Subject:
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Re: Review of MB 3660: Dread Eye's Phantom
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands
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Date:
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Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:19:12 GMT
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Viewed:
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2625 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, Dave Schuler wrote:
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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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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. However, the bones make for an impressive visual effect. I’ve also been
looking at another Mega Bloks ship, Captain Cutlass’ Stormstalker. The ship is
not as appealing visually as the Phantom but it has some interesting features.
The set consists of 95 pieces. The sails are made of cloth and equipped with
realistic holes that are a result of enemy fire. The ship consists of two spring
loaded cannons that fire a giant spear and a cannonball respectably. The hull
has a built in space for treasure storage as well as this little gizmo that
transforms skeletons into humans and vice versa if you’d like. The gizmo is
actually a solid plastic rotating door; you place a skeleton in, rotate the door
and a human will appear. There is also a metal cage that fits one fig,
presumably a skeleton, and can be used to place the enemy in the dungeon. The
dungeon is located in the hull of the ship. The figurehead is amazing. I is a
silver painted, quite detailed shark head. The figs are also incredibly detailed
and the set comes with skull heads that can be placed about the deck and a toy
rat, which just adds to the realism. The ship is fairly simple to construct.
I love the Stormstalker and the Phantom even more...I can’t wait to hear Dave’s
review of the Stormstalker.
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Review of MB 3660: Dread Eye's Phantom
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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 (...) (19 years ago, 20-Jun-05, to lugnet.off-topic.clone-brands, FTX)
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