LEGO pokes fun at ‘subpar’ build in Sonic the Hedgehog Ideas set 

The LEGO Group has poked fun at what it calls a ‘subpar’ build in last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog Ideas set while promoting the blue blur’s new theme.

A full LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog product range is racing on to shelves in August across five new sets, two of which include a brand new Dr. Eggman minifigure. That’s a departure from the brick-built version of Dr. Robotnik you’ll find in 2022’s 21331 Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone, a LEGO Ideas set based on a concept by fan designer Viv Grannell.

To promote the launch of the new theme, the LEGO Group has sent out boxes full of LEGO bricks to influencers and YouTubers, prompting them to ‘make LEGO Sonic more Eggman’. Each of the boxes – such as the one sent to Ashnflash – is topped by the new Dr. Eggman minifigure, and includes a letter penned by Sonic’s nemesis that calls out his previous LEGO incarnation.

“What a lovely surprise, isn’t it? Because you don’t deserve anything from that annoying rodent, here’s my very own LEGO minifigure,” the letter begins. “The last brick-built version of me was subpar so this is my beautiful comeback.”

It’s a surprisingly candid admission from the LEGO Group, seemingly referencing the mixed reception to the brick-built Dr. Eggman included in 21331 Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone. Reviews on LEGO.com have called out certain areas of the character (his head in particular is the target of much grief), while Grannell even offered an alternative approach to its design not long after the set launched.

The Robotnik minifigure included in 76993 Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman’s Death Egg Robot and 76994 Sonic’s Green Hill Zone Loop Challenge is probably the best alternative to his brick-built counterpart, though, and his flying mech in 76994 is a great replacement for the one included in 21331. For best results, you might just want to combine all things Sonic come August.

The rest of the villain’s note asks its recipient to use the mech from 76993 Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman’s Death Egg Robot, as well as the supplied extra LEGO pieces, to #MakeLEGOSonicMoreEggman: “Remove his blue quills, add a moustache, do whatever you fancy and just upload it to the LEGO Ideas challenge page.” Said LEGO Ideas challenge is not yet live at the time of writing, but presumably it will kick off later today.

The full wave of LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog sets will be available to buy from August 1. Check out our reviews of the new sets here.

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