[Review] 9476 The Orc Forge

[lego_legis_legere]

An other review of a great set. Soon a French translation (more detailed) will be here.

Name : The Orc Forge

Set number : 9476

Theme : The Lord of the Rings

Pieces : 366

Minifigures : 4

Ages : 8-14

Released : 2012

Price : 39.99£ / 39.99$ / 49,99€

Introduction

Few month ago, when I heard about the Lord of the Rings theme, I was very excited by all the possibilities of such a great movie. I was wondering if there will be Orc/Elf/Human army, new weapon mold and detailed minifigures. If I'm still waiting for an Elf army (and Gondor soldiers), today I'm rather satisfied by the L.O.T.R. theme, except the price of each set.

The packaging is well-designed : the Middle-Earth map is colored in blue (similar to the P.O.T.C. theme) and orange because of Sauron's ring. Personnaly, I want to keep boxes of such a quality.

The back is completed by 7 nailed scrolls with few descriptions of the content : the printed shelds/helmets are very cool and accurate. The presence of a red light brick is welcome.

The building

The set is composed of 3 bags and 1 building instructions. What a shame there is no poster as in each P.O.T.C. boxes.

The 4 minifigures are very detailed, especially the Orcs because of their facial piercings and sharped ears. Lurtz is cool, unfortunately his legs aren't printed with more muscles.

The pieces are rather common, except the weapons and few special bricks : there is also an orange LEGO tool, fun but useless (according to my opinion).

The building is really easy.

Here is the red light brick in action...

... and then turn off.

The rock base is easy to build and very convincing : I really like the mix of medium grey/dark grey and green.

The Orc Forge is designed as a modular set, in order to be easily build. I'm not a fan of the building technic, but is doesn't disturb me in this set.

I'm so happy there is no sticker in this set : each wooden plates are printed with nice details.

Conclusion

Minifigures : 8/10 they are detailed, expressive and colourful. A fifth minifigure will be welcome (as in 9471 Uruk-Hai Army), especially Saruman (it is supposed to be Isengard !)

Building : 9/10 : the set is very easy to build, there is no challenge.

Playability : 7/10 it could be very fun to create an army, but the set lack of minifigures/weapons to be perfect (only 2 Uruk-Hai). This is clearly a collector set (hard to find).

Design : 8/10 the set looks very good, especially with the rock base (what a great idea !) and the red light brick.

Price : 6/10 49,99€ for the European market (the French price on the LEGO web site) is really too expensive ! I can afford it because I work, but I don't think it will attract the parents of a young public (especially with the world financial crisis).

Edited July 21, 2012 by lego_legis_legere

[Captain Settle]

I have been waiting for a review of this set and yours does not disappoint. I really like this set and see it as one of the stronger sets in this theme. I do have a question though; Does the Mordor orc with hair have a double sided head or the same head as the mordor orc without hair.

Edited July 21, 2012 by Captain Settle

[lego_legis_legere]

Does the Mordor orc with hair have a double sided head or the same head as the mordor orc without hair.

Lurtz, the Uruk-Hai, has a double sided head with the print of a white hand (similar to the minifigures of the Uruk-Hai Army set).

[BrickPicker]

Nice review...

[Brinstar]

Thanks for this excellent review. I to have been waiting for a review of this set before considering making a purchase. This seems to be one of the less popular LOTR sets but I'm quite fond of it. My liking for this set stems less from its LOTR origins and more from the fact that I think it will make an excellent generic mine to integrate with my other castle sets. I missed out on the fantasy era's dwarf mine and although this isn't as good, it costs a lot less. The minifigs are so so but the but I think the set is worth £40 overall.

[Deathleech]

I do have a question though; Does the Mordor orc with hair have a double sided head or the same head as the mordor orc without hair.

There is only one Mordor Orc head design used and it's the same for both of the Morodor Orcs in this set. They are one of the few LotR minifigs with only one sided head printing.

Anyways, nice review! While this isn't an amazing set, I don't think it's a terrible set either. I would say it's average, right in the middle of the pack for the first LotR wave (with Weathertop and Gandalf Arrives being the worst sets and Uruk-Hai Army and Helm's Deep being the better). I do agree that a Sauramon figure would of made this set significantly better and was just saying that in another thread. Heck, even another Mordor Orc(like originally shown at Toyfair with 5 orcs)or Uruk-Hai Orc would of made this set better. All well, still not a bad set by any means.

Edited July 21, 2012 by Deathleech

[Vindicare]

Nice review, great and informative pictures. I noticed the box art doesn't match the build. A minor thing, but one of the torches is in a different place.

[JackJonespaw]

Nice review! I really like this set - too bad I can't afford it.

[KristofBD]

Excellent review! I started to appreciate the set some more because of it! I was surprised with the hidden dark green bricks - that's good. Just a question: how many printed wood tiles are there in the set?

[SheepEater]

Just a question: how many printed wood tiles are there in the set?

2.

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=9476-1

[just2good]

Nice review, 'lego_legis_legere'!

I really liked this set when I first saw it, but now I'm a bit torn on it. I doughnut know if I'll pick it up now...

[Fighter of Frizzies]

Brick separator useless? Are you are you're using it correctly?

Very nice review! I just saw this set at my local Target, oddly the only LotR set too. Still waiting for their shipment to stave off TRU tax....

[Ferrik]

I wanted to read a review of the Orc Forge but there wasn't one yet. Now there's finally one and I can say that the Orc Forge is a truly excellent set. By the way, superb review.

[lego_legis_legere]

Thanks guys ! I didn't notice it was the first review of The Orc Forge. I'm glad you like it.

[Missing Brick]

One rather obvious fault with the design of this set: A beam of light from the lighting brick shines out thru the crack between the two bricks immediately in front of the LED. They should have arranged for a 2-wide brick in that position. It spoils the otherwise realistic look of the fire pit. Apart from that, it's just about OK - although it'll probably be the first LOTR set I smash up for parts. The only real reason to buy this set is for the cool white hand armour.

Nice review but I'd give it 4/10 overall - especially considering the price. If you can live without the white hand armour, better to wait for a big discount on this one.

[THENOOB]

NOOB question," Why is Lurtz under the forge?" But good review.

Edited July 29, 2012 by THENOOB

[Lightning Dragon]

The orange tool is the new brick separator. Not useless at all.

Too bad I am not getting this set, because I just purchased 2 other LotR sets. Nice review, this is a pretty good set, but too expensive in my opinon.

One more thing: Is it just me, or does the box-art look different than the actual build?

Edited July 25, 2012 by Lightning Dragon

[Deathleech]

NOOB questio," Why is Lurtz under the forge?" But good review.

That's where he is "born" in the movie. He pops out in a muddy sac and they tear him out of it (at which point he proceeds to kill one of the orcs, lol).

[Kronicle]

Thanks for review. It is really infomative. All the figures are really detailed. I am living in South Africa and these sets will probably hit the shelves next month. LoTR is one of the best lego themes ever. Thumbs up to TLG. When you turn on the light brick is it briht? Thanks again. I will probably get this et first along with Attck on Weathertop.

[Ash]

Thanks for the review. I quite like the look of this set, especially the base. But yeah, way too expensive for what it is for me. Maybe if it's on sale one day.

[lego_legis_legere]

One more thing: Is it just me, or does the box-art look different than the actual build?

Indeed, there is an Uruk-Hai with a showel (his gear is growing the number of armour forged by orcs) and a torch is removed.

But do you notice the LEGO chain in the air, behind the light brick picture? There is no such thing in the box (this is more visible on the building instruction, without the light brick)