This preview comes via blog subscriber, Algo Alyoshla. All original pics are theirs. I cropped some for clarity. Words highlighted in blue are Algo’s.
This is the Target exclusive: Containment Outpost Patrol
Once again, Mega hits a home run with the package design. The jet packing orange Spartan really stands out to me.
The turret at the top of the base spins around but can only rotate up and down a very little. But I didn’t get the set for the base. It was all for the spartans and the cyclops. Them being my favorite orange color and glow in the dark I had to get it. The piece count only being 236 made me question spending $30 for it, but it felt bigger than that building the cyclops first then the base.
Now what I see on the back of the box are TWO MORE Containment sets. Strangely, some of the infected Spartans are the same armor configuration Still, these look like fun themed sets to collect. Those tall column pieces are great for making custom dioramas too.
The armor is very bulky on the chest and back. Their heads cannot really rotate. The jet pack used to be flush with their back but now the armor is in the way so the jet pack is loosely on.
Well, now we have confirmation of how jetpacks fit on the new styled figs. That small gap isn’t really a worry to me. Though I don’t play with my sets, I display them. 
The spartan fit in the cyclops but connection at the back of the seat would not pull into the back of the spartan.
Just when you thought MEGA was done with the cyclops mold, they pull out another color scheme. And this one works VERY well. The beefed up weapons arm looks cool. Using orange and black for the color scheme fits. I think MEGA were loosely tying this in with traditional Halloween colors. Makes sense since infected Spartans are called, ‘Zombies”.
It comes with extra orange armor pieces to change the glow in the dark guys to orange if you want…
and the extras all fit in the armory box that the set comes with.
Now this is VERY cool of MEGA to do. Instead of the armor pieces of old where we ended up with half a Spartan left over, we have complete new sets of armor to change our spartans as we want. Heck, even mix and match colors.
All these armor pieces are a very cool idea and great for customization’s. My son was making a rainbow spartans with pieces everywhere, I think removable pieces will only expand on that. Only problem with that is losing armor pieces more easily that an arm or leg.
No stickers!! The banshee is printed on the tile. New sniper rifle. Great detail on the armor, everyone gets a knife! New sandbags.
I was excited just seeing and getting another cyclops and the new spartans. So to me, the outpost is like extra to the set, but it is a great battle place to fight the zombie spartans.
I think this is a fantastic off-shoot set. The structure will look good on it’s on or part of a bigger diorama. The new color scheme to the cyclops is cool. More Zombie colored Spartans are very welcomed. They glow in the dark too, so that’s a bonus. Additional armor to make them orange is yet more icing on the cake.
Normally I’d balk at a $30 price point for a set that has only 236 pieces. However, let’s break this down so you can really see how this is a good value.
3 minifigures at $3-$3.50 US a piece = $9-10.50
Cyclops, we’ve been paying $14-17 on average for.
Structure/remaining pieces – clearly this is where the bulk of the piece count is and it looks to have roughly 60-70 pieces. My usual 10 cents per piece count applied to that would make the structure $6-7
Add those up. First to low end:
9+14+6= $29
then the higher end
$10.50+17+7=$34.50
So as you can see, the marked price of $30 is spot on.
I can’t wait to get this set and all the other Containment themed sets. How about you? Will you get this set? The other’s themed like it?
-Sal
I think the outpost structure is pretty cool. Can’t wait for Mega Bloks to release a UNSC Firebase. I’m surprised they put infected Spartans though. I was thinking it would make more sense if it was the Flood. The orange color scheme is alright. I was thinking of them being yellow (the same color for the Spartans in Halo 4’s Flood mode) but that might be too bright.
The whole Firebase concept is pretty much dead now. Instead, MEGA has released parts of the base for the past couple of years. We have the Warthog, Cyclops, this structure can certainly act as the turrets. As far as buildings go, we’ve had several sets that have included plenty of books that we could custom into buildings. Not the same I know.
Really? No Firebase for the foreseeable future? That’s disappointing to hear. I suppose I could make my own Firebase but that would require me to buy a lot more sets than I currently own and I would rather not just buy sets to make a Firebase. I’ll just continue to hope Mega Bloks makes a Firebase sometime during the next few years (it could be a signature series set).
When the rumor of the Firebase, then the image of it that leaked shows up, there was considerable discussion amongst Halo Mega Bloks fans. At the time many people didn’t want to spend $150 or more for a set like this. It seems Mega heard their words loud and clear and split the set up into smaller sets. Honestly, that’s easier for most people too. Buying a $30 set here or a $40 set there is easier to budget for than one whopping set at $150+.
^ Well now I’m pretty sure a lot of fans wouldn’t mind paying that much especially since the signature series sets came out and the demand for a Firebase is probably still high as I see comments for custom UNSC bases saying they want a Firebase from Mega Bloks. Also, that Firebase image that was leaked looked good but it could be improved considering the advancements that Mega Bloks has made. Also, I don’t think Mega Bloks has released it into smaller sets. I looked at their website and online and Mega Bloks has done no such thing.
The Firebase was leaked well before the signature series. At the time people were balking at what they thought the price would be. Since then, the Signature series has done very well and it seems fans would indeed be willing to pay that much.
Yes, of course MEGA could improve the set.
As for the component parts, as I mentioned, the Warthog and Cyclops were part of that set and have been released individually. Structures no. Now though, with this Outpost set we do have a towering turret. Not the same as with the Firebase, Better though, in my opinion. While it’s not out of the question for MEGA to make the Firebase, it seems they have put it on the back shelf of ideas for awhile.