60271 City Main Square press release
Posted by Huw,
LEGO has issued a press release for 60271 Main Square, the mish-mash of small models that, I presume, are featured in the LEGO City Adventures TV series:
60271 Main Square, 1517 pieces
UK £169.99 / US $199.99 / FR £179.99
Available from 1st September
Set the scene: bring the LEGO City Adventures TV series to life with the new LEGO City Main Square set
Re-create your favourite scenes from the popular series with The LEGO Group’s brand-new LEGO City Main Square – available to buy from 1st September from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores.
Families can now bring the excitement and buzz from city life into the comfort of their own homes - as The LEGO Group launches the brand-new LEGO City Main Square set. Designed for the whole family to build and re-build together, this latest product is the ultimate set in the entertaining world of LEGO City and is perfect for helping young builders to become master builders.
Budding builders can truly immerse themselves in the LEGO City world and enjoy endless hours of imaginative play, with this brand-new 1,517-piece set. Whether it’s a visit to City Hall, a quick journey on the Tram, enjoying a bite to eat at the Classic Diner or singing your heart out on the Concert Stage - LEGO City Main Square’s collection of detailed buildings and realistic toy vehicles provide everything inspiring builders need to experience the energy of day-to-day city life.
With 14 awesome minifigures, LEGO City Main Square is also buzzing with much-loved LEGO City Adventures characters. With Poppy Starr performing on stage, Billy throwing a party at the City Square and Duke DeTain searching for Snake Rattler and his grappling hook after a City Hall break-in, LEGO City Main Square allows young builders and families to dive straight into the LEGO City Adventures TV series and re-create their favourite scenes.
As it only requires basic building skills, LEGO City Main Square is the perfect set for families to get creative with and let their imaginations run wild, as they build and re-build together. However, for those who would like a little extra help, The LEGO City Main Square playset also comes complete with ‘Instructions PLUS’ – an interactive building guide that helps budding builders on their journey to becoming master builders! Available as part of the free LEGO Building Instructions app for smart devices, ‘Instructions PLUS’ includes a special zoom and rotate feature to help young builders visualise as they build – helping bring their creations to life.
If ever families feel they need to take a break from city life, the impressive City Hall building, measuring over 12” (32cm) high, 10” (27cm) wide and 5” (15cm) deep, and the intricate Tram build, which measures over 4” (12cm) high, 14” (37cm) long and 1” (5cm) wide, both make impressive display pieces, as well as a fond reminder of the quality time spent together.
The new LEGO City Main Square set is the latest example of how the LEGO Group aims to help children to create a realistic LEGO world and to inspire the process of co-building. The LEGO Group has a range of LEGO City sets to help children explore and stimulate their creativity, including the new LEGO City Ocean Exploration Ship and LEGO City Passenger Airplane sets.
You can find more images on the set details page.
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163 comments on this article
Its a bit all over the place, I don't think the set really knows what it is.
Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater)
Interesting fact: If you take a random selection of 1500 pieces, stick them in a tub, shake them well, then dump them out onto a table, there's a 63.4% chance that you'll create a more cohesive collection of builds.
Again, random parts unneccessarily packed together for rich kids, missing as single sets from main City setup. It gets dumber and dumber.
A £170 4+ Juniors set. No thank you. For £10 more you can get Barracuda Bay, Treehouse or Assembly Square, all of which are infinitely superior.
It's very nice of LEGO to make a statue of me. Much appreciated!
Another red bike?? C’mon Lego, any chance of another colour?
Laziest, cluttered boxart ever.... period.
There is an error with the currencies "UK £169.99 / US $199.99 / FR £179.99". I assume it should mean DE €179.99?
WHAT?! 200$ (or 180€) for a 1500 pieces set without any license?!
at the same price i buy a modular, not a facade of a City Hall "5cm wide" (are they proud of this?)
I know it's often hard to imagine anyone thinks differently about stuff, but I really do wonder what the target audience of this type of set is? Also looking at you, Hoth mess that was 75098
Parents are going to love this as a crossover between "big box of mixed Lego" and "big Christmas present". Kids like seeing big buildings about as much as AFOLs do but these are easier for little hands to play with, copy or add to. I would have preferred buildings like this to be released as a series of small sets instead of, say, off roaders and tow trucks. But it's a fine set for kids.
This looks like the starting point for a few sets rather than anything coherent. And that Limousine is just plain ugly.
For my kids, this is rather fun. Small builds, lots of figures, but the price is a bit too high. We'll see if it goes on sale.
Rest In Peace, monorail.
What is this obsession with fast food ?? yet another recent set featuring Burgers !
City Main Square - burger
Burger Bar Fire Rescue - burger
Monster Burger Truck - burger
Heartlake Drifting Diner - burger
Donot Diner - donot
I like the concept but the price is, yet again, prohibitive.
What a wonky red vehicle has that handy man?!
@johleth said:
"Its a bit all over the place, I don't think the set really knows what it is."
So it's a rather accurate representation of many modern-day cities then.
@legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
Looks like it. Or maybe earplugs to protect her ears against the high volume at that concert? :-)
I have several of the Main Street type City sets than have a mish mash of small builds.
This one has a few nice builds - the stage and diner - but it's mostly a vastly overpriced mess.
Chinese New Year for $120 is a vastly better set for way less money.
$200?
That's nuts.
@Mechahamster said:
"This looks like the starting point for a few sets rather than anything coherent. And that Limousine is just plain ugly."
