Review : 70617 Temple of The Ultimate Ultimate Weapon

Today we are talking about the set 70617 Temple of The Ultimate Ultimate Weapon, one of only two buildings in The LEGO Ninjago Movie range, somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of the set 70620 Ninjago City which (logically) steals the show.

This big box of 1403 pieces sold for 111.99 € leaves me skeptical. On the one hand, I find it the usual charm of plush playsets and on the other hand, I still have a few big complaints.

The various reviews I have read are filled with fiery statements for the futuristic-medieval look of the thing. Is. Even if the overall appearance of the temple is really very successful, it is however not enough in my eyes to make it an acceptable product, except for those who will choose to exhibit this cinema facade on the chest of drawers in the living room. A good point for the door, which I find very successful.

Seen from the front and back, this temple is a pretty building that has allure. Seen in profile, it unfortunately becomes a simple slice of a temple with no real depth. LEGO, which is usually so generous with diverse and varied visuals of its products, is careful not to present the thing in this less flattering angle on the product sheet.

It's a criticism, but this presentation having almost become a signature at LEGO, we have to live with it. We will remember the other sets using this principle: 71040 The Disney Castle, 10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout, etc ... I always experience a little frustration with these constructions where the available spaces shrink as I go upstairs, but I have also passed the age of playing with them and I am not the main target of these playsets.

Some will find that it is the right size at the right price. I'd rather think this set would have deserved to see its higher retail price to get a temple deeper than a flattened dollhouse. But it is necessary for all budgets and LEGO will have decided that this temple at 111.99 € is well positioned in the range.

The real stars of this box are in my eyes the two stone lions. They are imposing and easily manipulated to make them take more or less aggressive poses. A few pieces float a little at ear level but nothing dramatic. I find them a really successful look, but it's very personal.

Let's talk about playability. I'm talking about real gameplay here, not the one usually touted by LEGO in the description of its products (... pour a coffee, send something to wash the line, put something to sleep ...). What can we do that is really fun in this temple?

A wheel allows you to raise the suspended rock and then drop it, a "blade launcher" ejects the two discs provided in the feet of the ninjas and you can open a trap by pulling the central mechanism.

The other functions based on rocking stuff are more than anecdotal and the rest is just filling spaces with lots of accessories. The fact remains that with a little imagination, this set will allow young fans to have fun, that's for sure.

Another critical point in my eyes: this set is above all a playset, it is in any case presented as such by LEGO, and its finish leaves much to be desired. Many assemblies, especially at the roof, are far too fragile to withstand the onslaught of young fans.

I understand LEGO's desire to give this temple a Japanese look, but the construction techniques used with parts that protrude from the edges of the roof and which only rest on one or two studs are a bit "light". I spent long minutes looking for a lost blue scorpion ... Same observation with the upper part of the roof, which in my opinion lacks solidity, also held in place by the two vertical lances.

On the construction side, nothing exciting. We pile up big gray pieces for the wall, and we only start to have fun with the finishes and accessories.

It is obviously not a modular even if we find here the same desire on the part of the designers to put a maximum of details in a minimum of space.

As if the designer of the set started with both "Guardians of the Temple"and ended up building the building with the remaining parts / budget quota. I'm exaggerating, I know.

The "playable" spaces are too small, at least for my adult hands. It is not uncommon to demolish something by carrying out a manipulation yet planned and documented. A detail to note for the youngest who will quickly get annoyed, the rock mechanism only works counterclockwise. In the other direction, it does not remain blocked in the high position.

Some parts of the temple are so loaded with accessories that there is hardly any room left to house a minifigure and have fun with it. The only solution is to balance the minifig on a stud with one foot on the outside, once again the fault of the overall lack of depth.

A note concerning the instruction booklet: The parts using many blue parts which are superimposed are difficult to read. An effort should be considered on this side so as not to spoil the pleasure of the youngest, such as surrounding the piece to be installed with a red or white line.

I don't even dare talk about the stickers anymore, I have the impression of rambling. Once again, large surfaces like the outline of the door are dressed in stickers that will have a hard time withstanding the ravages of time and dust.

A good point, the whole team of young ninjas is present in this box. So it's a good way to bring the team together without getting too scattered. The only villain of the set is Garmadon in Jungle version and the statue provided will probably have a role to play during the raid of the temple by the ninjas.

In the end, I say no. Even if this temple is aesthetically very successful, I think the playability is penalized by the fragility of some elements and the compactness of the whole. LEGO will have wanted to put too much in a small space and it shows in use.

I would point it out for all intents and purposes: This is not an infomercial, I am giving you my opinion on a product without necessarily taking a pinch of salt. Everyone will have their own opinion, express yourself in the comments, and there's no point insulting me by email because I don't serve the soup to the maker, which in your eyes makes me a fan of the second. zoned...

Note: We do as usual, you have until August 22, 2017 to manifest yourself in the comments.

Update : The winner was drawn and 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.