Set Review ➟ 71382 Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set
The Piranha plant puzzling challenge expansion set is one that, as a LEGO Technic and MINDSTORMS fan I am especially drawn to. Why? Well, if you take a good look at the set you will notice that it contains a mechanism that is based on the use of flat gears which I first noticed in several Friends sets back in 2019. These gears have been used in many different sets since then to create various mechanisms, or simply as decorative elements. In the set we review today their purpose is definitely mechanical, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start at the beginning.
Stage 1 — hello turtle
The very first element you build in this set—the one that gives you access to the in-app instructions when you scan it with your LEGO Mario—is the tiny turtle. It is also the start of the gameplay in this particular expansion set. The barcode on the turtle sets in motion a timer for the rest of the mission.
The turtle doesn't look particularly happy, but then again neither would I if my sole mission in life was to be stomped on by Mario. Still, it is a cute build and the eyes printed on the double cheese slope give it character.
Stage 2 — turning table
Right behind the turtle we get to the mechanism that makes this set so much fun: the turntable. This turntable in fact hides not one but two mechanisms. As its name indicates, the platform turns and by doing so it also makes the bases of the Piranha plants turn. The flat gears I mentioned at the outset play their part here. There are four with 10 teeth and a single larger one with 14 teeth. These numbers are significant and influence how the game plays out. because the large gear doesn't have a clean multiple of the teeth of the smaller gears, each full or half turn of the turntable will present Mario with a slightly different scenario. Of course eventually you get back to the same starting position, but in principle every game is different from the previous several games.
The second mechanism is a stomping mechanism. Mario stomps one side of the platform installed under the turntable and this results in the opposite side coming up. If you do so while that other side is under a Piranha plant, and you apply sufficient force, the Piranha plant will flip over. But I'm betting ahead of myself again...
The stomping mechanism has a shock absorber to prevent you from completely thrashing the build while also making sure the mechanism goes back to its initial position.
Stage 3 — Piranha Plants
It's time to build the Piranha plants. There have been many before these in the LEGO Super Mario theme so I won't spend too much time here. They are built slightly different though as they need to pivot on the central axis of their respective turning tables.
Together with the Piranha plants you build 3 boxes with barcodes and a fourth dummy box. Each Piranha plant can lean to one of two sides, so two boxes are guarded by the Piranha plants at all times.
ready, Steady, Play!
Time to play a round of LEGO Super Mario and explore what this set adds. In the following video que can see how that works. The barcode on the turtle starts the countdown and you need to scan as many boxes as possible within that time frame. Got all three? Congratulations! You can now repeat the challenge or move on to the next one.
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