Review: 75426 Millennium Falcon
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO SMART Play has received a great deal of criticism since its announcement in January and understandably so. Clearly, these sets look quite messy and I think official communication about the system has been poor, struggling to convey what the SMART Brick actually does.
75426 Millennium Falcon has thus proven to be a pleasant surprise, in some respects. Other renditions of the freighter have certainly looked better, but the interior is spacious and there are abundant play opportunities with the SMART Brick, which makes it ironic that the brick is not actually included.
Please note, this set does not contain a SMART Brick.
Summary
75426 Millennium Falcon, 885 pieces.
£89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 | 10.2p / 11.3c / 11.3c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite its appearance, this Millennium Falcon actually seems quite fun for play
- Surprisingly detailed interior
- Good use of the SMART Brick, offering varied functions
- Very sturdy and easy to handle
- No display value
- Unsightly gap behind cockpit
- Unrecognisable 'dialogue' sound effects
- Really benefits from a SMART Brick, which is a major extra cost
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The Completed Model
Based exclusively on its appearance, this is probably the worst Millennium Falcon since 7190 Millennium Falcon, released in 2000. However, I can excuse its chunky proportions, given the need to accommodate minifigures inside, while the shape of the hull panels is reasonable and the colour scheme looks great, other than the conspicuous red knobs on the exterior.
I often comment on accuracy, but this model is obviously focused wholly on play, so the visible controls for functions do not particularly bother me. Similarly, the model's size feels reasonable, even though it is much smaller than the likes of 75257 Millennium Falcon. The designer has still managed to incorporate many equivalent features and the interior is surprisingly detailed.
The use of stickers for the crew pits on the vessel's mandibles is disappointing and I think they could be better positioned. The shaping is relatively effective though and some nice details are included, such as studs representing floodlights on the front and the all-important sensor dish.
There is space to keep accessories inside the mandibles because the hinged panels on either side can open, as shown below. There are only a few items to store though, limited to a pair of handcuffs, a green hammer and the minifigures' weapons.
A new canopy has been designed for the cockpit, reminiscent of 7190 Millennium Falcon. I like the decoration on this element and the 4x4 dish in front, although the gap for the SMART Brick further back is frustrating. I can understand wishing to make the brick easily accessible for play, but including a simple cover would surely not cause too much disruption.
Considering the need for a Technic axle to pass through the hull, I am quite impressed with the model's strength. All the panels feel secure and you can handle the ship comfortably in various places. This is also an advantage of its small size, which makes this rendition of the Millennium Falcon easier to fly around than many of its predecessors.
The circular vents towards the rear are severely undersized, but at least these 2x2 round tiles are printed. There are also some noticeable gaps between the exterior panels, showing a few colourful pieces from inside, unfortunately. However, the trans-light blue plates comprising the engine look superb.
The front and rear panels are attached with hinges and Technic pins, while the central section only connects to a couple of studs for easy removal. There is enough room to seat minifigures inside with the panels closed and you can even stand figures in certain locations, albeit leaned forward slightly.
I am amazed by how good the interior actually looks. Whereas the previous Millennium Falcon play sets have included the essential details, but looked unfinished in places, the floor is nicely tiled on this occasion and the walls are cohesive, with various accurate furnishings represented as well.
For example, the bed towards the front and the printed dejarik table look excellent. The curved seat around the holochess table would have been a welcome addition, although reddish brown chairs suffice. There is even a training remote provided for Luke's lightsaber training, printed on a minifigure head.
Also, an Easter egg is hidden among the tiles on the floor, with a tan area in the recognisable shape of the Millennium Falcon, which is a fun detail.
SMART Brick Integration
While the SMART Brick itself is not included, there are four SMART Tags to interact with a brick borrowed from another set. The first of these is the requisite Millennium Falcon tag, which emits responsive sounds as you fly the vehicle around. I find these impressive throughout the range, as the bricks do react quickly to your movements and the sound effects are fairly convincing.
Also, pulling the red trigger beside the brick activates the laser cannon sounds, as the brick's colour sensor sees the red paddles on either side. The brick continuously flashes in search of colours to activate features, which can be irritating, but I think the sound works fairly well for the Millennium Falcon's quad lasers. Unfortunately, the same sound is used in every set and this is less appropriate elsewhere.