Ooh, is that what it is? A Limo? ;)
@Block_n_Roll said:
"Interesting fact: If you take a random selection of 1500 pieces, stick them in a tub, shake them well, then dump them out onto a table, there's a 63.4% chance that you'll create a more cohesive collection of builds."
You realize that if you do the building yourself, there is entirely no need to shake the already selected 1500 random pieces in a tub...
What the heck is the red vehicle with the ladder? Is this based on a real thing?
Far, far too expensive. I realise I am far from the target audience for this set, but even so, over £150 for a box of half-hearted builds? No
I have watched the TV show with my Daughter, and it is fun and all the builds reference characters and places. But £170!! No way. I will only get this at a nice discount.
There is no way someone would pay 200 bucks for this! What has happened to city!? There is nothing here, that would excite an AFoL, much less a child. The set is plain boring and ugly to top it off.
City desperately needs a construction line again (a good one). Also, there is waaaay to much output in pretty much all themes from Lego. There is no way an average kid could get the whole line of one subtheme within a year with these prices. Either the prices have to go down, or Lego has to slow down with releasing sets a little. Maybe slowing down would improve the actual quality of the set design overall too (maybe they could then also focus on color quality over piece variety).
I paid £85 for 60097 - probably I would pay the same for this lot.
From the designer who brought us ‘Assault on Hoth’?
:)
Intrigued by the 'not yet live' sticker at the top of the article. Anyway, this looks great, and I like the hearing aid, but wow— the price...
I wonder if they'll ever release a tram with, you know, tram tracks.
Maybe the cost of this set is attributable to the printing of the hearing aid?!
I feel the price isn’t great, but I like the ideas behind this. Hopefully we’ll see more City sets like this: simple for the kids, yet still not heavily juniorised for the adults.
Dunno if I’ll get this because of the price, but it is a step in the right direction. Well done LEGO!
By the way, having a good friend who is hard of hearing, I really like the hearing aid print.
@legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
I assumed she was wearing wireless earbuds as hearing aids are a bit more subtle.
Is that statue's hat/look hinting a comeback of Castle's Forrestmen???
@mfg3000 said:
" @legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
I assumed she was wearing wireless earbuds as hearing aids are a bit more subtle."
My thoughts exactly. I also assume(d) these are wireless earbuds. But, heh, this is Lego, you can imagine this to be whatever you like :)
@pazza_inter said:
"WHAT?! 200$ (or 180€) for a 1500 pieces set without any license?!
at the same price i buy a modular, not a facade of a City Hall "5cm wide" (are they proud of this?)"
Are you an Inter Milan fan??? Lol
A small tram and a mismash of small builds and a facade building is not going to drag any money from my wallet. Least they could do is give a more substantial tram with a bit of track? Previous releases of a tram set and tourist bus set were much better value.
I actually think it looks quite nice for a city set, that was until I noticed the price.
@Jelippo said:
"A £170 4+ Juniors set. No thank you. For £10 more you can get Barracuda Bay, Treehouse or Assembly Square, all of which are infinitely superior. "
Good luck finding a Treehouse anywhere hahaha... I havent seen that set available since before Jan 2020.
If this set sold at half price it will sell well. I remember seeing the previous version of this set with the red tourist bus at half price and it still took ages to sell out locally.
@RobinHoodBricks said:
"It's very nice of LEGO to make a statue of me. Much appreciated!"
Sorry about hijacking the comments for this question, I tried to PM you but couldn't.
What's up with the Youtube channel? I'm missing my updates on Brick Nottingham!
My son has the town square with pizzeria, bike shop and large bus from a few years back and I’m sure I paid about half what LEGO are asking for this with an equivalent number of bricks and builds. Nice to see isn’t just Star Wars and Technic themes getting sillier and sillier pricing, not good that on the whole the price of LEGO is actually making it difficult or impossible for some folk to “play well”. It’s no longer an affordable toy :-(
That green-jumpered bloke really does look happy with his food!
@RobinHoodBricks said:
"It's very nice of LEGO to make a statue of me. Much appreciated!"
No, it's a hint for the next Lego Ideas set, my Castle in the Forest project ;-)
poVoq
@Jito said:
"Is that statue's hat/look hinting a comeback of Castle's Forrestmen???"
I hope I hope I hope
Lego Ideas The Castle in the Forest !!!
poVoq
A kid will probably have more fun demolishing the town hall than actually assembling and “playing” with it.
“Board the monorail that has no track and squeak along the kitchen floor to the Town Hall. Hey! Watch the dignity of politicians plummet even further as the mayor wears a Halloween costume as part of a backdoor sponsorship with Bob’s Crap Corn Cobs! Hey! Remember to bring your ear buds to the rock concert even though you have no ears!”
Re-create your favourite scenes from the popular series with The LEGO Group’s brand-new LEGO City Main Square
My problem with LEGO these days in a nutshell. Too many IPs, and now City is based on a (quite dumb, in my opinion) kid's TV show. So much for open-ended, generic play.
£170, they are having a Giraffe
In my opinion, the set's town hall is especially sub-par, and looks like a facade. Not to mention, at $200 for 1500 parts, it's overpriced. And, there's no "Disney Tax". This is a set from one of LEGO's bread and butter themes. Did LEGO have to pay licensing to a cartoon studio for their OWN IP?
In a lot of ways, I think my recent habit of switching over to cheap used Technic Universal sets from the '80s and '90s was a good move. And more challenging.
This would be great set if they cut Burger bar and Helicopter. That Price is OUTRAGOUS
And why the heck isn't that Limusine 6 stud wide?
@Cody6268
Actualy the show is really good. Well written and actualy hilarious.
