Versus Snowbound Weapons pack II: Set number 97043

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 1 minute sorting, 1 minutes build. Total 2 minutes.

Set Piece count: 23
Minifigs: Blue Marine w/frosted lower legs.
Weapons: Shotgun, Assault Rifle, SMG, 2 grenades
Accessories: barrel, power core, radioman backpack
Special Features: N/A

Price/Value: $6 US

The set has 23 pieces. A simple set to be sure, but it packs a lot of goodness in for being a small set. If you’re like me, you love having those small extra scene pieces that really help to flesh dioramas out. The inclusion of the barrel and especially the power core really add to this set. The white camo baseplate if great. I hope MEGA uses this type of baseplate more often (in appropriate colors for whichever set they are in). Since it is easily connected with another like it, you can build a large diorama quickly with them. The snow background on the instructions is a nice touch.

Minifigs run $3 in the blind packs. So that means for this set you’re paying $3 extra for the other stuff. Is it worth it? Heck yeah! As I mentioned, the baseplate is great, you get a nice assortment of weapons as well as some bloks to build into a weapons storage area, plus the barrel, power core and backpack. Totally worth in, IMO.

Here are the pics.
Click on images to see a larger version.

The above image is not my pic and is not labeled as being set II. I hastily opened mine before taking pics of the box….

Summary: A great little set with virtually not build time. Definitely worth the price. I don’t need more of the marine, but definitely want more of everything else in the set. If I get more of this set, I’m up for trading/selling those marines.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 medals!

-HFFL

Versus Snowbound Battlescape: Set number 97068
(Target Exclusive)

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 2 minutes sorting, 3 minutes build. Total 5 minutes.

Set Piece count: 100
Minifigs: Blue Recon w/white dusted feet; Red Commando Elite w/white dusted feet; Active Camo Recon (COOLNESS)
Weapons: Battle Rifle (Black); Plasma Rifle (Crimson); Active camo Mauler
Accessories: Covenant power core; clear display stands (can be made small or large, your choice.

Special Features: Turret swivels
Dimensions: The Battlescape is the standard size as all the rest as it uses the same mold again, this time in white/steel colors.

The set has 100 pieces. Most are really the minifigs and that’s just fine. I’m always glad to have a clear figure as I’m a fan of that particular type of toy. (I love to see the inner workings of how a toy is made and clear toys show that very well)

Here are the pics.
Click on images to see a larger version.

Like the other battlescapes, this one features a removable section. This can be place elsewhere on the baseplate if desired.

The turret assembly is quick and easy to build. Really great design. I think Mega nailed it here. I just wish I could get a few more of the turret without having to buy more of the whole sets.

The minifigs are fantastic. Not just due to Recon, but active camo. I like the crimson Plasma Rifle. Close enough to be like the Brute Plasma Rifles. More Power cores please!!!

Summary: A good set for the money. Everything outside of the battlescape itself really drew me into buying the set. Were this made as a set without the scape, I’d have bought 3 more of them.  It’s a good set to get, especially if you want to complete the Snowbound Target exclusive series.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 medals. Decent minifigs weapons and accessories help make the set from an otherwise overused baseplate set.

-HFFL

Covert Battle Unit: Set number 97070

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 1 minute sorting, 2 minutes build. Total 3 minutes.

Set Piece count: 47
Minifigs: Steel (Shark-like grey) Spartan Mk V w/Red UNSC logo on left chest; Steel ODST with red secondary color, 2 steel marines-1 with goggles, 1 with ggogles and mask.
Weapons: Shotgun, Assault Rifle, SMG, Large Machine gun (with turret assembly
Accessories: 3 black backpacks, Bubble shield generator
Special Features: Turret assembly can swivel

Price/Value: $18 US

The set has 47 pieces. How that exact number is determined I’m not sure as each minifig is comprised of 14 pieces each. So that would already put the total over 47. If counted a one piece each then the total is way below 47 with everything else. Really though it doesn’t matter. The set is great no matter what the piece count is.

Here are the pics.
Click on images to see a larger version.

Sorry for the flashpoints…

What’s in the box (bagged)

A quick sort and here’s what you’ve got.

Very cool instruction sheet, almost a mini poster.

As you can see from the above pic, you can have a minifig hold the turret or assemble it and have someone gun it.

The bubble shield is easy to assembly. I like the smokey color of this one.

Covert Ops Battle Unit ASSEMBLE!

