Review: 71430 Penguin Family Snow Adventure

The third set in this affordable wave of LEGO Super Mario lets you recreate the events of the second quest, “Li'l Penguin Lost,” on Cool Cool Mountain from Super Mario 64. We’ve also seen this level depicted in microscale form in 71395 Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block.

Super Mario 64 is one of the greatest gaming experiences out there, so having it represented in LEGO is very cool! Brrr!

Characters

The Baby Penguin, aka Tuxie, has been seen in Character Pack series four, and in 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure. She does have a knack for getting lost—as I was moving the set the other day, she fell behind the couch!

The form of the character hasn’t changed between the different appearances, featuring 1x2 slopes for back feathers, and cheese slopes for her tiny flippers.

After the many baby penguins throughout the waves, this is the first time we meet Mother Penguin. Like her daughter, her construction is a series of slopes, but this time also incorporates curved slopes to give the wings some additional personality.

Using the same printed bricks for the eyes, the designers scaled up the penguin model successfully. I enjoyed the use of a couple of classic pieces: 1x2 triple slope for her back feathers and beak, and, disregarding the holes, 2x2 coupling plates for her webbed feet.

I’m a big fan of the Goombas that randomly inhabit these sets because they sometimes have great hats using limited parts. This one is no exception. Plus they’ve included a 2x2 tile so he can also go hatless.

Completed Model

Given how few pieces are used in the cave’s construction, I was impressed by its convincing form. The efficient use of LURPs (part of the BURP family) here gives transparency and iciness to the build without unnecessary additions to the piece count and therefore the cost. The ramp, however, is a less convincing use of parts. Young children may feel otherwise due to the playability it offers.

Mother Penguin even has a space to refrigerate her cooked fish in the icy cave wall, ready for Baby Penguin’s dinner when she finally makes it home.

New for this year, the 2x2 crown leaf has been used for evergreen trees in no less than five sets across two themes. It’s no wonder that this design has been reused—it’s a happy little tree! I found it endearing that under the tree there is a little cave dedicated solely to a tiny snow-penguin. I like to imagine that Baby Penguin has built herself a miniature rendition of her home, just like a doll’s house.

Play

Scan the barcode in front of the cave to talk to Mother Penguin. You will hear her cry, and an animation on your hero figure’s chest will show the mother in distress. Your task now is to locate Baby Penguin and bring her safely home.

Scanning the Baby Penguin barcode allows Mario to pick her up and carry her like an item. If you take damage from poison or lava, you will lose the baby penguin and need to scan the barcode again. Escort missions in video games are some of the most nerve-wracking, and this got me thinking about how this feature could be incorporated into a wider course. For example, the mother and baby could be at opposite ends of a perilous platforming course.

Slide down the ramp on the toboggan provided while carrying Baby Penguin, and watch her adorably cheering on the screen as you collect coins on your way. Mario doesn’t actually ride a toboggan in the video game, so I didn’t understand why it needed to be included. Since the tile in its centre is just plain medium azure, the effect is no different than sliding your hero figure down the ramp on their feet. Instead, I would have liked to see an additional barcode on this item to interact with. This would be the perfect chance to include the Slider Race theme song from Super Mario 64 that this set desperately needs to be complete.

When placing your hero figure on any medium azure parts, icy slide effects and coins being collected are heard. Additionally, when your hero figure is stationary on those colours, snow begins to fill their screen until their teeth begin to chatter.

After you’ve picked up a Penguin, scanning the Mother Penguin barcode for a second time will reunite the two and surround them with hearts. Your hero will exclaim something to the effect of, “We did it!”. Together at last!

Conclusion

I can think of a couple of improvements, such as an extra barcode to include the Slider Race theme song or a new chilly facial expression for the Goomba. However, overall I was very charmed by this set. For the price, this set has adequate functionality while also offering a nice display piece for the Super Mario 64 fans out there. Luckily, the rather clunky ramp can be removed easily.

From a playability perspective, the escort mission play concept was intriguing and gave me new ideas for course design.

14 comments on this article

By dudebrick in United States, 01 Dec 2023 18:08

I wonder how many people will buy this just for the penguins, without worrying about Mario. They're cute! And the baby snow-penguin to boot. Looks like a very fun little set.

By beige2 in United States, 01 Dec 2023 18:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxHzfvA1sI intensifies
But the question is, can you drop the baby penguin off the mountain?

By Ridgeheart in Netherlands, 01 Dec 2023 18:11

I dropped this set.

It may not have been an accident.

By Trigger_ in United States, 01 Dec 2023 18:20

kill

By Username28 in United States, 01 Dec 2023 18:24

All of the BURPs:

4216709: LURP (Little Ugly Rock Piece)
4279446: BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece)
6138752: CURP (Curved Ugly Rock Piece)
6414928: LUIP (Little Ugly Iceberg Piece)
4513326: BUIP (Big Ugly Iceberg Piece)

By iamkevinwill in United Kingdom, 01 Dec 2023 18:27

Low and behold the theme to this level awoke from the depths of my brain! Super Mario 64 blew me away way back when, so I may someday pick this set up (when reduced) for nostalgia alone. Might re-make it into a Luke/Wampa cave scene.

By BaconKing in United States, 01 Dec 2023 19:12

I can recreate that one meme from Mario 64!

By TheOtherMike in United States, 01 Dec 2023 19:30

"Plus they’ve included a 2x2 tile so he can also go hatless." But why would you do that when the behatted Goomba is so adorable?

By Yardsale19X in United Kingdom, 01 Dec 2023 20:53

These Mario reviews are very entertaining. You really know your stuff and clearly enjoy it, so it's a pleasure to read. Thanks!

By GBP_Chris in United States, 01 Dec 2023 22:29

SetToBuild: What a neat little set, I like it

Everyone Else: SACRIFICE SACRIFICE SACRIFICE

By MLF in Canada, 02 Dec 2023 00:36

Adorable little set, and I couldn't resist picking it up today.

Just cracked this open, and I was surprised that it contained full paper instructions! Not sure when they made the change, but I am glad. The digital only instructions in the Mario sets were a bit of a turn off.

By Studnotontop in United States, 02 Dec 2023 00:45

Reminds me of Club Penguin. A theme Lego would’ve done justice back in the late 2000s had they got the chance to work with it. Might pick this up based off that resemblance alone.

By TheOtherMike in United States, 02 Dec 2023 04:48

Username28: Other than BURP and LURP, are those your own initialisms, or something you saw somewhere?

By Miyakan in New Zealand, 03 Dec 2023 23:17

@Username28 said:
"All of the BURPs:

4216709: LURP (Little Ugly Rock Piece)
4279446: BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece)
6138752: CURP (Curved Ugly Rock Piece)
6414928: LUIP (Little Ugly Iceberg Piece)
4513326: BUIP (Big Ugly Iceberg Piece)"

I would have said CURP was Corner Ugly Rock Piece.

As for the BUIP I've heard it called a MURP (Medium Ugly Rock Piece) as it was a rock first (Dark Bluish Grey)
That would make the LUIP a SURP (Small Ugly Rock Piece)