I like this set, but remember it's for kids! £170 is an astonishingly high price. Split it in two: 'town hall' and 'city train', or something like that.
I think if I was a child and saw the box artwork, I'd think wow, what a set. Then when I got it out and built I maybe a little disappointed. If they had included and elevated track system, this price point would have been more acceptable
Very funny, @Huw, we all know this is just Using AI To Generate Lego City Sets.
Still think this is overpriced, but on it's own it'd make a good kid's playset.
But when going for either vehicles, or buildings, there are better ones for that budget.
Currently, Newbury Highschool is an available alternative for the Town Hall.
Or multiple Friends/3-in-1 sets for smaller buildings.
It'd be great for Lego to think about City in "square blocks." Create 8x vignette inspired sets with updated baseplate designs that can all connect to form a city.
If you separted this set into story-telling bits ($20-30 range), it really would be quite something.
New street baseplate designs Lego. That is what your audience wants!
200 dollar juniors set? Thats a pretty bold move.
It's nice I like the tram nice yellow like the ones here in Manchester I like the limousine looks like something bruce waune might arrive to a charity event in lol..
The city hall building is a good detailed structure,
Well done lego I have noticed some folks are abit peeved about the price I personally think its an £ 80-90 set no more than that!!
@PaulRevere said:
"It'd be great for Lego to think about City in "square blocks." Create 8x vignette inspired sets with updated baseplate designs that can all connect to form a city.
If you separted this set into story-telling bits ($20-30 range), it really would be quite something.
New street baseplate designs Lego. That is what your audience wants!"
YEAH! Like old style sets!
Like this:
https://brickset.com/sets/6386-1/Police-Command-Base
or this:
https://brickset.com/sets/6349-1/Holiday-Villa
or this:
https://brickset.com/sets/6395-1/Victory-Lap-Raceway
OR THIS:
https://brickset.com/sets/6399-1/Airport-Shuttle
There's some talk about this looking somewhat like a Juniors set, which, if it were, might justify the bonkers price-tag.
But this isn't a Juniors set, which means you get the extra-special, added-value, bonus-funtime experience of NOT having the inconvenience of the bricks being preprinted for you!!
For this money, the set shouldn't involve applying stickers.
I think it's pretty good but way too expensive, should be 160 or less imo
the worst part is... you could probably throw oyt 300-400 pieces and it would look almost the same,
I get the crazy detaling in sets for older fans, but this looks like a set for a kid to build something, not get bored and have a toy after... it does not need so many details, added only to charge more for more tiny pieces that get lost super fast and most kids don't use when building stuff :///
There are parts of this, that I like. But there are other parts and I'm just, eh?
The price is extraordinary. And I bet the sticker sheet is terrifying.
The burger bar, the stage and park, the city hall facade, the monorail (LOL) and station, all of these would be great as single-release City sets. I just don't get why Lego has to release them in a giant set that's incredibly cost-prohibitive.
And I don't quite forgive city hall for being just a facade, either. I loved buildings with actual interiors, when I was a kid. The police and fire brigade don't hold meetings or have their lunch out on the front lawn, do they? Why don't modern kids like buildings with interiors? I don't understand.
"The new LEGO City Main Square set is the latest example of how the LEGO Group aims to help children to create a realistic LEGO world"
Realistic? These buildings would never appear side by side in real life! These should've been released as separate sets. One with the train, another with the diner, another with the park and stage, and another with the town hall. And the price! That's more than a modular building!
33% off on Amazon a week after release.
@csiramokus said:
"I paid £85 for 60097 - probably I would pay the same for this lot."
60097 is WAY better set IMO. These two are worlds apart for me.
@legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
No it's some earbuds I think
I see the only market for this being big holiday presents from folks ignorant of Lego, i.e. just getting their kids or grandkids into the hobby. Anyone that has bought any lego can surely see that for the price tag a more cohesive (and more fun) set could be bought by getting ten other random city sets. I can't find a single original idea or detail in the set. It certainly looks like an 'island of misfit toys' situation, or more appropriately, a 'box of reject builds' set that someone said let's sell at 150% actual worth.
@Shropshire said:
"What is this obsession with fast food ?? yet another recent set featuring Burgers !
City Main Square - burger
Burger Bar Fire Rescue - burger
Monster Burger Truck - burger
Heartlake Drifting Diner - burger
Donot Diner - donot"
A large percentage of our world is sadly hooked on fast food. Not surprising LEGO depicts these for children to build.
The vehicles there are darn ugly.
@387Brick said:
""The new LEGO City Main Square set is the latest example of how the LEGO Group aims to help children to create a realistic LEGO world"
Realistic? These buildings would never appear side by side in real life! These should've been released as separate sets. One with the train, another with the diner, another with the park and stage, and another with the town hall. And the price! That's more than a modular building! "
Speaking of which, since when is the goal of LEGO City absolute realism anyway? I always thought it was about a creative world from the child's imagination.
"If ever families feel they need to take a break from city life, the impressive City Hall building, measuring over [dimensions], and the intricate Tram build, which measures over [dimensions], both make impressive display pieces, as well as a fond reminder of the quality time spent together."
What does this even mean?
"However, for those who would like a little extra help, The LEGO City Main Square playset also comes complete with ‘Instructions PLUS’ – an interactive building guide that helps budding builders on their journey to becoming master builders!"
There's not a thing here you even need normal instructions for, it can all be reverse-engineered from the surface.
In summary, this product description is a joke, as always :P
@legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
I think so but as shown in the picture she might be a bodyguard for the stage.
This set wpuld have been worth it for people had it nit tricked people with the monorail.
