REVIEW: GIANT Castle Chess Set (2008)

[Wout]

There are even two dwarves in the advent calendar? even better to get that set.

I can also buy 2 Dwarve mines and that would even cheaper than the big chess set, but this set has so much dwarves instead of the normal sets (with exception of the dwarve mine). I like the trolls/orcs/whatever, but most other new sets has only 1 or none dwarf.

[Snake...SNAKE...SNAAAAKE?!]

I never knew the pieces from volcano base were used to illustrate larva, and other hot things

[iamded]

This is such a fantastic review of such a fantastic set that now I've seen it I don't know what to say.

~Peace

[Norro]

Thanks for the brilliant review! I am even more excited now! Thanks especially for all the detailed shots of the case! Would you say this set is worth buying for pieces alone?

God Bless,

Nathan

[Zarkan]

Thanks for an awesome review, WhiteFang.

Oh man, this is just simply AMAZING! The detail level is top notch, the figures are awesome and well equipped, and the design is wonderful! And with all those wonderful weapons and bricks, you can't go wrong!

Seriously, TLC is really spoiling everyone this year. All the major groups have awesome exclusives - City fans have Green Grocer, Town Plan, and Custom Cars; Space fans have the Star Justice and Space Skulls sets, Starwars fans have the Death Star playset, and Castle fans have this beauty! Will the rain of exclusive goodies never end?

[Johnny 5]

Really great review WhiteFang, it certainly answered any questions I had about the set.

I really like the fact that nothing is glued. Means you can do anything with it, put any colors or interchange themes it you want.

I am getting one but alas I have to wait till next year.

Grevious, you can't forget about the Taj Mahal for the sculpture fans.

[WhiteFang]

Glad this review of mine had answered most of the members' questions!

Seriously, I am not sure if this set will ever go on sales? After buying it, you will feel that your wallet is being strenched extensively and your purchase on other sets will be greatly reduced as well.

Nevertheless, it's still worth the buy and effort to get this supreme set!

Is there a list of used pieces in the back of the instruction manual?

Yes, there is a list of inventory for the pieces used.

Thanks for the brilliant review! I am even more excited now! Thanks especially for all the detailed shots of the case! Would you say this set is worth buying for pieces alone?

Norro, It will need to depend on what kind of pieces are you looking for. For the chess pieces given, I will give it slightly above average. It's worth buying for the 8 dwarves without the silver-winged helmet. In fact, these 8 dwarves can only be found in the Dwarf Mine set. For the orcs, the plus point and minus point will be all orcs are equipped with shield and only 2 orcs are equipped with armour.

The rest of the minifigs are quite common as well. However, when you place the minifig onto the chess piece, it certainly adds on a little bit of wonder. Honestly, I like the overall look very much. This set is definite not a good set to build your army. It's too expensive!

As for the parts and weapons pool, I give it an above average. It is a great pool of resources. I will need to look at the back of the instruction manual for a clearer breakdown.

Seriously, TLC is really spoiling everyone this year. All the major groups have awesome exclusives - City fans have Green Grocer, Town Plan, and Custom Cars; Space fans have the Star Justice and Space Skulls sets, Starwars fans have the Death Star playset, and Castle fans have this beauty! Will the rain of exclusive goodies never end?

These upcoming sets are the ones I intend to buy and it's so much expensive! I am interested in these as well.

I really like the fact that nothing is glued. Means you can do anything with it, put any colors or interchange themes it you want.

I had used this chess board layout to illustrate a different kind of gaming which I had pointed out in Part 8.

[Siegfried]

I love this set... but I doubt that I will buy it. I bought the first chess set and I loved that, but my wife refuses to play chess with me anymore so I've used the minifigs elsewhere. Thus buying another chess set would make no sense, and it's not a good deal for parts alone. Interestingly I preferred the studded design as it enabled me to move the board easily! This set would be too big for my house...

It is very nice though. The siege tower is especially cool; thanks for the great review WhiteFang.

I'd buy this if I knew how to play chess... they need to make a detailed checkers set next!

A smart guy like you should play chess.

[Sir Dillon]

Thanks for the great review Whitefang!

This is such a wonderful set! I love how big and detailed the board is... and the pieces are great too. I don't think I'll be getting though... It doesn't seem quite worth it to me for just the pieces, and I don't really have the room to display it. Still, I had to vote for option five.

