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Set Review: Galaxy Squad 70701 Swarm Interceptor
 Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 12:38pm by Benjamin, BZPower ReporterWatch out, everyone! An evil swarm of alien bugs is attacking our homeworld! But fear not, for the Galaxy Squad is adequately equipped to fend them off, or so we hope. Today we take a look at the Space Interceptor Every couple of years, LEGO surprises us with another space theme to give some variety among the many Star Wars sets available. We've had several missions to the Red Planet, in 2011 we got the Alien Conquest sets, and now the Earth is being invaded once more, this time by some bug creatures. You would think several of the alien races would just team up and then divvy up the globe in a game of rock, paper, tentacle instead of having a go at destroying us one at a time. Presentation
The box has the new five-digit product number, because LEGO has finally made enough awesome sets over the years that they had to embrace a new series of numbering. Also on the box, among the usual LEGO logo, piece count, and age suggestion is the cool Galaxy Squad logo. And of course some fantastic action between human and bug alien. You can almost imagine the insect's laser going “pew pew” while avoiding the missile blast from the ship. The back details out the groovy play features, but those will be examined later. The price that the set should be marked with is $20, which makes for an awesome piece-to-price ratio.
Polybags? Check. Instructions? Yup. Stickers? Those are there too, but I ignore them just in case I can put them on a cool MOC, and to enable me to use the supposedly stickered pieces later in more general terms. Building
The bug man has a tiny space scooter to maneuver around on, and he (she?) is packing heat with those front blasters and ray gun. Best watch out for those. The ship is really nice to build. While mostly a studs-up construction, the types of parts used, like lots of slopes and curves, makes for a well-made starfighter. LEGO uses a “cockpit box” design similar to other fighters of this caliber they have made, but it works well. The real magic is in the engine and wing build behind the cockpit...
The build of the wings starts with the base, which has two hidden flick-fire missiles in the rear. Notice how these are, however, flat round plates and not a cone as usual. This is so they will fit under the hatch and stay hidden, but unfortunately they are awfully weirdly shaped. More round flat studs never hurt a LEGO collection though! The back looks a little weird too, instead of completing a curve down the end, but this is so our space hero can stand on the back and operate the missiles.
Finally, the wings and engines are attached, and not a moment too soon. For the alien bug enemy is in sight and it wants to finish its job sooner rather than later, but it won't be a match for your multiple guns and agile flight skills! Set Design
Critique it from every angle? Sure! Just look at this guy turn over and over, and any different angle you want, yet he still stays upright! (This must be for in-atmosphere flight, where there's a gravity to pay attention to.) Seriously, this is one of the coolest play-features I've seen in a long while, where the cockpit is allowed to spin freely from the body of the ship, and the effect is so fun!
The minifigs are very distinct and new. The blue is the same blue from the Alien Conquest minifigs, but that also goes for the parts! Sadly, there is no robot included with this set. But the buggie is magnificent! First: the wings. Second: the antenna. And both figs backs are pretty well detailed too, not to mention the reversible head for the human, giving him a facemask in case something were to happen. My only disappointment is that he doesn't have one of those retro air tanks (or my preference: jet packs!) that I feel would really complete the outfit.
Finally, the new and interesting pieces that come with the set. Among the variety are two lightsaber hilts in black, some slopes in the new light blue, and a new cockpit windshield to facilitate opening the hatch. I still prefer the traditional pointed windshield from before Space Police III. The antenna also secure into the head in the same fashion feathers would to a pirate or forestman hat, so the variety and uses are limitless! Playability
The free-spinning cockpit is my favorite play feature of the set, but it also has a cool folding mode for the wings as seen in the previous pictures. The buy guy doesn't do much though aside from look neat. And don't forget about those flick-fire missiles! The front cockpit also detaches as an escape pod, with little gliders, and of course the laser blasters, to bring it to safety. Swooshing goes a long way for keeping a smile on your face, especially when the twists and turns are really weird for the cockpit. Still, there can never seem to be enough play features in a small set like this, especially if it has flick-fire missiles. Final Thoughts
The Galaxy Squad theme looks promising, and this set is good confirmation of that. For a small set it has a lot, but the gimmick of the flick-fire missiles detracts from my excitement a little. The pieces are full of potential though, so it's a good parts builder for a collection—especially with the cool figs!
If you're in the market for a new space set, or have been looking forward to this new theme, this set won't disappoint (unless you despise flick-fire missiles, but even then it's not that big a deal). If swooshability is your thing, this set has it. If you like bug aliens, you can't go wrong. If the new blue annoys you, ignore it and enjoy the white pieces.
And finally, a blast from the past.
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, such a set from the newest from LEGO Space line, and see the surprise moves it has to zap the swarm member back to where they came. Read on for reporter ChocolateFrogs' full review.)
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