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Review of Dread Eye’s Phantom
MSRP: $49.99
Before I begin, we need to get a few things out of the way:
One: The Figures: These are the sculpted and highly detailed figures I
discussed in an earlier review, and if you simply don’t like them, you won’t
like them here, either. I like them. Further observation
(of readily
available info!) reveals that these are properly described as Collectible Micro
Action Figures™ rather than “minifigs.” Two: Juniorization: Some have
expressed, with reasonable justification, dissatisfaction with the
specialization and juniorization of the ships in this series. Having now built
this ship, I can confirm that the pieces are highly specialized, and but
juniorization is less a factor than it might seem, because many of the
“juniorized” elements wouldn’t break down into simpler components anyway. It
can be argued that the hull itself could have been made of several elements
(like this) and I
suppose that’s a legitimate complaint. However, I’ve come to identify this
trend toward modularization as a means of straddling the “playset” a la
Playmobil and the “building set” a la LEGO.
If this represents a fatal flaw for you, then you might as well stop reading.
Otherwise, read on.
Number of pieces: 100
Number of figures: 5
Accessories: Dagger, assorted spectral weapons, coins, gems, torches, spiders,
one octopus, three cannons, three barrels, treasure chest, anchor, chain
The set comes in a big box with impressive graphics and a flip-up boxcover
revealing still more graphics and a brief storyline about the Phantom. The
eponymous Dread Eye is visible through a little window in the box. The set is
packaged in a number of polybags, adhering to the conventional “like with like”
method (mast elements together, figure accessories together, etc.) One point of
note: the figures are bagged individually, and I presume that this is intended
to avoid an accidental and confused mingling of limbs detached during shipment.
The instructions are very clear and use the standard visual inventory of parts
used in the current step as well as “ghosting” of previous steps.
Building wasn’t difficult, for the most part; this supports the notion of a
playset enabling the builder to get into playing as quickly as possible.
Purists will decry this, but that’s where the market is, and I really didn’t
mind it much in this case. The ship rolls on four wheels in the hull’s
underside.
The colors are excellent.
Elsewhere I praised the
rich, deep colors of the new figures, and this is followed here, too. Dread Eye
himself is a highly detailed sculpt, with a tri-corn hat, a hook in place of his
right hand, and a peg leg in place of his left. For a tiny figure, he’s
surprisingly sinister, as are three other included skeletons. The set also
comes with a Pyrate prisoner, equally detailed.
The ship is mostly dark brown
with dull metal elements and extensive yellowed-bone detailing. According to
the provided story, the ship was carved from the skeleton of a whale. Not sure
how feasible that is, but there’s a bunch of bone to be seen here, so maybe they
pulled it off. The masts and keel are composed largely of vertebrae, and ribs
make up a lot of the hull’s framing. Even the ship’s wheel is fashioned from a
lashed-together hoop of bone! In addition to the whale bones, numerous
figure-sized skulls abound. In a brilliant stylistic choice, the anchor is made
from a spine-and-pelvis assembly—really clever! The hull has several sections
of membranous “heavy water,” which is a trans-blue flexible sheet intended, I
think, to evoke some kind of ectoplasm. I like the texture, and it really fits
the ship’s character. The sails are very light and look to be shreded (as all
undead ships would have them, of course!), and they flutter gratifyingly on the
slightest breeze. No rigging, though.
My favorite aspect is the figurehead, a
horrific wraith-like figure, mouth agape, with hands gripping the bowsprit and
bow railing. The whole effect is gratifyingly creepy, very well conceived and
executed!
The three cannons use the MB standard spring-load and sit below a grate in the
deck. They’re fired individually, but to fire them the grate must be opened.
Also, when pressed, the cannons activate a small switch in the hull that causes
the ship to light up. Like a dummy, I didn’t buy batteries, so I haven’t seen
this yet. Doh! One downside: the packaging makes it appear that three cannons
face both port and starboard (for a total of six), but this is achieved by
turning the cannons around. There’s no built-in way to do this, and the cannons
must be removed and replaced, so you’d better be sure that you sail up on the
proper side when attacking. To be fair, I would have realized the correct count
if I’d looked more closely.
The foredeck has a hatch in which the treasure chest can be hidden, and part of
the rear deck can break away to simulate battle damage (and to dump anyone who
happens to be standing there). Between the two staircases there’s a hole in the
deck into which prisoners can be thrown to “feed” the ship. I loved this bit,
because it kept with the ghostly and malevolent atmosphere and also gave another
aspect of playability. The figures can be retrieved through a hatch at the
bottom-rear of the hull (through which the ship excretes, presumably). Another
point of battle damage is the rear mast; if the spring-loaded collar of
vertebrae is pressed down, the hinged mast topples partway. The hinge is also
springloaded, so the toppling is slower than on LEGO “battle damaged” ships, and
the mast is bound to the other mast and the stern by elastic “rigging” lines.
The collapsing has a crow’s nest, and a figure standing in it can be thrown into
the sea when the mast is collapsed. This is well designed, because with the
vertebrae collar in place, the mast stands firmly upright. Additionally, a
section of the deck railing can also break away; this mainly serves to give
access to the cannon deck, but it can also simulate battle damage.
How does it rate? It’s utterly fantastic, in my opinion, vastly (or is that
avastly) superior to Captain Redbeard’s
Pirate Ship, with a comparable number of pieces. Among purists it might not
compare well to the Red Beard Runner (which
coast a whole lot more, BTB), but neither does any of LEGO’s current Pirates
offerings. And if you set up a Pirate wargame between either of the above and
Dread Eye’s Phantom, there’s no question which ship would simply look
cooler. To the casual spectator (rather than an AFOL) the Phantom is, I think,
far and away a more menacing and interesting ship, even if it lacks the broad
building-versatility of true brick-based Pirate ships. The completed ship looks
like a well-crafted model, and as a setting it offers great atmosphere and
playability.
Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.
Dave!
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Review of MB 3660: Dread Eye's Phantom
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| (...) Wow! I've been toying with the Dread Eye's Phantom as well and was extremely impressed. This review is extremely detailed and 100% accurate. It is a little unrealistic that the entire ship is said to be carved from the skeleton of a whale. (...) (19 years ago, 21-Jun-05, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
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