LEGO Hidden Side Newbury Haunted High School 70425 Building Kit, School Playset for 9+ Year Old Boys and Girls, Interactive Augmented Reality Playset (1,474 Pieces)

The new Hidden Side line of LEGO sets combines an augmented reality game with some incredible transforming sets. The Ghost Train Express includes a fantastic train with a few sections of track, a train station, and six minifigures! The game is an interesting bonus, and interacts with the set, but Ill talk more about that in a bit. The set itself is a fun build, and surprisingly simple, so I think even younger builders can enjoy it. I think the train looks pretty good of itself, but when you see the transforming functions, youll absolutely love it! Theres a lever to reveal a pair of wings, and another to open up its angry jaws! The two train cars include some ghost catching equipment, like a zapper, a cage, and a station for examining your ghosts. The station is deceptively simple, and transforms into a monster itself, with claws that you can expose, and a toothed face. Also on the station is perhaps the most clever build element that Ive seen in a long time. The staircase up the side uses a ladder bar with tiles connected so that when you tilt it at an angle and level out each tile, it makes a perfect stair! I love a simple build that so elegantly creates a design. There are a handful of new parts, and a few in new colors. Train fans will love the new wheels and wheel holders which clip in without a cross bar, and the track sections also include a new ramp for a train to join the track! The game is a clever one, in which one can play as a ghost or a ghost hunter. In order to play all of the features of the game, it does require having a Hidden Side set to be built, but there are a lot of gameplay features that can be accessed without purchasing any sets at all. The play as a ghost can be done any time, but the ghost hunter features are more focused on having a set. Its actually a pretty fun game, and I can imagine that kids will really enjoy it when theyre not playing with the set itself.

It’s over all a fun set

My grandson loves this! Love the variety AMAZON has!

Kid loves it

Why did this item not come with an outer box? The lego box was crushed in the corner.. This is not acceptable, it’s a gift.

Lego has built a legacy with the little plastic blocks, which by now come in many different colors and shapes. Sets like this one are Legos attempt to capture the audience beyond the build process. That also means that if you plan on this toy to pull the kids from the omnipresent (smart) screens, it wont do that as the main game idea is based on augmenting the physical toy with virtual gameplay. Halloween is (almost) around the corner and a ghost train the perfect theme for the season. My test subjects, also known as kids, are 6 and 9 years old and they do have ipads at their disposal. With Halloween 2 months away, perfect setting and timing for us. Assembly is rated to fit an 8-year-old. Of course, that also implies some Lego experience to decode the (excellent) build instructions, so you mileage (age) may vary but it most likely turns into an activity thats supported by an older sibling or a parent. In fact, i would highly recommend it as there are a lot of parts and frustration can keep little ones from enjoying this set. (Not all blocks are easily identifiable without a bit of interpretation.) The set has a short section of rails included and obviously wont make a closed track to play like a traditional train set. But this is a Lego, so the journey is half the fun (of building the train and station). Were currently still in the building process (which I want to help but not take over). However, with, portions complete I decided to cheat a bit and downloaded the Hidden Side app on my phone (which they dont know about yet). It seems like they will have a lot of fun exploring the ghost world of the train, but for now we have plenty time to assembly the almost 700 pieces. (You may want to dedicate a spot since its not built over night.)

My son loved this!

The Lego Hidden Side Ghost Train Express 70424 Building Kit is impressive itself, and also has the Interactive Augmented Reality Playset. The kit is 698 Pieces, and had a couple tricky spots for a 7-year-old, but otherwise manageable. I love that LEGO is adding little surprise moving parts, like a mouth and wings to the train. The app is free, and it was a bit of a challenge at first, but then we got the hang of it, and love it. A fantastic way to add even more fun to a set that is terrific on its own!

Great Lego product but young ones need help building

Grandson loved it.