REVIEW: 5985 - Space Police Central

[Aanchir]

I think Lego has been making Star Wars sets for too long, (where every planet and moon has breathable atmosphere) and they forgot that SPACE LEGO IS IN SPACE, NO AIR: VACCUUM!!! Airtanks and full helmets are a necessity when not in a sealed base or ship! Come on, guys. Get with the programme, haha.

Not necessarily. Besides the charming references to Blacktron and other old space themes in SPIII, there's nothing tying it to the LEGO Space days of years past. So the idea that there's a breathable atmosphere sits perfectly well with me.

Or hey, perhaps these spacemen aren't even human to begin with. After all, in the olden days when the only minifig heads were the standard yellow smiles, there were several things referring to Blacktron figs as "aliens".

Besides, this is a kid's toy. Kids don't care so much about such details as they do about the idea of cops vs. robbers in the future! If Space Police III had been called something else like, for instance, Future Police, it would have made just as much sense (though calling it that in-universe would be preposterous, and anyway the lunar landscape looks pretty awesome).

Perhaps the problem isn't that LEGO has been making SW sets for too long, but rather the fact that Hollywood has been making sci-fi movies for long enough to realize that most people don't actually care about scientific details. In this kind of theme, it's the story that matters, and the setting is just a backdrop.

[Artanis I]

Not necessarily. Besides the charming references to Blacktron and other old space themes in SPIII, there's nothing tying it to the LEGO Space days of years past. So the idea that there's a breathable atmosphere sits perfectly well with me.

Or hey, perhaps these spacemen aren't even human to begin with. After all, in the olden days when the only minifig heads were the standard yellow smiles, there were several things referring to Blacktron figs as "aliens".

Besides, this is a kid's toy. Kids don't care so much about such details as they do about the idea of cops vs. robbers in the future! If Space Police III had been called something else like, for instance, Future Police, it would have made just as much sense (though calling it that in-universe would be preposterous, and anyway the lunar landscape looks pretty awesome).

Perhaps the problem isn't that LEGO has been making SW sets for too long, but rather the fact that Hollywood has been making sci-fi movies for long enough to realize that most people don't actually care about scientific details. In this kind of theme, it's the story that matters, and the setting is just a backdrop.

I don't have big reservations, I just think it's strange. For 20 years, all the way from Classic Space until the "space theme wilderness" the same mindset of "colonising or exploring desolate planets with no breathable atmosphere" was held... but now when the Space theme is officially reintroduced - "Space Police" is as you say more like "Future Police", the mindset resembling more a post-modern civilisation on already settled and terraformed planets. Which is legit, but a strange move.

It's like canning the Pirate theme for 10 years then reintroducing it in a modern setting with speed boats, automatic weapons, mobile phones, helicopters & motorbikes. The fans of the old sets in the theme would feel weird about it being called "Pirates" despite it being a perfectly reasonable name. (Extreme example, I admit.) The continuity is gone; you can't easily put these sets side by side in the same story - they're from a different era, which in turn alienates the subtheme from the rest of the theme.

Does that make sense? (Is SP3 a subtheme of Space or is Space Police a new theme on its own?)

[Skulls_Eye_Schooner_Sailor]

Thanks for the review on this, CopMike. I have been very much looking forward to it! In any case, it was great to see pictures of the minifigs up close and unmasked, and to see other shots of the base. I like the control room with all the computers and the frog box, the lounge with the coffee maker and such, and the vehicles and sliding door are cool too. A lot of details they put in you don't see in a lot of sets.

[feanor]

I don't have big reservations, I just think it's strange. For 20 years, all the way from Classic Space until the "space theme wilderness" the same mindset of "colonising or exploring desolate planets with no breathable atmosphere" was held... but now when the Space theme is officially reintroduced - "Space Police" is as you say more like "Future Police", the mindset resembling more a post-modern civilisation on already settled and terraformed planets. Which is legit, but a strange move.

To my honest opinion this has to do with the decline of sci-fi themes in popular culture; In the 80's space exploration and science fiction were extremely popular with movies like the original Star Wars trilogy, Blade Runner, Dune etc, and similar cartoons like The Masters Of The Universe, Thundercats, Transformers, Ulysses 31 etc. Classic Space and the first themed Space series were capitalizing on that hype. Since the early 90's public interest in space science fiction has declined and this infuenced negatively also the popularity of Lego Space.

