Review: Zuru Max 83227-A Fuggler Mr. Buttons

I found out about this line because someone mentioned it on the MFZ Discord.  Then maybe a day or two later I found this one in the Clearance aisle at Walmart.  (According to the packaging they're exclusive.)  All the figures are more than a little weird, so let's see if there's anything decent in the set.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99 for a $0.09 Price per Piece.

I paid $5.00 for a $0.05 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Plates, 45 Deg Elbow Round Bricks, Technic Plate, Tiles, Wedge

Studless Slopes, Double Sided Plates, Domes, T Plate, Brackets, Studless

Slopes, Corner Plate, Ball Joint Plates, Bricks, Curved Bricks w/Cutout,

Printed Textured Brick, Bricks w/Studs on Sides, and Bricks w/Stud on Side.

Parts 2.  Round Plates, Plates, Textured Printed Round Tiles, Rounded

Double Sided Plates, Tiles, Wedge Studless Slopes, Cheese

Slopes, Studless Slopes, Brackets, Round Plates w/Petals, Printed

Round Tile, Axles, Ball Joint Axles, and Double Sided Plates.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), and a Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have

  parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Those Printed Textured pieces look ugly.  It's nice to see a T Plate outside of Mega Construx sets.  Overall it's not bad for such a weird little set.

Review: Zuru Max 83231-A Beauty Collection Make-Up

This is another of the Zuru Max collections.  It can be found in Target in sidekick display boxes.  It was also in impulse buy trays the Christmas seasonal area for a minute.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.06 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Mirror.

Parts 2.  Cylinders, Notched Plates, Plates,

Tiles, Quarter Circle Plates, Cross Plates,

Macaroni Plates, Double Sided Plates, Thin 

Liftarm, Studless Slopes, Wedge Studless

Slopes, Tile w/Studs on Edge, Round

Bricks, Corner Panels, One Ring Sprue,

Minifig Brooms, Panels, and Axle.

Parts 3.  Modified Cone, Round Brick w/Extension, Tiles, Hinge Brick

Tops, Quarter Circle Studless Slopes, Macaroni Tiles, Plates, Double

Sided Plates, Double Jumpers, Half Circle Jumpers, Half Circle Tiles,

Panels, Corner Panels, Hinge Brick Bases, Brackets, Curved Cheese

Slopes, Jumper, Wedge Studless Slope, Quarter Circle Tiles, Stadium

Tiles, Rounded Double sided Plates, Studless Slopes, and Corner Plates.

Build.  Two Frames (2W), two Stations, and a 1 Hit piece of Cover.
 

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  I originally bought this because it looked like it had Minifig Bananas in it.  I was wrong but it still turned out to have some interesting pieces and colors.

Review: Zuru Max 83189-B Rose Review

This is a "blind box" set similar to the Garden series -- which is also from Zuru Max -- but it seems to only be this singular set.  It may be part of a larger series as I've seen pictures of a "four in one" botanical set that contains this one.  I think this makes the eighth or ninth different company entering into the Botanical Building Blocks race.

Box.  MSRP is $10.99 at Miniso for a $0.04 Price per Piece.

This is the backside of the package.

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Smooth Round LF Armor, Octagonal Bar Plate, 2L Axle Connectors,

Minifig Wings w/Bar, Round Large Jumper, Round Plate, Bent Axle Connector,

Mudguards, Pin Connectors w/Clips, Curved Slopes w/Cutout, Rounded Plates,

Rounded Clip Plates, Padlocks, Inverted Studless Slopes, Plates, Plates w/Bar

Hole, Travis Bricks, Wedge Studless Slopes, Angled Bars w/Stud, Round Plates

w/Flower Edge, Half Pins, Axles, Bars, Claws, 3L Axle Connectors, and Clip Claws.

Parts 2.  Pin Connectors w/4 Clips, Eggshells, Round Plates w/3

Leaves, Minifig Ice Cream, Bar Bar Holders, 3L Axle Connectors, 2L

Axle Connectors, 1x1 Dome Top Round Bricks, and Flowers w/Pin.

