Read all about the LEGO Super Mario starter set, the Boomer Bill Barrage extension set and the Construction Mario suit here and our experiences with this.
Back in my childhood, there were two things I absolutely loved, namely LEGO and Super Mario games. So when it was announced in March that LEGO and Nintendo were going to work together to market several LEGO Super Mario packs, it was a dream come true for me. Now LEGO Super Mario is finally on the shelves and thanks to LEGO Benelux we were able to test it extensively. In this special I am going through the LEGO Super Mario starter set, expansion set Boomer Bill Barrage and the Construction Mario Suit.
LEGO Super Mario starter set
Let’s start at the beginning, the LEGO Super Mario starter set. You will need these at all times, because only in this package can you find our beloved plumber Mario. Before you can get started with this set, you can see in the manual how to provide LEGO Mario with batteries. You can discover all this with clear images. You will need a small Phillips screwdriver and two AAA batteries for this. You will have to buy these separately, because these batteries are not included in the box. After that you will have to download the official LEGO Super Mario app on your smartphone or tablet, but you can read more about that later.
Fortunately, the box clearly states that you have to download a free app and that the two AAA batteries are not included. Furthermore, the box shows what exactly is in this set and what you can do with LEGO Mario. As you probably know, no Mario level is complete without a start, a Goomba, a question mark block and of course an end flag. These objects are therefore including decoration, connectors and Bowser Junior in this starter set.
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With the objects that I just mentioned, you can finally start making your own first level. I spent just over an hour assembling all parts, partly because I had to get started with the app. Then I was able to work with all the connectors and decoration to make my first level. Everyone can use their creativity to the full, which makes each level different and great in their own way.
Because the level is made of LEGO, you can adjust it anytime you want. This provides variation during play and this keeps it interesting to be busy with LEGO Mario. The name of this package says it a bit, it is really a starter set. This is by no means to say that you cannot have fun with it or that the levels cannot vary, quite the contrary. Yet with just one expansion pack or other LEGO Mario outfit, you can make your level a lot more interesting.
Meet LEGO Mario
LEGO Mario is full of expressions, sounds and sensors. This really brings our beloved plumber to life. You will notice that a lot of attention has been put into LEGO Mario, something that comes to the fore because LEGO Mario responds to almost everything. Because of the sensors in him, LEGO Mario knows exactly when he walks, jumps and on which color block he is. LEGO Mario comes to life not only through the expressions on its face and belly, but also through the music and talk.
These many expressions can range from happy to scared and dizzy, but LEGO Mario can also look in all directions plus much more, which is more fun to discover for yourself. Because the voice of Mario and the sound coming from his body are present, this gives an even more lively effect. LEGO Mario will fall asleep even if you don’t play with him for a while, super cute and good for the battery.
To my surprise, I found LEGO Mario to have a nice weight and, although I don’t have very big hands myself, it was still quite big. Due to its weight and size, it is nice to hold and play with LEGO Mario. You will also notice that our plumber is of very good quality. In addition, you can immediately start playing your own level without having to wait long for your big friend. If you take LEGO Mario and turn it on, you can get started within 3 seconds.
It’s a me, Builder-Mario!
As an extra outfit for my Mario I have the construction Mario suit. This small box contains a yellow helmet, yellow pants with a brown belt printed on it and, unlike the large packages, a paper building instruction. This building instruction can also be viewed in the application, which we will come back to later.
Inspired by Super Mario Maker, this outfit lets you jump up and dash to the bone. Doing this will give you extra coins. Unfortunately, the functionalities of this extra suit stop there. However, it is possible, for example, because many LEGO bricks can be clicked together, for example to put the helmet on Bowser Junior. This can then give a funny twist to your level.
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But how does LEGO Mario know what suit he is wearing at the time? Our electronic friend has six pins on his stomach. The outfit, on the other hand, has protruding pieces of plastic on the inside of the pants. These protruding pieces of plastic push certain pins on LEGO Mario’s stomach. This way he knows exactly which outfit he is wearing.
Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Kit
As shown on the top of this box, the Super Mushroom, Shy Guy and the Boomer Bill are central to this set. These are therefore the objects that Mario can communicate with, although the revolving platform under the floating Boomer Bills is not discussed here. This is therefore large on the front of the box. Just like with the kit, it is again well indicated on the box that LEGO Mario is not in this set. This is made clear by making Mario a bit transparent and by means of text.
In contrast to the starter set, this Boomer Bill Barrage extension set contains a lot less bags, namely only two, of which one is a small extra bag in the 2nd bag. However, this does not mean that assembling this set has happened. I still had to make about 45 minutes for it. Of course I did this with great pleasure, because who wouldn’t want to make an even bigger level?
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With this fun extension set you add extra challenge to the already existing starter set. The platform that is under the Boomer Bills, which I just talked about, provides a nice extra tension in your level. This platform has two sides, a smooth side that LEGO Mario can slide down for the experienced players, and a side where LEGO Mario can stand firmly for the somewhat younger children. The barcode, which are on both sides, also plays an exciting music for some extra sensation. Just be careful not to be pushed off by the Boomer Bills, or LEGO Mario will be in pain. Although there is of course a solution for this.
This extension set also includes a Super Mushroom. Who doesn’t know it? This power-up allows LEGO Mario to withstand an extra blow, just like in the games. However, this is slightly different in the LEGO level. If you stand on a red block for too long, seen by LEGO Mario as lava, you will lose this power-up. The same happens if you fall off something. Although nothing serious happens, if you do not eat this mushroom, you will see and hear from LEGO Mario that he does not like it very much.
LEGO Super Mario application
No, I certainly did not forget it. We are now finally going to talk about the official accompanying LEGO Super Mario app. Because there are no building instructions in the boxes, you need an application, which is available for Android and iOS devices. When the app of over 700mb is finally downloaded, you will be greeted with an introduction video. In this trailer there are some things you can do with LEGO Mario. When this short video ends, you will be asked to connect LEGO Mario to your device via Bluetooth. After all that has been arranged, our friend needs a small update, to which you can get started with your LEGO sets and of course also the application.
The first thing you’ll see in the app is a assembled LEGO Super Mario starter set. This is because, I can’t mention it often enough, you need the starter set to get started with the rest of the packages. If you click on the building in the application you will be guided to the building instructions. Of course you start at step 1, where you will put Mario together step by step. Once that is done you can watch two videos showing how to walk and jump with Mario. This is basically explained with every new part, which makes the app very simple and child-friendly.
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I must say that such a digital 3D building instruction is very useful. You can rotate the structure you are currently working on, namely 360 degrees. This means that you can see exactly where to place a certain LEGO brick. Here I used to sometimes struggle with a paper building instruction.
If you have bought an extra extension set or another outfit, you can easily add it by clicking the button at the top right. Here you will see a menu showing all available LEGO Super Mario sets. All you have to do is search for the package you have chosen and click on it, so that you arrive at the building instructions.
Finally, in the app you can see the total number of coins collected, but also the battery percentage of LEGO Mario, take photos of your creation and participate in the weekly challenge. With these challenges, you will be motivated every week to get started with LEGO Mario and create a new level. You can then take a picture of this and share it with other builders all over the world.
Conclusion
The LEGO Super Mario sets that I got to try have surprised me positively. LEGO Mario is full of all kinds of expressions and sounds, which really bring our beloved plumber to life. It took some getting used to not having a paper building instruction, but rotating the construction works in the application is very handy. If you want to create a larger and more exciting level you will have to dig a little deeper into the pouch, but it is definitely worth it. I would say, if you are a LEGO and Mario fan or collector like me, it is definitely worth checking out these sets in this series.
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