LEGO Ninjago Samurai Mech review

(Written by Geneva – gid617)

My brother got the #9448 LEGO Ninjago Samurai Mech just recently, which is one of the new summer Ninjago sets, and also one of the coolest!  Naturally, he was in a big hurry to open it, so I didn’t quite get the all-the-pieces-laid-out-ever-so-neatly picture that I would have liked. 🙂

But first things first; the box! It’s actually pretty big: although, inside is mostly empty space. And the back is quite nice – especially with Snike going through the air! (You can click on images for larger view.)
 

Evidently the set was complicated enough to have two instruction booklets (most LEGO sets do these days) and three bags full of pieces.

Bag Number One makes the body, Number Two the legs, and Number Three the hands and head of the Samurai Mech.

And there is also a small sticker-page:

Below is a random instruction-page, and also the back of the first booklet (the reason for the last page saying 14 while the “random page” says 28/29 is that the instructions start with #1 again once you get to the second bag).

In the middle of the second instruction-booklet there is a Ninjago weapons poster, with Lloyd and the ninja on the previous page and the new characters on the following page.

The inventory at the back of the booklet gives the all-pieces-laid-out picture, which really helps if you have a piece going missing.

The end of the second booklet includes more Ninjago posters: the new Ninjago sets, new Spinjitzu spinners, and on the next page a picture with the ninja vehicles jumping out of a laptop, iPhone, etc. Still waiting for that to happen in real life… 🙄

Ok, we’re done with all the paper. On to the Samurai Mech! Somehow I’m never quite content with a LEGO set until I’ve changed it a little. So here is the original Samurai Mech and below my “edited” version.

For one thing, we took off the claws on the right hand. They’re a nice addition to the set piece-wise, but the Samurai Mech just looks too strange with those massive claws. So they were the first to go. And then, for those of us who watch the show, there never was a water-blaster on the left (which really doesn’t seem to have much point to it anyways – Samurai X isn’t fighting Lava Monsters!). So that was replaced with another cannon. And then we changed the cannon so that it’s not quite so high up in the air.

The back of the Samurai Mech is the least impressive part, especially with the blasters the way they are. But add a couple flames. . .  now it looks more like the real thing! If the set had come with the flames in the back and dark gray round flat tiles (maybe they don’t exist yet in that color), so that you could switch it from flying to not-flying mode, I would really have liked that.

The Samurai Mech also has several nice features. For one thing; the head opens and the Mech can maintain balance even with opened position.

An additional interesting detail is the Japanese symbols on the sticker located on the right arm (maybe it’s supposed to be on the left arm). Personally, I don’t like stickers that much, but they do add some nice detail here. 

Also, the arms and legs can all be moved (and in all different directions!), so that allows you to pose the Mech in almost any stance. Yet another thing that I haven’t mentioned is the fact that it includes a snake-catapult, and of course the minifigs, which adds to the set’s playability.

Overall, the LEGO Ninjago Samurai Mech is an awesome set, with a lot of details and a realistic looking size – although it would never fit on the deck of the Destiny’s Bounty! Here is also a nice video-review by DoctorBrikDady that provides some additional details you might like:

The one main problem I have with the Samurai Mech is that it can only hold one minifigure; you can’t put Lloyd in along with Samurai X, although, as long as he has the dragon, I suppose that isn’t a problem. Also, flames on the back would have made for a nice added detail. On the other hand, it has an excellent color-scheme, and is a very nice looking robot, with plenty of defensive armor to ward of those pesky snakes! It also has a nice price-per-piece ratio at less than 9 cents/piece, and has several interesting pieces. Although you won’t ever be able to build a house out of it, it’s excellent for red, dark-red and gold details!  😀

So what do you think? How do you like the LEGO Ninjago Samurai Mech? And do you like any of my modifications, or would you like to share some of your own? Feel free to discuss in the comment section below!  😉

You might also want to head over to the LEGO Ninjago section for more news and discussions, or check out some of the most recent posts:

• LEGO Ninjago Lloyd ZX Spinner Preview
• 2012 LEGO Ninjago – Season 3 Trailer
• LEGO Ninjago Season 3 – New Trailer!
• NINJAGO Season One DVD Now Available!
• LEGO Ninjago – September Spinners!
• Playing Ninjago Spinjitzu – Part 1: Essentials
• Playing Ninjago Spinjitzu – Part 2: Cards
• Playing Ninjago Spinjitzu – Part 3: Weapons