Like in other sets, you can place the included green hammer near the SMART Brick to create a hammering sound, as though repairing the ship. You can also place something blue against the brick to activate a refuelling noise, but there is no refuelling hose actually included.
Instead, a fuel function has its own dedicated SMART Tag inside the ship. This is supposed to be the coaxium hyperfuel featured in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is unstable in its unrefined state. It therefore emits an alarm and sloshing sound effects as you move the assembly around, whether inside the Millennium Falcon or not, eventually culminating in an explosion if you shake it too violently. This is another neat feature, in my opinion.
The docking ring doubles as a handle to control Luke's lightsaber training inside the ship, which is clever. When you move Luke around on the platform, the brick emits lightsaber sounds and very occasional blaster effects, accompanied by a flash of blue light. I like the sounds, but the pained moan when you remove Luke is absolutely bizarre.
This noise happens every time Luke is removed, so it must be deliberate and I wonder whether it is supposed to be the "millions of voices" crying out in terror as Alderaan is destroyed, since Obi-Wan's reaction to this disturbance in the Force is what prompts the end of the lightsaber training scene in the movie. Regardless, it sounds silly.
Although the knob to activate the hyperdrive function looks dreadful, I actually quite enjoy this feature. Turning the cradle where the SMART Brick is connected inside activates a hyperdrive sound and a blue light, which shows through the trans-light blue plates on the back. I wish that light was transmitted across its whole width, but it is not bad.
Sadly, the dialogue associated with each character is terrible, in my opinion. I understand the decision to use generic intonation sounds in place of actual lines from the films, but the sounds come across as utterly inhuman. I have seen comparisons to the mumbling speech from LEGO Star Wars video games, but that sounded like very muffled speech, whereas these noises are more like a queasy Wat Tambor.
That being said, Chewbacca's growling is decent and R2-D2, available with 75423 Luke's Red Five X-wing, actually sound pretty good because his beeps are simpler for the SMART Brick to recreate.
Furthermore, the minifigures have been criticised for the SMART Play identifiers on the back of their torsos and unsightly decoration on each side. Like the exposed controls on the Millennium Falcon, these do not concern me on minifigures intended for play. The bin symbol was evidently needed because the minifigure contains electronics, so it should not be thrown away with normal rubbish, though it does invite memes!
Overall
The idea behind LEGO SMART Play is that the sets are fun to play with, whether the SMART Brick is included or not. I am certainly not convinced that is the case for many of the new sets, but 75426 Millennium Falcon is actually pretty enjoyable. I still dislike the dialogue sounds and the model's appearance leaves much to be desired, but it does include a lot of features for an 885-piece Millennium Falcon.
I am very satisfied with the interior and the SMART Brick is actually integrated quite well, even taking advantage of its lights for the engine. For the price of £89.99, $99.99 or €99.99, this is a fine Millennium Falcon play set for young children. Even so, I am far from convinced by SMART Play as a whole, which is less interesting in several of the other new sets.
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84 comments on this article
Of all the sets to NOT include a Smart Brick…this seems to be the dumbest decision they could have made.
I feel like a lot of my gripes about the SMART Play system would go away if they sold the bricks separately. This is a perfectly acceptable set on its own, but then you have to factor in purchasing a different $70 set to get the full range of functionality. That is, frankly, absurd.
Please note, this comment does not contain a SMART Brick
Appear to be plenty smart bricks on sale at Bricklink (and other parts of the SmartBrick system)
@The_Boba_Brick said:
"I feel like a lot of my gripes about the SMART Play system would go away if they sold the bricks separately. This is a perfectly acceptable set on its own, but then you have to factor in purchasing a different $70 set to get the full range of functionality. That is, frankly, absurd. "
I have to agree: if one could buy it for $20 or so it would be a worthwhile upgrade.
But, as history has shown, LEGO does not sell what we want to buy, it tries to sell us what it wants us to buy.
Should add a note in the summary box about the $70 extra cost of the smart brick. That feels like a massive point.