Summary: A great little set with virtually not build time. The new Shark Steel Covert Ops color is fantastic. I really like the turret assembly. Given that a 4-pack of figs now costs about $13-14 for the extra $4 or so you get the bubble shield, generator and turret assembly. Is that worth it? Well, in conjunction with the rest of the set, heck yeah. I got mine at 50% from Toys R Us’s sale price. As of this writing they are still having a “Buy on get one 40% off” sale, so jump at this set if you’ve got the chance. It’s worth it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 medals!

-HFFL

Countdown: Set number 97017

Technical Specifications:
Build Time: 1.5 hours sorting, 5.5 hours build. Total 7 hours.

Set Piece count: 1241
Minifigs: Blue Spartan “Jorge-like armor”;2 Reach style Marines-1 with green eye HUD/1 with gold goggles; NEW UNSC Technician; NEW Brown Spartan Mark V [B]; Standard Green marine with NEW head featuring military cap instead of helmet. Armory items: JFO right arm, CQC left arm, Operator helmet
Weapons: 2 Assault Rifles (black); 3 Magnums (grey); Battle Rifle (black)
Accessories: 2 Reach style marine backpacks; Tools include: Power wrench, wrench, screwdriver, hammer, ratchet, crowbar, lock cutters, monkey wrench

Special Features: Sabre cockpit slides open/close; Yellow gantry ladder swivels
Dimensions: Sabre W 10.5″ H 3.75″-without 4″-with staging rockets L 15″-without 16″with staging rockets / Gantry-Tower assembly W 18.375″ D 9.5″ H 16″
Price/Value: $110US

The set has 1241 pieces. Roughly 80% are for the Sabre, with the rest for the Gantry/Tower.

Here are the pics with some explanation along the way, to help your build.

Click on images to see a larger version.

The second pic of the above shows the contents of the big bag from the first pic in the upper right.

Pieces sorted out into the “Brickyard.”

Note in the above picture the yellow circles. The two forward parts of the engines kept falling off. This was due to the +bar being too short and not being a snug fit. For the rest of the build until the end, these parts remained off so as not to fall off and frustrate me. In the end I used double sided tape to keep them snug.

In the above pic the yellow circle shows where there should be a 2X2 double stud sided piece. That piece was missing. Thankfully it isn’t an integral part of the build and would be hidden anyway, as you can see.

The cockpit assembly is terrific. Nice smokey glass, dark grey hatch and the sliding feature works VERY well.

Beautiful, isn’t she?

To save space yet show build progression, I made this animated gif of the gantry assembly:

Next up the control tower/station in steps:

In this next pic, you see the junction between the gantry and the tower. The directions call for the silver piece (at the bottom) to already be on the build. I found it much easier to take this off, assemble the bottom part them fit the silver part on top.

Bright yellow!

Here is the set fully completed (without stickers) As some of you long time readers know, I don’t like to put stickers on my sets. This set certainly speaks for itself without the stickers, don’t you think?

Here is the sticker sheet:

The leftover pieces: As usual, I try to make a mini of the set the pieces came in. I was successful in part for a small control station. The miniSabre came out pretty good I think. I even was able to make stage separation rockets for the miniSabre.

And finally the minifigs, weapons and armory bits:

Summary: A fantastic set, with long build time. The price is set VERY well for the set. With the piece count coming in at 1241, I would have expected the set to be priced closer to $125. There are some new parts here like the engine nacelles, cockpit slider and cockpit hatch that really add to the look and playability of the set. I am extremely happy with the turn out of the Sabre, but for the one issue with the front engine nacelles not staying on without a little help. Either a longer +bar or a tighter fit would have fixed that. Still, it’s fixable and not too troublesome. If you display this upright as picture, then it’s not an issue.
The gantry/tower assembly is huge and fits the Sabre well. It really adds to the set. Had this just been the Sabre, I’d have been very happy. I feel the gantry/tower was the extra put in the set that adds to the realism of it.

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 medals. Just one missing non-essential part and the forward nacelles as mentioned keep this from being perfect. But damn, it’s CLOSE. Is it worth getting? HELL Yeah!

-HFFL

Reports have come in that Toys R Us has CHARGED credit and debit cards for this pre-order. The set isn’t due to ship until November, yet they’ve charged the cards now.

Their policy is not to charge until the item is about to ship. Unless this is to ship in the next few days, then this is a serious error on the part of TRU.

Unless you have a few hundred you can afford to have them hold on your account, DO NOT pre-order this item. I’ll keep you folks appraised if they fix the error.

