[Review]Death Star 10188

[Svelte]

You are a braver man than I am to review this baby, I Scream Clone. It took so long to build I didn't have the stamina to even try! I did try and take build progression pics but it felt like the seasons were changing around me and the lighting was all over the place!

I think 10188 is one of the most satisfying sets ever released. The non-minifig UCS sets look great, true, but to me Lego is fifty percent aesthetics (the build) and fifty percent playability. On the latter score, this wins hands-down over pretty much every other SW set (and probably most System sets) ever produced. There are so many neat functioning doors, levers, lifts, traps, guns etc that you can spend hours twiddling with them all. The really clever thing is not that each room is so detailed - although each one is like a super-detailed smaller playset - but that they all interconnect so cleverly between floors (eg the operation of the Death Star laser or the drop through from the prison cell to the trash compactor).

Even better, the set is 90% bricks, not just lots of Technic pieces with a plate shell. Woo!

The build, although long, is really enjoyable too as every section is different and you get a real sense of building up as you complete each floor. In comparison, spectacular as the 10189 Taj Mahal set is, once you've built every large section four times you do need to take a break between build sessions.

[CommTech]

Thank you for the review.

I've had this set for over a month now sealed in it's box. I will start building it on dec. 4, once my wife and kids have left for a long Christmas vacation with the Grandparents from both sides of the families (I have to stay and work but will catch up with them on the 23rd.). I can't wait to start!

[I Scream Clone]

You are a braver man than I am to review this baby, I Scream Clone. It took so long to build I didn't have the stamina to even try! I did try and take build progression pics but it felt like the seasons were changing around me and the lighting was all over the place!

I think 10188 is one of the most satisfying sets ever released. The non-minifig UCS sets look great, true, but to me Lego is fifty percent aesthetics (the build) and fifty percent playability. On the latter score, this wins hands-down over pretty much every other SW set (and probably most System sets) ever produced. There are so many neat functioning doors, levers, lifts, traps, guns etc that you can spend hours twiddling with them all. The really clever thing is not that each room is so detailed - although each one is like a super-detailed smaller playset - but that they all interconnect so cleverly between floors (eg the operation of the Death Star laser or the drop through from the prison cell to the trash compactor).

Even better, the set is 90% bricks, not just lots of Technic pieces with a plate shell. Woo!

The build, although long, is really enjoyable too as every section is different and you get a real sense of building up as you complete each floor. In comparison, spectacular as the 10189 Taj Mahal set is, once you've built every large section four times you do need to take a break between build sessions.

I did think I needed my head read for reviewing this set and as you mentioned it did feel like the seasons were changing around me.

I really liked the fact that you didn't have to do any repetitive building, rather each room held its own surprises. I must admit all that light bley did make it easier to rationalize purchasing this set with the thought of building sweet castles in future but I just can't even contemplate destroying it yet as that will be a massive job in itself.

Thank you for the review.

I've had this set for over a month now sealed in it's box. I will start building it on dec. 4, once my wife and kids have left for a long Christmas vacation with the Grandparents from both sides of the families (I have to stay and work but will catch up with them on the 23rd.). I can't wait to start!

You are a lucky fellow to have the chance to get some spare time to build this baby, trust me you will need distractions to be put aside. I found a couple of dark bley bricks left at the end that should have been black, and some coloured 1 x1s that were mixed up so building during daylight is helpful too.

I suggest lots of takeaway containers to sort all the pieces out into logical groups (this took about 2 hours)

[JimBee]

Excellent review, ISC! You, too, seem to have put a lot of thought and detail into your review. I also like the little bonus that you included, although I must admit that I cheated. I saw this review when you posted it, but I never really got a chance to reply...

As for the set itself, do I really need to say that it is spectacular? All of the floors, play features, minifigs, and sheer awesomeness makes me really want to order it immediately. It's really expensive though, and if there's ever a price cut big enough that I can afford it, or if I ever have that extra money laying around (I wish... ), I would certainly get it.

Once again, thanks for the wonderful review!

[Cyclone Titan]

I finished building this set today and I have to agree with you, I mean it's simply awe-inspiring. The minifigs, the details, the playability, etc. My absolute favorite "area" is throne room, lot of detail in a small room. My only gripe is it's kind of hard to fit minifigs in the central elevator. I clicked the bonus a few days ago (I've read this review a few times now) and it is very funny, and all in Lego!

CT

[prateek]

i love this set!!! better than anyother sw set over $300. there are atleast 4x more figs in this set alone than i have in total!!!

[CommanderCody77]

Great review I've seen in a while I voted outstanding

[Ratshot]

Nice review. I f I had $1000 this would be the first set I would buy.

[Bricklanta]

I wish I had enough money to buy this

Great review though

[drdavewatford]

Probably my favourite set ever, and given my age and the size of my Lego collection, that's a big compliment !

Dr. D.

[astra]

Sorry voor pushing an 'old' topic back up, but a week ago I treated myself on a DeathStar. Normally I'm not that into SW, yes I've seen the movies but that's about it.

However the size and scenes in this set got me thinking and eventually also buying.

What a great set! Unbelievable, I'm a regular Lego-customer but I haven't had so much building pleasure in a long time.

If anyone's interested, I've made some photos while building it, they can be viewed here

[KimT]

Glad you like it.

Can't wait for those pics to go 'public'

[ILikePi]

I really wish I could get this set, but if I did, I wouldn't be able to get anything else for a year or so. The minifigures and parts in this set are amazing. There's so much variety in it.

[astra]

Photos are online now

The building process has a lot of variation indeed. That's what I liked the most, not much repeating steps, even the floorpanels are build in a different way!

[DarthSion]

Just out of curiosity, was this bagged during a good time or lazy, ie numbered bags or not?.

[astra]

Just out of curiosity, was this bagged during a good time or lazy, ie numbered bags or not?.

Nope, no numbered bags. Almost from picture one you have to open every single bag...

[DarthSion]

Pity, thanks for the info.

[Svelte]

Pity, thanks for the info.

It's all a big mix - it took me forever to put the minifigs together!

However if you spend some time sorting at the start you don't have to worry later on.

astra is right, it is a great build and not repetitive unlike other large sets where you have to build 4x large complex sections (like the Taj Mahal or Eiffel Tower)

[DarthSion]

I know, im just limited in build space.

[astra]

Sounds familiar!

What I did was partly sorting the various bags. I divided into three separate 'piles' of pieces; I used a large box for the medium sized parts (box of the Eiffel Tower), a wooden plate for the large parts and 4 plastic plates for the smal parts.

I've taken photo's of that setup, 1, 2 and 3

This helped me a lot while searching different parts, made it a lot easier without having to spend too much space on the sorted parts.

[DarthSion]

Smeg, thats allot more than i thought.

[Xcod119]

Brilliant set, may purchase it before it fully retires and great review!

[joebiwankenobi]

Have this set built and sitting in the attic gathering dust at the moment. Yep, you read that last part right--I'm an idiot! One of my top five favorite Starwars sets of all time! I'm glad I have one and excuse me as I go rescue it from the confines of the closest thing to the Jundland Wastes (my attic).

[Chills]

LOL, yeah it is an awesome set. It is the centerpiece on display in my Death Star room.

You really need to get it out of that dusty attic!

[NorthernBrick]

Just made this with my two sons over Christmas and reawakened my love of Lego (hence joining this forum). Just a add to the review, the bags are now numbered etc (UK purchase) with the model split into 4 main boxes. However, the model is screaming out for lighting, particularly on the lower levels and hence we are now looking at options for that.

Edited December 30, 2014 by NorthernBrick