Parts 3.  Flower Stems w/Bar Holder, Flower Stem w/Stud, Flower

Stems, 2L Bars w/Stop, 4L Bars, Flick Missile, Axles, Round Plates

w/5 Petals, 1L Pin Connector, Bushing, Half Pin. and 3L Bar.

Build.  Frame and Proto-Frame/Station(?).

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  I just want to say, up front, I hate this packaging.  It's not stable, takes up too much space, and isn't really reusable.  As much as the Dino Adventure sets were a leap forward from prior Zuru Max sets, this is another jump forward again.  I'm not sure if they found another source of bricks, bought another supplier, or just hired new designers but, I'm curious to see what the other "blind box" sets like this are like.

Review: Zuru Max 83158 Raptor Force

Zuru Max is back with a very interesting -- to me -- new line of "Dino Adventure" sets.

Box.  I paid $6.98 at Walmart for this which is a $0.03 Price per Piece.  

Egg unwrapped.

Instructions.

Dinosaur.

  

Parts 1.  Double Triple Curved Wedge, Plates, Rims, Inverted Slopes,

Bar Tiles, Triple Curve Wedge, Corner Double Curve Wedge, Bricks

w/Pinhole, Panels, Bricks, Ladder, Panels w/Window, Brackets, Bar

Plates, Door, Tiles, Grille Tiles, Jumpers, and Double Studless Slope.

Parts 2.  Triple Curved Wedge, Tile w/Studs on Side, Plates, Tires,

Windscreen Frame, Bull Bar, Tiles, Studless Slopes, Bricks,

 Mudguards, Brackets, Clip Plates, Bar Plates, Modified Tiles w/Slope,

 Spoiler, Bricks w/Stud on Side, Whip Antenna, and Bars w/Stop,

  

Parts 3.  Corner Plate/Tiles, Minifig Steering Wheel Base, Flick Missiles, Clip Plates,

Plates, Tiles, Rounded Clip Plates, 3L Pins, Grille Tiles, Translucent Tiles, Bricks,

Rounded Clip Bricks, Door, Cheese Slopes, Translucent Stadium Tiles, Clip Tiles,

Corner Double Curve Wedge, Minifig Steering Wheel, Tap, Cones, and Round Brick.

Parts 4.  Plates, Bricks, Tiles, Bar Plates, Brackets, Lampholder, Round Brick, Rounded Clip

Plate, Studless Slope, Flick Missile, Translucent Round Tiles, and Translucent Panels.

Build.  Two Roller-Bot Frames (1Y [antenna] 2W+SSR), one Station, and a 1 Hit piece of Cover.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  So three of these gets you a squad with a few pieces of Cover.  You'd need to figure out some other Systems but there's plenty of extra pieces.  Or you could go with pieces in a different color -- Dark Bley or White, for example -- that isn't in this set.  All told, I feel this is a pretty good set.

Review: Zuru Max Space Hunter

I actually had a set like this in my hands a couple of years ago, although that set had a "minifig" included.  I was prevented from buying it because it was a "small parts hazard" which is weird because being a Lego knock-off it has small pieces by its very nature.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Wedge Bricks, Bricks, Round Bricks, Slopes, Corrugated

Bricks, Bricks w/Studs on Side, and Brackets.

Parts 2.  Tires, Axle Plates, Rims, Translucent Flowers, Bar Plates, Grille

Tiles, Round Bricks, Translucent Cones, Translucent Apollo Studs, Apollo

Studs, Round Tiles, Stadium Cheese Slopes, and Levers & Bases.

 

Build.  Once again, I love sets with many multiples of parts, two Frames

[2Rd (cannon) 1B (capacitors) 1G (wheels) 1Y (antenna)] and Stations.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another excellent set.  If you buy all three of the sets from this week you can have a demo game set up and all you'll need is a Ruler and dice.  If you buy doubles you can have a 4 on 4 match for just $30.

