Here we are. The grand finale in LEGO’s initial trio of Pokémon-themed sets was released on perhaps the most perfect of days, Pokémon Day. These last few weeks, we’ve taken a look at the adorable Eevee and then the ‘springing-into-action’ Pikachu, both wonderful realisations of two of the series’ most recognisable critters. Now, we find ourselves with a set packing in not one, not two, but three more Pokémon and pretty good ones at that. Venusaur, Blastoise and Charizard are a great choice as they’re the evolutions of the OG starters, the ones that started it all. For many fans, they bring the nostalgic memories flooding back, your very first act in Pokémon Red and Blue being the all-important choice between Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander to raise and evolve into the three featured Pokémon you see here.
In what is easily the largest LEGO set I’ve ever built, I’ll admit things started out rather intimidatingly, the mini-fridge-sized box breaking out into three slightly smaller – but still big – boxes. However, the way LEGO tasks you with going about building this behemoth piece made the nearly 7,000-piece process not only keep me engaged but also rewarded me along the way as I completed each of its six main segments. With each box containing one of the three Pokémon along with their respective base, it almost felt as though I was working on six different projects, sliding and piecing them together one by one until I had my finished structure. Other big sets I’ve worked on before, like the Pac-Man cabinet or giant Question Mark block, felt like building one big piece (not necessarily a bad thing, mind), whereas here, breaking things down into six smaller complete elements made for a great-paced build.
Whenever I get the question, ‘who’s your favourite Pokémon?’, for the last 25 years I’ve always gone with Bulbasaur, a choice that has never once changed, even some 1,000 plus Pokémon later. As a result, I was most excited to build his evolutionary form in LEGO, a sentiment that thankfully didn’t end in disappointment. Starting off with his base, the segment features some detailed flowering around its edges, while short tree stumps act as holding points for Venusaur’s two front legs, giving him a slightly raised pose as if roaring.
As for Venusaur himself, he’s easily the largest of the trio, and does a phenomenal job of replicating a lot of the Pokémon’s key features from the way his body sits to his face and of course, his big, blooming flower sitting atop. In fact, that last piece is truly eye-catching in its multi-layered structure, from the giant leaves resting on his back to the stalk to the six giant pink petals to the yellow bloom atop. Even the winding vines poking outward are a nice touch – albeit slightly fiddly to get right.
Next up, we have Blastoise, who perhaps has the most eye-catching base of the three as he stands atop a short cliff face, with waves crashing against it. The use of transparent blue pieces to simulate the waves is a clever touch, especially in the way they curve outward, giving it a more dynamic effect.
Blastoise, much like Venusaur, truly does look the part, his bulky structure actually lending itself well to LEGO because while he may not have much in the way of posable options, that actually suits him, as in the games and shows, he’s never been a Pokémon to flex his manoeuvrability. Perhaps my favourite part of Blastoise, though, is his shell, built in segments and displaying his iconic cannons with water jet pieces firing out. He’s incredibly sturdy, too, a hefty set when holding in your hands, with perhaps only his two back claws on his feet easily knocked off.
Lastly, we have perhaps one of Pokémon’s most famed evolutions out there, Charizard. His base differs from the other two in that it opts for height over coverage, a rocky, magma-spewing structure with a long rod poking out atop for Charizard to rest on. While the base is certainly nice, it only really works when connected with the other bases, since alone, you can see the detail only focused on certain parts. Still, going with a more vertical position gives the overall piece depth and variety, which truly brings the whole thing together.
Charizard felt like the quickest of the three Pokémon to build, but that doesn’t mean he lacks detail, quite the opposite in fact, from his long neck and roaring head to his whipping tail with flame at the end, to of course his stretching green wings, the latter of which consists of two fabric sheets. Charizard definitely feels like the most posable of the three, but this is somewhat limited if you place him on the rod, however.
With all three bases and Pokémon built, it was then a case of bringing them together. I was a little surprised to see that the bases do not actually connect but rather slide in next to each other. It’s not so much a problem as this is a display piece rather than one to play with, but worth noting. Of course, you’re free to separate the Pokémon and display them on their own, like Eevee or Pikachu, but really, this is a set designed to be kept together (if you have the space, of course).
Of course, as much fun and as amazing as the finished build looks, there’s no avoiding the costly elephant in the room. At nearly £600, this easily ranks as one of LEGO’s most expensive (and biggest builds) and as a result makes for a purchase decision that requires some serious thought. One could argue LEGO choosing not to release the three individually has made the set less accessible for fans who may, for example, want to choose their favourite at a reduced cost, but perhaps that was where they planned for the smaller and cheaper Eevee and Pikachu sets to cater. Who knows.
Is it worth it? In my opinion, I’d say so. Maybe it could do with dropping a few pounds, but to be honest, the end result speaks for itself. It also doesn’t hurt that I’m a big fan of the original Pokémon games, nostalgia likely playing a small role. And while I have been fortunate for LEGO to send one of these over for review, it is worth noting that I did also have one pre-ordered initially, taking out a few ad hoc jobs and saving some extra cash to do so.
Really, what it comes down to, though, like anything, is if you can afford it and if you want it. From a quality standpoint, there’s no denying just how amazing this set really is, so if you have the money and are a LEGO or Pokémon fan, then go for it! In this gamer’s eyes, I might even say it’s one of the best LEGO sets I’ve ever built.
Review Copy Provided by The LEGO Group
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