Category Archives: News

Stay current on the latest news and information about LEGO, from sales & deals to new set announcements. We also cover LEGO events and conventions all over the world.

Is the LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) more than just a 1-UP of 1980’s Super Mario nostalgia? [Review & Video]

It’s important to understand as you read this review of the new LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System that I never owned an NES myself as a kid back in the 80’s. But I wanted one. After all, it felt like nearly every one of my friends in the neighborhood in Japan where I lived had a Famicom, or later the true NES launched in 1985. As I went over to my friends’ houses and played Super Mario and the very first Legend of Zelda, I so very desperately wanted one! But I never did, partly because I was told that I had enough toys in the form of all the LEGO underfoot in my bedroom. Now, I can buy my own (US $229.99 | CAN $299.99 | UK £209.99) and build it for myself from LEGO, which seems even better. Does this marriage of my favorite little plastic bricks with the big plastic brick of my dreams live up to 35 years of pent-up expectations? Let’s find out…

Read our hands-on review of LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System

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LEGO Technic 42112 Concrete Mixer Truck [Review]

The Summer 2020 LEGO Technic wave has had a surprisingly high level of controversy surrounding it. The 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey got cancelled, and the 42114 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler can’t move without being paired with a smart device. That just leaves the 42112 Technic Concrete Mixer Truck to try and put a positive spin on things. This 1163 piece set will be available in North America starting September 1st, and is available now in the UK from the LEGO Shop Online (US $119.99 | CAN $159.99 | UK £89.99). Technic fans have been asking for a concrete mixer for ages… Can this offering satisfy that demand? Or will this set finish off the season’s offerings with some cement shoes?

Click to read the full hands-on review

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for August 8, 2020

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the second week of August 2020.

We got to spend some quality time with the new Technic 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler. Keep reading our Brick Report to get all the details.

TBB REVIEWS AND INSTRUCTIONS: This week we learned how to make a safe courtesy of Tiago Catarino and took a close up look at the Technic 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler!

How to build a safe to go with your brick bank [Instructions] – Come check out Tiago Catarino’s (@tiagoreiscatarino) recent LEGO tutorial, a tiny safe!
LEGO Technic 42114 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler [Review] – We take a close look at LEGO’s latest addition to their Control+ line of vehicles. Is this a Technic set that’s worth the hefty price tag?

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:

- LEGO is launching braille bricks for students across the US, CNN – The LEGO Foundation designed and created a line of bricks molded with studs that correspond to numbers and letters in the braille alphabet.
- Epic LEGO Battles Are A Smash On YouTube, Forbes – For those who want the old school-stop motion animation there are now some truly impressive “creators” who have utilized LEGO (and similar looking) plastic bricks to recreate famous battles.
- Fans reverse-engineer LEGO Mario’s barcodes to make real-life Paper Mario, Nintendo Wire – Flexing creative muscles and coming up with new ways to use old pieces is what keeps LEGO so popular and relevant even in the digital age.

You could win a LEGO replica of your cat in celebration of International Cat Day, The Brag – What says “I love you” more than having a giant replica LEGO version of your cat?
10 impressive LEGO skateboarding ideas, Surfer Today – Are you a sidewalk surfing enthusiast? Do you have any free time? Build your own skateboard-inspired LEGO set.
New documentary goes behind the scenes at Legoland, Windsor & Eton Express – The four-part series will give audiences an intimate look at the theme park through interviews with model makers, hotel housekeepers and roller coaster designers.

LEGO Technic 42114 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler [Review]

With the cancellation and controversy around the Technic 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, the Technic Summer 2020 wave has taken a bit of hit. The skies may be empty now, but on the ground, there’s still plenty to talk about. The 42114 Technic 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler will be available September 1, 2020 from the LEGO Shop Online for US $249.99 | CAN $319.99 | UK £229.99 It’s part of the “Control+” line, LEGO’s next generation of remote-controlled vehicles. That sounds pretty cool on the surface, but is it really? We take a look at this hefty 2193 piece set from multiple angles to see what sort of “construction” we’re dealing with.

Click to read the full hands-on review

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for August 1, 2020

The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey may have been cancelled, but we were able to get one to show you a close up look. Keep reading our Brick Report to get all the details.

TBB REVIEWS AND INSTRUCTIONS: This week we reviewed two new Star Wars sets, got a look at the now-canceled Technic Osprey, and finally got our hands on that most precious of all cargo, Baby Yoda… sorry, “The Child”.

LEGO Star Wars 75317 The Mandalorian & the Child (Baby Yoda) BrickHeadz characters [Review] – The Mandalorian & the Child BrickHeadz makes us giggle with joy. It might make you smile, too.
LEGO Star Wars 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship from The Rise of Skywalker [Review] – Read our review to find out if LEGO Star Wars 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship (due for release Sept. 1st) is worth the $70 price tag.
LEGO Star Wars 75291 Death Star Final Duel takes us to the Emperor’s Throne Room [Review] – The LEGO Star Wars lineup is not known for stellar location-based playsets, often overshadowed by speeders and starfighters. Have times changed?
LEGO Technic 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey [Review] – The Technic Osprey had every chance to become one of the best LEGO Technic sets of recent years. But there is a problem.
How to build a swell little well! [Instructions] – Come build along with Tiago Catarino as he shows you how to make a minifigure-scale well!
Your guide to the 113 new LEGO sets now available for August 2020 including the Nintendo NES, Grand Piano, Star Wars and more – We have your complete guide to the 100+ new LEGO sets now available for August including the NES, Grand Piano, 501st Battle Pack and more!

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:

From LEGO To Lasers: Kids Invent The Coolest Things, Forbes – Kids use LEGO to solve real-life construction issues.
How we’re continuing to support families impacted by COVID-19, The LEGO Group – LEGO committed to delivering learning through play support and vital supplies to crisis-affected children – here’s how they’re doing.