@Belboz said:
"Please note, this comment does not contain a SMART Brick
Appear to be plenty smart bricks on sale at Bricklink (and other parts of the SmartBrick system)"
So it seems, and only for about £20/$25 which doesn't seem too bad.
My bank balance is safe from purchasing these...
Thanks for the detailed review. I think this is a surprisingly good Millennium Falcon playset for $100, though better at a 20% discount. However, it's still stupid that the Smart Brick and its charger aren't available as individual items you can buy separately, and it's still stupid that they weren't just included in the box here.
Getting back to the set itself, I really like how sturdy and swooshable it seems to be. I had the 4504 Falcon back in the day, and that was such a disappointment because of how fragile it was and how much it flapped open when being swooshed. The 75105 and 75257 Falcons are much sturdier and more swooshable than 4504 , but it's never really an easy carefree swoosh, and it looks like 75426 is almost at that carefree one-handed swooshing level of sturdiness and stability. Since the Falcon is a very swooshy, acrobatic, spaceship in-universe, its toys should be that way too.
The other thing I really like about this version is how much storage space it has. The smuggling compartments below the floor are a key plot point in ANH and TFA, and the hyperdrive compartment below the floor is just as important in ESB, but no previous playscale Falcon has had a smuggling compartment large enough to fit more than one minifigure with no room to spare. The front compartments in the mandibles of this version are happy accidents that aren't in the main cabin, but they look like they can easily fit at least one minifig each, plus accessories or, you know, contraband to smuggle. So they work just great for play. Kid me really loved finding or making empty spaces inside Lego sets as cargo bays or secret compartments. Although the area in the starboard docking ring of this set isn't located by the hyperdrive at the back of the ship, it's a similar space for play purposes and it looks big enough to fit a minifigure when Han and R2 are trying to fix the ship. It's too bad this Falcon doesn't have landing gear, but I don't miss the ramp that all previous Falcons had. Those have always been more of vestigial representations than true play features, given how low to the ground the hull sits on the landing gear.
I don’t understand why the voice samples in these things are so garbage, considering the quality of voices in the Lego Mario sets several years ago.
Did lego actually want the smart brick to fail ? They make sets intended for it and don't include it, and yesterday I watched the X-wing review from Jang, and it includes a smart brick, but you need to buy a second one if you want to fight the turret, so you can't even use all the functions of the set anyway.
I was sure the pained scream at the end of the lightsaber training was meant to be coming from the practice droid... until I heard the speech sounds from the smart figures and realised that that is just how Luke sounds in these sets. Baffling decision
With a discount, this would make a good purchase, but right now without the brick, makes no sense.
Also, the brick is gonna go the way of Hidden Side (which was actually pretty cool and costed nothing extra).
I’ve seen people saying the Smart brick should be available for separate purpose, but I think it would be even better if every set whose play relies upon the smart brick actually included the smart brick.
This is by far the most interesting set of the new wave for me (an a new way to open the Falcon is great!), but the lack of the titular smart brick actually kills it. The absence is especially weird here given that this is Star Wars’ flagship and probably the one people would want to buy the most.
I'm impressed at the detail and functionality they managed to cram into such a small set. Unlike so many other SW sets, they seem to have left no space unused. I don't know, I think if you can look past the "clealry not designed for adult collectors", they did a pretty good job on this one.
I'm also glad they went with the decision to not include the smart brick in every set. You're probably not going to need more than two at once and it wouldn't make sense to have a half dozen floating around (and having paid for that half dozen...) when a kid is probably not using all of those at once. I see both sides of the argument here, but I think they made the right call going with the Mario model of "starter sets" and other sets.
I'll be honest, I kinda like the build as a more toyish version of the Falcon. It reminds me of what Hasbro did with the Mission Fleet line and could be a good alternative for those who don't have the space or the budget to get one of the bigger versions. There's even a lot of room inside for such a compact model.
However the Smart Brick stuff - as expected - doesn't add anything of value and mostly just ruins the build. The set would have been much better without that gimmick, it could have had a closed cockpit and more room for a more detailed interior.
I own about 250 Lego sets, a third of which are SW sets, but I will never buy a so called ''Smart'' play set. Lego should stick with regular bricks...
