REVIEW: GIANT Castle Chess Set (2008)

**WhiteFang** · August 12, 2008

I give the set a 4. It's too expensive to use as an army builder, but it's the greatest, most distracting chess set in LEGO history. I really do like the Dwarves corner a lot. I need to get the instructions to this.

Shadows, wait no more. These are the Dwarves' realm instructions ranging from "99Dwarf1 to 99Dwarf9" Take a look at it, after moderation. Hope it helps. :wink:

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

Wish granted! These are the Trolls' realm instructions ranging from "99Troll1 to 99Troll6" Enjoy viewing after moderation. :wink:

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

5 times a day??? Metalandi, you must really love this set very much as I do. :blush:

fenrir · August 12, 2008

This realy great review from Whitefang made me give the chess set the rating 5, outstanding.

It's realy expensive but it's a geat set. It's never seen before.

Thank you for you review.

metalandi · August 12, 2008

Thanks very much for the inytruction scans! I already wondered why these aren't up at lego.com yet, but maybe that's not the case with such special sets. For me this is clearly the set of the year, and i can't wait to get my hans on it, if only i had a bit more money! :cry_sad:

Edited August 12, 2008 by metalandi

Freddie · August 13, 2008

This is just a jaw-dropping gorgeous set. It's obviously for the collector, and I myself have no idea what I'm going to use it for (I don't play chess) and have no where to put it while I think it looks way too good to be broken apart and assimilated into a general collection of bricks.

But they certainly put an effort into making this chess-board look fantastic. That effort didn't go to waste. :thumbup:

metalandi · August 13, 2008

I'm not a good chess player too, but i'd simply only buy it just to look at it all day. It may sound dumb, but i'm a freak. :tongue:

Marius · August 15, 2008

That Witch looks amazing! I hope it comes in a smaller set someday. I'd like to have this set, but to break it up for the minifig seems like a bit of a waste.

metalandi · August 15, 2008

It actually also comes with this year's advent calendar :wink:

canadianD · August 19, 2008

oh i am so buying this,screw chess i'll get it for the minifigs plus their weapons i mean its hard to find dwarves and trolls in america all the kiddy's always snatch them up before i even get over to TARGET,thanks whitefang!

ClubNinja · August 19, 2008

We picked this one up over the weekend. I've only built the pieces and frame around the main board so far, but I've been very impressed with the design so far. We are actually planning to use this as our regular chess set, which is ultimately what justified the purchase. My only complaint so far is that, while very attractive to look at, the packaging is completely ridiculous. The box is far too large for the contents, though I suppose it will be useful for storing the board when complete. The packaging also seems to be designed for you to remove all the minifigs from their bases before putting them away, which I don't find very practical. Finally, we nearly destroyed the packaging several times trying to open the main box, get the minifig tray out, and open the lower box that contains all the bricks. The box makes for a great looking package, but it's going to be very excessive for people to open, work with, and store.

**WhiteFang** · August 21, 2008

oh i am so buying this,screw chess i'll get it for the minifigs plus their weapons i mean its hard to find dwarves and trolls in america all the kiddy's always snatch them up before i even get over to TARGET,thanks whitefang!

I don't believe this set will disappear from the shelves at a very fast rate. It's too expensive and too heavy for the kids to grab this and pull it to the cashier. I don't think this set was meant to target children. It's more inclined towards young adults and adults. :tongue:

My only complaint so far is that, while very attractive to look at, the packaging is completely ridiculous. The box is far too large for the contents, though I suppose it will be useful for storing the board when complete. The packaging also seems to be designed for you to remove all the minifigs from their bases before putting them away, which I don't find very practical. Finally, we nearly destroyed the packaging several times trying to open the main box, get the minifig tray out, and open the lower box that contains all the bricks. The box makes for a great looking package, but it's going to be very excessive for people to open, work with, and store.

