Customer Reviews

Mega Bloks: Dragons Iron Raiders - Krystal Ambush

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was initially wary of this set since it doesn't seem to include many buildable items, and I was sure the whole purpose of Mega Bloks was to build things.

Instead, once completed and positioned, the Krystal Ambush was an awe-inspiring, imagination stirring battle scene. The level of detail was superb, both on the rickety old cart and on each individual soldier in this set (it's important to note that no two have the exact same helm or face!). It seems that my wife and I are constantly finding reasons to pass the table on which these are displayed, rearranging pieces to our imagination's fancy. I can only imagine how inspiring this would be to a child. Detailed battle scenes like this one are bound to spark some powerful imaginations.

Incidentally, total construction and setup time took under an hour. Unlike some of the other sets that are focused on constructing one piece, this set is ideal for a whole family to put together. One or two people build the cart while two more build the two beasts, and others position and select weapons for the vast array of soldiers that are included. The frusteration level for building a simple set like this one would be exceptionally low for children, yet the construction and setup are detailed enough to provide a strong sense of satisfaction. Incidentally, those warhorses are adorable, and make the set worthwhile by themselves.

Quick warning: There are many small weapons that could present a choking hazard to very young children.

A few notes to the more accomplished Mega Bloks fans:

Nearly every piece in this set is recylced from previous Mega Bloks sets. The soldiers seem to be repainted (rogue) versions of several Draigar, Norvak, and Vorgan soldiers. I haven't sat down and matched face to face, but I'm reasonably sure that's what's happening here. Also, the dragon is definitely a repainted version of the dragon from the Norvak Man O'War, and the blue monster is repainted from Marauders Cliff. That doesn't really take away from the charm of this set, though. It's especially nice to have twin dragons for my Norvak army!

The pieces for the cart are also (almost?) entirely recycled from other sets (primarily the Man O'War and Mauraders Cliff), though this almost makes it more realistic. The Norvaks built all three. Maybe they've discovered interchangable parts hundreds of years before Western Civilization did.

The Krystal is the only piece I'm sure I haven't seen before, and it's quite beautiful.

Considering that both the dragon and monster have shackles with loops on them, this set should have come with more chains. That's really my only complaint at all.

Oh, and the cart chains attach to the blue monster's wrist shackles a lot more convincingly than they attach to the dragon's tail. Just run both chains through both wrist shackles and then attach them beneath the monster's chest. That allows both chains to run through the wrist shackles and to the cart with only three iron rings.

The set is excellent! The tin box is great for storage! Mega Bloks has stayed consistent with the creativity these sets offer.