It seems to me that this was one engineering goal, which is admirable: Design an interactive system similar to the Mario figure, but one that would not require software updates any time something new was added.
Let me be clear, I think this is an interesting engineering challenge, separate from the outcome.
I think the fatal flaw was trying to shove it into popular IP like Star Wars. The way the sounds work could be fun if it was focused to other concepts where those sounds would be acceptable. Plus we would not be comparing them to award winning movie sound design.
Then of course there's the issue of how all of this has been presented to the public.
...huh.
I think I'd prefer to have it without the Smart Brick if that's what it sounds like. The engine noise - which, if I'm reading it correctly, is specifically tied to the Falcon - sounds like a regular jet engine instead of the Falcon's distinct engine note; the laser sound effect is fine, I guess; the character "voices" sound like Kerbals trying to introduce themselves; and that moan when you remove Luke is absurd. I do like the coaxium beeping, and the hyperdrive is adequate, but otherwise it's kind of sad.
Compromises for the sound brick aside, the set itself actually looks surprisingly good - the interior has definitely carried it from "ugly" to just "unfortunately compromised"...
I share a lot of the scepticism around the Smart Play gimmick, but this model really delights me because it looks like a toy, and Star Wars sets haven't looked like toys since the early 2000s. I like the bright colours, I like the commitment to fun over accuracy.
Ironically enough, though, that new canopy looks to be a way more accurate shape. I hope we see it in the next 'normal' Falcon they make, maybe along with 3x3 curved panels to extend it backward.
I don't think this one is too bad. An interesting comparison would have been this and the current £75 midi scale one, to compare a display set with no play features with a play set with apparently no display value (although I think it looks quite good for display if you like toys that look like toys).
Not including a SMART Brick in the flagship set of the line is totally inexcusable.
also I don't understand, you need a big gap behind the canopy, because it makes it easier to access the smart brick, but also you need to remove the top panels to access the interior and use the other smart bricks functions, so it's not even consistent
After having seen or read several reviews of the Smart Brick sets, this easily seems to make the best use of the bunch....all the more baffling it doesn't include one. But even looking at the sets that do, those would still benefit from having more than one.
And I can't help but feel the whole system is convoluted. I mean, it reminds me most of the Duplu trains that can do certain things based on colored pieces you put on the rails. Very fun addition for the intended age group of those sets. This however....it just feels like poorly implemented gimmick, and I can't help but feel that older kids (this is a 9+ set after all) will get bored quickly with it pretty quickly.
And just looking beyond the set.....what else can kids do with the Smart Brick? The possibilities are limited by the smart tags, so probably juist build another space ship that does the exact same things? Doesn't really spur their creativity I'd say...
But apart from the Smart Brick, it seems like a decent MF for play, just a shame about that ugly hole behind the cockpit. Still better than the Tie-pickup though....
I really really like this set, so I'm quite pleased it's tied to the smart brick stuff, as that makes me think this may end up quite discounted. I may start designing modifications to close some of the gaps and remove the smart brick actuators and such. It's just so fun looking!
The hype on socials right now is that everyone wants to go back in time.
Lego does its part by providing the nostalgic feeling of the dial in modem.
Wonderful! (as if)
The speech samples are rough. Like really, really rough.
If I get a smart brick do I also need the charger to charge it? The brick doesn’t seem to have a USB port so can it only be wirelessly charged with the proprietary yellow charger?
Wonder if this a preview of an as-yet-to-be-released "shrink-flated" Millenium Falcon, a ship that hasn't received this treatment for 20+ years...
This is an absolute joke that the smart brick is not included. What’s more, you have to buy another expensive set just to get the smart brick. The smart brick sounds are annoying.
They are mixing things up, ie smart bricks, just like they would mix up minifigs between sets.
In a short space of time I’ve gone from being a lifelong Lego fan, doing the tour at Billund, to now only buying the yearly modular, and the rest Lumibricks.
Not a fan, not a fan
($170 if you want to use 3/4 of the features in this set btw, $70 more dollars just for that one little smart brick... which this set is built and compromised around... pitiful)
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"If I get a smart brick do I also need the charger to charge it? The brick doesn’t seem to have a USB port so can it only be wirelessly charged with the proprietary yellow charger?"
