The Super Mario 64 Lego Question Mark Block review: all about secrets

One of the most memorable aspects of the video game classic Super mario 64 he was discovering the variety of secrets in the game. Chasing a rabbit through the basement, only to accidentally dive through the wall, was a revelation. And it is that secret element, and the sense of wonder and novelty it inspires, that forms the basis of the fabulous new Mario 64 Lego set, the question mark block.

The set of interrogation blocks has 2064 (how could they not?) Pieces and features various vignettes of some of Mario 64iconic levels. There’s a little Bowser, a little Mario, and two of those damn penguins. But the trick is that none of these bullets are visible before the block is “morphed”. That’s right, this Lego Mario 64 set is secretly a transformer.

In its full form, the block looks like a plain yellow box with the typical Lego grooves in the white question marks. But with a slight tug on one side of the cube, the top opens and the diorama unfolds. The block now acts as a support for bullet points of different levels. Peach’s Castle sits atop Lethal Lava Land, complete with the large horned Bully. And on the sides is Bob-omb Battlefield and Cool, Cool Mountain.

Each of the dioramas features numerous Easter eggs, some hidden within the castle’s structure, but they are not the only secrets in the set. The exterior of the block also features a small hatch, completely invisible unless you know where to shoot. When you lift the hatch, you will see a little Lego Bowser staring at you. Pressing it activates a lever and unlocks a lower piece of the assembly, flipping down and creating a small platform.

The platform houses a turntable that you can hook Bowser’s tail to. If you put your little Mario on the turntable, you can spin King Koopa and yell, “See you later, Gay Bowser!” yourself for hours. Or you can just attach Princess Peach so that you can finally get the revenge that is due to you.

The Mario 64 Question Mark block is a complicated build with a ton of different pieces, but like many Lego sets, it’s perfect once you’ve built it. And it is that fluidity that preserves the many secrets it contains. If you simply showed someone the block and told them how many hours you spent building it, they would probably start wondering how you spend your time. But like candy, the shell is there to make it look pretty – everything you want is inside.

Super Mario 64 it’s pretty simple if you never venture out of the specific path of the Nintendo stars. But to get all 120 stars, you have to think outside the box, get every coin, and look at the sun. As a static toy, the Lego Question Mark Block takes Mario 64and emulates the philosophy of the video game as well as an inflexible plastic can. That’s why I loved putting together this Lego set.

For the curious, the Lego Question Mark Block is just a big chunk of plastic. But for me, its builder, is an intricate machine with many details waiting to be discovered.