Way back in February we heard about a Sonic LEGO Ideas project that was still under consideration. The original submission was from toastergrl and it looked pretty interesting. Well today is the day we find out the official details!
It’s a substantial deviation from the original project, but think it’s a massive improvement as I think the original submission looked a little disjointed. The set has 1125 pieces, releasing 1st January 2022. It’ll cost US $69.99 / DE €69.99 / UK £59.99 / AU $119.99.
The press release says it includes five minifigures – Sonic, Crabmeat, Moto Bug, Dr Eggman (Robotnik) and the Phantom Ruby, but I only count one actual minifigure with the rest being brick built. They’re great, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not minifigures. The use of life preservers as rings is just spot on, although by the looks of things there’s a lot of 1×1 elements included to get the checkered pattern. There’s also Technic pin holes on each end. Can we expect some expansions?
There’s even a spring loaded mechanism to bounce Sonic up to the ring tower.
I’ll leave you with the rest of the images and the press release. I’m expecting a delivery of this set in the coming weeks, so be sure to look out for a review in the new year.
From Players to Builders: The new LEGO® Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog™
Green Hill Zone set offers fans a fun run of nostalgia28th December 2021: Today, the LEGO Group announces the new LEGO® Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog™ Green Hill Zone set; a detailed LEGO brick representation of one of the most iconic video game levels ever. Conceived by 24-year-old, UK based LEGO superfan Viv Grannell, through the LEGO Ideas platform, this new analog version of the Green Hill Zone gives fans the chance to build and display a piece of gaming history.
Sonic the Hedgehog™ blasted onto the screens of gamers worldwide in 1991, racing to grab gold rings as he ran through the first level of the game — the now-iconic Green Hill Zone — a bright-green landscape with a look inspired by the California hills. Sonic has kept up the tradition of featuring the much-loved Green Hill Zone in many new versions of the game over the past 30 years — and now the zone can be tackled in a new way; a “real life” LEGO version, designed to be built by fans, arriving in LEGO Stores and https://LEGO.com/Sonic on New Year’s Day.
LEGO fan Viv Grannell is a passionate Sonic enthusiast and saw an opportunity to create a dedicated LEGO set. They submitted their design to the LEGO Ideas® platform, a LEGO initiative that allows fans to create designs which are then voted on by the wider LEGO fan community. The submission reached the required 10,000 votes to be considered by the LEGO team to be made into reality.
Taking on the challenge of turning the concept into a LEGO set was LEGO Designer Sam Johnson. Talking about the set, Sam said; “Just about anyone who has enjoyed video games on any level in the last 30 years, knows and loves Sonic — and has probably sped through the unforgettable Green Hill Zone with him. We have designed this set to be just as colourful and fun as the in-game version of The Green Hill Zone, then filled it with lots of easter eggs and even prizes to help fans enjoy some of their most beloved gaming icons in a brand-new way.”
The LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone set is available from 1st January 2022 via LEGO Stores and https://LEGO.com/Sonic, at the recommended retail price of $69.99 / £59.99 / €69.99.
