We Build LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8

The Luigi Kart set is organized into 22 bags. You build the Mach 8 in a similar manner to other stylized LEGO cars. A web of LEGO Technic rods and pins forms the vehicle’s underlying foundation. And then, you lay bricks on top of that – sort of like laying wet strips on a paper mache model — to give the vehicle its signature shape.

The car is blue with yellow trim and fins, and it looks – true to its name – like a modified jet fighter. Turn the steering wheel, and the front wheels turn accordingly. There’s also a cluster of rocket flame pieces coming out the back of the model. If you rotate the back wheels, the flames rotate, to give the impression of a turbo boost.

I love any set that incorporates mechanical elements – interlocking gears and hinged pieces — into its construction. The special effects on the Luigi Kart are minimal, but I appreciate the effort that went into them. As anyone who’s attempted to build a vehicle with loose LEGO bricks can attest, it is a feat to simply line gears up, nevermind get them to accomplish something.

Then you build Luigi. You start with the torso, complete with overalls and big gold buttons. Then you build the legs and shoes in a sitting position (Luigi cannot stand and is missing his butt). Next you build the arms and two white gloves with movable, opposable thumbs. And lastly, you build the head. The hat goes last, which requires you to build two separate pieces that lock together at the brim. You can turn Luigi’s head and pose his arms, either to grip the wheel or to celebrate and pump his fist after a win.

There is no “better” side to face out, nor is there a worse side :to face toward the wall. LEGO designed this set to look appealing from every angle. Interestingly, nostalgia hits hardest when viewing this model from the back rather than from the front; that’s the view we’ve become familiar with after three decades of playing Mario Kart video games.

This LEGO set is the second of its type. Last spring, LEGO released a build of Mario driving his classic, Standard Kart. We reviewed and enjoyed that set, citing its chunky, expressive visuals and accessibility. This Luigi set is more of the same; the things that were good in the Mario set are still good in the Luigi set.

But whereas the Mario set was an innovation–the first of its kind–the Luigi builds off the reliable template of its predecessor. We enjoyed the Luigi set for its visual appeal, but the build experience is redundant, because I had built something extremely similar to it less than a year ago. And whereas the Standard Kart, with its front portion connected to its steering wheel, created some interesting design choices, the Luigi Kart is a more straightforward vehicular build, even if the final result looks cooler. Of course, if you never built the Mario set and just want the Luigi set, none of this should matter. But if you plan on having both, the comparison is inevitable.

There’s nothing wrong with repeating what works, per se. But future sets should acknowledge this redundancy by trying something bolder and more daring. A differently proportioned character like, say, Koopa Troopa or Toad or even Bowser, could help shake things up. Similarly, an eccentric Kart model – one whose design veers far from that of a traditional vehicle – could make things more interesting.

Imagine Princess Peach, in an alternate costume, driving a Prancer. Or imagine Yoshi driving a Flame Rider. The more left-field the LEGO designers go with their design choices, the better.

LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8, Set #72050, retails for $179.99, and it is composed of 2,234 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.

Interested in more LEGO Mario sets? Check out our roundup of the best LEGO Nintendo sets currently on sale.