REVIEW: 4702 The Final Challenge

[Clone OPatra]

Back in 2001, LEGO launched a second little license called Harry Potter. It so happened that the main villain, who also happened to be the coolest looking minifigure in the entire wave, came in a small set! LEGO actually did something nice for the people! Or made a poor business decision… Anyways, who could resist:

Set Name: The Final Challenge

Set #:4702

Theme: Harry Potter (and the Sorcerer's Stone - yup, I'm from the US)

Pieces: 60

Minifigures: 2

Year of Release: 2001

Price at Release: USD 10, GBP 9

Buy it? Inventory? Bricklink Peeron Brickset

Just browse the pictures? Flickr set

INTRODUCTION

Frankly, I was surprised that LEGO would throw Quirrell into such an unimposing-looking ten dollar set. The key part is the ten dollars. Back in 2001 I figured that if you wanted the coolest figures, you'd have to shell out the $$$. That's how LEGO seems to play it most of the time, although I suppose back then and today there are occasions when they put awesome minifigures in small sets.

You see how much I've been talking about a single minifigure? Three whole sentences worth; quite a lot, I know. But do you know what that means? That means this set hinges almost entirely on a single minifigure. This set is either worthy or not worthy based on him. I hope he's up to the challenge. The final challenge. Geddit? Eh heh.

BOX

Usually, when I no longer possess a box I just skip this section. But I realized that there's a once in a lifetime difference between the boxart and the instructions picture, so we had better look at the box (courtesy of Brickipedia). The main art with the set is pretty lull. This is the final showdown, the climactic moments of the film, and Harry is just chilling there looking at the magic revolving door, while Quirrell seems to be waving his hand in greeting while passing by. Although it seems Quirrell is about to trip over the giant cobweb any second. Then you've got the live-action Harry picture with his smug expression: this doesn't match the scene it portrays? Deal with it.

INSTRUCTIONS

Let's play a little game of spot the difference, since I said this picture is different than the one on the box. Hey, there it is! Harry is a freaking giant!! Seems like Quirrell doesn't stand a chance. All that happened was that the art designer took the Harry mf graphic and, and… blew it up! But why? Is Harry much closer to the camera? What's going on!? (Also of note: the dimensions of this booklet are huge, especially for a $10 set)

The steps are easy enough to follow, especially because there are so few pieces to begin with. There are only sixteen steps. Color distinction, as you can see, is quite good. It makes me wonder how dark grey and black got to look so similar years later.

Even LEGO knows that there isn't much going on with the set itself, and it's all about the figures. I know because there are no pictures of the figures interacting with the set; it's just Quirrell trying to kick Harry and then falling over (my favorite part of the film BTW) and then Quirrell revealing the tenant on the back of his head.

As expected, there are some alternate build ideas. The first involves Harry and Quirrel having a friendly competition, launching rocks into a basket made out of the roof of the building. That's pretty creative, but dumb. I'm not sure launching rocks with the cobweb piece is even possible in reality.

The second alternate model makes a little more sense, since it could pass as Astronomy class or whatever they call it at Hogwarts. But can't you just hear Harry saying 'blimey, I can't see a darned thing out of this telescope, there's a diamond blocking it up!' Maybe not the most useful design.

The back is just a calm ad for the Harry Potter creator game. The graphics look great

MINIFIGURES

Alright, moment of truth! Is Quirrell worth it, or lame? Thank goodness Quirrell is pretty awesome. I'm fairly certain there had never been purple minifigures before the HP line, and it's a lovely color. I'm not exactly sure what source material LEGO used to produce these first sets, since both Quirrell and Harry look very little like their counterparts in the film. Quirrell isn't supposed to wear all purple, but it looks lovely. I'm not sure what the rumples on the torso represent, but it's still a nice print.

Not much to see from the back. I remember thinking how cool the turban piece is when I got it, though it doesn't look much like Quirrell's film turban. It's proved a useful piece for LEGO too, as they've continued to use it ever since.

Quirrell's face doesn't have a huge amount of detail (and the mouth has faded, unfortunately), but it has a nice timid look as Quirrell should. His mouth is just a little bit intensely defined. Simpler might have been better.

As you may know, Quirrell has the first ever double-sided head! What a revolution he started. The Voldemort head looks nothing like Voldy in the movie, but it has a good Voldemort look that draws directly from the description in the book. The only downside is that LEGO decided to use the same design for Goblet of Fire, which was terrible, but here it looks very nice.

Harry has the typical, nonsensical starry cape. I pretty much hate the Harry figure. The face has nutty eyebrows and a mouth that looks like a toad. Light grey has always been a boring color, and it doesn't look great for the torso and legs. The problem is really the face, though; if that was better, Harry would be ok.

ACCESSORIES

There are very few accessories, but that's understandable. Harry has his way-huge brown stick, er, wand, and there is a diamond masquerading as the Sorcerer's Stone. But, as you can see, Harry and Quirrell are suspicious.

ANIMALS

The HP designers have always loved their animals. The owl could have some printing (as was amended for the final waves), as right now it looks a bit like a statue. The bat might actually be a statue, as we'll see in the set. The spider is quite mysterious, being translucent and orange. Not a very healthy spider color.

