On this job, you spend lots of the time on the finish of the yr in a retrospective way of thinking, reconsidering all the things that’s crossed your desk. What are the highlights, the lowlights, and the memorable moments? We’ve coated lots of that in our Alternate Recreation Awards and in our extra severe GOTY write-ups – however clearly, my life isn’t simply video video games.
Common VG247 readers will know that I’m an enormous previous Lego nerd, and I’ve handled the events when Lego has crossed over with video video games with glee – it’s two of my loves colliding in methods which might be usually thrilling, or simply merely enjoyable. This has been a superb yr for that, too, with Lego Sonic making a barnstorming debut, Mario units persevering with, and a wonderful Pac-Man Arcade which I am keen on. There was additionally an amazing Lego online game within the type of Lego 2K Drive. So: all-in-all, a strong yr.
It’s been a superb yr for Lego typically. I’ve loved a large number of non-gaming units this yr – together with an amazing Indiana Jones diorama, a beautiful area tribute from fan-designed vary Lego Concepts, and the fabulous Viking Settlement that basically scratched an itch of mine that was established by beloved fort and pirates units in my childhood.
One set does stand above all others for me this yr, although – and quelle shock, it’s Lego’s newest modular constructing, set 10326, the Pure Historical past Museum.
The humorous factor about this being the very best set of the yr is that we’re solely meant to get one modular constructing a yr. However in 2023, we obtained two, as Lego moved the schedule up – these units that beforehand used to reach in January will now arrive each December. That is the second modular of the yr after the Jazz membership, then – however by way of high quality and worth, it’s completely primary.
Should you’re unfamiliar with the vary, what I consult with as ‘modulars’ are principally an informal title for Lego Metropolis buildings for grown-ups. Now categorized as a part of Lego’s black-boxed “Adults Welcome” vary, Lego has launched modular buildings yearly since 2007. The buildings reside as much as the modular moniker in two methods: initially, every set is made up of various ‘modules’ which compromise totally different flooring or sections of a street-facing constructing, full with interiors and cute storytelling particulars. Second, and most necessary, the buildings type a versatile metropolis avenue, with connections inbuilt to connect them collectively to create avenue or block formations. The buildings may be organized in any order you want, making a {custom} avenue scene.
By releasing one set a yr (and retiring older ones at an analogous charge), Lego all the time retains a small avenue’s price of modular buildings in manufacturing at anyone time. It’s created a variety of high-end, high-price, large-scale units that truly have a very collectible component. Full disclosure – I’ve been a goblin for these fashions for some time, and I can see 12 of them, together with a couple of custom-designed ones, from the very desk the place I write this text.
Anyway, with that rationalization and disclosure in thoughts, let me simply briefly heap reward on the 2023/4 modular, the Pure Historical past Museum. Lengthy story quick: it’s fantastic.
That includes a wider footprint that has solely been utilized in a couple of units earlier than this, you’ve obtained a stunning constructing with a historic air to it – a museum unfold throughout two flooring with nice huge vaulted ceilings. From a design perspective, you may see shades of Britain’s Pure Historical past Museum and different world-famous establishments. Inside you’ll discover a vary of displays, plus a tiny rooftop workplace the place the museum’s curator is supposed to be enterprise his analysis.
The centerpiece of the museum is a beautiful brick-built dinosaur skeleton, which stretches throughout each flooring as a essential attraction. Elsewhere, there’s fantastic easter eggs – like historical past exhibitions that nod to the fort and pirate units of previous, and slightly room that appears to the celebs, with mini mannequin rockets and a superb however tiny mannequin of the photo voltaic system.
As is par for the course with this vary the set is stuffed with tiny particulars that delight, plus fascinating elements utilization and constructing methods that make it a Lego nerd’s dream. Lego solely retains a restricted variety of bricks and items in manufacturing at any given time, and every in a restricted vary of colours – so designers each fan and official must make intelligent use of accessible elements to craft their worlds. On this set, a favourite contact of mine is the curled-up whip, normally present in Indiana Jones units, which right here kinds a part of the form of an ammonite fossil. It’s simply bloody intelligent.
For me, the modular buildings usually symbolize a cross-section of the very best of ‘grown-up’ Lego. That’s to say, they’re beautiful-looking sufficient that an grownup can have them on a shelf of their examine with none main diploma of embarrassment – but in addition, they’re thoughtfully constructed and offered. Constructing methods will go away you slack-jawed, or higher nonetheless go away your mind abuzz with concepts on your personal {custom} builds.
With that mentioned, the modulars not often are high of my best-of-the-year lists for Lego, just because they’re a identified amount. Often some shock finally ends up taking all of the marbles. 2022’s modular got here behind issues like an astonishing Lighthouse, a large Bowser, and an unbelievable Fortress throwback. 2023 had simply as many pretty surprises – however the Pure Historical past Museum nonetheless stands above all of them.
And now, the wait begins for 2024’s modular constructing. Would possibly it’s a hospital eventually? Pop that on my 2024 most anticipated listing, proper subsequent to Dragon’s Dogma 2 and FF7 Rebirth…
