LEGO Star Wars 2012: My take on the first wave

After a few days of reflection, observation and non-objective analysis of the different visuals we have on the first wave of sets expected for 2012, I give you here my very personal impressions.

I am a collector, I do not produce MOC, I do not buy to resell and I am content to gargle in front of my assembled sets or I complete those for which I am missing a few pieces in my spare time, it is up to say when I have the time to devote myself a little between my professional life and my family life. My opinion is therefore very oriented towards this collection aspect and only commits me.

All these sets have good arguments in their favor, the range is balanced and homogeneous. It encourages the purchase and collectors will still have to ruin themselves to not miss anything and not regret anything.

The youngest will also find their account in this wave of sets. An X-Wing, a Tie Fighter and here's a space battle. The Battle Packs also come with excellent gameplay at a lower cost, and that it's cool as my son would say. Bad guys and good guys in the same box, that's great.

9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack : This is a very interesting Battle Pack, the choice of minifigs and the concept of mixing factions is wise on the part of LEGO. Unlike many AFOLs, I am not refractory to the very Clone Wars style of minifigs since the launch of the animated series, even if I consider that this series is more of a broad universe oriented marketing than a real saga coming to flesh out the original chronology. The barrel of this set is there to furnish and will not go down in the annals. Side minifigs, the realization is up to what we can expect: Modern, varied and innovative. ARC Trooper, ARF Trooper and Commando Droids are successful and show LEGO's ability to produce anything other than basic clones.

9489 Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper Battle Pack : What to say about this Battle Pack? It is more oriented Original Trilogy and provides the essentials for the constitution of a small scene on Endor with two factions in presence, a sick tree and (again) a Speederbike. To buy to expand its armies of rebels and clones and to combine with some Ewoks.

9490 Droid Escape : The most successful set in my opinion of this wave 2012. The Sandtroopers are fabulous, screen-printed from head to toe and "dusty" to perfection. C-3PO comes in a nice variant and the Escape Pod is detailed enough to make you forget about the inevitable stickers. An essential Set to complete a series of C-3PO minifigs in all its variants, and to finally obtain a credible reconstruction of this scene from the film.

9492 Tie Fighter : I love this version of the Tie Fighter, new wings, a better designed cockpit and an apparent solidity of the whole which I like. The minifigs are well chosen and varied with a very successful astromech R5-J2 droid. I really like all of these droids and I was starting to get tired of seeing almost only R2-D2 in every way. The Death Star Trooper is magnificent and the Imperial Officer ensures the set's vintage quota.

9493 X-Wing Starfighter : At the risk of disappointing some, I am no more excited than that by this set after reflection. I have seen too much of the 6212 and finally the X-Wing in System did not necessarily deserve that we devote a set on this wave. The evolution in the design is obvious, the curves nice but I appreciate this set only by the presence of minifigs allowing a double use pilot / droid astromech: Luke & R2-D2 and Jek Porkins and R5-D8. And I have a very strong aversion to these rubber bands, which make me think more of simple low-end Chinese toys than LEGO sets.

9494 Anakin's Jedi Interceptor : Well, a green Jedi Interceptor ... At least he's not yellow or red. And even if it does correspond to a craft seen stealthily in Revenge of the Sith, this green is not the best taste. Fortunately the minifigs raise the bar. Anakin is very pissed off and Obi-Wan Kenobi and Nute Gunray are welcome. I'm just curious to see how R2-D2 has been integrated into the lateral space of the machine.

9491 Geonosian Cannon : Another canon without real interest, but minifigs to add absolutely to a collection which respects itself: Geonosian Zombie, Geonosian Warrior, Barriss Offee and Commander Gree, it is almost too much for a set of this size. To buy urgently to be sure not to miss a Commander Gree that we may not see again elsewhere.

9495 Gold Leader's Y-Wing Starfighter : THE set that will reconcile Star Wars fans with LEGO. The Y-Wing may be shocking for a moment but on closer inspection it turns out to be relatively faithful to the model. Studio used in movies. We will pass on flick fire missiles green (Why green?) integrated by LEGO for the playability quota, and we arrive at what finally makes this set a must: Leia's minifig in a Celebration. The essential complement to the two minifigs of Luke and Han Solo with their medals.