Set Review: 70131 Rogon's Rock Flinger
Sunday, April 20th, 2014 at 3:24pm by Benjamin, BZPower Reporter
When times get tough, you get tougher. And that means bringing in some rhino Chima to take care of business and throw a few rocks around! LEGO was kind enough to provide Rogon's Rock Flinger for a BZPower review, and the rhinos deliver with their fierce armored vehicle. Read on, and watch the video, to see how thick the rhinos' hide is against a member of the spider tribe as we continue on with Chima Month on BZPower.
The set costs $30 USD and has 257 pieces, including three new minifigs. While the price-per-piece ratio is a little high, the three minifigs and details of the set might make up for that. Read on to see what you think.
Presentation
From the design of the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set.
The box is tall, almost square, which is an odd size for a set but shows off the Rock Flinger neatly while framing it with the proper logos, numbers, and character portraits. And while I appreciate LEGO's efforts the past few years to make their boxes smaller to save cardboard, the final product of the set is larger than the impression I got from the box images.
Regardless of first impressions, the back of the box shows off some cool features of the Rock Flinger, including a “high pursuit” mode as well as the rock flinging action.
Building
Half the fun is had building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy or challenging is it?
I was impressed with the build. It has a sturdy Technic foundation that is built up with bricks, including utilizing some different angles which especially show in the vehicle's rhino head. The launching mechanism is especially nifty.
Set Design
Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.
The rock flinger is built tough through lots of panel armor and various plating. The rhino head on the front is especially impressive in its detail. Unfortunately the figs have a hard time fitting into the cockpit to drive the vehicle.
The three minifigs are all new for this line. Two rhinos (one a girl) and a spider offer some new variety for your collection, especially since the spider tribe figs are build differently in all their sets. Both rhinos have different distinguishing features too, like green or purple garments. The spider's design is also neat.
Playability
The other half of the fun is in playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with.
The rock is housed neatly inside the vehicle, though unfortunately you only get one. The vehicle can also fold the launcher into the body into itself, flattening out for a “high pursuit” mode. The launching mechanism also works really well, giving some force to the launch and throwing the rock pretty well.
Final Thoughts
Once it's all said and done, how does the set stack up? Should I get it?
Pros
What's to like?
- Three new figs.
- Great vehicle and design.
- Great working play feature.
Cons
What's not to like?
- One rock
- Poor price-to-piece ratio
Overall, I was really impressed with this set once it came together. The build is interesting, the figs are neat, and the play feature actually works. I think it is a great addition as a Chima set. My biggest concern is the cost being a little more than average these days, depending on how you're counting, but the larger pieces and new figs make up for that. I recommend this for Chima fans, especially those who like the new rhino tribe.
Hinkle at the helm.
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