Lego and Star Wars have a long history together, and it’s clear that the relationship is stronger than ever. I got to play with the new Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets and although they are a bit gimmicky, they are a lot of fun.
Building the X-wing was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the Smart Brick and the noise it makes. As you pilot the X-wing, R2-D2 squeaks and you can fire lasers with the press of a button.
It also doesn’t add bulk to the build, just a simple brick that has good volume and several accelerometers to add to the fun. One of the small buildings that comes in the box is an Empire laser turret that makes crashing noises if you knock it over. It makes me laugh every time I do it.
The X-wing itself uses the brick to good effect. It makes all the movement noises while you’re flying, but if you press the red button at the top, it moves the brick forward, triggering the accelerometer and making the laser sound “bench bench”. Then, as it slides back into place, the NFC reads the R2-D2 tag and also emits its noises. It works really well.
Overall, the 90$ the price of the X-wing seems like a bargain. The Smart Brick isn’t tied to the set you own, so it can potentially be used in other sets, and you also get the X-wing and three mini sets to play with. Plus minifigs of R2-D2, Leia and Luke who all make fun noises when they are near the brick.