2009 September | Rare LEGOs

LEGO Death Star

The new LEGO Death Star 10188 playset was released in September 2008 to wide and well-deserved acclaim. Unlike the previous Death Star 10143, which was primarily designed for diorama use, the 10188 model is designed for playability; it includes 24 minifigures, including six exclusive new figures created specifically for this set. New minifigures and droids available for the first time in this set include Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in Stormtrooper outfits, Assassin Droid, Interrogation Droid, Death Star Droid, and two Death Star Troopers. For the first time, the Dianoga trash monster is also available; this allows recreation of the famous trash compactor scene from Episode IV, including Luke and Leia’s escape from the detention center and slide through the secret hatch.

Boasting 3,803 pieces, the LEGO Death Star 10188 offers four levels of authentic movie settings. Setup is a lengthy process; the spiral-bound instruction book is over 250 pages long, with 193 separate steps to completion. The finished result is nothing short of stunning, however, with removable walls, chairs that spin, and guns that rotate allowing multiple angles of fire from the Death Star death ray lasers. Authentic movie designs from Episodes IV and VI of the Star Wars Saga set the scene for hours of realistic play with this detailed playset. The Death Star features multiple decks which house the Death Star control room, Emperor’s throne Room, hangar bay complete with Darth Vader’s own TIE Advanced Starfighter, Imperial conference chamber, droid maintenance facility, and many other rooms suitable for playing out your favorite scenarios.

When assembled, the LEGO Death Star 10188 weighs about twenty pounds. It is remarkably sturdy for a set of this size and complexity, and stands up to moving reasonably well. There are a few fragile elements on the completed Death Star; the death ray lasers, for instance, are easy to dislodge, and a few small parts may come loose. These are easily replaced, and the overall playset is solid and well designed. Die-hard Star Wars purists may criticize the inclusion of elements from the original Death Star and the Death Star II in one unit, but given the added scenarios these inclusions make possible, this seems more a quibble than a genuine drawback to the set.

Overall, the LEGO Death Star 10188 playset is well worth its price tag; it offers hours of fun, both in building and in playing out your favorite Death Star scenes. The set includes nearly all the central Episode IV and VI characters, making it convenient and easy to portray classic scenes like the Throne Room duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. The set is recommended for ages 12 and up.