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Lego Super Mario Review

As a child of the 80s and the 90s, Super Mario and Nintendo have a nostalgic place in my heart. LEGO Super Mario is the brand new LEGO series on the block, and it combines all your favourite LEGO Mario characters like Mario and Luigi with cool modern technology.

Lego Mario figure & app

We had a lot of fun building and playing with our set (we prepurchased as soon as we saw it online so we have been lucky to receive it so quickly!). The range is guaranteed fun for adults reliving childhood memories as well as the kids of today discovering these characters and scenery for the first time.

If you want to get your hands on the LEGO Super Mario range then I’d be quick! I predict it’s going to sell out now that families are spending more time at home. The LEGO Super Mario Starter Course is already the #1 bestseller on Amazon for Building & Construction toys.

What is LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36?

LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36 is not just your average LEGO set. It’s jam-packed with innovative technology.

First, you’ll need to download the LEGO Super Mario app via the Amazon App store, Apple App Store or Google Play. The app features zoom and rotate viewing tools, weekly challenges for creative ways to rebuild and play and a safe platform for fans to share inspiration for other builds.

Lego Mario app

Then, instead of one of the typical LEGO instruction booklets that we have all know and love (and store carefully), the LEGO Mario instructions are delivered via the LEGO Super Mario app. I particularly like how you can zoom and rotate the instruction images as you build, so you’re not trying to decipher what brick goes where. 

To play LEGO Super Mario Bros you’ll need the LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course (71360) as it’s the only set with the LEGO Mario figure (and the first course). You’ll need two AAA batteries to insert inside LEGO Mario, they’re not included. 

Lego Super Mario Figure
Lego Super Mario Figure

All the other courses are Expansion Sets with different challenges and characters/minifigures that you purchase separately.

As we build our LEGO Mario we realise that he’s not just a cool figurine. He comes with built-in colour sensors and LCD screens in his eyes, mouth and belly to display over 100 different instant reactions to movement. Inside there’s also a speaker that plays sounds and music from the classic video game! He even has Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to scan RFID tags.

child building Lego Mario

Next, you are provided with instructions to build the whole course for the LEGO Mario figure. This is a relatively easy build for 7-year-old Baby 2.0 and takes about 45 minutes. 

Finally to play you move the LEGO Mario figure to navigate obstacles and enemies, with scores (in the way of virtual gold coins) tallied in the app. 

 

Is it LEGO or screen time?

LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36 needs to be built like more traditional LEGO, and offers opportunities for expansion and modification. However, there is definitely a tech element for the full experience and its functionality is diminished if you don’t use the app for play.

As coding and problem solving are more widely recognised and more desirable skills, LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36 will help to develop STEAM skills while having an awful lot of fun.

And, in my view, it is much more constructive than simply playing video games!

Lego Super Mario App

What age group are LEGO Super Mario sets meant for?

The LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36 range is aimed at ages 6+, but some of the individual expansion kits are intended for older children and are labelled as such.

Adults will absolutely get some nostalgic enjoyment from building and operating LEGO Mario, though the actual builds are not as complex as some other LEGO sets out there.

None of the courses/sets should take more than approximately 2 hours to build, so it’s not a long or arduous process.

Child building LEGO Mario figure

Getting started with LEGO Super Marioir?t=joycewatts 22&l=ur2&o=36 sets

The LEGO Super Mario Starter Course – 71360 is the first set you should buy, and it is essential.  It is the only set where you get LEGO Mario figure, and he’s required to perform the interactive functions. It also includes 7 action bricks that interact with Mario.

LEGO Super Mario Expansion Sets

Once you have built LEGO Super Mario Starter Course, you can add in expansion sets. There is no particular order that you need to purchase the LEGO Mario Sets and the sets between $29.99 to $149.99.

We choose the largest expansion kit LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set – 71369 because my kids have this fascination with Bowser Jnr and well – because it’s the biggest set and we thought the LEGO Mario Bowser Castle would kill more hours at home!

child building Lego Mario

The LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set – 71369, includes Bowser, Dry Bones, Boo and Lava Bubble figures.  Bowser is the final boss, and Mario has to stomp on the flippers and raise Bowser’s arms to get to the Time Block and the ? Block.

Lego Super Mario Bowser's Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set 71369
Lego Super Mario Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set 71369

I think the cutest is the LEGO Super Mario Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set – 71367.  This will be a hit with fans of Yoshi, as it includes the Yoshi and Goomba figures.  Adding this set will introduce new elements to gameplay, after you’ve had the fun of building the set.

Lego Super Mario Mario's House & Yoshi Expansion Set 71367
Lego Super Mario Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set – 71367

There is also the LEGO Super Mario Pirahna Power Plant Slide Expansion Set – 71365, that (once built), Mario can see-saw on, while avoiding the Prahna Plants, to get extra gold coins, and Mario can also defeat the included Goomba and Koopa Troopa characters.

Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set 71365
Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set 71365

Other expansion kits include the LEGO Super Mario Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set – 71368 which features Toad Houses, a tree, treasure chest, sliding and rotating platforms and 10 action bricks, plus a Goomba, 2 Cheep Cheeps and Toad and Toadette figures.

Lego® Super Mario™ Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set 71368 Building Kit
Lego® Super Mario™ Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set 71368 Building Kit

The LEGO Super Mario Guarded Fortress Expansion Set – 71362 has different routes to reach the fortress and win digital coins. LEGO Mario may need to use the catapult, leap over brick-built lava or across stepping stones in ‘water’.

Lego Super Mario Guarded Fortress Expansion Set 71362 Building Kit
Lego Super Mario Guarded Fortress Expansion Set 71362 Building Kit

LEGO Super Mario Desert Pokey Expansion Set – 71363 features a hammer turntable that LEGO Mario uses to knock down a buildable Pokey cactus-like figure, section by section, plus a Monty Mole figure to defeat to earn more rewards. Music plays when LEGO Mario is placed on the hammer turntable and each of the 3 action bricks in this kids’ building set cause LEGO Mario to react in different ways when he jumps on them.

Lego Super Mario Desert Pokey Expansion Set 71363 Building Kit
Lego Super Mario Desert Pokey Expansion Set 71363 Building Kit

With the LEGO Super Mario Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set – 71364 the player can build their own challenging course with a sliding platform for LEGO Mario (figure not included) to balance on, Whomp and Lava Bubble figures, and the P Switch, which is found only in this set.

Lego Super Mario Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set 71364 Building Kit
Lego Super Mario Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set 71364 Building Kit

Kids will love the fast-spinning, coin-collecting challenge in the LEGO Super Mario Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set – 71366. Players place LEGO Mario on the platform’s studded end or the smooth end for added difficulty. How many times can they spin LEGO Mario without him falling or being knocked off by the Boomer Bills?

Lego Super Mario Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set 71366 Building Kit
Lego Super Mario Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set 71366 Building Kit

Finally LEGO Super Mario Character Packs – 71361 are a blind bag with one of 10 buildable character minifigures, each with an action brick that can interact with Mario.

All sets and characters can all be combined to create extensive and unique challenges for Mario, incorporating creativity into the gameplay.

The cool feature are the Power-Ups, which are different outfits for LEGO Mario that makes him react in different ways! When LEGO Mario wears his interactive costume you to earn extra coins by having Mario do different actions as he travels through the courses (like purr like a cat).

Lego Super Mario Power Up
Lego Super Mario Power Up

Coming soon is the Thwomp Drop Expansion Set features a sliding platform for LEGO Mario with 2 balance difficulty options, a Thwomp and 2 Lava Bubble figures, plus a Lava Bubble flipping function.

Lego Super Mario Thwomp Drop Expansion Set
Lego Super Mario Thwomp Drop Expansion Set

 

When is LEGO Super Mario coming out? Where can I buy LEGO Super Mario in Australia?

If you’re keen on the LEGO Super Mario Australia range then I’d be quick! In the past months, there have been lots of questions about when Lego Mario would come out in Australia and anticipation prior to its launch date of 1 August 2020 was very high. Now that it’s available I predict it’s going to sell out now that families are spending more time at home.

The LEGO Super Mario Starter Course is already the #1 bestseller on Amazon for Building & Construction toys and 7 of the Expansion Sets are in the Top 50. 

Plus Power-Ups are sold out in the LEGO store (though you may find them at other retailers) and the King Boo and the Haunted Yard Expansion Set is already sold out.

Lego Super Mario King Boo And The Haunted Yard Expansion Set
Lego Super Mario King Boo And The Haunted Yard Expansion Set

The awesome LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System is also sold out as its currently exclusive to LEGO.com and only available to other retailers next year.

The kit includes a buildable controller with a cord, a buildable NES system and a buildable retro TV. You can insert the buildable Game Pak cartridge into the console, plug in and tap the buttons on the life-sized controller and then turn the handle on the TV to move 8-bit Mario across the screen!

Lego Nintendo Entertainment System
Lego Nintendo Entertainment System

You can find LEGO Super Mario Bros on Amazon (which I’ve personally found to have the quickest, most reliable delivery during this time) as well as major Australian retailers such as Target, Myer, Kmart, Big W and David Jones.  

Before you purchase I also recommend signing up to ShopBack and Cashrewards to get cashback on your shopping! That’s extra money straight into your account for every tracked transaction (I get referral credit too).

 

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Lego Mario
Lego Mario Review – PIN this picture to save this post!

 

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase using the links there is no extra cost to you and I earn a small commission that helps me to provide free, valuable and useful information for you! Thanks Joyce

About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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