Review: LEGO Star Wars 75251 Darth Vader's Castle

As the set is already available from Amazon and currently for pre-order from LEGO with delivery from December 1st, it's time to take a quick look at the LEGO Star Wars reference. 75251 Darth Vader's Castle (1060 pieces - 129.99 €).

This box reproduces the fortress of Darth Vader on the planet Mustafar, a disturbing construction built on an ancient Sith cave that makes a brief appearance in the film. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and which is also featured in some comics.

Note that the set is also and above all a promotional tool inspired by Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, a new Star Wars virtual reality experience developed by ILMxLAB which will be available in certain cinemas, amusement parks and hotels around the world from the end of the year.

What makes all the charm of this box is in my opinion the double scale of the giant tuning fork of about forty centimeters high with on one side a compact but visually convincing reproduction of the construction and on the other a dollhouse like LEGO knows how to do them so well with its spaces too narrow to really benefit from it. Each fan will find his account there according to what he expects from this box.

The front of the fortress will really make an illusion on a shelf, as if placed on a rock and with the lava flow passing through its foundations. It is not as majestic as the construction seen in the film, but it is quite successful and it changes us from playsets that are a little poor in scenery.

On the other side of this movie set, LEGO has piled up everything near and far can refer to Darth Vader and his fortress with in passing some creative freedoms such as the integration of a meditation room in the 2nd floor...

Under the fortress, Vader even has a hangar in which the Tie Advanced Fighter provided. This shed is also useful for the storage of the assembly even if it really lacks a base plate to facilitate the movement of the construction.

Gameplay question, it's complicated. It takes patience and skill to successfully place Darth Vader in his meditation chamber or in the Bacta Tank. Fortunately, the latter is removable which facilitates the installation of the minifig in the blue tank. More radical if you have big fingers, just remove one of the side panels to give yourself a little more space and have fun replicating a few scenes.

There are no real features in this box, apart from the Stud Shooter placed at the very top of the fortress and the two hatches hidden in the depths which reveal a Saber Crystal and a lightsaber handle.

The platform placed at the top of the fortress on which Vader and Krennic exchange a few words in Rogue One comes down here to a small round plate on which we stick a big sticker. It is a very "symbolic" representation of places, but we will do with it.

The Tie Advanced Fighter supplied is a version Chibi of the ship in which Darth Vader is a little cramped and which will bring back memories to those who already have the versions seen in the sets 10188 Death Star (2008) et 75159 Death Star (2016)

The ship is to scale to nothing, it's just designed to fit into the hangar beneath the fortress before Darth Vader casually steps up the outside staircase to his quarters.

As for the assortment of minifigs provided, it is rather correct even if I would have appreciated the presence of Orson Krennic or Vaneé, the servant of Darth Vader seen in Rogue One. But we'll do with what LEGO gives us here: A little new, some minifigs already seen elsewhere, it's balanced.

Both Royal guards provided here are far from unheard of, the LEGO Star Wars range has already allowed us to accumulate a certain quantity, particularly via the small set 75034 Death Star Troopers (2014). The cape that dresses these two minifigs is in two colors with a darker red on one side and a bright red on the other, as was already the case in the 75159 Death Star set.

When unpacking, we wonder what the Imperial Transport Pilot does in this box. It's on the VR experience side Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire that must be sought to find the trace of Athex, a rebel spy disguised as an imperial pilot whose career ends on Mustafar. Why not, even if this character will remain anecdotal in the eyes of many fans.

For those who are wondering, the character's helmet is based on the same mold as the two Hovertank Pilots in the set. 75152 Imperial Assault Hovertank (2016) based on the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Darth Vader is delivered here in two versions: In his usual outfit already seen in the set 75093 Death Star Final Duel (2015) and in a "Bacta Tank" version with a respirator whose pad printing is really very detailed. He is the minifig-star of this box.

I forgot. Palpatine makes an appearance in this set in the form of a statuette depicting the hologram plotting with Darth Vader.

To put it simply, I think this box has some nice points to make despite the tote side of the interior of the playset. This is a new, worked and original product that explores a little more the universe of Darth Vader and just for that I say yes.

At 129.99 €, it is in my opinion a bit expensive, however, especially with a small assortment of minifigs. Amazon has already cut the price of this set at 89.90 € during Black Friday (and will do it again regularly ...) which immediately makes it more attractive, provided you have patience.

Note: The set shown here is put into play as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before December 9 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

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.