LEGO Astronaut Model Arrives at Legoland Florida, Bay News 9 – Legoland Florida has welcomed the arrival of a new display from the Kennedy Space Center that is made out of nearly 66,000 bricks and is “out-of-this-world!”
LEGO Assembles Massive Super Mario Build Made Out Of Nearly 23,000 Bricks, Nintendo Life – To celebrate the arrival of Super Mario LEGO, LEGO has assembled a “massive” Mario build made out of nearly 23,000 bricks.

WOW! It looks like LEGO Mario got a power-up ???? pic.twitter.com/rqdYK2v9bu

— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) July 26, 2020

First look at the new LEGO Star Wars 75294 Bespin Duel set [News]

As reported by our friends at Brickset, the building instructions for the upcoming LEGO Star Wars 75294 Bespin Duel set is available right now from LEGO.com. The design of the building guide reflects its 18+ positioning, with the adult Star Wars fans as the target audience of the toy. The set was meant to be a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, but due to the event being canceled, the future of the product isn’t clear. We presume the set might be available elsewhere, but for now, you can study the instructions and probably try to build your own version of the iconic scene.

LEGO BrickHeadz 40412 Hagrid and Buckbeak from Harry Potter revealed [News]

Thanks to a Hungarian toy retailer Kockashop we get an early reveal of the latest Harry Potter 40412 Hagrid and Buckbeak BrickHeadz showcasing a dual-pack featuring Hagrid and Buckbeak. The set consists of 270 pieces, and while no official price has been revealed, based on previous dual pack issues, it will likely retail for $19.99 US and $24.99 CAN.

Click to take a closer look at Hagrid and Buckbeak

Your guide to the 113 new LEGO sets now available for August 2020 including the Nintendo NES, Grand Piano, Star Wars and more [News]

August has arrived and that means new LEGO sets! LEGO has launched 108 new sets and items available today. In addition to new sets like the Nintendo NES and Super Mario lineup, Ideas Grand Piano, Star Wars 501st Battle Pack and LEGO Art, fans in the US and Canada can finally celebrate the summer arrival of Harry Potter, Creator 3-in-1, City, and Ninjago waves that you’ve waited so patiently for. Nearly every LEGO theme has some new sets–it can be a lot to process!– so we have your complete guide right here detailing each and every new set and item. [EDIT: It appears that LEGO may have delayed the US & Canada release of some of these sets until September. We’ve asked for clarification.]

LEGO is also offering two free gifts-with-purchases at the start of August. The first is 30385 Super Mushroom Surprise, free with purchases of LEGO Super Mario sets more than US $40 through August 16th or while supplies last.

The second freebie is LEGO is also 40414 Monty Mole & Super Mushroom Expansion with in-store purchases of the 71360 Adventures with Mario Starter Course through August 9th or while supplies last.

See the entire August 2020 wave of new LEGO sets now available

LEGO Technic 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey [Review]

Last week, LEGO has officially announced that one of its upcoming Technic sets, the 42113 Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey is canceled due to its association with militaries. Since the set was slated to go on sale August 1, a number of the V-22 Osprey sets have already been distributed to retail stores in several countries. Some smaller retailers have even listed the set on their webpages, making them available for purchase, allowing a small number of them into the wild. The set consists of 1,673 pieces and contains two Powered Up electric components for motorization. The retail price of the set is $119.99 / 139.99€.

Click here to read the review

LEGO Star Wars 75317 The Mandalorian & the Child (Baby Yoda) BrickHeadz characters [Review]

The appearance of “The Child” (immediately nicknamed Baby Yoda) at the end of the first episode of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+ last November caught the whole world by surprise, including merchandise and toy licensees like LEGO, who had to scramble to produce products based on the show. First revealed in February, right before Toy Fair in New York, where we got hands on with both LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian sets, preorders for the 295-piece LEGO BrickHeadz 75317 The Mandalorian & the Child immediately went on back-order from the LEGO Shop (US $19.99 | CAN $24.99 | UK £17.99), but has begun showing up “in the wild” ahead of its August 1st release date.

Read our hands-on review of LEGO Star Wars 75317 The Mandalorian & the Child BrickHeadz

LEGO Star Wars 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship from The Rise of Skywalker [Review]

As we continue our reviews of summer 2020 LEGO Star Wars sets, we’re moving on from The Clone Wars and Original Trilogy to the third wave of sets from the final movie in the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker. 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship includes 595 pieces with three minifigs, and will be available September 1st (US $69.99 | CAN $99.99 | UK £64.99). The set rounds out the full group of Knights of Ren minifigures, but is it more than a cash grab for minifig collectors?

Read our full review of LEGO Star Wars 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship

LEGO Star Wars 75291 Death Star Final Duel takes us to the Emperor’s Throne Room [Review]

With beloved minifigures and generally excellent vehicle designs in the LEGO Star Wars theme, location-based playsets often get a bad rap by comparison. Back in 2016, I described 75137 Carbon Freezing Chamber as half-formed, oddly over-engineered, ugly, and ultimately baffling — one of the worst LEGO sets I’d reviewed in recent memory. Then in 2018, we argued that the $350 75222 Betrayal at Cloud City doesn’t even live up to LEGO’s own product description, despite some stellar mid-scale vehicles and improved carbon-freezing chamber. Given that history, we were skeptical of 75291 Death Star Final Duel (US $99.99 | CAN $139.99 | UK £89.99), which includes 775 pieces with five minifigs and will be available starting September 1st (with the now-standard caveats about COVID-19 shipping). But has LEGO exceeded our low expectations?

Read our hands-on review of LEGO Star Wars 75291 Death Star Final Duel