It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about writing reviews at the site. Part of that can probably be chalked up to the fact that they actually added new products and that Lego released a new line Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Oh happy days!

The Final Challenge is a mid sized set with a ton of new pieces that were made just for the Harry Potter series. There are so many different ways to build this that it should keep any Lego fan happy for at least two hours – more if they dig deep into their imagination and get creative. This would be a great set to use as an introduction to the series and since there are numerous ways of building it gets a few bonus points from me for replay value.

The Final Challenge is a lower gallery set in the completed castle structure. It sits third from the left and supports the two rooms above the tower area. If this sounds a bit confusing, feel free to checkout the back of any of the boxes to see the completed castle or visit the Lego website [www.lego.com] for a closer look at the assembled castle. The site also gives you a few alternative designs for each set – they are also planning on adding Lego fan suggestions and designs.

Mirror of Erised

The Final Challenge features a turning mystical mirror with a very nice animated picture / reflection of Harry Potter in the bottom portion of the chamber [when built according to the directions]. The mirror is mounted on rotating Lego’s for movement and can double as a secret chamber if you play around with the design a little. You have to affix the sticker [which is very thick] to the wall section and you only have one chance to get it right so make sure it’s centered.

There are a ton of different ways to assemble this section of the set and if you aren’t too concerned with preserving the authenticity of the design – you can have a lot of fun trying different building patterns. The brood combined this set with the Sorting Hat set and made a small illusion chamber with the spinning wheel and the moving mirror as the center points. I took a small piece of acetate and placed it over the image after I attached it to keep it from fading. I don’t recommend using nail polish or any type of spray on sealer since I’m not sure if it would cause the colors to run or have the sticker bubble..

The Tower

The building in The Final Challenge is a small tower that is two levels high – but when added to the complete structure [with all the other sets] it is still on the lower gallery of the buildings. The arches are small but give it a nice sleek look as does the tiled off green roof that can be stationary or lifted up and down. If you check out the back or side of the box you will see a few alternative designs for the tower area – but be sure to check out the website over the next few weeks for tons of new designs. Rumor has it that there will be a Harry Potter design contest and the winner will get the entire Harry Potter Lego catalog

Potter People

In this set you get two Lego figures, Harry Potter and Professor Quirrell. The Harry Potter figure is the same as I have mentioned in the past two reviews. Comes with a black cloth cape, funky black plastic hair, gray school uniform and the scar on his forehead*. Professor Quirrell is an amazing figure and it was in this set where I first encountered him. From the first second that I saw the box I could hardly contain my enthusiasm – he just looked too cool with his purple bunted turban and purple-stenciled breastplate. Not to mention the black cape that just seems to make his figure all the more mystical. His face is rather plain and I had hoped it would be a little more animated than it was – but you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

The Extras

When push comes to shove, it’s the small little pieces that can make or break a set in my eyes. The Final Challenge was already impressive and had a nice score with me but it’s the following pieces that really cinched it.

Spider Web

As mentioned in other Harry Potter reviews, the spider web has a multitude of uses. This set features an orange spider rather than the traditional clear ones. The web can act as a hidden doorway, slingshot, walkway between tower sections, trap door or – even just a plain old spooky spider web. The slingshot design is pretty cool and allows the Lego figures to have a little fun catapulting the small pieces from building to building.

Black Owl

The same owl featured in the Sorting Hat set only black – glossy black too. For me this was a bit of overkill. You can’t really see the detail of the wings or indents in the face because there is absolutely no stenciling on it. The black owl sits atop the tower but can be placed almost anywhere there is an open peg hole.

Bat Lord

I was a little puzzled to see the Bat Lord figure included with this set. It’s a small plastic bat mounted on a flat Lego piece and sits in the middle of the back tower wall. The Bat Lord design came from both the Castle series as well as Ninjas and I am still a bit clueless as to why they used the same exact design for this series.

Assorted Pieces

You also get two red flames and holders [great for using in the spider web slingshot] and the magic wand. As I said in earlier reviews you can add a little bit of glitter nail polish to the end of the wand for a little extra detail. This set also includes the Sorcerer’s Stone – a nice looking red gem that can be inserted into any of the Lego pegs. I had to dig through the trash for the plastic bags that the pieces are packaged in because it was accidentally thrown away so make sure you check the bags closely for this and other small pieces.

As with most of the gems or treasures in the Lego sets these don’t stand up to a lot of abuse. While they don’t scratch all that easily they do get damaged on the corners and lose their sheen and gloss. There’s no real way to protect them since nail polish just chips off due to the detailed edges. You can buy small sets of these from different online vendors and they usually come 50 to a package for about $5.00 plus shipping. The assortment packs have a wide variety of colors ranging from the red ruby share to neon yellow.

Yes, I Am Obsessed

You would think that an adult would have better things to do then hunt down Lego sets and write reviews about them. I am an addict, that’s my only excuse. The Harry Potter sets are a tremendous step forward for the Lego Company. They still have the basic bricks with expanded colors and some new pieces here or there but it’s the replay value that keeps me coming back for more and more. Lego’s have grown to more advanced sets, robotic and remote controlled models as well as Throwbots and Technic sets that take the basic bricks and designs and put them into overdrive.

This entire series offers kids who are into both Lego’s as well as Harry Potter to enter a whole new world of imagination, creative thinking and story creation. My boys have had these sets for a few weeks now and it is all they are talking about. What other toy or toy series could provide so much entertainment, knowledge and creative stimulation for hours and hours and hours? There aren’t many that I can think of off the top of my head that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

This set would be a great introduction to the series since it has enough pieces to be broken down and rebuilt any of a number of ways. With a price tag of under $10.00 in most areas it might just be the perfect set to give a child that is bugging you non-stop about them. As with all the Lego sets there are small pieces that could present a choking hazard if smaller children share the same play area as older kids. Use your discretion in the area of suggested age ranges as well. Some kids that are four years old have mastered the use of these sets and others still feel the need to shove them in assorted body parts [ears, nose, belly button etc]. Don’t ask me why they do it – they just do.


The Stats

Set Name: The Final Challenge
Family Set: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Lego Set: 4702
Number of Pieces: 60
Age Recommendation: 6 - 10
Ease Of Assembly: Easy to moderate
Time Of Assembly: 10 minutes
Cost: $8.99
Retail prices vary from $8.99 - $10.99


As always, thanks for the read!

^V^ Freak ^V^

© 2003 Freak369

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
4701 - Sorting Hat
4702 - The Final Challenge
4704 - Chamber of the Winged Keys
4705 - Snape's Classroom
4706 - The Forbidden Corridor
4707 - Hagrid's Hut
4708 - Hogwarts Express
4709 - Hogwarts Castle
4711 - The Flying Lesson
4712 - Troll on The Loose
4714 - Gringotts Bank
4721 - Hogwarts Classrooms
4722 - Gryffindor House
4723 - Diagon Alley Shops

Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets
4719 - Quality Quidditch Supplies
4720 - Knockturn Alley
4726 - Quidditch Practice
4727 - Aragog In The Dark Forest
4728 - Escape From Privet Drive
4729 - Dumbledore's Office
4730 - The Chamber of Secrets
4731 - Dobby's Release
4733 - The Dueling Club
4735 - Slytherin


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $8.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family