Yes, which is included in the sets that contain a Smart Brick, but if you were buying the brick separately, you would need the charger as well.
Smart Brick? I thought they had phased that put already. Huh.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I don’t understand why the voice samples in these things are so garbage, considering the quality of voices in the Lego Mario sets several years ago."
That's because these are not samples. These sounds are generated on board by the synthesis chip according to press release from Lego. So these are more like sound effects imitating speech.
Who the heck is throwing away LEGO minifigures???
My assumption for the sound when you remove Luke is that he's being hit by the training droid, knocking him off the stand. But who can tell?
People will eventually be able to create their own English language quotes taken from whatever source material they want. That's the cool part! What smart person will be the first to release a smart tag that has real sounds?
@CapnRex101 said:
" @gunther_schnitzel said:
"If I get a smart brick do I also need the charger to charge it? The brick doesn’t seem to have a USB port so can it only be wirelessly charged with the proprietary yellow charger?"
Yes, which is included in the sets that contain a Smart Brick, but if you were buying the brick separately, you would need the charger as well."
Yeah which is another £15 or so. It is still too much to buy to have a go at hacking the sounds.
Originally I though all the SMART sets came with their brick.
And the moms, dads and grandma/pa would buy these for the 3 to 6 year old kids to play and have fun with the sound f/x.
Boy was I wrong about that. WTF Lego! You can't offer the Smart brick in a one or two pack so the kids can get the most out of one set.
I know Lego's an expensive toy, and I've defended them, but this is total b-s.
Put a damn smart brick into each and every Smart set OR have the option to buy single or twin pack Lego! Sheesh.
@bemahan said:
"I was sure the pained scream at the end of the lightsaber training was meant to be coming from the practice droid... until I heard the speech sounds from the smart figures and realised that that is just how Luke sounds in these sets. Baffling decision
"
I wonder if the pain sound is meant for use in something like 75427, where a character getting knocked off their 'dueling mount' is part of the play?
Not at all anything I want in my collection. Nothing in any of the smart play sets looks appealing to me. If they ever make one I like then I’ll get it. I hope those that get them have a lot of fun with them. Looking forward to some of the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu sets though!
@speedorz4ever said:
"Of all the sets to NOT include a Smart Brick…this seems to be the dumbest decision they could have made."
Agreed, although I see the draw of a $100 Falcon with spaces for minifigs. If the set were any more expensive, I would've written it off, even with the Smart Brick.
That moan at the end of the interaction is hilarious. What were they thinking.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I don’t understand why the voice samples in these things are so garbage, considering the quality of voices in the Lego Mario sets several years ago."
I'm thinking Disney ownership of the SW has something to do with this. Similiar in nature to who owns a musicians library
By spreading the bricks, tiles and minifigs amongst all the sets they're hoping people will buy the whole line of Smart Sets
*yawn*
This is not an enticing model, and the action features are less of what I want from a Lego model.
Skip!
I like the idea of the Smart Play system, but am hoping there will be more development to come. Initial marketing seemed to suggest there would be a lot more interactivity between bricks, minifigs, and builds when they were brought together in different configurations, but at the moment these seem to be very limited. For example, the requirement to hold a green hammer in front of a light sensor is a bit disappointing rather than having a ‘smart’ hammer that your minifig could bash away with anywhere on the model and still get fixing noises as the brick sensed it nearby. Hopefully we’ll get to see it implemented in other ranges and maybe get some nice interactions when you mix Star Wars with City or Friends or super heroes. It’ll be a bit disappointing if it remains very locked down to there being only two or three functions per tag and needing to move the brick around all the time if you want it to do other things.
You have a YT channel?
7190 is parsecs ahead of this… square hunk of junk
Is this wildly overpriced? Yes
Is the smart brick an awful gimmick that’s also ruining minifigures? Absolutely
However, I gotta disagree with one thing- I think this actually looks great for a playset Lego. I don’t mind the proportions at all and it has a good interior. The only people I have with it is the same problem I’ve had with all the other non UCS versions, but it’s frankly just not feasible in Lego, and that’s that it is nigh impossible to recreate the iconic shots of more than one or two cast members in the cockpit
"Smart" stuff aside, a $100 minifig-scale falcon is a net win for humanity.
