LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes



Small Scenes from a Big Galaxy is a new LEGO photobook, which has been created by Finnish photographer Vesa Lehtimäki (who tweets as - @TheAvanaut), and recreates classic Star Wars scenes.

Other pieces offer humours takes on the film series, and Lehtimäki offers background information and technical details on his scenes throughout the book. Given the popularity of all things Star Wars - as well as all things LEGO - and the impressive composition of this book, Small Scenes from a Big Galaxy looks to be a great read.



LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes from a Big Galaxy is available from the 10th of November, and can be ordered from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

LEGO Doctor Who

While many fans have been titillated by the imminent release of LEGO Dimensions' sets featuring the Doctor, his friends and his famous foes, the big release for which we've all been waiting is:

LEGO Ideas 21304: Doctor Who

LEGO have officially revealed the artwork for the set, featured above, which includes both the Eleventh Doctor and the Twelfth Doctor, most recent companion Clara Oswald, a Weeping Angel, and two Daleks. The centre-piece of the set is, of course, the Doctor's TARDIS, which as you'll see below, is bigger on the inside.


Detaching the Tardis front door from the set allows for fans to have a separate interior and exterior model:
Fans may also have noticed that both the Twelth Doctor and the Daleks featured in this kit differ from those available for LEGO Dimensions.
These changes should add a little variety for those fans intent on buying all the LEGO Doctor Who merchandise they can get their hands on.



The addition of a Matt Smith Eleventh Doctor minifigure is a nice touch, as is the Fez he can be seen holding on the cover art. The addition of a Weeping Angel, rather than a Cyberman, means fans won't be repeating themselves buying the Dimensions fun pack either - although building an army out of any of the Doctor's foes looks costly for now.

The official description of the set reads:
Construct a stunningly detailed LEGO® version of the iconic TARDIS® and role-play the Doctor’s time-travel adventures! Created by fan-designer Andrew Clark and selected by LEGO Ideas members, this set is based on the BBC’s popular and long-running television series about a Time Lord – the Doctor – exploring the universe in a blue police box. Due to trans-dimensional engineering, the TARDIS is bigger on the inside than the outside and this cool multifunctional set includes the console room that houses all the flight controls. Regenerate the Doctor and defeat the evil Daleks™ and a Weeping Angel with the help of his extraordinary companion Clara. Then close the doors of the TARDIS and launch into another dimension! Includes 4 minifigures with assorted accessory elements: the Eleventh Doctor, the Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswald and a Weeping Angel, plus 2 Daleks™.

Fans should also check out the LEGO Dimensions Doctor Who sets:


The Doctor Who Funpack includes a Cyberman and a Dalek, and will be released on the 22nd January, 2016. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon UK and Amazon.com





The Doctor Who level pack contains the Twelfth Doctor (with sonic screwdriver), a mini TARDIS and K-9. It will be released on November 3rd in the US and the 6th in the UK. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

LEGO Dimensions' Review Round-Up



http://amzn.to/1UfmWEB

                Pre-launch reviews are a rare thing these days, and most reviewers are constricted by embargoes that stop them publishing reviews before a certain date. As such, it’s common for the public to have to wait until launch day to find out if their desired game is, in the eyes of reviewers, a hit or a miss. LEGO Dimensions has thankfully lifted its embargo a few days before launch-day. This should help games make an informed decision about whether or not to pre-order.
http://amzn.to/1KClyql
                Certainly, it’s a big question - Dimensions comes in double the usual price of a new game, and its additional content packs are about double the usual price of DLC. Of course, they also comes with more content - LEGO miniatures, to be specific, which do add extra value. Nevertheless, whether or not this justifies Dimensions’ launch price is still a big ask - and today’s set of reviews will surely be of interest to would-be consumers.

                From the off, LEGO Dimensions has been receiving solid reviews. Most reviews are giving out scores in the 80s (or equivalent), which indicate a good game. The first thing to take from Dimensions’ reviews is how the game itself plays. Developers Traveller’s Tales have been behind all the big LEGO games of the last decade, and it is no surprise to find Dimensions is cast in the same mould. Game Informer explains that “The game itself fits nicely into the lineage of Lego titles created by TT Games. If you’ve played any of these Lego titles, you know exactly what to expect from Lego Dimensions: plenty of fist-swinging to smash a Lego object into a sea of bricks, followed by holding down a button to rapidly reassemble the pieces into a different form. Puzzle solving is heavily sewn into all levels, and most characters play a different role in how these riddles are completed. Minikits and secret studs are hidden in every stage.”

http://amzn.to/1UfmWEB

                However, the addition of the toy-to-game elements to Dimensions also add a fresh twist. In addition to adding new characters (more on that later), the LEGO portal functions within the game as an additional tool. Games Radar state “the portal is integral to the experience and something the gameplay truly benefits from. In an early encounter with The Wicked Witch of the West, I was mildly Kojima’d when she cast a spell that restricted the movement of a character on a specific block of the portal. Move the afflicted, real-world minifig to a different section on the portal and her spell is broken.” This apparently adds a new dimension (sorry) to the gameplay. However, it’s not necessary to interact with real-life LEGO to enjoy the game. The Dimensions portal only requires the special bases that come with each minifigure to work. It does seem a pity more gameplay cannot be derived from the figures. Swapping parts around has no game-play effect so, for example, nothing will happen if you pop Batman’s head onto Gandalf’s body and arm him with a portal gun. On the plus side, doing that would have likely made the game more expensive and added extra difficulty should you misplace a figure or part.

http://amzn.to/1KClyql

               Dimensions’ irreverent treatment of its heroes and their franchises is also praised. The mashing of franchises creates both humour and game-play. Gamespot argue that the results are often “outstanding”, and there’s “an undeniable joy to be had in seeing Batman use the Bat Signal to defeat Sauron, or the Joker destroy the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, or the off-handed way the Doctor addresses Portal's GLaDOS as the "faulty A.I.".” Games Radar agrees, claiming “The staggering attention to detail in the writing helps to elevate this above previous Lego entries. Each, very disparate, world feels like a part of the same universe. Jokes that work for both Batman enthusiasts and Wizard of Oz fans are very rare, but somehow Dimensions manages to pull it off.”

http://amzn.to/1UfmWEB

                The recurring downside to this is that the game constantly draws attention to the benefits of its additional characters, which of course must be purchased separately. While Dimensions core game can be completed with the three characters included in the starter pack - Gandalf, Wyrdstyle and Batman - you miss out on the many secrets throughout the game. In previous LEGO titles, additional characters were unlocked through gameplay, which allowed you to interact with special objects throughout the game world.

http://amzn.to/1KClyql

                On the bright side, the characters included in new sets appear to offer genuinely new gameplay  abilities. Game Informer’s review claims not to have found a boring character, particularly praising unusual powers like Chell’s Portal gun. Likewise, the feel of the characters, their worlds and their foes is praised. The characterisation of characters like the Doctor is praised. However, his enemies get equal treatment: Games Radar says, “the gameplay doesn’t just trot them for the sake of it, it understands why these characters work in their original format. So, when the lights stutter and the [Weeping] Angels grab you, you’ll be just as unsettled as the first time you saw them in the show. It’s fan service of the highest order”. The various worlds featured in Dimensions are also complemented. The base game already has three open worlds: The Lord of the Rings, DC Universe and The LEGO Movie. These add additional content and gameplay. However, Game Informer is more critical of the additional levels, saying “The unique bonus levels that come packaged with the Portal, Back to the Future, and The Simpsons sets are not as good as the campaign’s stages, and each only lasts for an hour or less. The best Portal and Simpsons moments are in the campaign. The open worlds for each brand don’t offer much story content and mostly consist of fetch or escort missions. These worlds are entirely optional, and aren’t great for anything other than mindless exploration and Brick collecting.”

http://amzn.to/1UfmWEB


                Overall however, the reviews for LEGO Dimensions are positive - with the Caveat that this is an expensive game. Games Radar’s review is the most negative so far, and it still awards Dimensions a respectable 3.5/5 stars. They write, “It’s a massive disappointment that the game goes to great lengths to connect all these universes in the story and then reminds you that to unlock areas you can already see, you’ll need to spend more.” The cost of game plus the launch-day content packs comes to around £385/$580, which is pretty steep, even if you do get a game and some LEGO figures. Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of LEGO, TT Games’ previous LEGO games and mash-up - and you’re unhampered by financial worries - LEGO Dimensions might be the game for you.
 
