There I was, wondering around Smyths looking at Lego last night when I spotted the MEGA Xbox 360 collectors building kit. I managed to resist picking it up back in October when it was last on offer, but upon noticing it for less than before, I checked in on it at Amazon if there were any Black Friday deals. Let's just say I'm glad I held off until now, as it's new price forced me to buy it on the spot.
In a move that makes most Black Friday Lego deals look expensive, the MEGA Xbox 360 collectors building set is now down to £65.99 from £177.99 at Amazon. That's a massive 65% discount that brings the 1,309 piece kit down to an absurd record low, one that I'd never thought would happen. Keep in mind I was happy with it dropping to £109 just last month, and Smyths' current £89.99 asking price also felt reasonable too before I double checked the online retailer.
The Amazon courier only just dropped off my MEGA Xbox 360 order, and I wanted to make sure it arrived safe and sound before shouting about this deal. For the collectors out there, know that it arrived in a Mattel shipping box, so the outer packaging was nice and protected. My main concern right now is whether stock will hold out at this price, as with Christmas just around the corner, this feels like an ideal gift.
Should you buy the MEGA Xbox 360 collectors building kit?
As you might have guessed, I haven't built the MEGA Xbox 360 kit since it literally just arrived. However, as someone who only occasionally got hold of Lego sets as a kid due to their price, I've spent a lot of time with Mega Bloks sets over the years. In all those years of putting together rival models, I never once encountered any quality issues and quirks, and the same should apply to this cute console tribute.
I'll hopefully get a full hands-on review together after I'm done hunting for Black Friday discounts for you all. Does that mean I haven't peaked inside? Don't be silly, of course I peeked inside the mock Xbox 360 console box. I was admittedly intimidated to see a huge pile of numbered baggies, and I reckon this set will need some serious time sank into it. That's both a pro and a con depending on the kind of build you're after, and it'll certainly keep you busy over the holidays.
Even if you do grab this set and put off putting it together, the level of detail put into the Xbox packaging is unreal. The exterior closely mimics the original product's vibe while still including vital details about the set, and there's even a gorgeous diagram of the system and controller on the top lid. I'd like to think anyone who buys this set will keep the box as part of the presentation, and it'll make a nice storage container for the build when it's not on a shelf.
As for my thoughts on putting it together, MEGA builds are relatively enjoyable, but instructions and methods occasionally aren't as slick as a Lego set. The last kit I put together was a smaller Snorlax model (also down to £10.99 at Smyths) that is relatively solid but was slightly finicky to get finished. Since the Xbox 360 set is larger, I suspect it won't be as awkward to assemble as my favorite chonky boi, but don't expect Danish levels of ingenuity.
It's safe to say I'm hyped to get this Xbox 360 kit assembled, so I'll check back in once it's ready to roll. The fact it includes a replica controller and copy of Halo 3 is still something I'm captivated by, and it feels in line with what Lego did with its Atari 2600 homage. Keep in mind that set is £209.99, so I'd snap up this Microsoft-themed alternative before it vanishes from Amazon (I suspect it will fairly quick.)
Looking for more tabletop activities? Check out Black Friday D&D deals and Black Friday board game deals. If you've got real consoles on your mind, take a peek at Black Friday Xbox deals for Series X and S offers.