Review: Zuru Max Dragon Attack

I remember seeing a set like this a couple of years ago, although that set had a "minifig" included.  They were pulled off the shelf for being a "small parts hazard" which is weird because being a Lego knock-off it has small pieces by its very nature.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Inverted Slopes, Slopes, Studless Slopes,

Bricks w/Studs on Side, and Wedge Plates.

Parts 2.  Teeth Plates, Dishes, Flames, Bar Plates, Double Clip

Plates, Hinge w/Ball Joint Socket, Triple Curve Slopes, Ball Joint

Plates, Padlocks, Jumpers, Vertical Hinge Plates, Tooth Plates,

Clip Plates, Apollo Studs, Triple Curve/Inverted Slopes, and Tails.

 

Build.  This is why I love sets with many multiples of parts, two Frames [2Rd (flame gun) 1B (leg armor) 1G (extra leg) 1Y (head)] and Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Two Frames and a Station with a handful of extra parts, that's pretty damn good.

Review: Zuru Max Knight's Castle

This is the third Zuru Max set in the smaller set "line".  I don't remember seeing this before so I'm not sure if this is a re-released set or not.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Window Frames, Windows, Antenna, and Flags.

Parts 2.  Corrugated Bricks, Bricks, Round Bricks, Curved Slopes 3x2x1 w/

Four Studs, Inverted Slopes, 1x3 Studless Slopes, and Wedge Plates.

 

Build.  Five 1 Hit pieces of Cover.  Plenty of spare pieces too.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Cover.  (+0)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  If you need a bunch of Cover cheap this is the set for you.

Review: Zuru Max Mystery Build 8 (DG20210621B)

I found these at Ocean State Job Lot two months ago while I was out shopping for junk food for a recent game.  The display box I found them in lists eight different builds so I rooted through what was there and found what looked to be seven different packages.

Two Fridays ago I discovered that there is a code punched into the bottom of each egg that identifies each one.  I've added that code to each review title.

Egg.  I paid $2.99 for this.  MSRP is ????, for a $0.08 Price per Piece based on the parts count on the label.  Actual parts count is 71 pieces for a PpP of $0.04.

Instructions & Stickers

 

Parts 1.  Bricks, Inverted Slopes, Slope, Wedge Plates, and Studless Slopes.

Parts 2.  Tires, Windscreen, Axle Plates, Rims, Triple Curve Slope,

Grille Tile, Jumpers, Bar Plates, Clip Plates, Round Bricks, Apollo

Studs, Stadium Cheese Slopes, Cones, and a Lever & Base.

 

Parts 3.  Bricks, Corrugated Bricks, and Brackets.

Build.  2Rd+d8/1G.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another decent set with the same failing as the others.

Review: Zuru Max Mystery Build 7 (DG20210621E)

I found these at Ocean State Job Lot two months ago while I was out shopping for junk food for a recent game.  The display box I found them in lists eight different builds so I rooted through what was there and found what looked to be seven different packages.

Two Fridays ago I discovered that there is a code punched into the bottom of each egg that identifies each one.  I've added that code to each review title.

Egg.  I paid $2.99 for this.  MSRP is ????, for a $0.08 Price per Piece based on the parts count on the label.  Actual parts count is 66 pieces for a PpP of $0.05.

 

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Bricks, Inverted Slopes, 2x3 Bricks w/Curved

End, Studless Slopes, and Wedge Plates.

Parts 2.  Wedge Bricks, Brick, Round Bricks, Brick

w/Studs on Side & Door Guide, and Brackets.

 

Parts 3.  Clip Plates, Bar Plates, Round Bricks, Transparent

Cones, Transparent Apollo Studs, Apollo Studs, Round Tiles,

Triple Curve Slopes, Antenna, and Levers & Bases.

Build.  An IO Close Escort Frigate (2Rpd+d8/1B).

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  This just feels like a duplicate of the last set even though it has more parts.