Review: LEGO Marvel 76166 Avengers Tower Battle

We are completing the test cycle of the novelties of the LEGO Marvel range marketed in 2020 with the set 76166 Avengers Tower Battle, a box of 685 pieces sold for 94.99 € which allows us to assemble the tower of the Avengers and to obtain in the process a big handful of minifigs.

The tower delivered here is obviously more ambitious than that of the set 4+ 76152 Avengers: Wrath of Loki (223 pieces - 69.99 €) which offers us a more minimalist interpretation of the places intended for very young fans. Those who collect sets from the LEGO Marvel range also have a first version of the tower on their shelves or in their boxes: that of the set 76038 Attack on Avengers Tower (515 pieces - 75.99 €) marketed in 2015. The 2020 version is also more ambitious here with an additional stage.

No big surprise during the assembly phase of the Avengers headquarters, it's like the police stations of the LEGO CITY range: we stack the floors which are all more or less based on the same principle with their large bay windows and the few pieces of furniture that take place there depending on the use of the premises. No stairs or elevator that allow to navigate between the different floors, but young fans who want to have fun with this construction will have the possibility of opening it to obtain a rather imposing playset with easily accessible internal spaces.

The gameplay is not based only on the story telling in this box and the designer has planned some mobile elements that will enhance the clashes between the different protagonists.

The ground floor canopy opens to a garage that allows Black Widow to put her gear away or take it out, the first floor canopy opens to let the Blazer and Tazer armor come out of the building and take part in combat . The third floor cell has two ejectable windows via a lever to play an escape and the balcony of the fourth seesaw by pulling on the integrated mechanism to simulate the destruction of part of the tower.

As a bonus, it is even possible to "explode" theARC Reactor which is on the ground floor by pushing on the protrusion visible at the foot of the tower in order to eject the module from its support. All of these playful possibilities are interesting in my opinion, it is not so often that designers make the effort to offer something other than doors that open or features too anecdotal to deserve to be really considered. as such.

The Avengers logo in Dark Azure plated on the structure is rather well done and gives a little allure to the whole by making us almost forget that this construction with the summary finish sold at the full price is not a product of the CITY range.

The different rooms of the building are more or less furnished and we note on the first floor the presence of the Infinity Gauntlet, on which we find the Space stone, placed just behind the weapons rack. The Power Stone is installed in the lab on the second floor which actually reproduces the scene, seen in the film. guardians of the galaxy, which takes place at Le Collectionneur.

Also on the second floor, there is a cell from which Red Skull can escape and the third floor rest room faces a screen whose display is interchangeable. The Avengers can either watch the news or play a video game that features the clash between Captain America and Red Skull, the gamepad is provided.

The building makes extensive use of transparent pieces and care will have to be taken for the scratches that do not fail to appear when these pieces walk around in the bags. If any of these items are really too scratched for your liking, please do not hesitate to contact customer service for a replacement.

There are few stickers in this box with in particular a few control screens on a transparent background, a double display for the third floor television and a skin for the flying motorcycle of Black Widow.

The only contraption in the set is Black Widow's flying motorcycle. Why not. The machine is connected with the motorcycles usually used by the character in other boxes and its transformation into a flying machine offers a good dose of playability around the building without Black Widow being confined to making rear wheels on the forecourt while the others clash on the floors.

LEGO provides in this box the two usual small bags of decorative elements and accessories in Flat Silver which are not always used in full or wisely depending on the sets. Here, the designer made the effort to intelligently use a maximum of these parts on weapons, for projectiles and on the motorcycle.

The minifig endowment is very correct with Iron Man, Black Widow, Blazer (Mark 22 - Hot Rod) and Tazer (Mark 30 - Blue Steel) armor, Red Skull and the essential AIM agents who make the link with the Marvel's Avengers video game from which the series of sets released this year is loosely based.

The Blazer and Tazer armor both come with transparent neutral heads, the pad prints are crisp and Tazer's epaulettes, available in black and red in other sets, are here delivered for the first time in dark Blue. Armor collectors therefore have two new versions to add to their Hall of Armour and a location is even already provided for Blazer in the set 76167 Iron Man Armory.

Red Skull had not been seen at LEGO since its first appearance in the set 76017 Captain America vs. Hydra released in 2014, if we forget the overly cartoon version of the Mighty Micros set 76065 Captain America vs. Red Skull released in 2016. The torso and head of this new version are new, but I prefer the 2014 version, whose torso pad printing is more basic but in my opinion more effectively embodies the character's emblematic outfit.

Black Widow's minifigure is the one delivered this year in sets 40418 Falcon & Black Widow Team-Up et 76153 Helicarrier. Exit sticks, classic or based on Harry Potter wands, Natasha Romanoff is here equipped with two semi-automatic pistols.

The Iron Man minifigure is not new, it is the one available this year in the sets 76140 Iron Man Mech, 76152 Avengers: Wrath of Loki, 76153 Helicarrier et 76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster Versus AIM Agent.

It should be noted that LEGO provides here hair for Tony Stark, an accessory that allows you to enjoy the character without his helmet. This was not the case in the set 76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster Versus AIM Agent, it is therefore an initiative to welcome.

The two AIM agents are identical and are also delivered this year in sets 76143 Avengers Truck Takedown, 76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster Versus AIM Agent, 76167 Iron Man Armory et 40418 Falcon & Black Widow Team-Up.

To conclude, I think that this playset does not deserve, it offers a lot of fun with an imposing construction that opens onto interior spaces with a somewhat basic layout but spacious enough to slip your fingers.

The finish of the building itself is not exceptional but the "glass tower" effect is there with a profile relatively faithful to the version seen on the screen or in the comics. Armor collectors will have to make up their mind, it's $ 94.99 for two new minifigs or an aftermarket retail purchase.

We currently find this box for less than 67 € at Amazon in Germany and at this price point, this product really seems like a nice set to give to a young avengers fan who needs a gathering point for his superhero troop.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at 17th October, 2020 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.