that a lot of Lego is, these days. I wish someone would tell the Friends design team that buildings often have rooves and walls). Whoever the heck they are, the figures do look good, though.
@Your future president
This is fairly common with licensed sets; 76103: Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack, 76041: The Hydra Fortress Smash, and 75930: Indoraptor Rampage at Lockwood Estate come to mind.
I think the choice of accessories is specifically to take advantage of the possibility that builders will want sets like these without any familiarity or interest in Overwatch itself. The minifigures may represent the game characters, but they are generic enough that it will help encourage AFOLs like me to add them. In truth, this feels like the facade for a Pick-A-Brick order.
This is 100% my favourite set of the overwatch wave. Definatly buying this with my birthday money.
Soon...
Never played Overwatch- Bought this set twice
The robot guy matches IcePlanet well!
@DaftArcher20968: Sorry man, but it’s never gonna happen :P
It's kind of neat that the set includes stickers to depict Heroes' sprays, but you know what would've been better? Make a sheet of reusable stickers like the one on the Systar Starship! That way kids could actually "spray" the pictures on any surface like in game, and remove them when "matches" of play are over.
On the note of the "Reunion" animation, I know it's going to be forever until LEGO gets around to it but I would LOVE a minifig of that Omnic Sniper from Ashe's gang. He just looks so awesome!
@MataNui2009: Yeah, he looks pretty cool. I just want a Lego Bob :P
House needs some work.....
@shirhac: I suspect that the point of the scenery, besides conveying the look of the Dorado stage, is to add additional play value by giving the characters a higher vantage point (either the second floor or the rooftop). There have been plenty of LEGO Castle sets over the decades like 6059-1 , 6061-1 , 7187-1 , 7948-1 , and 70402-1 that likewise feature little more structure than a shallow and sparsely furnished wall/tower/gate.
@MataNui2009: I could see them potentially including sprays like that sold separately like the recent "Xtra" sticker sheet as well.
The back of the truck is a bit ugly, but it is still the best part of the set for me. Also, the hidden wheels underneath the truck are the same gauge as the standard LEGO City train tracks, so... train-truck?