Review: 71394 Super Mario Character Packs Series 3
Posted by CapnRex101,
71394 Super Mario Character Packs - Series 3 expands the diverse collection of Super Mario characters which populate this exciting theme. The latest series therefore features numerous appealing enemies, triggering distinct actions and simply appearing fun!
View each character in greater detail after the break...
Characters
Among these ten characters, particular speculation has surrounded the 1-Up Mushroom and any interaction with Mario. While the video game 1-Up Mushrooms grant an additional life, the LEGO equivalent performs like two Super Mushrooms so allows Mario or Luigi to sustain more damage before actually being stunned. This design matches both previous Mushroom variants, albeit featuring a bright green mushroom cap.
The dangerous Amp was introduced in Super Mario 64, shocking characters upon contact. LEGO has cleverly depicted that ability here as scanning the figure triggers a unique electric shock animation on Mario and Luigi. As usual, this enemy appears squarer than usual, but the vital bolts of electricity are present and I like the accurate smiling face.
Scuttlebug is perhaps the most visually distinctive of these ten characters, including a white 6L bar which loosely recreates their webs from recent video games. The purple and yellow stripes look impressive and I like how the arms are constructed, using angled minifigure stands which have not appeared in yellow before. Moreover, the red boxing gloves compare favourably with the original enemies. Scanning the Scuttlebug earns one coin.
The standard Bob-omb became available with 71361 Super Mario Character Packs Series 1 and the Parachute Bob-omb is welcome too, featuring a splendid parachute structure and a printed canopy. That supplants the fuse which appears on the existing Bob-omb, although the interaction remains identical as Mario or Luigi scan this enemy to collect coins before the Bob-omb eventually explodes! I like the accompanying cactus too.
71377 King Boo's Haunted Yard introduced a brick-built Swoop, the design of which remains nearly unchanged. The original black 1x2 plate with handles has been replaced with a light bluish grey element, although this colour scheme of dark azure and magenta is otherwise consistent. The trans-clear support is welcome and scanning the Swoop earns one coin, so matches its previous action.
LEGO has launched the tower biome this year and the Galoomba stands on a medium nougat base, augmenting that biome. The figure shares obvious similarities with the common Goomba which is superb, although their different shapes seem somewhat surprising as 2x2 tiles replace 2x2 curved slopes. Nevertheless, the printed face appears reasonable and scanning the enemy releases one coin, as expected.
71388 Boss Sumo Bro Topple contains a Crowber and its repetition here is therefore slightly disappointing. Additionally, the design appears quite basic, although increasing its complexity may contradict the established LEGO Super Mario aesthetic. On that basis, this bird achieves suitable accuracy and I appreciate the sky biome base. Once again, vanquishing the Crowber earns one coin.
Bullet Bill was available in the original series of Super Mario Character Packs and has become remarkably valuable. The underwater equivalent, Torpedo Ted, shares appropriate similarities with its predecessor, including articulated arms and printed eyes. However, this character also includes an enormous grin which looks perfect, along with a propeller. Scanning the tile on top earns one coin and triggers a brief water sound effect.
Much like Torpedo Ted's resemblance to Bullet Bill, the Bony Beetle shares clear similarities with the Buzzy Beetle. Their construction is identical but these colours are unique, combining aqua and dark bluish grey pieces. The resultant enemy looks splendid and needs two stomps before releasing its coin, although I certainly prefer more distinctive characters.
By extension, the Boo should be among my least favourite figures from this series. However, this shy version appears absolutely adorable, featuring a delightful flushed face and perfectly located arms. Such features depart from the standard Boo, which appears in 71369 Bowser's Castle Boss Battle. Their shape and effect remains unchanged though, activating a frightened response from Mario or Luigi.
Overall
Super Mario Character Packs traditionally provide an impressive selection of unique enemies beside others desirable in multiples. 71394 Super Mario Character Packs - Series 3 maintains that convention and includes various enjoyable characters, although I would certainly welcome more unique enemies rather than repetitious variants of existing designs.
Nevertheless, most individual designs are fun, with the shy Boo and Torpedo Ted particularly standing out in my opinion. I think the 1-Up Mushroom and Amp are the most entertaining for gameplay because their interactions with Mario and Luigi are unusual. These character packs therefore continue to provide an affordable means of expanding any Super Mario level.
Thanks to Huw for the photos in this review.
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26 comments on this article
After missing out on Blooper, Urchin and the Poison Mushroom due to not being able to feel them out for sanitary reasons, and being blindsided by their sudden retirements whenever a new series is launched, I'm going to try and get the 1-Up Mushroom and Amp as soon and as safely as I can. Although, someone did tell me to hold out and see if they decide to launch a water-themed wave and re-release Blooper and Urchin, like how they re-released Bullet Bill in the Sky World set...
Good review!
My favorites of these are the Scuttlebug and Boo (the latter of which I was hoping would be released in a set after its "shy" form appeared in last year's Halloween update to the app). The others are good too, though, and I don't even mind ones like the Crowber or Swoop that had appeared elsewhere previously, since I feel like sometimes repeating common enemy types can be useful when putting together a consistent-feeling level.
I still need to figure out the best way to acquire a full set of Series 2 before I move on to these, though. In the midst of a pandemic, I don't really like to linger in stores to feel out blind bags like I used to, so I've been trying to keep an eye out to see if I can get a full set for a reasonable price. As time goes on, though, I probably ought to bite the bullet and just buy a complete set on eBay or Bricklink since the price is unlikely to go down further than it is now.
I really dont like the characters that don’t give you coins and you need a star. My favorites from this series are the 1-up and bony beetle
@LegoSonicBoy:
@Lyichir:
If it’s just the idea of touching the packets that’s holding you back, buy a box of nitrile, vinyl, or latex exam gloves. Take out a few pairs, lay one on top of another, and roll them up. When you find a store that has packets you want to check, out on one pair of gloves and palp away.
When you’re done, there’s a specific way to remove the gloves so you don’t ever touch them on the outside. With one hand, pinch the outside cuff of the other glove and pull it off your hand. Wad it up in a ball with your remaining gloved hand, and hold it in your fist. With your ungloved hand, reach the tips of your index and middle finger under the cuff of the remaining glove, and use them to pull that one off so it turns inside-out. Now you should have one glove balled up inside a glove that’s inside-out, so that any surface you’ll be likely to come into contact with us one that was already against the skin on your hands. Find a trash can and dispose of them. If none is convenient at the moment, you can safely compress it down inside one hand without being too conspicuous.
This, BTW, is the technique they teach medical professionals to use when removing their gloves. Do it correctly, and even if the gloves are covered in blood from surgery, it’s possible to remove them without getting any on your skin.
Lovely as these are, I'm relieved I haven't pursued this particular theme as I WOULD end up buying all of it.
Was lucky enough to buy another three of those today and now only two characters short of a full deck (Crowber and Bony Beetle), but I'm nbot obsessed about those, anyway. Overall I agree, though, that it's getting a bit repetitive, as much as I love the prints and designs in general.
@LegoSonicBoy said:
"After missing out on Blooper, Urchin and the Poison Mushroom due to not being able to feel them out for sanitary reasons, and being blindsided by their sudden retirements whenever a new series is launched, I'm going to try and get the 1-Up Mushroom and Amp as soon and as safely as I can. Although, someone did tell me to hold out and see if they decide to launch a water-themed wave and re-release Blooper and Urchin, like how they re-released Bullet Bill in the Sky World set..."
I fully respect the concerns about feeling the bags. Not to try to change your convictions on this, but if you carry a pocket hand sanitizer, then you can make sure that you are searching in a 99% sterile environment. Again, I’m not saying this to bash people who are being careful, but am just trying to show a safe method.
I got one of these for my birthday, ended up with the 1-Up Mushroom. Since we don't even have the typical Super Mushroom, I didn't know of their exact purpose, that's kind of cool NGL. The whole "stun" thing hasn't really felt all that consequential so far but I guess it's cool that you can avoid it with the Mushrooms. Sand Blue is a cool color, don't get me wrong, but aren't the Amps black? They're black in Super Mario 64 and the New Super Mario Bros. games if nothing else. I didn't think we'd get a LEGO Crowber honestly, it's cool that we did but I feel like having a gray or red plate thingy below it might work better. I get that they fly and stuff but I only remember them being in World 8 of New Super Mario Bros. (the "lava levels").
Think we'll see an Albatoss eventually? https://www.mariowiki.com/Albatoss
Would go nicely with the parachute Bob-omb.
I bought three of these the other day and was lucky to get the three I really wanted - the 1up Mushroom, Galoomba and Bony Beetle. I'll pick the others up in due course.
Amp is great. I love the shocked face on Mario. I still need some others. Like Boo.
It’s a shame Lego have messed up the accompanying app so much. It is extremely buggy now, having worked pretty much flawlessly up until they updated it for Lego Luigi a month ago. Now, despite several updates since the Luigi version launched, it has significant problems.
@PurpleDave said:
" @LegoSonicBoy:
@Lyichir:
If it’s just the idea of touching the packets that’s holding you back, buy a box of nitrile, vinyl, or latex exam gloves. Take out a few pairs, lay one on top of another, and roll them up. When you find a store that has packets you want to check, out on one pair of gloves and palp away.
When you’re done, there’s a specific way to remove the gloves so you don’t ever touch them on the outside. With one hand, pinch the outside cuff of the other glove and pull it off your hand. Wad it up in a ball with your remaining gloved hand, and hold it in your fist. With your ungloved hand, reach the tips of your index and middle finger under the cuff of the remaining glove, and use them to pull that one off so it turns inside-out. Now you should have one glove balled up inside a glove that’s inside-out, so that any surface you’ll be likely to come into contact with us one that was already against the skin on your hands. Find a trash can and dispose of them. If none is convenient at the moment, you can safely compress it down inside one hand without being too conspicuous.
This, BTW, is the technique they teach medical professionals to use when removing their gloves. Do it correctly, and even if the gloves are covered in blood from surgery, it’s possible to remove them without getting any on your skin."
OR they could just start selling them so that we know what we are getting instead...
@tm76:
As far as I’m concerned, they already do...
@PurpleDave:
Unfortunately, stores place the boxes at the counter where employees can see them and they don't allow customers to feel the packs. There was one particular department store that didn't, during a 30% discount even, and I had no idea it'd be my last chance to grab the Series 1 packs right before Series 2 came out.
@LegoSonicBoy I asked the employees to help me feel the bags ;)
@ChromedCat said:
" @LegoSonicBoy I asked the employees to help me feel the bags ;)"
Where will they do that? Neither of the LCS will do that for me.
@LegoSonicBoy I asked them to help me feel the dog walker from series 19 at the brick shop at NEX
@tm76 said:
"OR they could just start selling them so that we know what we are getting instead..."
This is without a doubt the worst idea I’ve ever heard. If they did this I might actually be tempted to buy some CMF. As it is right now I’m able to save a lot of money by completely ignoring. Please Lego, don’t consider this, increased sales is a bad thing.
How many bags come in the display box? Series 1 & 2 came with 20 allowing me to get exactly 2 of each by buying a new display. Is it the same with series 3?
@SweSarah said:
"How many bags come in the display box? Series 1 & 2 came with 20 allowing me to get exactly 2 of each by buying a new display. Is it the same with series 3?"
18! so not quite 2 complete sets in a box
@LegoSonicBoy said:
" @ChromedCat said:
" @LegoSonicBoy I asked the employees to help me feel the bags ;)"
Where will they do that? Neither of the LCS will do that for me."
In my favorite LEGO shop they have already "pre-feeled" the bags and I "just" tell them which figure I want.
@ChromedCat said:
" @LegoSonicBoy I asked them to help me feel the dog walker from series 19 at the brick shop at NEX"
Thanks, I'll see if the Tampines outlet will do the same.
@PurpleDave, @ChromedCat:
So, heh, there were still a fair number of Series 2 packs left at Toys "R" Us when I checked today, and the cashier gave me a pair of disposable gloves and permission to hunt. Managed to snag that Poison Mushroom... as well as a Huckit Crab, complete spur of the moment, much harder to isolate for sure. I thought the placement of the blind bags right in front of the counter was a deterrent, but all I had to do was ask.
Now that stores are more open to letting customers search these blind bags with the right safety measures, Series 3 should be a no-brainer once the right deal comes along.
@LegoSonicBoy:
Nah, placing them within arm’s reach is probably just meant to deter the “peek & pocket” method of figuring out which packet contains what. Most of the stores in my area put LEGO blind bags in or near the LEGO aisle, but there are also blind bags for Pixar characters, Transformers, Hot Wheels, and a few other brands that might be spread out through the boy’s toys, and if you bother to sort through them, you will almost always run across at least one packet that is open, often with nothing left inside.
@Cooliocdawg:
I didn't notice your reply the first time around somehow! Yeah, that's a good tip :)