I generally like the City “central square”-type sets with a mix of buildings and vehicles because they provide some neat things we wouldn’t get otherwise and they’re some of the only civilian/everyday City sets. This one doesn’t appeal to me, though... I think because we’ve had better versions of the constituent parts in the past, particularly of city halls and trams/public transit.
"1” (5cm) wide"
Lego inches are surprisingly big!
In regards to the hearing aid/earbuds/Earplugs debate.
It's only printed on one side. Thst hints to me at a hearing aid, as I think if it was meant to be like what security wears Lego would likely have printed a headset mic on near the mouth. Less subtle but more clear
Wow and Wow. A strange collection of things, almost like a random ebay collection of part sets. It has some interesting elements but I know its only a guide. How may 6+ yr olds spend £170 on one set. Surely even wealthy Adults dont spend that on themselves or their 6+'s for Lego City do they? I own 60097 but Im pretty sure I paid < £100 for it. Why do they both have Helicopters in ?
@waterytowers said:
" @Jelippo said:
"A £170 4+ Juniors set. No thank you. For £10 more you can get Barracuda Bay, Treehouse or Assembly Square, all of which are infinitely superior. "
Good luck finding a Treehouse anywhere hahaha... I havent seen that set available since before Jan 2020.
If this set sold at half price it will sell well. I remember seeing the previous version of this set with the red tourist bus at half price and it still took ages to sell out locally."
My wife bought one in Sydney, at the Lego Certified store in Bondi Jct, just last month.
So, they do exist
Admittely it was from a few years back but this set is only £10 less than the excellent '70751: Temple of Airjitzu' and is £20 more than this year's modular '10270: Bookshop' (Which is the modular taht has tempted me the most). And if we look at sets with the exact same price (in UK at least) we have '10237: Tower of Orthanc' and '70810: MetalBeard's Sea Cow'. I mean this isn't even a licensed set or anything mindblowing,
Should seriously be $99.
Every year or two there’s a set like this that is definitely appealing in terms of variety of city additions, but is crazy expensive. This is about $60-70 USD higher than the TOP range of what I’d consider for a set like this.
Also confused about why there’s a press release on this - it’s the Hoth UCS all over again.
Hey all you dislikes or who question the idea or legitimacy of this set: I think this is a perfect "grand parent" set to have at home for when the seniors get multiple kids over who all need to build at the same time. It got all sizes of stuff depending on the different kids ages and the theme fit together.
The idea of this set is brilliant!
Sure it's expensive, but retired people have loads of cash and don't need 15 different boxes, just one. One box and they got toys for their visiting little sugar consuming darlings!
Looks like a bunch of builds out of an Education bin.
Kind of misses every target audience for me....
This would have made a great set for parents to build with their children... but £180? That’s ludicrous!
This is the most ADHD set so far by Lego. It has tiny bits of too many disparate things. There is very little playability depth with any particular piece.
A limo with no road, a train with no track, a helicopter with no landing pad, a building facade with no interior, a mini concert stage with no venue or audience, a cop-n-robber pair with no purpose.
This set appears to be designed for someone of limited intellect who can't sit and play with an object for more than 10 seconds before switching to something else. That's the kind of person who wouldn't mind all the very apparent shortcomings. And it's a shame to see Lego pander to that lowest common denominator.
@waterytowers said:
" @Jelippo said:
"A £170 4+ Juniors set. No thank you. For £10 more you can get Barracuda Bay, Treehouse or Assembly Square, all of which are infinitely superior. "
Good luck finding a Treehouse anywhere hahaha... I havent seen that set available since before Jan 2020.
If this set sold at half price it will sell well. I remember seeing the previous version of this set with the red tourist bus at half price and it still took ages to sell out locally."
The Treehouse is still available at Lego here in the UK! Shame, because I wasn't very excited by it and I'm thinking of selling it, your comment made me think it might be worth selling!!
$200 for this is just insane. 13c per part for non-license. Not ok. It’s not even a particularly cohesive or interesting set. And another burger bar? Really? Can’t build a big slice of pizza out of LEGO? This set is by far one of the worst things I’ve seen from them in a long time and that price doesn’t help it’s case.
Is this a delayed April Fool's? As previously mentioned, liken to "UCS" Hoth or the partial First Order AT-ST
Pass! There is some social distancing at the concert, but not enough, and none of these figs are wearing masks. Lol. This should be 5 different sets and they should all be $25 each. This is the Town equivalent of the Battle of Hoth set.
@pazza_inter said:
"WHAT?! 200$ (or 180€) for a 1500 pieces set without any license?!
at the same price i buy a modular, not a facade of a City Hall "5cm wide" (are they proud of this?)"
I suspect there are licenses involved here. If the show's characters are trademarked or owned by the animation studio that produces LEGO City Adventures, then they most likely have to pay out whenever they use those characters in their sets. I think they had similar licensing issues with the LEGO Movie characters, as WB "owns" Emmet and Lucy rather than LEGO themselves.
The price is way too steep for our family, but the reason behind it at least checks out.
The idea is good! But the price is ridiculous! It would really be better to release it in separate sets. I also miss the old baseplates, I hope they really make new ones. Is it not clear to me whether this would be a shuttle or a tram? If it was a tram, it would have been better to have something classic, like the one in Lisbon. Especially since this is not a 4+ set, but a 6+ set. More detail should be included than these big yellow special pieces. And if it's a shuttle, where's the high monorail track, especially for that much money. The fountain and statue are nice but there aren’t too many playable options. A playground or a skateboard track would have been better. The same limousine was already in another vip aircraft set in white color. They didn't think much about that. The concert stage is beautiful! If I put myself together from new pieces, it takes approx. it costs $ 10. And where are the other members of the band? I know it’s for the kids, but parents can only pay, and I, as a parent, want a set that has more construction and creativity for that much money. LEGO forgot that many parents buy LEGO sets for their children because parents used to have Lego sets as well. And it wasn’t like that, it is more of a Playmobile, with these big special pieces. The old sets also had special pieces, such as in classic space, but at least they added a base plate and there was an alternative build option. In new sets, the piece element cannot be reused because only 1 thing can be built from it, for example tram front-end peace!
Please Lego designers, You Were Kids Too and you didn't have to play with That lame. Incorporate more ingenious construction solutions and innovate manufacturing technology to make sets cheaper when you can no longer cut from current prices!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Inferior when you compare this to the 2015 City Square set.
@bananaworld said:
"
Rest In Peace, monorail."
There is a picture of one on the cover, sorry I forgot you need it to magically float through the air as no track is provided. Maybe for the same money, I will buy the Harry Potter Great hall and astronomy tower as kids always like sets with proper buildings and base plates.
It just doesn’t look like a 1500+ piece set when I look at the pictures
Now give me a an Arctic/Galaxy Squad/Space Police Base at 1500 pieces and we’d be having a conversation!!!!
yaaaayy a $200 set and no monorail tracks!!! just what I've always wanted!!
evidently they've priced it based on the box art alone.
Almost nobody taking the Brickset poll shows an interest in getting this, even with a discount. If this had been presented as 1/2 dozen smaller sets it would have made so much more sense but increasingly Lego is targeting the big spenders and neglecting the lower end pocket-money market.
Do we know if the tram will run on Lego train track?
I actually kinda like it, but would want a heavy discount.
The tram could be useful for replacing the train in my city, which would allow me to save space by getting rid of the relatively big station. The train is right in the middle of the city as well which doesn't feel right.
Most of the builds could be useful, although the City Hall would need reducing in size, have a back added and re-purposed, and the helicopter would have to go.
@yacoub said:
"This set appears to be designed for someone of limited intellect who can't sit and play with an object for more than 10 seconds before switching to something else. That's the kind of person who wouldn't mind all the very apparent shortcomings."
You mean like a 6-year-old? How dare LEGO make toys for kids! It's scandalous!
(If you were being sardonic and were making the same point as me, my apologies. It wasn't clear if you meant what you said earnestly.)
The set's incoherence won't bother kids at all. On the contrary, they will enjoy creating stories that bind the builds together.
Like many others, it's the price with which I have an issue. I suspect many AFOLs and a fair few parents/grandparents buying for kids will wait until it's heavily discounted.
@icey said:
"Hey all you dislikes or who question the idea or legitimacy of this set: I think this is a perfect "grand parent" set to have at home for when the seniors get multiple kids over who all need to build at the same time. It got all sizes of stuff depending on the different kids ages and the theme fit together.
The idea of this set is brilliant!
Sure it's expensive, but retired people have loads of cash and don't need 15 different boxes, just one. One box and they got toys for their visiting little sugar consuming darlings! "
I think the price point is the major sticking point. Reading into it, it sounds like the buildings are all shown in the LEGO City Adventures TV Show, so while it may seem disjointed, it stays true to content that the intended audience will be interested in.
I can't say for sure, but I'm confident the inflated price is tied to the fact that this is an official "LEGO City Adventures" set rather than a generic City set, which would probably run around $119 or so.
@PjtorXmos said:
"There is no way someone would pay 200 bucks for this! What has happened to city!? There is nothing here, that would excite an AFoL, much less a child. The set is plain boring and ugly to top it off.
City desperately needs a construction line again (a good one). Also, there is waaaay to much output in pretty much all themes from Lego. There is no way an average kid could get the whole line of one subtheme within a year with these prices. Either the prices have to go down, or Lego has to slow down with releasing sets a little. Maybe slowing down would improve the actual quality of the set design overall too (maybe they could then also focus on color quality over piece variety). "
Our cousin watches LEGO City Adventures and this set has already caused a wave of excitement in the little lad. It features buildings and characters from one of his favorite shows. It's too expensive, to be sure, but it's going to draw the intended audience. The question is... who can afford to buy it for him?!
"The LEGO City Main Square playset also comes complete with ‘Instructions PLUS’ – an interactive building guide that helps budding builders on their journey to becoming master builders! Available as part of the free LEGO Building Instructions app for smart devices, ‘Instructions PLUS’ includes a special zoom and rotate feature to help young builders visualise as they build "
Part of the fun is the challenge, we 80's\90's kids managed just fine with the "not holding your hands" instructions. Not sure if I'm a fan of the easier and easier instruction Lego produces each year.
Other than that the pricing for a simple, non-motorized, kid's oriented set is out of touch with realty, and sadly as suspected will become the new norm.
@cody6268 said:
"In my opinion, the set's town hall is especially sub-par, and looks like a facade. Not to mention, at $200 for 1500 parts, it's overpriced. And, there's no "Disney Tax". This is a set from one of LEGO's bread and butter themes. Did LEGO have to pay licensing to a cartoon studio for their OWN IP?
In a lot of ways, I think my recent habit of switching over to cheap used Technic Universal sets from the '80s and '90s was a good move. And more challenging. "
The last couple of years I've noticed that a "City" tax has been creeping in. I think Lego is cashing in on their own successful IP's. Just watch, Ninjago will be next...
Still waiting for a Shirley Keeper minifig... seriously she's like, the best character in the show.