I think the new Space Police is indeed part of Lego Space but it takes a shift towards Retro-futurism, using themes of contemporary life, to which children can relate more, now that space exploration is not anymore as popular as it was until the late 80's. And then it sets them in a futuristic background but keeping a continuity with contemporary culture. This is particularly evident at the SP III villain vehicles that always resemble flying versions of motorbikes, muscle-cars, limos etc. The same applies to the Space Police Central which looks like an only mildly futuristic version of a normal police station. Even the SP III flagship, the Galactic Enforcer borrows heavily from a current NASA Space Shuttle like Discovery, Atlantis or Endeavour.

[Nabii]

I spoken to both the LEGO Designers of Classic Space through to Ice Planet and the new generation of today.

They have the same things in common; they build what is cool, what appeals to kids and what is iconic to the genre of Science Fiction at the time.

The Designers of the 70s through to mid 90's grew up on Forbidden Planet, From the Earth to the Moon, 2001 and the original Star Trek. Spacemen in their era were educated explorers interested in the expansion of knowledge and using semi-realistic technology. And men walked on the moon. A spacesuit is a necessity.

The Designers of today grew up with Star Wars, the original Battlestar Galactica, 5th Element and Starship Troopers. Space is an exciting new frontier ready for colonizing and full of dangerous foes and almost magical technology. The heroes are every-men or rogues with a golden heart and the atmosphere can be maintained by force fields and magnetic shielding, realistic spacesuits are therefore optional. In reality there is a far too frequently exploding spaceplane, a space telescope and space stations.

In 15 years todays kids will be there at LEGO - brought up on Stargate Universe, Ironman, Michael Bay's Transformers and District 9 - and in reality possibly no-manned space exploration. I'm willing to bet tomorrow's fans will think their work is not good enough too.

But the basic truth is no matter how good or bad or retro-styled a set is it will not make you 7 or 8 years old again and you will never quite have the same enthusiasm or feelings of awsomeness that you did then. Sorry, you've grown up.

BTW - Great review. Thanks for doing this.

Cheers,

M.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Nabii

[KurttKrueger]

But the basic truth is no matter how good or bad or retro-styled a set is it will not make you 7 or 8 years old again and you will never quite have the same enthusiasm or feelings of awsomeness that you did then. Sorry, you've grown up.

To quote the 11th Doctor, 'You never want to do that'.

While I agree that Space Police is targeted at a different audience to when we were kids, I can't help feel that the designers have done a tremendous job in capturing the spirit of adventure that was always present in the Space sets of the 80's and 90's.

Whether it's just the subtle nods to themes of yesteryear, or the design of the sets themselves, somthing about this line has resonated with me and made me go 'yes, thats very cool'. One of the reasons why its one of my favourite themes to date.

For me, this set, Space Police Central, captures the feeling of Futuron and Blacktron wonderfully. The first proper space base in over a decade. It should be celebrated, in my humble opinion. Once again, thanks for the review Copmike.

[Sonic Screwdriver]

As someone who had many of the old Lego Space sets, I must say that I like this Space Police III base very much. Having an actual hangar/repair bay, cell block, control room, and antennae mast, is much much better than the old SP I base.

This set is going to be a smash hit this year. Just looking at the pics makes me want to go out and buy one.

[Batbrick]

Thanks for the fantastic review CopMike! I really love the look of this set even if the vehicle won't fit properly into the hangar, and I absolutely adore the re-use of the very classic feeling giant trans blue window pieces. And I badly want that red skull helmet piece.

Of course due to budget constraints I won't be purchasing, but even if Space Police III does not continue, I'm glad it could have such a strong base set.

Batbrick Away!

[Artanis I]

Okay, so you've all seen my previous comments in this thread about SP3 (which I still stand by) but right now I make my first comments on this particular set after having purchased and built it.

Lots of fun. Not too many stickers, (although 0 would be better) at least 4 printed pieces from memory, not too much repetition during the build, Craniac is A+++, I could go on for hours, but I'd just be repeating what everyone else has already said. So instead I'll talk about some things from a personal viewpoint.