ClubNinja, thanks for pointing out this "problem". Firstly, let me congrats you to obtain this set. Now, you will know the excitement I felt earlier, when I built this. :tongue:

Addressing to your complaint, I wouldn't agreed less. The packaging and storage is a big problem. How did I solve the problem? After displaying for 2 weeks, I decided to purchase a giant plastic sealed storage box to place the entire chess set into the container, by breaking it into sections. (taking away the sides and realms).

Why can't I stored back into the orignal storage container? For a collector whom love to keep boxes in intact condition, I will have to cut, burn, melt, rip or whatever to take away the white storage box away from the chess piece tray in order to store the chess set. In fact, that white box is the main obstacle. It's glued. Unless you used brute force or some other logical methods if anyone had any, please tell me your solution.

I had not tried anything stupid to it, and I am quite satisified to place it in my giant container. The orignal storage box is kept in my storeroom. The box is extremely huge and required high storage space. Please make sure you have enough space first before bringing it to your residence. :laugh:

canadianD · August 22, 2008

i think i'll scrap some money together and buy this it won't be anytime soon :wink: (i tried replying to your reply of my last post whitefang but it thought that i replied to clubninja so i deleted the quote part)

Edited August 22, 2008 by canadianD

**JimBee** · August 24, 2008

Thanks for the huge and wonderful review, WhiteFang! Thanks to you, this set now scares me... in a good way. Its huge! It looks awesome, and a good way to get a big variety of weapons, pieces, and figs. I probably won't get it, considering the price, but if I ever had the money to buy it (after I've gotten all of my other wanted sets), I'd get it. :sweet:

christopher110 · August 25, 2008

Before finished reading all the posts here, I would like to ask:

"Can i build the chess set and then put the board back to the box and held it in an upward position?"

Now i think the answer is "no".....

It's really heavy... 10kg....

**Batbrick** · August 25, 2008

Thanks for the brilliant review Whitefang!

This set looks very, very good, even if I can't afford to buy it. I love how each corner has a faction's theme, and the figs are great with so many cool little bits.

I was hoping to see this review for a while so thanks for that, now I just have to wait for the other castle sets to get here! :laugh:

Batbrick Away! :devil:

dj2005 · August 26, 2008

Great review. I didn't think much of this set at first (before finding your review), but now the fine details really present themselves.

**WhiteFang** · August 26, 2008

Thanks for the huge and wonderful review, WhiteFang! Thanks to you, this set now scares me... in a good way. Its huge! It looks awesome, and a good way to get a big variety of weapons, pieces, and figs. I probably won't get it, considering the price, but if I ever had the money to buy it (after I've gotten all of my other wanted sets), I'd get it.

A Giant Castle chess set scares you? I think Star Wars sets are "much much bigger and scary" than Castle sets plus the price factor. I do hope you will watch out for this set if you are a castle fan too. I got two sets myself and that kills my Clone Wars purchase for the time being.

"Can i build the chess set and then put the board back to the box and held it in an upward position?"
Now i think the answer is "no".....

It's really heavy... 10kg....

To be honest, I have not tired that. I think you are able to place it upwards. Whether if its secure or not, I am not very sure on that. I feel the weight of the board will be very heavy especially with the bricks on the 4 sides. It will be best to leave it flat to prevent the baseplate from bending over time. :wink:

Thanks for the brilliant review Whitefang!
This set looks very, very good, even if I can't afford to buy it. I love how each corner has a faction's theme, and the figs are great with so many cool little bits.

I was hoping to see this review for a while so thanks for that, now I just have to wait for the other castle sets to get here!

Batbrick, I am glad that you managed to find this review, to give you some insights especially of its realms. I guess, apart from the Giant Chess set and the Advent Calender, I supposed that concludes 2008 Castle theme. :hmpf:

Great review. I didn't think much of this set at first (before finding your review), but now the fine details really present themselves.

Thanks! Glad to know that you are appericating its fine details. This is your first post too! Welcome to Eurobricks. :classic:

**JimBee** · August 26, 2008

A Giant Castle chess set scares you? I think Star Wars sets are "much much bigger and scary" than Castle sets plus the price factor. I do hope you will watch out for this set if you are a castle fan too. I got two sets myself and that kills my Clone Wars purchase for the time being.