@iwybs said:"Kid me really loved finding or making empty spaces inside Lego sets as cargo bays or secret compartments."
I still remember realizing that you could fit the Han-in-carbonite brick from 7144 under the cabin in 7140. For bonus points, there's actually a storage compartment there in canon!
@Altair1970 said:"I own about 250 Lego sets, a third of which are SW sets..."
I own almost that many Star Wars sets, and just over 2400 sets. I think it's safe to say that I've been ollecting longer than you have...
@Zoniax said:"Smart Brick? I thought they had phased that put already. Huh."
It just came out.
That moaning noise from Luke has me dying.
The "Wuaah" sound is equivalent to "whoa" in response to ... I guess G forces. Put any Smart figure in a cockpit with the brick in the standard position and swoosh it through a full 360 degree inverted loop (front over back). If you do it right (might take a few tries) you'll get a special engine sound and the figure will give their version of "Wuaah." I strongly recommend especially doing this with Chewbacca in the cockpit of the Falcon for maximum facepalming effect.
I would absolutely eat up a play-focused Millennium Falcon with this level of attention to detail at this scale, and I'm sure kids would too. What could've been a legitimately great set is really being strangled by this gimmick.
@shaase said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"I don’t understand why the voice samples in these things are so garbage, considering the quality of voices in the Lego Mario sets several years ago."
I'm thinking Disney ownership of the SW has something to do with this. Similiar in nature to who owns a musicians library"
Nope, nothing to do with that. As @thor96 mentioned earlier, the smart brick makes all sounds using an audio synth subsystem. It's very similar to what the home computers of the '70s and early '80s (e.g. the Commodore 64) did to create audio.
Basically, how the smart brick system works is each smart tag (embedded in the brick or minifig) is a pretty generic RFID tag, which the smart brick reads. The RFID tag's payload is basically a program for the smart brick, containing audio synthesizer instructions (it can't contain actual audio samples because the payload is only about a kilobyte), LED instructions, and triggering instructions (i.e. "play synth pattern 2 when shaken quickly"). Since everything is defined by TLG, all the instructions can be very concise.
This has the benefit, as mentioned earlier, that the smart brick doesn't need to be updated with new firmware for every new set (unlike the Super Mario sets), as each tag tells the smart brick exactly what to do. This is also the drawback, as since the RFID payload is so small, the programs on the smart tags are limited to relatively simple patterns, and can't store large amounts of data like digital audio samples.
Lego tries new things from time to time but not all of them works. I don't think smartbirck will live long unless they design better looking sets with better sound effects.
A few of the smart brick effects are actually kind of nifty. The hyperdrive knob is actually a pretty fun addition, I like the inclusion of that. But some of these choices still seem so bizarre to me. Especially with some of the sound effects chosen. Using generic blaster sounds for every ship, for media where unique sound effects are so crucial to the identity of different characters, ships, and blasters, is still so baffling to me. And beyond that I’m still struggling with some of the other sound effects. The swooshing sounds more like the Tardis, and Chewie sounds more like WALL·E.
So how is the bottom of the Falcon. It looks rather flat. Does it have a landing gear?
Anyway, the bricks sound like a computer that got water spilt on it, or something. And couldn’t they have made human voices for human characters and just hum or lalala, because they sound like robots.
I don’t know the sounds and functions feel like tech from end 80s/begin 90s.
Can you update smartbricks by the way? Because maybe someone can hack these things and make better use of it.
My faith in smartbricks is now in the hands of musicians, meme makers and people that demolish things to make other stuff with it
Don't know if anyone remembers but Hornby toyed with the ideal of making their trains Digital. It went the same way with Lego in that most sets included the digital chip installed. Granted the Hornby Digital line was expensive as a result but the features were not messy like Lego's attempt with their Smart Brick.