I'm not sure what set some of you are looking at- both the town hall and diner have interiors. The lack of tracks for the train is not a problem for a child- I had several toy trains (but not a LEGO train until much later). Some had tracks, some didn't. I wpuld have loved a large set like this- so many different things here. And it's LEGO, so you can BUILD OTHER THINGS TOO! My only issue is the price. I just hope you complainers are not the type who would refuse to get this for a kid simply because YOU don't like it.
I think that the box art completely ruined the presentation of the set, because the idea of having the monorail back is still present in afols mind. Not gonna happen for several different reasons and I'm glad it is like so. Time goes forward, not back...
Regarding set 60271, I think it's very good for the intended audience. Lots of stuff, playable and with a significant collection of recognizable characters. The price might be a little high, but it will eventually appear with a discount soon or later.
Easy pass for me but good job Lego, appealing set!
This set should be $100, not $200.
Omg! This is the end of LEGO as we know it. Good night.
What ever happened to all the great City Buildings? Now the sets just seem an amalgamation of random parts and elements to create a city. I loved getting a gas station, or a fire station as a kid, each coming with a base plate. I guess a lot of that shifted to the Creator Expert building line, but City should still have its own structures. I had a motorcycle shop as a kid, and a garage, and post office or small homes. it seems like other lines like Creator 3 in 1 have destroyed the original City line... $200 for this? Seems like the Attack on Hoth UCS set flop.
Did y'all just get the promo email from LEGOShop.com about this set?
It's deeply cringe-worthy:
"A new trackless tram features movable wheels."
"Trackless tram"?? So, a bus...?
This set has a lot of similarities to 60097 City Square, which had a tram, a variety of vehicles, some building facades (which are just destinations for the minifigs to travel to) & was priced at $189.99 for 1683 pieces in 2015. I like the idea of a limo in this set though. The biggest disappoint to me is the tease that the tram would be a monorail with track.
Why did LEGO start using named characters? I thought children were supposed to be imaginative.
Looks too dumbed-down even for the target audience. And the price is a horrorshow. I used to look forward to Lego City releases every year, but it's been awhile since I did so. Even the somewhat-interesting Mountain Police suffered from bloated prices.
Apart from the great vehicles line, it's just not worth it anymore...
For those complaining about 'what happened to City' I'd like to point out that there have been some good City sets this year - Ice Cream Truck, Street Sweeper, Hot Rod Garage, and so on.
So City as a line isn't terrible, just this set!
Is it my imagination, or does that city hall have a serious Fabuland vibe?
A junior playset for the price of a modular. I know the modulars are aimed at grown-ups but still, you could get the pirates of Barracuda bay for not much more.
Was I the only one that was initially very excited that this was a return of the monorail??
Oh well, someday maybe. . . .
@legojeroen said:
"Is that a minifig with a hearing aid? (the lady in the blue sweater) "
Oh, my goodness, you're right! Side-of-head printing has arrived!
It really is like a 5+ version of 60097
Great point by icey - hasn’t considered the collaborative build opportunities.
Still pricey, but that appeal makes sense
@Inflex said:
" @csiramokus said:
"I paid £85 for 60097 - probably I would pay the same for this lot."
60097 is WAY better set IMO. These two are worlds apart for me."
I also think 60097 is a great City set but I quite like this set too. In fact the buildings in this set may be a bit better if anything, and the tram is comparable, not so keen on the vehicles though. It’s no more of a mishmash really, and is after all based on the TV series.
The RRP of that set 5 years ago was £150 / $190 so I don’t really think the price should be so much of a surprise to everybody.
I like that tram.
...and that's all I have to say.
@cody6268 said:
"Re-create your favourite scenes from the popular series with The LEGO Group’s brand-new LEGO City Main Square
My problem with LEGO these days in a nutshell. Too many IPs, and now City is based on a (quite dumb, in my opinion) kid's TV show. So much for open-ended, generic play. "
Maybe I live under a rock, but LEGO City Adventures is popular? I’ve only ever heard it mentioned on Brickset and other sites like it.
What is that vehicle which has random things (ladder, chain, dynamite) on it?
“Create a realistic Lego world.”
Box art has a one-eyed gangster stealing a window frame.
Boo!
I need that blue Hair piece for a XJ9 Minifig
Ok, the tram is quite nice. The rest of it is below par and the price is daylight robbery.
@Deejaycroxbuilder said:
"Ok, the tram is quite nice. The rest of it is below par and the price is daylight robbery. "
Daylight robbery seems to be a thing in Lego City, doesn't it?
I typically like the town sets from city but not this one at all. Man, the price of city sets these days. I got my hopes so up. I was very depressed when I found out the monorail was faked. I think the diner is way too undersized considering the price per piece. I honestly kind wish a crane was in this one so it can improve the value.
@bananaworld said:
"
Did y'all just get the promo email from LEGOShop.com about this set?
It's deeply cringe-worthy:
"A new trackless tram features movable wheels."
"Trackless tram"?? So, a bus...?"
If you got rid of the pantograph, it could indeed be a trackless tram: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/looking-past-the-hype-about-trackless-trams-107092 .
I’m not aware of any pantographed vehicles without tracks. Seems to me that if the power is fed from an overhead supply, you would need tracks to keep the vehicle from inadvertently moving out of contact with its source of power. But maybe a virtual track is in development such as with the trackless tram but that also uses a pantograph. I’m in no way an expert in rapid transit vehicles and developments in their technology, so am happy to defer to anyone who is.
@Yooha said:
"What is that vehicle which has random things (ladder, chain, dynamite) on it?"
It's a maintenance service vehicle. I think I've seen ones like they've modeled this after. It's a lot more common to see golf cart/ATV type vehicles put to this use now, but older IC engine versions would have that long front end housing the engine, and usually be red.
The bigger question is why is it carrying an explosive device on it?! Is the guy disgruntled? Did he pick up the trash from a bin and not realize that someone put a bomb in it? What the heck is going on there?
@HandPositions said:
"Why did LEGO start using named characters? I thought children were supposed to be imaginative."
Probably for the same reason LEGO started using instructions to build specific models.
Too bad we already completed the Brickset Bouts. ;)
@Darth_Dee said:
"
The last couple of years I've noticed that a "City" tax has been creeping in. I think Lego is cashing in on their own successful IP's. Just watch, Ninjago will be next..."
I highly doubt that. Ninjago sets are designed to have almost excessive amounts of detail, so the PPP is very low due to the small parts used. It’s also fairly clear that they’re targeting older fans with stuff like the Legacy line.
@Zander said:
" @bananaworld said:
"
Did y'all just get the promo email from LEGOShop.com about this set?
It's deeply cringe-worthy:
"A new trackless tram features movable wheels."
"Trackless tram"?? So, a bus...?"
If you got rid of the pantograph, it could indeed be a trackless tram: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/looking-past-the-hype-about-trackless-trams-107092 .
I’m not aware of any pantographed vehicles without tracks. Seems to me that if the power is fed from an overhead supply, you would need tracks to keep the vehicle from inadvertently moving out of contact with its source of power. But maybe a virtual track is in development such as with the trackless tram but that also uses a pantograph. I’m in no way an expert in rapid transit vehicles and developments in their technology, so am happy to defer to anyone who is.
"
Trolleybuses are kind of like that. They are just buses, but they get their power from an overhead wire. Oftentimes they are used in cities that used to have light rail that was removed, but the powerlines remain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus
I saw the email for this and came to these comments to make sure I wasn't crazy. $200 for this set is a very interesting move...
Why are so many of the minifigs sleeping?
So recent Lego history sees: (1) release of the crocodile loco which is pinched from Ideas without giving credit to its creator; (2) cancellation of the Osprey ostensibly to comply with TLG's "values" but in fact to cover up a design flaw; and now (3) release of City Main Square with a box clearly depicting a monorail which is, in fact, not a monorail at all. When you get enough apparently isolated incidents occurring together, a pattern emerges. This pattern of sneakiness and dishonesty makes it clear that TLG has big problems with its internal culture. Typically the emergence of these problems from within an organisation into the public eye is the result of years, maybe decades, of decay behind closed doors, which, sadly, often takes years or decades to reverse. I fear that we haven't seen the last of this from Lego. A sad development for what will soon no longer be the world's most trusted brand. Maybe rename the theme MendaCity?
A fine set for kids, but the price tag says otherwise.
@xboxtravis7992 said:
" @Zander said:
" @bananaworld said:
"
Did y'all just get the promo email from LEGOShop.com about this set?
It's deeply cringe-worthy:
"A new trackless tram features movable wheels."
"Trackless tram"?? So, a bus...?"
If you got rid of the pantograph, it could indeed be a trackless tram: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/looking-past-the-hype-about-trackless-trams-107092 .
I’m not aware of any pantographed vehicles without tracks.
(...)
I’m in no way an expert in rapid transit vehicles and developments in their technology, so am happy to defer to anyone who is.
"
Trolleybuses are kind of like that. They are just buses, but they get their power from an overhead wire. Oftentimes they are used in cities that used to have light rail that was removed, but the powerlines remain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus"
Actually the Dutch (also cring-worthy) advertising for the set mentions a "trolleybus", which certainly seems incorrect, looking at the box art with the tram on rails.
I was quite surprised to read the comments as I thought the set was great (though too expensive).
I don't think you should see this set as a cohesive displayable set like we adult have in mind but as a playset for kids with lots of differents locations and possible actions.
For me I immediately thought "oh that'd be a perfect set for when I have older kids over at the house" : my daughter is still using Duplos and I have AFOL sets but I miss intermediate sets when nephew/nieces/cousins/friend's kids are over. A set like that would be perfect to have lots of different things they can choose from (or the whole thing if they stay long enough).
I also really like how the whole set seems designed to be built at different paces by different people at the same time (which I suppose explain the weird and often not aesthetic builds => I do find some of those super weird), I'd really like to see how that translates IRL with adults and kids on the floor creating something together and bonding around a game.
Yes it seems all over the place, yes some builds are hideous, but I think it's an awesome set for kids to have fun with and tell so many stories. It is too expensive for a fun familiy set though in my opinion.
Its a nice set but it way too expensive compared to previous sets of its type (e.g. the set with that orange tram and the LEGO store or even the set with the red double decker bus and the hotel).
Definitely a pass for me (its about 1.4x more expensive in Australia than the passenger train and the passenger train has the expensive bluetooth hub, bluetooth remote and motor plus a full loop of track).
@yellowcastle said:
"Too bad we already completed the Brickset Bouts. ;)"
So, you suggest a bottom-bout round with the worst expensive sets? I'm in!
Lots of cool details in this set, but it is far too expensive. It needed to be priced at $100 USD max, less "simple" vehicles (waste of parts), and the large building (town hall) needed to be a bit more complete.
It saddens me immensely to see City go down the licensed/named character route. Do today's kids really have no imagination of their own? It seems LEGO have decided so. All I needed when a KFOL was a realistic layout of roads, buildings, vehicles and generic minifigs and I could play out countless stories of my own imagination. No need for 'action features' to dictate what I do. No unrecognisable mayor in an utterly useless corn cob costume that makes no sense unless you watch some TV show. As for this set due to the obscene price I can't be bothered to outline some of the things I actually like about it (and a lot of builds would be very nice as separate sets as many have said). It would need a 45% discount for me to even start to think about buying it, even then with the proviso of clawing back some money by selling off unwanted builds. As for that ghastly polybag police quad...
I like everything I'm seeing here but it just doesn't add up to $200 worth of stuff to me. But I'd seriously consider it if I could get it at a discount.
I wouldn't buy this if it was half the price.
I hope argos here get it and then hopefully I'll be the lucky one to bag their ridiculous end of the line set price, it looks great but I'd never buy it at that price. Wheels might be rollercoaster size
I hope they make a designer video for this so we can see what the hell they were thinking when throwing this together.
@Boettner_Builds said:
"I hope they make a designer video for this so we can see what the hell they were thinking when throwing this together."
This set is hot garbage and those thinking or justifying its price are full blown smacktards.
The designer was probably bozo the clown.
I usually buy these big city sets when they’ve come out before:
60097: City Square - £150 - 1683pc - 8.9ppp
60026: Town Square - £80 - 914 pc - 8.8pp
60200: Capital City - £120 - 1211pc - 9.9ppp
They’ve all had really nice little builds, and help build a city.
But this one is a mess.
And the price?
£170
1517 pieces
11.2 pence per piece - WHAT?
Way too much money for nothing special at all. The only nice bit is the tram.
This looks like a blind grab bag of smaller sets thrown together under a much too high price point. The more offerings of licensed products, the less there has been of traditional LEGO themes. As an older AFOL, my options to purchase now are nowhere near where they were 20 years ago. The LEGO Group has clearly made licensed product lines their main point of marketing/sales to the consumer and thus have lost some of the more traditional AFOL buyers.
Hard pass
I’ll be getting it because I like most of the models. But as a whole, this set as a stand-alone piece is very atrocious!
@TheRightP_art said:
"A kid will probably have more fun demolishing the town hall than actually assembling and “playing” with it.
“Board the monorail that has no track and squeak along the kitchen floor to the Town Hall. Hey! Watch the dignity of politicians plummet even further as the mayor wears a Halloween costume as part of a backdoor sponsorship with Bob’s Crap Corn Cobs! Hey! Remember to bring your ear buds to the rock concert even though you have no ears!”
"
LOL
LEGO's pricing is a bit like the majority of sellers on Ebay and the like...
"Oooohhh, how much would I like to sell this piece of 2nd hand LEGO for? I know, let's price it at $1000, say it's super-rare and cover ourselves by saying it's 99.9% complete and hope some fool buys it."
I thought they were better than that.
Is that a new 1x2x2 container as the vending machine?
@scottd said:
"Is that a new 1x2x2 container as the vending machine?"
I can only see two of the regular 2x2x2 mailbox containers (design 4345) in the tram stop vending machine.
It did draw my attention to that nice Vita Rush printed 1x1 cylinder - will definitely have to pick some of those up from Bricks & Pieces!
Let's see...
Naming characters to "reenact your favorite scenes" of some stupid money-grab TV show instead of fostering creativity and original play?
Ever more overpriced sets in almost any theme. Even those that traditionally had great value for money, like City and Technic?
Ever more sets each year, with quality control not being able to keep up?
Ever more licenses instead of original content?
Ever more stupidified instruction manuals coupled with the ever increasing amount of of unicorn-vomit colours inside of sets that take even the last bit of fun and challenge out of builds?
Being bombarded with cringeworthy marketing mails of the stupidest content imaginable? Seriously, does anyone in their marketing department read these back before they send them out? Doesn't anyone there have enough common sense to see how embarrassing these mails are?
Summing up, am I the only one who thinks that TLG is heading in a very bad direction?
And this while the competition is upping its game every year.
@bricksintheattic said:
" @scottd said:
"Is that a new 1x2x2 container as the vending machine?"
I can only see two of the regular 2x2x2 mailbox containers (design 4345) in the tram stop vending machine.
It did draw my attention to that nice Vita Rush printed 1x1 cylinder - will definitely have to pick some of those up from Bricks & Pieces!"
Yeah you're right I think the picture I saw had some cropping. Those drink containers are a must though.
@Covi said:
"What a wonky red vehicle has that handy man?!"
Seriously, I could MOC something that makes more sense then that thing.
That limousine is horrendous too
@Skut said:
"So recent Lego history sees: (1) release of the crocodile loco which is pinched from Ideas without giving credit to its creator; (2) cancellation of the Osprey ostensibly to comply with TLG's "values" but in fact to cover up a design flaw; and now (3) release of City Main Square with a box clearly depicting a monorail which is, in fact, not a monorail at all. When you get enough apparently isolated incidents occurring together, a pattern emerges. This pattern of sneakiness and dishonesty makes it clear that TLG has big problems with its internal culture. Typically the emergence of these problems from within an organisation into the public eye is the result of years, maybe decades, of decay behind closed doors, which, sadly, often takes years or decades to reverse. I fear that we haven't seen the last of this from Lego. A sad development for what will soon no longer be the world's most trusted brand. Maybe rename the theme MendaCity?"
Sets are in production for years, no set has ever been “stolen” from Ideas. The V-22 debacle was stupid, yes, but your complaint about this set is a bit excessive, I feel. It’s a toy for kids, the design looks like a monorail, a new rail would drive the price up even more.