THE BUILDING

Here is the lovely main structure of the set. It combines all of my most favorite colors ever: dark grey, light grey, black, and tan. Do you here the sarcasm bells ringing? Because I'm definitely ringing them. Seriously, the original Hogwarts sets were an ugly bag. Yes, Hogwarts is a dark and dingy castle, but for goodness sake, it doesn't have to be that way in the LEGO sets. This color scheme is beyond drab. (I'll talk about the cool sticker later, don't worry)

It's not that it doesn't have a Hogwarts feel. With the big arches and high ceiling, this definitely does feel like the interior to a castle. It just doesn't make for a fun or popping LEGO set.

It seems like the bat is actually supposed to be a statue, which is a bit strange. It's not only in this set either; bat statues were a common theme in these HP sets. Another oddity is the roof. It's not a terrible piece as large pieces go, but of course this model is really inside a castle and wouldn't have that roof. I guess the roof is there so that you can stick this next to your 4709 Hogwarts Castle and it will look like part of the building.

I also have to wonder what the spider-web is there for. Spider webs on the wall I understand. Spider webs on the floor, not so much. I don't even associate spiders and spider webs with Harry Potter all that much, although of course they play a big part in book 2 (and 6, to a point). It really just seems tacked on and in the way.

THE STORY

I thought I should re-enact the scene that this set comes from as a sort of way to show off the play features and fun you could have with the set. I have tried to stay as close to the source material as possible, as you'll be able to tell.

'Harry stared into the Mirror. His reflection stared back, just the little kid with messy black hair and big glasses. But wait! A faint outline of the Sorcerer's Stone appeared next to him! No, Harry thought, that must just be a fault of the lenticular sticker, and it should probably be my visage there with no stone.'

'All of a sudden, the camera panned around Harry's shoulders! The image in the mirror immediately changed! Now Harry could see a sort of half-way image of himself holding the Sorcerer's Stone in his hand!'

'The mirror then swung around and revealed the gleaming red ruby that passed for the Sorcerer's Stone. A lover of shiny plastic objects, Harry grabbed it without a second's thought. But just then, Quirrell appeared out of nowhere and a wild chase ensued! Get back here! Quirrell cried.'

'But Harry would not give it back. Let me see the boy, a shrill voice said. No, master, you are not strong enough! Quirrell replied with trepidation. Nonsense, said the voice. So Quirrell removed his turban at one go, it being a solid piece of plastic and all, and Voldemort's unusual visage glared down at Harry. Harry scar burned painfully, and he fell back.'

'Then Harry fainted. He was only 11 after all. Later on, in the infirmary, Dumbledore made some vague remarks about coming back just in time.'

WHOLE SET and CONCLUSION

As sets go, I can't say I love this one. The building is drab and dull. There isn't much one can do with it. The sticker is a pretty neat idea, and it works well enough, so that's a highlight. There's only so much time you can spend looking at a cool sticker, though. But, as I sort of illustrated, they give you the right trappings to roleplay the scene from the book/film.

This one is really all about the Quirrell figure, and Quirrell is great. The original Harry is pretty bad, but oh well, since Quirrell is great. If this set was around now, and for 10 dollars, I'd say it's worth it just for Quirrell. Did I mention how he is great? But it's not around now, so really you should just buy the Quirrell figure if you want him.

RATINGS

Minifigures: 7/10 - Quirrell is great. I tried to not dock too many points because of the stupid Harry because of Quirrell.

Pieces: 6/10 - Not very exciting, not all that many.

Design: 5/10 - It's ugly. The spiderweb is out of place. That's that.

Price: 10/10 - I can't complain with $10, even if the model is a bit ugly. Quirrell

Playability: 6/10 - They give you the right stuff, so that's something, but there still isn't so much to do with it.

Overall: 6.8/10 - That's not great by my standards. That's actually kind of lousy. Because, let's face it, this set is ugly. So, as I said, just concentrate on Quirrell.

[BaraSH]

Thanks for this great review! But the first photo is so bright.

And I really like this set! I've got him in year 2011 it was used, but in very good condition, with instructions!

[Duck]

A really nice review! I remember buying this one when it first came out and I was going through a potter phase anyway. I loved the turban and as you said it must have proved popular as we've seen it used quite a few times since.

I also agree about how unusual it is that lego put the single true baddy in a cheap set... Actually... cheap licensed sets, now thats something I remember also!

Great review!

[Phil Slender]

Great review Clone O'Patra! I too bought this set only for the Quirrell minifig, but I certainly wasn't disappointed. He's a great fig despite the abundance of purple, and I also believe he was the only fig in the original HP wave that wasn't included in the 4709 Castle...

[Mister Phes]

'Then Harry fainted. He was only 11 after all. Later on, in the infirmary, Dumbledore made some vague remarks about coming back just in time.'

MAN! That's brutal! You've made Quirrell go the way of Dooku!

Harry Potter is a bit out of my league so I'm not sure what to say about the set, but you've certainly entertained me with narrative towards the end of your review.

[Ferrik]

Another splendid review, Cloney O'Patra. I agree with you about the first HP sets being all dull and colourless. The latest HP sets are definitely an improvement.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Great review, bad set. Wish I had Quirrel though

[Izzy]

I love this set, also for the Quirrel character.

The rumples on the torso represent the rest of the turban wrapping around his neck/shoulders like in the movie.

I pointed that out in my review of this set back in 2009 as I thought it was rather clever. Great to see this set brought to the forefront again.