Designed for children ages nine and up, and those who have graduated from LEGO Technics kits, this kit allows children to build Star Wars-inspired robots and droids that are powered by a LEGO microcomputer called the Micro Scout. The Micro Scout has a built-in light sensor and motor, and can perform seven different behaviors. No PC is required for this product. This toy is not to be confused with the more sophisticated Robotic Invention System and its expansion packs, which are designed for children ages 12 and up, and that require a PC.
The set features three levels of building difficulty, each with detailed instructions to build three robots, transports, or creatures. Young LEGO and Star Wars enthusiasts now have the chance to build the Star Wars "bad guys" (a similar set is available - Droid Works - that features Star Wars heroes). Aspiring engineers can start at any level or use the large, lavish Constructopedias (instruction books) to work their way up from Sith Apprentice to Sith Knight to Sith Master.
Of the nine models, the AT-AT walker will no doubt steal the show. It not only looks wonderful assembled, wait until kids see it in action as it strides across the dining room floor!
Our 10-year-old tester was anxious to begin with the most challenging model. However, after some coaxing, a compromise was reached, and he started with the middle level. With a 6-year-old assistant on hand who eagerly helped in the exhaustive hunt for pieces, he assembled the robot in less than an hour with a few small breaks. The next day, he asked his father to disassemble his model while he was at school in order to be prepared for his next challenge. His father ended up making the most impressive model, then disassembling that one before his son came home! Needless to say, this set can be exciting for almost all ages.
Children tend to take a lot of pride in their successes with LEGO sets. This one brings with it an even greater sense of accomplishment because the finished product actually moves and responds to commands. Robots drive forwards, backwards, change direction, and pick up speed. They can also respond to codes - a robot might play a sequence of short and long beeps, and when kids replay the sequence using their flashlight, the robot reacts. Note, however, that although responses are satisfactory, they are not very interactive or sophisticated.
Of course, true building creativity and product longevity will come after kids have completed the pre-designed robots and have moved on to creating their own original ones. Not all children will leave the rather comfortable instructions-based building mode, but it wouldn't hurt to encourage them to design their own. Using one of the frames as a base, children can build around it, experimenting with parts and discovering which ones will combine to create a functional and customized toy.
There are loads of teeny pieces here, many of which are integral to the success of particular models. Though kids will certainly receive an exercise in visual discrimination, on a practical level, we suggest keeping special care of this package as a separate toy - in other words, don't dump this set's 578 pieces into your tub of LEGO! Fortunately, the product comes with a nicely organized tray and is impressive enough that children will be more likely to make an effort to keep it organized. The other complaint we received was the fact that there is only one Micro Scout unit. This means that a new model cannot be created without disassembling the first. Our tester wished he could make at least two robots and play with them at once.
There's nothing like LEGO to bring adult and child together "playing" with the same toy with matched enthusiasm. This set is no exception. The kit provides children with a means to improve their hand-eye coordination, ability to follow directions, and logical thinking skills - and have buckets of fun at the same time. Goal-oriented play such as this is priceless. Children also learn a lesson in patience and persistence when their models don't perform exactly as expected, and they need to re-work them in order to get them just right. Those "tweeners" who are not yet ready for the more sophisticated and challenging LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotic Invention System will derive much satisfaction from this truly impressive and exciting kit. If your child is eleven and up and especially mechanically inclined and inventive, you might want to skip this product altogether and go for the programming-based Robotic Invention System. It is more expensive and complex (and, in fact, there exists a whole community of adults who "play" with this set), but its open-ended nature allows for more room to invent and discover. As well, its focus is as much on programming as it is building.
While some "smart toys" have been criticized for replacing valuable imaginative play elements with technology, this set only serves to inspire kids to think, learn, and create.