[blueandwhite]

It looks like a very nice set but the price is a bit too rich for my tastes. I don't play alot of chess so the set doesn't really appeal to my interests and as a high-end parts pack I can probably do better elsewhere. Still, your review is excellent and I definitely get the feeling that for fantasy fans this is definitely a must-have purchase.

[I Scream Clone]

Thanks for a sweet review Whitefang, looks like most members had the same questions as me, which you have answered well.

Overall I give your review a 5 for sheer detail and excellent photography!

[Dragonator]

What a great review! Thanks very much WhiteFang, your a star!

I'm so glad it's a build-it-yourself chess set, I hate those glued ones. The fact the board can be taken apart is also a bonus.

Does any one know if this is available in Australia, and if so, when? I'm going there in a few months, and as it will most likely never make it to NZ, I'd like to see if I can pick it up over there. From your description WhiteFang, I'd say it would take up a fair amount of luggage space!

I like everything about this set (except the price). The minifigs are great, it is the best designed chess set I've ever seen, and I envy you! I want it so much. Well, we'll see wont we.

So many expensive sets, so little money!

Oh, and I see myself in those final scenes. Thought I'd just point that out to everyone, being the modest person I am. And you even included a silver dragon sword! Good on you indeed!

Well, I'd better be off now, I've got a Mystery Castle scene to be working on.

[WhiteFang]

I love this set... but I doubt that I will buy it. I bought the first chess set and I loved that, but my wife refuses to play chess with me anymore so I've used the minifigs elsewhere.

I can play chess with the Walrus.

I don't really have the room to display it.

I am facing the same problem as well. It seemed I will need to find a way for storage, by either placing it into the tome book or into my giant storage container which I need to buy it soon.

Does any one know if this is available in Australia, and if so, when? I'm going there in a few months, and as it will most likely never make it to NZ, I'd like to see if I can pick it up over there. From your description WhiteFang, I'd say it would take up a fair amount of luggage space!

The space taken is super huge! Now, I am facing serious storage problem and I need to re-solve it soon before I face the dust problem. I am still thinking how am I going to store my upcoming second set. My room is seriously running out of space and its had expanded out of my rooms with more and more boxes stacking.

I hope you are able to get this chess set in NZ. This is a very outstanding set, for Castle lovers to "collect".

Oh, and I see myself in those final scenes. Thought I'd just point that out to everyone, being the modest person I am. And you even included a silver dragon sword! Good on you indeed!

You have noticed my first batch of Brickforge arrival as well. I was thinking if it will be suited for our Lord Dragonator with its first appearence.

[Admiral Blockbeard]

Great review, now I really am going to have to do my MOC of the piratey Chess Board... Off to get a job for some money, off to spend some Money on Bricklink or one of my Adelaide Connections... hmmm...

Anyway back to the board, I love how the pieces are removable, if the first chess set had been non-skellies and non-glued I would have considered it more, On Lego.com this is available to Australia, however I am not sure if it is in stores, it is a real shame it was not in stores for all our recent sales! 20% off this and I would have jumped at it...

Again Great review Whitefang, it is of your usual high standard! Looking forward to all your future reviews!

Regards Cpt. PB

[Dovchenko]

Too much money, I'd really like this set if I was any good at chess. Maybe I should start training up, seeing as the Castle line-up for this year is over and personally a bit of an underwhelm. Thank you very much for the review!

[Nikola Bathory]

Great review, White Fang!!!

This set is huge!!!!! and very clever too!

I woudn't buy it, though. Even though I love both Lego and Chess.

[metalandi]

Thanks for this awesome review WhiteFang! That ensures my willing to buy it even more, the detail is just incredible and i think it brings also a lot of building fun with it. And maybe it will make better my chess-playing also

[pedro]

Cheers for an excellent review Whitefang!

This looks like a fantastic set, such great minifigs and superb details. I love the representative realms in each of the corners, especially the excellent Dwarven mine! I feel inspired to go off and create a scene in a similar style

From what I can see, I think the only drawback of this set - from a playability point of view - is that it may be slightly harder for a non-Lego fan to easily identify which chess pieces are theirs. As there's lots colourful characters and grey and dark grey parts visible on the board it may have been better if the 'good' pieces were mounted on white bases so there's less confusion.

[KDog]

Looking at this set makes me want to see a chess set based on Lego's Space themes. One one side could be the Space Agency, including Classic, Futuron and the Space Police. Instead of knights on horses, there could be astronauts on little ships. The mini-bases on the side of the board could be a Space Agency HQ and a Space Police lock-up. The other side could be Blacktron, perhaps teamed up with UFO or the Insectoids. If somebody is inspired by this idea, please take it. :-)

Edited August 11, 2008 by KDog

[VBBN]

Great review! What abhuge set that is! However, I simply don't have the money just for this thing as an army builder. (I don't even like chess!).

But imagine all those black and white tiles...I sense that that could be good for adding a bathroom into Cafe'corner...

[WhiteFang]

Anyway back to the board, I love how the pieces are removable, if the first chess set had been non-skellies and non-glued I would have considered it more, On Lego.com this is available to Australia, however I am not sure if it is in stores, it is a real shame it was not in stores for all our recent sales! 20% off this and I would have jumped at it...

20% off?? Too bad mine set, is already on promtional price. In fact, the orignal price cost SGD$379.90. No further discounts for us. Do get this set if possible, I am sure you won't regret it. Although storage can be a very big problem, but its an outstanding set not to miss.

Thanks for this awesome review WhiteFang! That ensures my willing to buy it even more, the detail is just incredible and i think it brings also a lot of building fun with it. And maybe it will make better my chess-playing also

I did promise something surprising for you earlier in the Castle Discussion thread. Hope this review had helped you to decide your buying decision!

This looks like a fantastic set, such great minifigs and superb details. I love the representative realms in each of the corners, especially the excellent Dwarven mine! I feel inspired to go off and create a scene in a similar style

Pedro, the Dwarf Mine is my most favourite realm. If you do come out a similar style of that particular scene, please share with us. I am very curious to see how it looks like. I

n fact, I feel like taking this part out and integrate into my Dwarves Mines' sets. The rock formation is very good for the miners to dig for gold.

From what I can see, I think the only drawback of this set - from a playability point of view - is that it may be slightly harder for a non-Lego fan to easily identify which chess pieces are theirs. As there's lots colourful characters and grey and dark grey parts visible on the board it may have been better if the 'good' pieces were mounted on white bases so there's less confusion.

I must admit it's a little confusing initally. I believe there is a reason for TLG to use grey bricks to illustrate the base of the chess pieces.

If you have noticed that the "Human" sides, most of the construction layout and color combination revolves in grey and dark blue combination. While, the "Dark" sides, their color combination revolved in black and dark red combination.

Looking at this set makes me want to see a chess set based on Lego's Space themes. One one side could be the Space Agency, including Classic, Futuron and the Space Police. Instead of knights on horses, there could be astronauts on little ships. The mini-bases on the side of the board could be a Space Agency HQ and a Space Police lock-up. The other side could be Blacktron, perhaps teamed up with UFO or the Insectoids. If somebody is inspired by this idea, please take it. :-)

KDog, I am glad that this review of mine had pulled you out of the space dimension. It will defintely be nice to see someone to do a Space Chess set. This idea is so lovely.

I had seen someone doing the Pirate version as well. I wonder if anyone will get inspired by it. Why don't you do one yourself? You have a great collection of space sets as well.

Great review! What abhuge set that is! However, I simply don't have the money just for this thing as an army builder. (I don't even like chess!).

But imagine all those black and white tiles...I sense that that could be good for adding a bathroom into Cafe'corner...

VBBN, don't buy this set for building an army (buying multiple sets). It's too expensive. However, it is an outstanding display set, great set to play chess, superb pool of bricks and accessories, and a good range of minifigs to be added.

[Opproperaar]

I voted above average for the simple fact that despite all of its greatness it's not pirates . I'm sorry but I'm not a castle man and so this otherwise fantastic set doesn't whet my appetite.

That being said if there was ever a pirates chess set I'd be the first to buy one, or at least try. Imagine that - 32 ships as pawns

Great review by the way - it must've taken you hours and the result is stunning!

Edited August 11, 2008 by Hairy Ruben

[Dadster]

Does anyone else besides me keep coming back to this thread to check out the pics?

[metalandi]

i really must say i am viewing the first page about 5 times a day since it has been posted. I must get this set asap

[Filozof]

Hi!

Greate Review! And ingenious Set!!

WhiteFang - Can you make photos for me, how build Troll Camp?