Such a shame too. They are going to RUIN their own pre-order with this, then blame consumers for low pre-orders. Mark my words…

-Sal

Toys R Us has just put up it’s pre-order for the Mega Bloks “Forward Unto Dawn” set.

If you buy this week, you can get another for half price!!

The FUD set is priced at $249. I’m not sure if that’s a pre-order price or the regular price. I’ve heard the price range from $269 up to $299. So if you’re thinking about this, it might be better the just pre-order it now and get it for what is likely going to be the cheapest you’ll be able to get it.

Better yet, if you have a friend who is thinking about getting this set too, then get two for the sale price and save even more. Shipping is free (up to $20) off orders of $75 or more, for which this obviously qualifies.

Don’t wait folks, it’s likely this set isn’t going to be mass produced in the thousands. I’m guessing the pre-order is up to gauge interest in the set and that only a select number will be made. Limited edition numbers? I don’t know that…yet.

-Sal

With the new video release, I take a detailed look into this amazing, massive, and epic set.

First up is my friend, Andrew Sparkes. He’s an amazing fellow, whom I’ve had the pleasure to game with on a continuing regular basis. I met him in person months after gaming with him for the first time at this year’s New York Toy Fair. I can tell you that “Sparky” is a genuine fellow who loves these toys and more importantly for we Halo fans, he loves Halo.

These next three shots take me back to a time when I was a kid watching Star Wars for the first time. That epic scene when the Star Destroyer slowly envelopes the screen as it’s chasing the rebel ship. Except in this case, it’s the good guys ship coming toward you!

Just look at that incredible amount of detail that the Mega Bloks designers put into the model!

These next four show the interior. A tight fit yes, but it’s packed with a lot of Halo goodness!

At the middle of the ship where it separates, there lurks an Elite, ready top pounce.

The middle section of the interior shows us a UNSC Technician and Officer.
Check out those details in there. Count them, SIX work stations!

Lastly of the interior, but MOST certainly not least is Master Chief in his cryo tube.

Master Chief in a cryo tube with Light Up Cortana looking on.

As you can see in that pic above, Cortana is lit. Here is a gif showing her lit and unlit:

Next we see how the ship separates in the middle to reveal the scene from the first Halo 4 trailer where Master Chief is looking out toward the shield world.

Some of the fantastic detailing on the hull of the model:

And finally another shot of my friend Sparky with the full model in front of him. He looks pleased as punch with the outcome of the model.

Okay, so I added the text in the bubble, LOL.

This is Mega Bloks 117th Halo set and they’ve gone all out. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve reported on this set before but only in small detail as there wasn’t much known about the set before now.

The “FUD” comes with a special light up Cortana (Mega Bloks first ever light up figure). As well there are four other figures. A blue Elite Zealot, Grey UNSC Technician, Green UNSC Officer, and Master Chief in his Mark VII Mjolnir armor.

This impressive set is more than 2800 bloks. The set has three top sections that come off to reveal an armory, control station, and Master Chief’s Cryo tube. The ship also splits apart to reveal the broken surface area that Master Chief stands at in the first Halo 4 trailer. (How cool is that!!!)

Take a look at this set from the side:

At nearly 100 “dots” long, not including the front antennae and jutting out engines, it’s roughly more than 80cm/31.5 inches long. Include those antennae and engines and you’re looking at a set that is easily 3 feet long.

See for yourself the epicness that is the MEGA Bloks “Forward Unto Dawn” Signature series set:

The set is due out holiday 2012, from what I understand. No word on cost, but considering the blok count, I’d easily guess this is a $300 set.

If you’re a fan like me of the MEGA Bloks Halo sets, then this is a must purchase set.

Pre-Order yours online August 1st at Toys R Us.

Great job MEGA!!!

-HFFL

Deinonychus (a fellow fan and friend of mine on XBOX Live), found this set at his local Toys R Us. (Photo credit goes fully to him)

It’s one of three new exclusives sets to TRU.

Flood Seige:

Front of box

Okay, one thing I’m REALLY liking about this set is the addition of the “Mass Driver” as seen in the last mission of Halo Reach’s “The Pillar Of Autumn.” However, the rest of the set seems a bit discombobulated. The Flood weren’t on Reach, we never saw an orange elite flood and the rest of the setting isn’t really anything out of the games.

So, does that matter? Heck NO!

The orange color of the Elite flood is in direct reference to it being a TRU exclusive. Orange is one of TRU’s corporate colors. They also use this color for exclusive McFarlane Halo figures too.