Well, I am a Castle fan, but not as much as Star Wars, so it's exactly the opposite for me: I probably won't have much money left over after buying the CW sets, so no castle for now. :sadnew:

**Zorro** · October 15, 2008

I JUST GOT TO KNOW WHAT I WILL BE GETTING FOR CHRISTMASS THIS YEAR from my grandparents and brother (they combined their presents :grin: ) !!!

Guess what? hint: there's a reason for reopening this one month old reviewthread...just wanted to know more about it already :laugh:

lcgibby · December 5, 2008

Hey you should add the inventory on peeron.

It might take a while. (forever) but it would make us

happy :grin:

**WhiteFang** · December 5, 2008

I JUST GOT TO KNOW WHAT I WILL BE GETTING FOR CHRISTMASS THIS YEAR from my grandparents and brother (they combined their presents ) !!!

Zorro, Christmas is coming in less than a month. I hope you will be getting something "giant" from Christmas this year. :sweet:

Hey you should add the inventory on peeron.
It might take a while. (forever) but it would make us

happy

I just took a quick search on Peeron, and there was no submitted inventory indeed. I can't promise that I am able to submit one soon, but I will try to explore how to use and upload the list if possible. The amount of parts listed can be quite extensive. :tongue:

lcgibby · December 6, 2008

I just took a quick search on Peeron, and there was no submitted inventory indeed. I can't promise that I am able to submit one soon, but I will try to explore how to use and upload the list if possible. The amount of parts listed can be quite extensive.

Ya that would be awesome, I always like to see what peices a set include before buying it.

SWMAN · January 10, 2009

I just bought this set, and I hate to say it, but I bought it as an army builder. I am glad that the figures aren't glued, because the first thing I will do it take all of them apart, take all of the accessories, including those on the actual set, and rebuild all the figures like I want. I like to organize and accessorize all of my figures, so these will help me to organize my armies.

fugglewyg · January 10, 2009

Hey you should add the inventory on peeron.
It might take a while. (forever) but it would make us

happy

If you can't wait for an inventory to be added to peeron you could always use bricklink as it is already inventoried on there.

SWMAN · January 15, 2009

So, my Chess set just came today, and the the box was bigger than I expected. First, let me say the box design is very creative and innovative. Second, the build took a lot longer than a thought. Still, it was well worth it. I was going to simply take the figures for my army, but I changed my mind and put them on the chess board. Overall, great set. Would I spend $200 on it again. No. But, I still really like it.

Good Cragger Fan · March 14, 2013

This is, by far, the best LEGO Castle set ever in the history of the LEGO Company (me never mind the best LEGO Chess Set ever in the history of the LEGO Company!)!!!!! :oh: *oh2* *huh* :drool: :wub: :grin_wub: :wub_drool: :thumbup: This is because of the sheer amout of LEGO elements like extra weapons for Castle minifigures and the sheer number of minifgures that are in the set (a whopping total of 33!! :oh: *oh2* *huh* ) -- so this set has the world record for the number of minifigures, more than even the UCS Death Star set of the Star Wars theme -- and even the 10193 Medieval Market Village, the 10223 Kingdoms Joust and quite possibly the UCS-style Orthanc set for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit themes do not figuratively hold a figurative candle to this one masterpiece of a Castle set!!! It's really, really too bad that I missed this one!! (even though I saw a display model of one at the Bellvue, Washington LEGO Brand Retail Store, and I asked if I could buy the display model of the Giant Castle Chess Set, but the employees there refused to sell it to me! :angry: (since they were completely sold out of them!!), as they said that it was for display purposes only, not for sale!)!!!!! :cry_sad: :cry3: :damn: :facepalm: :wall: :ugh: :enough: :thumbdown: Now, if I want to get this set, I'll have to spend at least $500.00 (US Dollars) at the absolute minimium on Bricklink or EBay!!! *huh* :sick: :cry3: :angry: :damn: :wall: :ugh: