One of the sets that was released at the beginning of the month is the #60271 LEGO City Main Square. There has been a number of questions and some confusion about this set, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about it in more detail.
Based on the size, price, and content of LEGO City Main Square, it looks similar to the previously released large LEGO City sets, like the #60026 LEGO City Town Square from 2013, the #60097 LEGO City Square from 2015, or the #60200 LEGO City Capital City set from 2018. These are all sets that include a large number of modules to significantly boost a LEGO City layout, including shops, food stands, vehicles, generic city people, and more. Families often save up for them as the big Christmas present for the year.
The #60271 LEGO City Main Square is similar yet different from the previously released large LEGO City sets. This becomes obvious when you look at the pictures in more detail. There is a large selection of city related modules, including buildings, vehicles, and more, but several of them are odd and don’t seem to be that useful for a regular LEGO City layout like the modules in other sets. The city hall and the classic diner are both decent buildings. The concert stage, the small park, and the tram station are so-so, but could still be useful. However, the vehicles are unusual; a tram without tracks, a (I’m sorry to say) very ugly limousine, yet another boring helicopter and police ATV, and a strange handyman wagon. The fourteen minifigs are okay, but you will notice that some of them are named characters, which is unusual for a LEGO City set. The whole thing is an odd mismatch that doesn’t seem to be worth $200.
As it turns out though, this is not a regular LEGO City set. It is a set made for kids who are fans of the popular LEGO City Adventures TV show. LEGO City Adventures premiered last summer on Nickelodeon and it’s still running with new episodes each week. Unlike many LEGO television series and specials that deal in the realms of fantasy, LEGO City Adventures is set in a modern metropolis with ordinary citizens, like police officer Duke DeTain, fire chief Freya McCloud, street sweeper Shirley Keeper, eager but clumsy handyman Harl Hubbs, city mayor Solomon Fleck, vice mayor Carol Yay, rival business people R.E. Fendrich and Mary Sinclair, Freya’s troublesome nephew Billy McCloud, and skateboarding police chief Percival “Wheelie” Wheeler. Below is the press-release with more information about the set as well as the TV show.
Billund, 12th August 2020: Families can now bring the excitement and buzz from city life into the comfort of their own homes – as The LEGO Group launches the brand-new LEGO City Main Square set. Designed for the whole family to build and re-build together, this latest product is the ultimate set in the entertaining world of LEGO City and is perfect for helping young builders to become master builders.
Budding builders can truly immerse themselves in the LEGO City world and enjoy endless hours of imaginative play, with this brand-new 1,517-piece set. Whether it’s a visit to City Hall, a quick journey on the Tram, enjoying a bite to eat at the Classic Diner or singing your heart out on the Concert Stage – LEGO City Main Square’s collection of detailed buildings and realistic toy vehicles provide everything inspiring builders need to experience the energy of day-to-day city life.
With 14 awesome minifigures, LEGO City Main Square is also buzzing with much-loved LEGO City Adventures characters. With Poppy Starr performing on stage, Billy throwing a party at the City Square, and Duke DeTain searching for Snake Rattler and his grappling hook after a City Hall break-in. LEGO City Main Square allows young builders and families to dive straight into the LEGO City Adventures TV series and re-create their favorite scenes. (If you’re curious and don’t have access to Nickelodeon’s channel, you can watch many of the episodes on YouTube.)
As it only requires basic building skills, LEGO City Main Square is the perfect set for families to get creative with and let their imaginations run wild, as they build and re-build together. However, for those who would like a little extra help, The LEGO City Main Square playset also comes complete with ‘Instructions PLUS’ – an interactive building guide that helps budding builders on their journey to becoming master builders! Available as part of the free LEGO Building Instructions app for smart devices, ‘Instructions PLUS’ includes a special zoom and rotate feature to help young builders visualize as they build – helping bring their creations to life.
If ever families feel they need to take a break from city life, the impressive City Hall building, measuring over 12” (32cm) high, 10” (27cm) wide and 5” (15cm) deep, and the intricate Tram build, which measures over 4” (12cm) high, 14” (37cm) long and 1” (5cm) wide, both make impressive display pieces, as well as a fond reminders of the quality time spent together.
The new LEGO City Main Square set is the latest example of how the LEGO Group aims to help children to create a realistic LEGO world and to inspire the process of co-building. The LEGO Group has a range of LEGO City sets to help children explore and stimulate their creativity, including the new LEGO City Ocean Exploration Ship and LEGO City Passenger Airplane sets. LEGO City Main Square is available directly from LEGO at official LEGO stores and the LEGO City section of the Online LEGO Shop.
So now that we cleared up what the #60271 LEGO City Main Square set is about, the question remains; is it worth it? For kids and families who are regularly watching the TV show and are familiar with the story and characters, it could be a fun way to expand the experience. It’s a 1,517-piece set for $199.99, which is not cheap, but not out of line for LEGO City sets.
For those who are only looking at this set as a way to expand their LEGO City, this might not be the best option. There just aren’t enough nice and useful modules to justify the price. Better would be something like the smaller but really well designed and currently available #60233 LEGO City Donut Shop Opening, the #60258 LEGO City Tuning Workshop, or some of the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets. You can find them at the LEGO Creator section and LEGO City section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO City Main Square set? Is this a set you’re interested in? Do you watch the LEGO City Adventures TV show? How do you like it? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below!
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So I looked up some of the episodes on youtube, and they are funny. But the set is disjointed. They could have done a better job.
It’s messy and expensive. I don’t see the value in this at all. I expect that it will be on sale soon.
Tell me where!!!
Tell
They have end-of-year sales, which is what I look for to get sets on clearance. I don’t know if this set is going to be sold at any retailers but walmart and amazon usually have decent holiday sales, and the Lego shop also clears out stuff that doesn’t sell well. Just keep your eyes on it.
Hmmm, I might get Poppy Starr’s hairdo and the hearing aid head separately. There’s little else here that inspires me…
The city hall isn’t bad, but not much else is there to justify $200. I could use a few new buildings to freshen up my town, but I guess this isn’t it. I just ordered the donut shop, which seems like a much better value,
At literally half price ($100) I might condider this, but it’s still only one (substancial) building.
I find it very disturbing that the latest LEGO catalog doesn’t even have one page devoted to ‘city.’ (This set is NOT there.) About the worst LEGO catalog I’ve ever seen — and just about every set carries a high price tag.
I agree that the donut shop is a much better set. Another good one is the tuning shop with a building and several great vehicles. I wouldn’t buy this set even for half price. I don’t see the appeal.
Guys, it’s not that bad. My kids watch the show and they like the set. They recognize all the places and minifigs, and they think it’s funny. Kids don’t care for neat layouts. They mix up everything!
Is there a Nickelodeon tax or something? For such a “basic” set, I don’t see why it has to cost a premium…
I’m such a sucker for Lego city sets . That I have probably more city sets than any other themes sets in my collection. I even have the fire department theme ( the one that has the fake water squirting mechanism on the fire truck) even though it’s a bit more of a kids toy. All I did is remove the squirting mechanism and it’s just a plain fire truck. I do have the tuning shop and The Donut Shop sets. Like I say I got way too many City sets. Partly because you can do so much with them. All the other themes are set based on a story line ( star wars ,Harry potter, marvel and dc). However, the imagination has no limits. So imagine on people.😁
I love to mix city sets with modular buildings. Kinda of has a up and down Skyline feel to it like the city does. I have a lot of city sets that I can make a city within a city and don’t see an end to it anytime soon. It just keeps going and going. Until I run out of the table space.😀
I guess then you just have to buy a new table…
I think it’s an awesome set overall