New KK2 sets 8873, 8874, 8875, 8876

[plums_deify]

So, they all arrived at my doorstep today, and I spent a good couple hours building them. My first impression? I'm rather impressed. All in all, I ended up with 6 shadow nights, two blue kings, one purple, green, and red knights, one Vladek and one King Mathias. Also, one black horse and three white horses.

The shields are much better for this group of knights. They don't look quite as child-like, though I do prefer the armor printing on the first group.

My only issue is that they do not provide the 1x2 tile and 1x2 brick to put in the horse's back after you're done with the ride. Fortunately, I have plenty of those pieces. But I digress.

So, here's my review. Keep in mind, I like KK2, and I don't have the new colors...

8873, Fireball Catapult $8.99

I like this little set. The catapult is brick-built completely, unlike some other ones. The design is rather cool. It comes with the red knight and a shadow night, and one white horse. Simplistic, but better than the smaller set from the first round.

8874, Battle Wagon $19.99

I really like wagons. I admit it. I'm a sucker for them. This one is rather sturdy. Most of the back is for prisoner transport, I imagine. According to the comic, the purple knight keeps getting caught, so I guess this is for him. There's actually a small area for the driver to sit, stand, or do whatever. There is a molded catapult on top, but that can be easily removed if need be. This set comes with two shadow knights, the green knight, and a black horse.

8875, King's Seige Tower $19.99

This is a rehashing of the other seige tower, but it has one big improvement: The shields on the side are actualy pieces, not flimsy pieces of paper. But, there are no horses pulling it, or anything of that nature. I do like it. It's much more solid, I think, than the previous one. This set includes two shadow knights, King Mathais, and the powder blue knight.

8876, Scorpian Prisoner Cave $39.99

This is a stable prison. My only complaint is that there is no interior. It's just a facade. The mechanism for opening the gate is nice, and I simply adore the hanging cage. It feels nice and solid, and it reminds me of the hanging cages that were used often many years ago for torture. I enjoy the history of torture, but that is another post. The brick-built scorpian leaves something to be desired. There is a staircase to get to the highest tower, with a frankly sad looking little catapult. The same catapult is used on the side of the horse, and it's really sad. It doesn't look like it could do any damage at all! But it was a fun build. This set includes one shadow knight, Vladek, the purple knight, and the powder blue knight.



All in all, I really like the overall playability of the sets. They seem real stable, and I'm not afraid they'll fall apart at a moment's notice. I like them. I'd have no problem paying full price again for the two $19.99 sets, but I'd love them on sale. Here is a link to the folder containing all the pictures. They should mostly be through moderation by now.

Take em, leave em, do what you will with them. But they are better this time around. I'd reccomend them. There are plenty of basic pieces. A lot of plates, slopes, and arches. The only set with BURPs is the Scorpian Prisoner Cave.

So, thanks for reading this long post. If you've made it, congratulations!

Darkie

[Teh Stud]

Thanks for the huge review! I might actually purchase a few of these sets instead of just pilfering the pieces I want from bricklink. Even though I don't like the fire catapult, the fact that it is built with standard pieces makes it very atractive.

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

Hey Darkie, thanks for the pictures and the reviews!

I am so drooling over KK2: Year Two (especially the huge fortress), the Viking line, and that Sandcrawler!

My wallet (and my savings account) is going to hate me...

[eNiGMa]

Thank you for that review! I can officially say I'm excited about KK2!

My wallet (and my savings account) is going to hate me...

I hate mine. :|

[The Hordesman]

Im really relieved that the Shadow Knights doesnt have upwards going scorpions.

8875, King's Siege Tower, is a hard set for me of one reason: The machine is Morcian, but the large shields reminds me too much of the Lion Knights. I was thinking I if should put the both together or something, those shields has really turned my world upside down

8873, Fireball Catapult is a set made for army building. If not for Santis' awful visor, I would probably mass it too, but I have too many of those and Sava's "Way of the Visor" (sounds like a martial art, hm? ) wont work since Im out of sane helms, and got tons of ugly red ones.

The rest of the sets are awesome partvise. Some months after the release I will probably see them on bricklink too.

[xxbattosaixx]

Didn't a prototype Catapult have tow SKs at one point? It stinks the downgraded..

[JPinoy]

Great looking pics. Finally, more Shadow knights = hopefully lower prices on BrickLink, meaning a bigger Hyksos army for me.

[Sir Garth]

The sets look better, altough the designs aren't medieval in any way and its' still much too expensive
The knights aren't that bad (I have some paint over here) except for the red one.
The shadow knights and Vladek are my favourites. Mostly because of the helmets and the weapons.

[footsteps]

There's actually a small area for the driver to sit, stand, or do whatever.

erm... I don't think I want to go there....

Thanks for the detailed descriptions and your take on the sets. All in all you've been very helpful... and I wish I had the funds to make that size of a purchase!

Alan

[ottoatm]

Hey - MANY thanks for the reviews... I think I have a really good idea of what I can expect to pick up from the shelf now... but whats more - the pics you posted were very very cool. The best images I've seen yet of the smaller sets, good for some old fashioned drooling.

The prison is my favorite, but the price does seem a bit high for what you get... do you think it was worth the price tag? :

[plums_deify]

I do enjoy the prison. The price tag is a little, but they could easily made it $49.99 instead of the current tag. For the amount of figs, the horse, and other useful parts, I'd say yes. The pre-molded pieces are mostly the newer castle walls in black, but there's this interesting brown piece I think originally came in the newer Alpha Team sets in trans-white.

I think all the sets are worth their price, but like all lego, they'll be better on sale.

[TwoTonic Knight]

Thanks for the reviews. There's nothing that I really want beyond the shadow knight figs, though. It's a case of waiting on Bricklink for the specifics, and Vikings for the sets I want.

[LEGO_KNIGHT]

Just to add to Darkie's review, on the first page of the instruction booklet, there is a map showing the Kingdom of Morcia and Ankoria. The 8873 set comes with a silver pole for the flag and the saddle is dark bley. The horse helmet is red (not dark red). For the 8874 set, both Rascus lances are silver in color and his helmet is dark green if you did'nt notice, also comes with a dark bley saddle.

Also, in the 8873 set comic, you can see King Mathias communicating with a soldier of Morcia wearing a bullet helm. New fig for future sets, perhaps?

[plums_deify]

Also, the comics show the stupid purple knight getting caught, and the king appears to give his crown to the powder blue knight. Hmmmm.....

[The Hordesman]

Also, in the 8873 set comic, you can see King Mathias communicating with a soldier of Morcia wearing a bullet helm. New fig for future sets, perhaps?

Show me a pic! Im gonna clone 'em!

Thats one of the reasons I must get the sets, the comics has some details that are critical for the detail in my story.

Jayko- crowned? Well, this may be the last year for KK2, or? A pink girl knight next year, continueance of the story 20 years or so after Vladek's defeat?