                At the time of writing, LEGO Dimensions has an average score of 81 on Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews. LEGO Dimensions will be released on the 27th/29th of September in the USA and Europe respectively. It’s available for Wii U, PS3 and PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling

 The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling displays amazing, fan-built LEGO recreations of real-life vehicles, showing off every amazing detail with high-quality photographs.


 The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling includes dozens of models, including Formula 1 racers, construction vehicles, ships, trains, airplanes, and all kinds of trucks. However, it's more than just a picture-book, and the  authors have also included informationabout the real-life versions of each vehicle displayed. Alongside this is information on the techniques used in crafting, and they ways they made such accurate models - which include real-life photography and the use of technical diagrams.


Authors Dennis Glaasker and Dennis Bosman share their own impressive LEGO models as well as highlight models from builders around the world. The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling also includes tips and tricks that describe the design and building process.


 The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling will be released on 24th September in the UK, and the 30th September in the US. Pre-order now on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes From A Big Galaxy


LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes From A Big Galaxy brings LEGO sets and minifigures to life in this beautiful and fun photography book.

 Painstakingly created by Finnish photographer Vesa Lehtimäki using his son's favourite toys, this beautiful art book features hilarious new takes on classic Star Wars characters and themes. Breathtaking photography combines quirky LEGO art with the drama of the Star Wars universe, with stunning results. Plus Vesa Lehtimäki shares his secrets in behind-the-scenes insights which will inspire any photographer or LEGO builder.

 Every image is a technical tour de force and an evocation of childlike wonder. You've never seen Star Wars or LEGO sets look like this before!
  
 LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes From A Big Galaxy will be available on November 2nd. Pre-order it now on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

Medieval LEGO




               Another LEGO book due for release on 30th September is Medieval LEGO.  Like LEGO Architect, Medieval LEGO is an picture-and-information book illustrated lavishly with LEGO dioramas. The theme, unsurprisingly, is medieval history: Specifically, England during the middle ages. 


                Medieval LEGO promises a journey through English history, exploring key events, personalities and locations.  Inside, you’ll witness the Great Fire of London, the Black Death, and the Great Famine, and you'll read about famous historical figures like Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William the Conqueror. Kid-friendly LEGO illustrations make Medieval LEGO a good way to bring history to life for younger readers, and judging by the preview photographs available, adult fans of LEGO will find a lot to interest them as well.


                Medieval LEGO is written by Greyson Beights, a history student and - unsurprisingly - a LEGO fan. In an interview with Brick Fanatics, Beights explains that he draws his inspirations from a number of locations, particularly real-life medieval paintings and museum exhibits. Beights goes on to state that he’s brought some new building techniques to his designs, saying these techniques appear for “windows, trees, forced perspective, and even castle walls. There are some unique wall decoration techniques in an illustration depicting a medieval Oxford classroom.” Certainly, as seen in previews from the book, Medieval LEGO displays large-scale events and buildings alongside intimate castle interiors and detailed scenes. As a historian and a LEGO fan, I’m sure this will be an interesting and informative book for adults and children alike.


                Medieval LEGO will be released on the 30th of September. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon UK and Amazon.com.





LEGO Architect



 

                LEGO Architect, due out near the end of the month, is an examination of architecture and the history of construction told in LEGO. It’s written by Tom Alphin, an Experience Program Manager at Microsoft and long-time LEGO fan. Alphin, whose personal blog (http://tomalphin.com) hosts reviews of LEGO sets and architectural information of fan-made constructions, combines the history of architecture with LEGO constructions in his new book. However, LEGO Architect is more than a photo-book exploring interesting projects: Alphin explores the ideas and past of different architectural styles and provides instructions for re-creating different buildings in LEGO. 

 

                Brick Fanatics have produced a review of LEGO Architect based on an advanced copy of the book. They conclude that LEGO Architect is “a must have” for anyone interested in LEGO architecture. Given the popularity of both LEGO’s Architecture range and LEGO reconstructions of famous landmarks and styles, this is surely going to be a fascinating and popular book.

 

                LEGO Architect will be available on the 24th of September. It can be bought from Amazon UK and Amazon.com.