I like bases (and ships/vehicles) to have lots of space for multiple minifigs. Message Intercept Base & Monorail Transport System are awesome in this respect. Explorien Starship, Galactic Mediator, Galactic Enforcer, Spectral Starguider & that Futuron one I can't remember the name of (it looks awful and has 8 wheels) - Interplanetary Rover maybe - are also good examples. Space Police Central? Room for a dozen or more police figures. Excellent. 1 each on the little flyer ships, 1 each in target practice, 1 on controls at the pod storage, 1 in the truck, 2 or more in the lounge area, 2 near the guns in the front up top, 2 or so inside the dome, plus others standing or wandering around everywhere else. Package only comes with 2, but hey, where are you going to put all the officers that came with your K9 Bot squad? Not to mention Lunar Limo, Container Heist & Smash n Grab.

Prison pods SP3: This set has 2 prison pods, with 3 places to put them. Galactic Enforcer had 4. SP2: Galactic Mediator had 2, but you could fit another 1 or 2 in the back. SP1: Mission Commander only had 2, no room for any more. Space Lock-Up Isolation Base had 2, with room for more (I forget exactly). Mission Commander was the only disappointment. This base has a good amount, plus a good solid transport vehicle for them - you can truck the pods around between all the SP3 sets that have them.

Space Police commandos: I have also had trouble with some of the helmets not going all the way down. I couldn't figure out why this is. I'm a little disappointed that the visors don't pivot up and down (however these days it's rather impolite to not take your helmet off when they aren't in use). All the same I much prefer the 2010 figures to the 2009 ones. That goes for the aliens too. Craniac is a ripper, and Jawson suits as a henchman really well.

As far as its "Spaceness" is concerned, it looks very different to all other Space subthemes but I have an imagination, and can pretend it fits in the same world. Or galaxy/universe whatever.

That's all I have time for, this set is fantastic, although it costs a lot of money it really makes the subtheme worthwhile.

[tyco6300]

I'm Getting this set when i go down to America :) I have a feeling i am going to love the set... After all it is going to be my second Biggest set

[CP5670]

I'm going to pick up this and the Lunar Limo at Brickfair in a month so I can get the discounts there. It looks to be the best space base we've gotten in a long time.

I like bases (and ships/vehicles) to have lots of space for multiple minifigs. Message Intercept Base & Monorail Transport System are awesome in this respect. Explorien Starship, Galactic Mediator, Galactic Enforcer, Spectral Starguider & that Futuron one I can't remember the name of (it looks awful and has 8 wheels) - Interplanetary Rover maybe - are also good examples.

Another good example of this was the 6958 Android Base. I think that set had the largest enclosed area of any space set TLG has made. The Futuron vehicle you're thinking of is indeed the 6925 Interplanetary Rover.

[Geki Brick]

Awesome set. I really like the patrol bikes and the little lounge underneath their docking area. I thought the lounge was actually two extra jail cells from the front. I wanted to combine sets like Raid VPR for example, so the Space Police could have an air battle with the criminals. The space police canine seems to be the last thing needed to complete this set. The bigger space police vehics don't seem to fit very well into the HQ.

[Leo-J]

Fun set and pretty cool review!

[LemonAcidPop]

Could you please tell me where the Components are made for this set, if that's possible please?, Thank You.

[Siegfried]

Could you please tell me where the Components are made for this set, if that's possible please?, Thank You.

You're asking a useless question; even if it was 100% made in Denmark, there's no guarantee it is worldwide. Besides, this was almost a year ago. Things change.

For reasons like this we ask people to not bump old topics to ask questions.

[1980-Something-Space-Guy]

Nice, I hadn't noticed there was a review for this set.

It hurts me to see Space Police go away so fast, because I'd have loved to have a bigger HQ. I don't feel like this set makes justice to the theme in that sense. Although I like the design, and love the vehicles , I always felt slightly disappointed with this set.

Anyways, thanks for making this review one year ago!

[K-Nut]

Seeing as this is already bumped, this review is what made me buy this set. This set had my first garage pieces in it. I love this set very much and it's up in my top ten best sets.