The setting itself could be a mishmash from Halo 3/Reach. But it’s cool regardless. Some really good potential here to make a UNSC base from. I’m pretty sure the Elite flood can be made into a regular elite. (That’s what I’d be doing with it anyway.) And one small detail…JERSEY BARRIER! YES!! I’ve been asking for this in Halo MB sets for many months now and it’s finally happened! Is it a small detail? Yep, but one that shows up time and again in Halo. While not exactly game accurate, it’s close enough for me. I hope I can get my hands on a bunch of these!

Now, one thing that is a downer. The price. It seems this set is selling for $54.99. It’s an exclusive, so TRU can jack the price up. Should they? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Just consider how many exclusives they’ve had before and look how many are still on the shelves. They price themselves out of competition. Look, I LOVE shopping there. But they have to be more reasonable with pricing. This set comes with 426 pieces. I always use the guideline of 10 cents per piece. So this set should be around $42.60. I’d be fine with rounding it to $45. But not $9 more.

As much as I want the set (and I’d like 2 at least of it), it will be a set I’ll wait for a sale for. Thankfully, TRU does do a “Buy on get one half off sale” fairly frequently for Mega Bloks. That’s when I’l buy. That will bring the cost of two sets to $81 or $40.50 each which is lower that what I think the set should be prices as.

I love to support Halo Mega Bloks. MEGA Brands itself can only suggest a price (MSRP). It’s up to the retailer to actually price an item. This is one of those times where the retailer is failing the license.

So, IMO, wait for a sale folks. While a good set, it’s not likely to sell out on shelves (again due to price).

Here are the other two sets from the TRU exclusive line:

Is that bubble shield clear? Translucent black? Either way, it’s not cannon to the games but is very cool.

Dang, I wasn’t going to buy another “Wolverine” set, but that black/dark grey version just looks awesome.

Again, thanks to Deino for the intel.

Covenant Wraith: Set number 97014

Build Time: 25 minutes sorting, 55 minutes build. Total 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Set Piece count: 637
Minifigs, Weapons and Accessories: Gold Standard Elite, Gold Ascetic Elite, Green EOD Spartan with parts for a Scout Spartan; Rocket launcher, Plasma Launcher
Special Features: Opening and Closing Plasma Cannon hatch/Cannon, Turret pivots 360°.
Dimensions: Wraith H 4-5″ (cannon sealed/open and extended) W 8.25″ L 8.75″ / Forerunner structure H 4.75″ W 3.5″ L 2.5″
Price/Value: $45US

The set has 637 pieces. To say this is an upgrade would be to diminish what is a truly fantastic set. The color for one makes this much closer to game accurate. The beautiful curvature of the replacement bloks makes this set look closer to the game model, while still having that familiar blok look. The cannon assembly is what really rocks in this set. The housing area of the cannon has been redone and so much for the better. I was impressed when I first saw this at New York Toy Fair, but I MUCH more impressed having now built it myself. The addition of the gold elites is great. With the gold elites from Seraph set you can build up a nice squad of Goldies. Need to have another elite to make the ultra, buy the drop pod that has the gold elite.

Okay so now for those pics (sorry no pics of the minifigs for now-pic didn’t turn out so well)

Click on images to see a larger version.

The box art. I can’t say enough how well the packaging looks for this line. It just keeps getting better with each iteration.

The contents:

All the pieces sorted out:

The build:

Take note in this next pic the way the curved piece fits together (insert). If you make a mistake here, you can fix it, but don’t be in a rush to pull out that pin, less you break it. Work it out gently. (TWSS)

Just look at that cannon and housing assembly. AWESOME!!!

The “wings”:

The finished model sans stickers:

A nice amount of leftover pieces:

Hey look a mini wraith from those pieces, sort of…:

The exquisite Forerunner structure. BTW, this one can be coupled with the Battlescape III set to make a larger structure.

Summary: While I liked the original MEGA Bloks Wraith set, this one is far and above better. New curved bloks, better in-game color, gold elites, green EOD and a mini set in the Forerunner structure. The price is actually VERY well priced. For a set of 637 pieces you might expect to pay close to $60. Instead it’s $15 less than that. A VERY good buy. That makes up for what I thought was a little bit of overpricing on two of the other new sets. So if you buy all 4 sets; wraith, seraph, space banshee, warthog; you definitely get your monies worth of bloks and Halo goodness.

Job well done MEGA!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 medals. Great build, awesome color…I could repeat myself even more here. Just go and get one, or three.

-HFFL