I think Hornby listened to their customers in time and made most of their trains DCC READY (as depicted with a blue sticker with DCC - as opposed to the red of the DCC FITTED) on each trains packaging) so that if a customer wants to digitalise it they would simply purchase the DCC Chip (which wasn't too expensive) and install it themselves as it was plug in and play.
Lego should have made the Smart Brick completely optional given that it's plug in and play too. Give the customers the option but like many say Lego know we are naive to buy from them despite moaning about it.
I'd nothing else, this set has inspired me to mod improved details to the interior of 75105.
So, good job, LEGO, I guess!
Absolutely horrendous.
I don't mind the idea of smart bricks and/or chunky sturdy playsets fo kids, but Lego should have gone for market penetration first. They want full price right from the start, while smart bricks must be really cheap to produce (although they want us to believe otherwise).
Just put two (or three) in every set, throw in a charger as GWP and make sure people will see it as fun AND a good deal.
If it is as fun as they say it will find its way, but not if not enough kids will get their hand on it.
You can always charge Star Wars prices later...
Seems like it would be a pretty good midi-scale Falcon if not for the slightly crowbarred-in feel of the smart brick functions
@transamman6585 said:
"Absolutely horrendous."
Tell us what you really think. :)
What's an Aluminum Falcon?
For something hyped up as the biggest innovation in Lego play since the minifigure, they sure haven't figured out how to bring costs down. It can't be the biggest innovation in Lego play if nobody can afford it. The CES demo had a cute little play scenario where four ducklings and a mama duck each had a Smart Brick on their back so that they could make interactive noises depending on which way the mama duck faced. At current retail prices, it costs $350 (5x$70) or $390 (2x$160+$70) to get five Smart Bricks. The inflation-adjusted RRP for the Galaxy Explorer was about $150. Imagine if the minifig, when new, was available in only three sets (for argument's sake, let's call them the Galaxy Explorer and two medium-sized spaceships). Imagine if you had to buy 2 Galaxy Explorers to get just four minifigs! The minifig would never have caught on.
This chibified playscale Falcon is utterly adorable. Smart play shenanigans aside, I want this just for being so cute.
I was building some old Light & Sound sets I have (6781 and 6783, and I also owned 6780 in the past) and it is impressive how the Smart Brick is literally the same thing and yet somehow it looks worse, especially because the L&S system was much better integrated into the designs of the 1980s sets (6780 and 6781 in particular look amazing when built). What a joke.
@theJANG said:
"The "Wuaah" sound is equivalent to "whoa" in response to ... I guess G forces. Put any Smart figure in a cockpit with the brick in the standard position and swoosh it through a full 360 degree inverted loop (front over back). If you do it right (might take a few tries) you'll get a special engine sound and the figure will give their version of "Wuaah." I strongly recommend especially doing this with Chewbacca in the cockpit of the Falcon for maximum facepalming effect."
Thanks; you make a good point. I still have to wonder though, why does it make that sound when you remove Luke, or other minifigures, from the lightsaber training platform? One of many questions I have...
@Studnotontop said:
"This chibified playscale Falcon is utterly adorable. Smart play shenanigans aside, I want this just for being so cute. "
Yeah, if you want a playable Millennium Falcon that's smaller than 75389 (which is the only other minifig-scale Falcon on store shelves right now), you could do worse.
Electronics aside, the interior on this version of the Falcon is much more detailed than it has been in previous, larger version of the ship.
25 years of Star Wars LEGO:
Luke Skywalker in almost every set
New technology in 2026:
Skips required part in $100 set
Got it!
@Huw said:
" @Belboz said:
"Please note, this comment does not contain a SMART Brick
Appear to be plenty smart bricks on sale at Bricklink (and other parts of the SmartBrick system)"
So it seems, and only for about £20/$25 which doesn't seem too bad."
And the charger for $11 more. Hopefully the cable is standard, otherwise, that looks like $8 more.
This is a very expensive toy for younger kids… Or this is a toy / collectible for adult, in which case this set is terrible. The design is poor and the trade offs for the smart play integration make the ship really look meh. The 75375 is cheaper with a better rendition of the ship and ideal for display.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @theJANG said:
"The "Wuaah" sound is equivalent to "whoa" in response to ... I guess G forces. Put any Smart figure in a cockpit with the brick in the standard position and swoosh it through a full 360 degree inverted loop (front over back). If you do it right (might take a few tries) you'll get a special engine sound and the figure will give their version of "Wuaah." I strongly recommend especially doing this with Chewbacca in the cockpit of the Falcon for maximum facepalming effect."
