PhoncipleBones Top 10 of 2015
The following are my favorite sets of 2015. As with every year, this is only reflective of what I personally bought during the year, as I am sure there are many gems out there that I missed, but these are the ones that stuck out the most to me.
There are many factors I personally consider when thinking of best sets for the year. The build itself, the final look of the set, the parts pack, and the price. Just because something is expensive doesnt mean it is automatically amazing. There are some great builds out there for relatively low prices.
But, without further ado
10. UCS TIE Fighter
Large and in charge. While Slave 1 may be a better build overall, I have always had a soft spot for the old school TIE Fighter design. The build is fun yet repetitive, but repetition in a build usually yields very nice looking results. This set is absolutely massive when completed, and looks glorious on display. I would expect nothing less from an UCS Star Wars set. They did the workhorse of the Imperial fleet proud with this set.
9. Avengers Quinjet City Chase
The regulars on here know that I have long been a pimp of the original Avengers Quinjet set. I think Ghostmind and I were the first two to be hard selling that set, and it is also what put Marcos Bessa on our radar for a designer to blindly follow.
While I think the OG Quinjet looks better than the new version, I think the build on the new one is better. So many play features hidden in the set, as well as one of the more impressive assortment of figures for an Avengers set. After all, this is the only way to get Vision! But there is an Avengers set that delivers even better figures, a better build, and an even better price
8. TIE Advanced Prototype
I know what you are thinking. Another TIE set, Phoney Bone? Yes, another TIE set. But, unlike the UCS TIE Fighter, I have no emotional attachment to the inspiration vehicle since I never watched Rebels (I know, I should). But this is a solid, chunky build. Everything just feels solid and strong in this set as it comes together. There is an impressive amount of pieces crammed into such a tiny space and seemingly in all directions.
7. Hulk Buster Smash!
An early year favorite on here, and with good reason. This is the new Lex Luthor Power Armor, meaning it delivers an awesome looking mech, but also a really awesome build and a load of fantastic figures. To cap it off, it is $30 or less, which hits so many sweet spots. You get a lot of great and useful parts in the set, but also a bunch of great figures as well. One of the easiest sets to recommend to people, especially because of the price.
6. Ultra Agens Ocean HQ
This theme deserved more attention. Sure, I didnt get them all, but every set always delivered with a fantastic and imaginative build, and some really fun figures as well. This was the cream of the crop though. A brick built hull with lots of interesting techniques, as well as loads of hidden play features throughout the entire thing. The command center/radio shack of the ship was perhaps the coolest part since you essentially had SNOT work going in every single direction before connecting it to the main hull.
It was a very, very tough call to drop this out of the top 5, but I could not in good conscious rank it above the next entry
5. Ferris Wheel
Speaking of large and in charge
This set is HUGE once completed. It only has the footprint of a 48x48 plate, but it looms over nearly everything around it. Absolutely massive and gorgeous when completed, it is also a fantastic parts pack that delivers the goods while coming in below the magical $.10 a brick price point.
Yes, the build gets extremely repetitive for the second half, but repetition usually yields fantastic looking results. Just slap a motor on this bad boy, and you have one stand out show piece for your collection.
4. Attack of the Morro Dragon
Menacing is the only way to describe this thing. The dark blue and pale neon color scheme is striking when on display, and the dragon itself has just enough posable sections to it to integrate into many displays and scenes (although I wish the main body were segmented for some truly freaky poses). The build is unique and lots of fun, and it also has a fantastic array of parts in great colors. Top it off with some amazing ninja figures, this set feels like it is crossing an old kung fu film with a ghost film. It was tickling all the right spots for me. Thanks, Ponn1. Thanks for starting the hype train on this set. It delivered. Big time.
3. Blue Power Jet
I cant remember who the first person on the hype train for this set was, but they deserve all the credit. Just magnificent from beginning to end. So many cool techniques to the build, and SNOT going in almost every direction. And the wings. My god, the wings. Once those came together, it sealed this sets place in the best of the year. Something so stupidly simple, but incredibly effective.
The regular Creator line usually delivers the best bang for the buck, but this one went above and beyond. Just absolutely wonderful stuff in here.
2. Detectives Office
A Jamie Berard modular being one of the best sets of the year? Shocking!
I think we all know what to expect from a Jamie modular at this point. Lots of awesome and useful pieces, some great building techniques, and a very cool display piece. I dont think much else needs to be said about this set. I think most on here were already convinced to get it just because it is a modular. But, I will say that the water tower section has to be the most surprising and awesome build for me in the last couple of years. The way it comes together, and using parts I have had for a couple of decades, was so eye opening and amazing. Even if the rest of the build sucked (which it doesnt), the water tower alone would get this near the top of the list.
But, for me, it is two years in a row with a Jamie modular playing second fiddle to something else
1. Temple of Airjitzu
Beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful. Combining a classical Japanese architecture look with just enough play features, this set brings honor to its ancestors. While the build doesnt offer as many cool techniques as Detective Office or Blue Power Jet, it is still solid and fun, but also one magnificent display piece. It is so easy and fun to stage mock ninja battles all over it, and the set has no shortage of ninjas.
Top it off with a lot of cool and solid interactive features, and you have one joyous set. I was just filled with glee almost the entire time I built it. It is absolutely everything I thought I ever wanted from the Ninjago theme over all these years. Classical Japanese architecture and a kung fu flick brought to life, with just enough fun touches to it. Now I need a spooky, ghost like equivalent to scratch the itch that Morro Dragon began. Perhaps a ghost samurai temple? That would be amazing.
This is my new Haunted House. When I think of a set that just screams character, this is it this year. I cannot recommend it enough.
And for the rest that I loved this year, but had to cut from the top ten (in no particular order):
And finally, a set that deserves special mention:
This is both one of the best and worst sets of the year. It was so fun to build, and looks absolutely perfect once done. I mentioned in the Temple of Airjitzu review that it screamed character. Well, this one screams it as well. It is about as close as we will ever get to the character come to life in our living rooms.
If only it didnt have that wonky neck
Yes, I know that there are fixes out there. Some custom (like mine), and some official. But the fixes should never have been needed. The issue with the neck was so massive and glaring, there is no excuse for it making it past QA. It is a massive, glaring oversight to an otherwise amazing set.
I still wholeheartedly recommend the set, but the fact that there was an issue in the first place immediately drops it off the best of the year list for me. If it had the fixed neck with the ball joint from the start, it would have made choosing a top 10 even harder than it already was.
I am this close to going down the rabbit hole of modulars, but to see what my priorities should be, I'd like to see how you guys would rank these sets:
