Lately, due to the run of big-budget Transformers films, Bumblebee is finest recognized for reworking right into a vivid yellow Chevrolet Camaro. However within the unique ’80s toy line and animated collection, Bumblebee’s alternate automobile mode was the long-lasting Volkswagen Beetle.
As with its Optimus Prime set, Lego is sticking to the unique ’80s designs of the Transformers characters for Bumblebee. However whereas Lego does have a historical past of working with Volkswagen to create authentic-looking brick-built fashions of the automaker’s Beetle and camper vans, the Lego Bumblebee’s automobile mode appears like a unfastened interpretation of the beloved VW bug, with a splash of basic Citroën and Peugeot vehicles added for good measure.
Hasbro’s unique Bumblebee toy wasn’t an ideal dupe of the VW Beetle, both, so this would possibly make Lego’s interpretation really feel much more genuine to nostalgic collectors who grew up enjoying with Transformers toys 40 years in the past. However given the extent of accuracy Lego consists of with its smaller and cheaper Velocity Champions units, some, together with myself, is likely to be slightly upset with Bumblebee when he transforms and rolls out.
Reworking trendy Transformers toys can generally really feel as complicated as fixing a Rubik’s Dice, however changing Bumblebee between his robotic and automobile modes seems to be a far much less irritating expertise, though Lego hasn’t shared precisely what number of steps the method includes.
There does look like one minor compromise within the transformation course of. Bumblebee’s windshield must be utterly eliminated earlier than totally reworking from automobile to robotic modes, however Lego has tried to appease Transformers followers by having the windshield itself remodel right into a jetpack, permitting Bumblebee to fly — some creativeness required.
Different equipment embrace a show plaque itemizing Bumblebee’s stats (followers might contest his energy and firepower being ranked at a meager two and one, respectively, however for braveness, it’s a stable 10) and a buildable ion blaster.
The set’s finest function is likely to be its price ticket. When out there beginning on July 1st for Lego Insiders (a loyalty program that’s free to join) or July 4th for everybody else, the 950-piece Bumblebee might be virtually $100 cheaper than the 1,508-piece, $180 Lego Optimus Prime at $89.99, €89.99, or £79.99.