Review: 10273 Haunted House
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has produced some excellent Fairground models, encompassing various traditional rides and stalls. 10273 Haunted House combines two ubiquitous attractions since an impressive drop tower is constructed within Baron von Barron's infamous haunted mansion!
This model appears appropriately forbidding in official images, capturing the menacing design which is traditionally associated with haunted houses. Furthermore, the generous selection of references to previous products might prove interesting and I anticipate some innovative functionality, matching previous Fairground sets.
Box and Contents
The packaging for products which target adults has been updated recently, commencing with 76139 1989 Batmobile. I think that has proven appropriate for certain models, although 10273 Haunted House looks comparatively bland in my opinion. The building definitely stands out but flashes of lightning in the background would have created a much more dynamic image.
Opening the box reveals 25 bags, numbered between one and eighteen. The instruction manual contains 312 pages and some comments from the design team, although that section of the booklet only covers two pages which is disappointing. I did appreciate the notes about certain details inside Manor von Barron though, explaining how copious furnishings and accessories relate to the Baron's expeditions.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that no stickers are included. Instead, the decorated elements are printed which is excellent, especially since the set contains a considerable quantity of those pieces. They appear exceptionally intricate too, recalling designs from the beloved Adventurers theme that was released between 1998 and 2003.
Minifigures
The impressive selection of printed elements inside the haunted house leaves limited potential for exclusive minifigure components. Nevertheless, several interesting characters are provided. Bearded twins welcome visitors to the attraction and appear somewhat sinister, although I think new heads to reflect characters from the Adventurers range would have improved these figures. Their top hats and elegant waistcoats are ideal though.
Ghosts have accompanied numerous spooky sets, including 10228 Haunted House from 2012. However, these minifigures vary significantly from the classic design, lacking a shroud element and instead featuring white hoods. I think the original ghoulish minifigures look better but these are charmingly simple and make ingenious use of existing pieces.
The double-sided heads are particularly fun, featuring facial expressions that closely resemble previous LEGO ghosts. One side displays a haunting smile while the other seems despondent. These dramatic expressions correspond with theatrical masks and the huge smile reminds me of 4051 Nesquik Rabbit, where a surprisingly frightening head appeared under Quicky's mask!
Five guests are available here. None of their constituent components are unique, matching previous Fairground sets, but there are some uncommon pieces. For example, two of these characters originate from Hidden Side as the male minifigure is notably similar to Rami from 70435 Newbury Abandoned Prison while the female figure seemingly attends Newbury High School, given the initials on her jacket.
Additionally, the distinctive head with sideburns has only otherwise appeared in 60247 Forest Fire. Both characters omit alternative expressions but their torsos look splendid, especially as such bright colours contrast against the sinister haunted house. The male minifigure is closely based upon LEGO designer Niek van Slagmaat, also known as Toothdominoes, so shows the stylised initials T.D. on his shirt.
More common elements comprise the remaining three minifigures, although they are certainly welcome additions. The first of these characters wears a black jacket which has only appeared in three previous sets and her double-sided head is perfect, displaying a terrified expression on the reverse to replace her standard smile. The quality of yellow decoration on her torso should have been improved though.
The third female minifigure includes a distinctive blonde hair piece. I love its intricate texture, although exactly the same element appears in 10261 Roller Coaster so greater differentiation would have been appreciated. Once again, this character integrates an alternative scared face and the male character also appears frightened, presumably in reaction to the haunted house!
LEGO introduced a light bluish grey wheelchair during 2016 and that component returns here which is welcome, particularly because the attraction has been designed for partial wheelchair accessibility. However, it would be nice for this element to become available in a broader range of colours in the future.
The Completed Model
Fairground sets have been consistently enormous and 10273 Haunted House continues this tradition, measuring 68cm in height. That exceeds both 10247 Ferris Wheel and 10261 Roller Coaster, although the earlier sets are considerably bigger in other dimensions. Nevertheless, I think the attractions are appropriately scaled together and their varied profile shapes create an attractive display.
The model is constructed on four 16x16 dark tan plates, providing limited space for external detail. The fenced area beside the front door is accordingly small and looks reasonably drab, although that design seems fitting for the environment. Moreover, I think these fences should appear more dilapidated, perhaps comprising mismatched tiles rather than specialised fence components.
However, the modest graveyard inside is an appealing addition. One gravestone features an ornate bat while the other represents Tiago Catarino, a former set designer who has recently departed LEGO. The design of these initials corresponds precisely with another printed tile in 21313 Ship in a Bottle that was developed by Tiago. The neighbouring pumpkin and desiccated reddish brown plants look excellent as well.
Olive green has been chosen for the exterior of the haunted house. This colour is relatively muted and its selection has proven rather divisive, although I think it suits the building nicely. The light bluish grey accent colour is similarly authentic and I appreciate the simple texturing along the corners, forming realistic quoins. Even so, the sand green colour scheme of 10228 Haunted House from 2012 remains more appealing in my opinion.
The reverse of the haunted house is completely dominated by the lift chain and deceleration mechanisms, hence appearing in few official images. This section of the model looks chaotic and is certainly unsuitable for display, although it would have been notably difficult to conceal the flywheels or lift chain without significantly increasing the number of parts. In addition, real fairground attractions sometimes include exposed mechanisms which are hidden from public view.
Dark bluish grey frogs depict gargoyles around the edges of the roof, standing above Technic bricks that represent rainwater outlets. Decorative details continue on the ridges, where pearl silver foils form finials. The pearl gold highlights seem slightly incongruous on the exterior but comparable features are present on real buildings. Furthermore, I like the black chimney pots which are built using fez pieces and black BB-9E heads.
Unfortunately, the roof panels look comparatively bland. The studded texture is satisfactory but authentic roof tiles would have been preferable, perhaps comprising pentagonal tiles that could be layered to create a realistic design. Admittedly, that would have necessitated the addition of numerous elements but I think the result would be worthwhile.
The grandiose porch is remarkably elegant, featuring two golden lamps with matching handles on each door. The surrounding brickwork appears simple, although I like the black roof and the contrast between the steps and the curved ramp. However, I am disappointed with the external environment because the exposed dark tan plate looks extremely dull.
Twisting a dial beside the chimney breast will cause the wooden doors to open together. This function feels very smooth but the light bluish grey dial on the exterior looks awkward which is disappointing, given how easily it could have been disguised. Nevertheless, the opening doors are welcome as their remote activation seems suitably creepy!
Several gears comprise the simple mechanism above the doors and these components have been concealed well. The chandelier hangs from a Technic axle connecting those gears but it looks brilliant and I like the dark green pentagonal tiles on the wall, especially since they have only otherwise appeared in 31103 Rocket Truck. The divided fireplace is disappointing though as 10228 Haunted House found a solution to keep the fireplace together, whether the building was open or closed.
The ticket counter is located near the entrance and appears old-fashioned, complementing its surroundings. There is plenty of room for an attendant to stand behind the counter and but the space in front would be limited when the building is closed. Several control panels for the drop tower are also included, featuring two printed 2x2 slopes that were introduced for 75253 Droid Commander and make reference to Classic Space. The printed 1x2 tiles match those created for the M-Tron range during 1990.
References to the revered Adventurers theme are distributed throughout the structure, as one might expect at Manor von Barron! The first of these is mounted on the wall above the counter as this distinctive creation, known as the Idol of Everest, originates from 7417 Temple of Mount Everest. Its colours have been updated but the shape remains identical.
An impressive obelisk stands on the other side of the room. Obelisks appear throughout the Desert subtheme of Adventurers but this design most closely resembles an example in 5958 Mummy's Tomb. The cartouche has been changed though, displaying four hieroglyphs which can be translated to read 'Ogel', in reference to the Alpha Team's fearsome foe.
My favourite of the interior furnishings is this spectacular pipe organ. Pearl gold candle pieces are employed to splendid effect here and I love the printed 1x2 keyboard tiles which have only appeared twice before. The pedals below the keydesk are another authentic detail and golden taps depict the stops, controlling which pipes are used. This instrument is named the Organ of Catarino, again making fun reference to Tiago Catarino.
Excavation equipment is located beside the organ and two heads from statues of Anubis are placed on the wall above. These appear in several Adventurers sets but the instructions state they were acquired from 5988 The Temple of Anubis. Their design remains broadly consistent, albeit now integrating dark bluish grey 1x3 inverted double slopes rather than the original black components.
An enormous portrait of Baron Samuel von Barron occupies the roof. The pearl gold frame is exceptionally ornate and I like the painting inside, displaying Baron von Barron with the fabled Re-Gou Ruby. This jewel was interred with Pharaoh Hotep so appeared in several Adventurers sets, where Johnny Thunder and Baron von Barron both sought to recover the ruby.
Baron von Barron was apparently successful, although stealing the ruby also brought a curse upon the villain. Pressing an external panel activates a light brick behind the painting, causing Pharaoh Hotep to appear! This looks absolutely spectacular and I love the notable glow which emanates from the ruby whenever Hotep emerges.
Removing the portrait reveals the simple, but ingenious, mechanism inside. The painting is printed on a trans-clear wall panel and another trans-clear wall panel is situated behind that, featuring Pharaoh Hotep. Light passes through the rearmost panel and is projected onto the portrait to create the desired spectral effect. I particularly appreciate the gap in this image of Hotep that causes the ruby to glow brightly.
While the majority of accessories and furnishings inside the haunted house make reference to past sets, the Resonator is new. According to the instruction manual, this device was designed to harness the power of the Re-Gou Ruby but instead summoned two friendly ghosts. The blue gemstone inside appears odd as the ruby was originally red, although I imagine the Resonator changed its colour.
Further to the aforementioned obelisk and Anubis heads, the baron has also acquired a head belonging to the sphinx from 5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise. This decoration closely resembles the version from 1998, although its original red and blue stripes have been replaced with dark orange and dark blue while the yellow highlights are now pearl gold. Furthermore, a detonator appears behind the Resonator, apparently to destroy the sphinx should it become cursed.
Three separate references are hidden in the next storage chamber. The first depicts an Ogel Sphere from the Alpha Team range and the yellow object originates from 7412 Yeti's Hideout, although its purpose is unknown. Meanwhile, the box in the centre contains some light bluish grey legs and a dark orange body which can be reassembled to form Junkbot! This character appeared in the Junkbot online game but lacks any decoration which is unfortunate.
Baron von Barron became known as Lord Sam Sinister during his later expeditions, wearing a black top hat. This skeleton may reveal his brutal fate, although it could also represent another brother who once worked in the haunted house. The imposing Altar of Alhazred is named after the fictional author of the Necronomicon, Abdul Alhazred. Despite its sinister origins, the baron apparently used the altar for light reading!
The haunted house is constructed around an interesting drop tower that begins on the ground floor. Unlike previous Fairground sets, there is no obvious access point for minifigures but you can remove the carriage with ease and place characters inside. The vehicle base which forms the carriage was produced for the Adventurers theme so seems appropriate, although its dark azure colour should have been swapped for tan.
Pearl gold lattice elements surround the entrance to the drop tower, continuing the traditional aesthetic which permeates this building. The white highlights are also relatively consistent as they appear repeatedly across the tower, albeit only inside the haunted house as the exterior comprises olive green and light bluish grey bricks.
Numerous reddish brown windows are present on the tower as well, clearly revealing the lift chain inside. Assembling these windows and the quoins is extremely repetitive but the result looks marvellous. Another window appears inside the haunted house. This trans-clear 1x6x5 wall panel lines up perfectly with a camera, shown beside the hanging skeleton above, which photographs riders when the structure is closed.
The lift chain comprises 148 black chain links and two light bluish grey tread elements. These capture the carriage as the chain moves, raising it slowly before the carriage is released at the top. Moving the carriage past the flywheel brakes sometimes causes the gears to chatter which is a shame, although that may improve following repeated use. Additionally, the brakes are very effective in slowing the carriage before it collides with the rubber stoppers at the base.
Ideally, the chain might have been concealed inside the tower but it instead runs for nearly its entire length, as demonstrated below. Enclosing the lift chain would have required many more pieces though so I understand this decision. Powered Up components can motorise the model which is great, although purchasing two motors and the hub would cost £74.97 or $83.97 and I think turning the crank is equally enjoyable.
Wooden doors are situated in the uppermost section of the tower, before reaching the angular roof. These lack texture which is surprising when compared with other sets, although I love the decorative tile above the doors which features an attractive helmet, a bat and Roman numerals denoting 6007 Bat Lord. Presumably the architect of Baron von Barron's mansion was inspired by Basil the Bat Lord's intimidating style.
The internal surfaces of the doors look unusual, featuring inverted curved slopes and curved plates. They are required to open the doors automatically as the carriage reaches the summit, providing an excellent view to its occupants. The function is simple but works nicely, especially since the doors close immediately when the carriage is released and drops back to the starting position.
Overall
Outstanding functionality and display value have defined the Fairground range, despite some dramatic variation between the models. 10273 Haunted House satisfies those expectations in certain respects, particularly given the considerable external detail and the brilliant drop tower design. Furthermore, I appreciate the numerous references to the Adventurers theme and the pipe organ appears notably spectacular.
However, comparing this model with past Fairground sets and 10228 Haunted House reveals various shortcomings. The functions here are much less appealing than 10261 Roller Coaster, for example, while the space inside has been reduced in favour of references. The model from 2012 included various spooky chambers for minifigures to explore but most of these rooms are completely inaccessible.
Taking these factors into consideration, 10273 Haunted House could be significantly improved. Personally, I think the drop tower and the haunted house should have been created separately, thereby enabling the designer to achieve better examples of each attraction. Nevertheless, the model looks superb on display and the price of £209.99 or $249.99 seems quite reasonable in my opinion, especially since 3231 pieces are included.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
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48 comments on this article
I made mine yesterday. It’s a nice standalone set but having built it and placed it with my other fairground sets it seems...a little lost. It doesn’t have the bright fun inspiring colours of the previous sets. It feels more like a modular building than a fairground set when your building it and displaying it. The ride function is limited (and doesn’t seem perfect even on the expensive Powered Up system) and it’s just not as appealing then as the previous sets. The Rollercoaster brought the fairground series to new heights (pardon the pun), this just doesn’t have that wow factor.
Also I’m still not sure how a Haunted house could be considered part of a fairground!
As a fan of houses and buildings, I really want to love this, but I just don’t. I bought the haunted house 10228 when it came out, mainly for the parts to use for modular green grocer. I did attempt to build it but really didn’t like it and gave up half way through. I wish I’d have kept it as it’s value has increased massively. I’m not sure this haunted house will be as popular.
After looking over this again, I’ve decided it’s the green colour putting me off. Maybe I could switch it for another.
I’m just here for the Junkbot parade
Waiting for mine to arrive, I'm honestly not a fan of fairground stuff but couldn't resist the fact it was linked to adventurers. I plan on ripping out the ride mechanism and associated things and rebuilding the tower to contain tygurah, the yeti and Jun chi statues from the original adventures sets I think.
I appreciate the inclusion of the Karen minifigure.
Foreboding is the word you want, not forbidding
I like this set but I agree that it's a shame that the interior can't be used by figures like the old set. I think the old set overall is much better since it's an actual haunted house, but this new one isn't bad and at least tries something different with the drop ride.
Great in-depth review—thanks!
As for the yellow object that originates from 7412, that is most likely part of a chorten/stupa, a Buddhist shrine that holds relics. At least, that’s what the designer of the original set appeared to be inspired by.
@drewstew - No, forbidding is the correct word, although foreboding would be similarly appropriate in this context: https://www.lexico.com/definition/forbidding
Thanks for this thoughtful review. I agree that the designers were only partially successful in reconciling the haunted house and the fairground mechanism, and consequently neither is what it might have been. If it weren't for the Adventurers references, I wouldn't even be considering it.
I have not bought anoof the previous fairground range but this is a maybe because of its modular like leanings.
Great review, CapnRex! I’m looking forward to getting it though I do share your thoughts around wishing the drop tower and haunted house had been separate sets. I do appreciate that the haunted house at LEGOland is that way, though.
@Zackula beat me on commenting about the Karen minifig. She looks like she wants to speak to the manager.
CapnRex101, I think you touch on some valid points in your conclusion that made me realise why I have such a hard time loving this set. This models seems indeed like they should have been two seperate sets: a modular building and a drop tower ride.
I love the fairground theme but its focus is becoming muddled with this model. The concept behind it doesn't make sense. Fine, use a haunted mansion, but then make a ride where the minifigs need to walk through or step into a gondola like a doombuggy. Or just use the drop tower and build it into a haunted hotel like The Hollywood Tower of Terror.
What mansion has a tower that large? A few exceptions maybe but not in general.
What mansion has a counter that can be turned into a ticket counter? A hotel has a counter. Heck, They even included two bell boy type minifigs. Go for the Hotel idea already. The design of the mansion takes cues from that ride anyway. Now it looks like a combination of two ideas that don't match up.
So I'm doubting to purchase. I want to keep the collection going, but the more I look at it, the more "faults" I see. Usually it's the other way around. I also don't care very much about the eastereggs and most certainly not as a selling point. Also, I know Lego loves storytelling in their models, but if you're gonna aim this at 18+, ease up on spoonfeeding the story or at the very least have a clear and focused concept behind it.
But I also don't won't to be too harse on the designers. They did good work on the mechanism (albeit not perfect) of the drop tower. Many parts of the interior such as the organ are very creatively done. The mansion itself looks well designed but it's not as spooky as set 10228, which I managed to buy just before it dissapppeared into the claws of the scalpers. I'm sure their intentions were well, but I'm afraid it's just not good enough.
This purchase needs deliberation and a good deal.
Did you figure out why two motors are required to motorise it?
Great review and your summary captures my feelings - a smashed-up, "less-than-the-sum-of-the-parts" mess of 2 separate builds. Will likely get this (at discount) and pull out the ride feature. Hoping someone is able to accomplish that and post a video to gauge just how much "damage" is done pulling out the mechanism!
Anyone else think having dangerous artifacts and weapons like that Ogel thing is a bad idea for a theme park? Still, love all the references! Maybe Junkbot just needs some repairs.
@Huw said:
"Did you figure out why two motors are required to motorise it?"
There is a lever which disengages the main lift drive mechanism, and allows the car to drop. However, the same effect can be achieved by simply continuing to rotate the primary crank. I was able to produce a satisfactory repeating lift-and-drop loop with a large PF motor.
In my opinion it doesen’t even stand close to monster fighters haunted house. A lift that you will use 3 times in your liftime just to check if it is still working? And it doesen’t fit into modulars as well as previous haunted house.. its a no for me..
Just finished building this and it was a lot of fun. Definitely glad I decided to get it, plus love all the Adventurers gems. As someone who owns all the fairground sets as well as the Monster Fighters Haunted House, this was pretty cool. Nothing will ever top the roller coaster as it may be one of the greatest sets of all time, but this set with the drop feature fits well with the others. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for another great review! I'm really considering retuning this back to Lego and spend the money on something else Lego.. Luckily I have the original haunted house 10228 from 2012 and this 10273 does not fit anywhere anyway. The elevator mechanism obviously does not work close to perfect either so this was a wrong purchase I think. Kinda sad.
Without that tall tower, it would look fantastic together with other released modular buildings. What a pity, I will pass this set.
In addition to the points mentioned earlier, I would like to add two things:
1) I have to stress that it's amazing that they managed to make a functioning drop tower with a nice facade. But because it is a facade in-universe, the actual building loses a lot of its charm. The various artifacts in the attic are a bit cluttered and not well-displayed, and I think something of a more display-like appearance would have helped a lot for the upper ones. Now they seem a bit stashed away, as if it's meant only for us instead of the minifigs.
2) I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but I realized that one thing is really bothering me: the details aren't quite right. The 'creepy twins' could have been a good throwback to Sam Sinister's outfit or something, but their faces and costumes look too normal. But more importantly, every single one of the artifacts are made with the wrong colours. It would be a lot more authentic to use the colours from the old sets. That way it feels like a proper easter egg. Instead, everything now looks incredibly off. Furthermore, some of the artifacts are barely tied to the mansion's theme. Why the ogel references and the ornament from 7412 Yeti Hideout, a set Sinister has nothing to do with? Why not add one 1x1 round plate to make it the one from 7409, a set he appeared in? It sounds like nitpicking, but the sum of this takes a lot of the enjoyment away from the interior.
So now it 1) doesn't work in-universe as props for minifigs nor 2) as throwbacks to the actual old sets as they were.
This is just so distracting. I know that parts colour budget is a thing, but how much would it have mattered for the overall price? Take the Anubis heads. Why the grey?
I mean, why did they decide to make a blue Rhe Gou ruby?
As a final addition... I in no way want to disrespect the thought and effort the designers put into the model by saying this. I think the overall model is still outstanding looking and I have to emphasize how amazing it is to see lego release a working drop tower! My points are small because I focus on details. Again, I know that parts budget is a thing. Still, I found these details influenced the overall look, which is unfortunate.
A shame no review I’ve seen of the set actually covers the Powered Up functions.
The app adds spooky music, but there’s also a few other features. Other buttons allow you to run the lift to the top and drop it automatically, another will actually just hold the lift at the open doors at the top for you to then tap a lever and drop it, and the other button stops the lift at the clear glass pane inside for a photo opportunity.
Pretty clever, and they work well.
Nothing like as creepy and imaginative as 10228, which I consider to be one of the best Lego sets ever. This one doesn’t even have spooky minifigures. It’s a theme park attraction, not a haunted house, and much poorer for it, in my opinion.
Thanks for the great review. It confirms my suspicion that this set is not for me.
This to me is neither a fairground attraction nor a Haunted House at all.
I hate olive green as a LEGO colour and it doesn't do this set any favours either. To me it always looks like vomit somehow.
10228 was a proper Haunted House with proper ghosts and lovely sand green parts.
I also know nothing about the Adventurers theme so the inside jokes are lost on me. Plus, what has that got to do with a Haunted House? Had there been a Frankenstein theme previously I might have got it, but Adventurers? Doesn't sound very spooky to me.
I'll wait for next year's set of the theme. Perhaps that will be a proper fairground attraction again.
I don't see these "TD" initials you speak of. I see a shirt with a stripe filled with geometric shapes.
As an amusement park ride, the "haunted house" aspect would really just be a way to set the mood for the ride. Parkgoers would be severely limited in where they could walk, though a _lot_ of the décor is really hidden from their view and seems largely pointless from a minifig standpoint (really some of that stuff is only there for the benefit of building/displaying the set).
@KIERAN2400:
To me, a fairground is an open patch of land where portable rides get set up on occasion. By that definition, nothing since the Mixer qualifies. Everything else since has been straight up permanent amusement park rides. Between Tower of Terror and Disney's Haunted Mansion, I think this qualifies in that regard.
@Huw:
One operates the chain, and the other disengages the catch mechanism so the passengers can board/unboard without being murdered to death.
@40hayling:
Someone else was complaining that they had to use the Batmobile program to run the motor, but that seemed to work for them. Maybe because it's officially a June 1 release they haven't added this to the app yet?
I think they should have made the actual ride into an open air drop tower instead, where you could actually see all the action. Also, such tower could have been even taller while using less pieces, would probably work better and could have minifigs seated on three sides. It could also be made much more colourful to better fit in with the rest of the theme, which previously have been just fantastic.
As for all the "easter eggs" I'm one of those to whom they don't mean anything, feels like the designers got a little too carried away by their own nostalgia with all that.
Man this looks so plain exterior-wise
No video of the mechanism? My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Personally I think it's great looking and I will buy it. Sure, lime green and purple would have made for a better looking haunted house, but 10228 was also grey and green also. This one still looks great.
Most fairground rides have some kind of theme - a carousel can be anything from racing to horse riding, a roller coaster can be a dragon or a spaceship. A drop ride like this can be science fiction or a ghost theme.
Sure, there are no rooms or internal space - it reminds me of other great looking sets with features taking up the limited interior space- 70617 or 70425 spring to mind, but on the flipside most 18+ build and display not play.
It seems to me that it is a ride with a haunted facade rather than a haunted house that is a ride.
Definitely on my buy list.
Wait, is the Baron lord sinister? But didn't both of them have seperate minifigures in the first wave of adventurers sets back in 1998?
Or did Sam sinister die later and Barron started to dress like his fallen friend to honor his memory?
mneh. Don't like it.
though the TC reference is fun...
I haven't built mine yet but it seems from all the comments that the bar for Fairground/Amusement park sets had been set pretty high from the Roller Coaster set.
I do agree that maybe a separate open tower or hotel theme would've been better but you can't please everyone. While not for everyone I appreciate the effort and passion the designers put into it.
As a fan of haunted houses, of the old LEGO Adventurers line and of EuroDisney's Hollywood Tower Hotel/Tower of Terror, this set pleases a lot.
On the other hand, since I don't buy sets for play but for display, I will likely end up removing the lift part of it, shortening the tower and turning it into a full blown haunted mansion.
I think the opinions of this set suffer a bit from being named “Haunted House” since it’s really not. It’s a spooky theme drop tower.
While I’m not one for play features, this one is surprisingly fun to play with. Im glad to see the chatter seems to be (unfortunately so) normal, I thought I did something wrong. It’s those wheels that catch it when it chatters for me. They do their job too well. :P
I love the set though. The olive green is beautiful, but is slightly disappointing as the previous Haunted House was also green, even a very different shade.
I would've preferred a stand alone drop tower instead of one inside a haunted house. When the drop happens, you barely even see it happen, apart from the little opening door on the top. They could've done the type where there is a cylinder in the middle and the passengers on the ring on the outside.
At first glance I do not feel anything 'haunted' in this set. I am actually appreciating the exterior architectural design of it more.
Thanks for the review, and for articulating just what it was about this set that was tempering my excitement (thanks to the commenters for that as well). As I have the previous haunted house, I think I'll stick with that, and maybe build my own Adventurer's references for inside it.
On a side note; is it just me, or is the Altar of Alhazred the first ever H.P. Lovecraft reference in a Lego set? Because if there have ever been any others, I'd love to know about them!
Such a blast from the past in a modern set.
As I've said since this set's announcement, the biggest mistake LEGO made was naming this set "Haunted House." It raised expectations way too high. If they would have named it "Barron's Tower Drop" or "Terror House Ride" or anything that emphasized the ride part, I think people would not be as put off. The other misnomer is "Fairground Series," which would be better labeled "Amusement Park." Most of the rides so far, other than the Fairground Mixer, are not exactly portable which is what a fairground implies.
I agree with some others here who want to like it but can’t because it just does not click. I really wanted to buy it but will hold my caah for something better - a first for me when it comes to adult targetted buildings. Saw it in real life in the lego store the other day. Looked more like a plain set and a 12+ build.
Neat thing!
But I'm forced to agree - the "Haunted Hous" is misleading title. May be, if this set was named properly, say, Von Barron's Drop-Mansion or such, there were a lot less scepticism and hate...
As for "wrong" colours - this is mistake to see them so. I suppose to see these items as replicas or "creatively" restored antics from the past. In such turn you can explain the using of an other but close colours (except for Re-Gou ruby).
The Sinister Twins... yes, they probably will be more sinister, if used outfits from original Sam Sinister.
Moreover, I think, yes, this model should be only better with the omission of drop-tower. In doing so, the Mansion can looks more appropriate, and has more menentos and antics from classic themes.
Thanks for the detailed review!
I agree that the box art is bland and could use lightning bolts to emphasize the "Adventure(r)" element. Having none of the other Fairground sets, this one doesn't have that comparison for me and so it remains appealing.
The Monster Fighters Haunted House is one of my favorite sets and, from a play house perspective, this one doesn't compare. Fortunately, it doesn't have to since the purpose is as a ride which includes several references to a well-beloved theme. In fact, I own multiple Adventurers sets and may decide to populate this with those characters!
I absolutely love this set.
As a child one of my favourite rides was the haunted house (although I come from a small town and worked out years later, that they just turned the lights off and some poor dude was there waving around Angel Hair, a insane drop would have therefore been awesome!)
Cannot wait to get it.
I'm going to slightly disagree with the conclusion - I kind of like that it combines a drop ride.
For me, there are two points to consider:
1) A fairground set should have significant moving feature. If you took out the drop ride, it would be challenging to put back in a different moving feature (e.g. a ghost train would be logical, but difficult to execute)
2) I like where theme parks combine attractions, and/or integrate rides into the architecture. A drop ride by itself would be a bit bland,
My main issue is the pricing decision. If it's going to be £210 anyway, why not just bump it up to about £250 and address some of the shortcomings, particularly the exposed mechanism. It seems that a bit too often Lego ends up in a middle ground where it's not cheap enough to be an instant purchase regardless of shortcomings, and not quite fully realised to justify the price (or a slightly higher one).
@hackenbacker:
To be accurate to a life-size version, yes, the drive chain would very likely be at least guarded, if not fully concealed, to prevent accidental death and dismemberment. In this instance, however, consider two things:
1. If you fully conceal that system, it will be a massive chore to reconnect everything if that chain jams, separates, or breaks a link.
2. If you fully conceal that system, you can't watch how the flywheel brake works.
With this set, Lego is trying to double up on demographic appeal by making a fairground ride that doubles as a modular building. However, it retains the shortcomings of both: Modular fans will probably dislike the visible mechanism for their display and collectors of the fairground series will probably find the Modular aesthetic to not quite mesh with the other sets.
But, how does it compare to 10228, another pseudo-Modular Haunted House? The main structure is smaller outside of the tower, the interior is far more developed but more of a series of scenes than a coherent structure, and the minifigs are humans rather than vampires and zombies. 10273's lines are a lot cleaner and the odd greebles on the railing in 10228 are (thankfully) nowhere to be found. 10273 looks great, and I suspect that's what a lot of Modular fans will really appreciate: they're not really playing with these structures so much as displaying them.
This set looks INCREDIBLE and is one of my favorite sets of the year so far. The price is very steep though. I think $150 would have been decent, not $250. LEGO seems to be raising their prices dramatically in 2020. Still, this set looks epic.