Thanks; you make a good point. I still have to wonder though, why does it make that sound when you remove Luke, or other minifigures, from the lightsaber training platform? One of many questions I have..."
I think I found the missing piece of the puzzle Cap. That saber training Smart tag seems to use the same program as the platforms in the Final Duel set, per that one's lifestyle video. The intended "win" condition of play is to knock your opponent off, triggering the impressed-by-aerobatics sound. Er, I mean, the defeat-by-laser-sword sound. It's the same sound. Because.
So by ending Luke's training, you lose. Also you're impressed.
@Huw @CapnRex101 So I've just been watching a JerryRigEverything video on youtube where he tears down a smart brick and the figures to see how they work, and one thing thats possibly concerning, and possibly interesting for potential, but that I've not seen mention on any of these articles, is that the Smartbricks contain a microphone.
I'd like to question why exactly they need a microphone when they're meant to be motion and light sensor. As thats a little concerning on a kids toy... But also think if they can hear, it'd lead to alot of interesting interactions or builds in the future.
@wakwak said:
"This is a very expensive toy for younger kids… Or this is a toy / collectible for adult, in which case this set is terrible. The design is poor and the trade offs for the smart play integration make the ship really look meh. The 75375 is cheaper with a better rendition of the ship and ideal for display. "
If you think that there's a possibility that the Smart brick sets are intended as adult collectibles, you haven't been paying attention to the marketing material. This is a very play-focused line, squarely aimed at kids and kids-at-heart.
@twentythree said:
"25 years of Star Wars LEGO:
Luke Skywalker in almost every set
New technology in 2026:
Skips required part in $100 set
Got it!"
It's almost as if the "required" part differs ftom a minifig in some way
More like Scam Bricks for me...
This is a really fantastic and in depth review, that's fair and balanced, and honest, and it absolutely saves me $100, because if the set itself wasn't goofy looking enough to begin with, the smart brick functions and sounds are absolutely RIDICULOUS, and the videos really do a good job of illustrating how terrible everything sounds. Thanks!
For the money and then to not include a SmartBrick? Just insulting at that point. Every single one of these sets should include it. Period. These suggestions of selling them separate gives LEGO the leeway to do just that if they want. But they won't cause they want you to buy up the sets. Either way it feels like a major fleecing. Some folks save up over time to afford something nice for their kids, imagine doing that and not getting the most advertised feature on the largest set of the wave? Just awful. Awful. It should not be tolerated at these prices.
@MisterBrickster said:
"I share a lot of the scepticism around the Smart Play gimmick, but this model really delights me because it looks like a toy, and Star Wars sets haven't looked like toys since the early 2000s. I like the bright colours, I like the commitment to fun over accuracy.
Ironically enough, though, that new canopy looks to be a way more accurate shape. I hope we see it in the next 'normal' Falcon they make, maybe along with 3x3 curved panels to extend it backward."
Yes!!! Also the forward mandibles are more accurate and chunky than the thin, pointy ones on the current play sets.
I'm probably going to get this on a discount and mod it
This set is the equivalent to 6430 WITHOUT a battery box.
"Light & Sound" ready!" (Battery box NOT sold separately.)
So...*ideally*, you need 4 smart bricks for this set if you want to utilize all of the play features without moving the brick around? That may cause conflicting sounds when you're flying the ship around though.
I felt like these had a lot of potential, but having seen how they've been implemented, it seems like the technology is very limited, or not being taken advantage of properly. I agree with a lot of others here though, that the Star Wars IP was not a great first choice to use with this.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I don’t understand why the voice samples in these things are so garbage, considering the quality of voices in the Lego Mario sets several years ago."
They are not samples; all smart brick noises are generated live on the brick itself, like an synthesiser would. This means different minifigs only need to pass over the parameters to the brick, not have storage for much larger samples, that would have to be transferred, stored, expired, ....