Set Review ➟ LEGO® 76989 Tallneck
Tallneck is a futuristic robotic character from the game Horizon, forbidden west, which is a sequel to the previous Horizon zero dawn.
This character is one of the few that, apart from being peaceful with our protagonist, is also an excellent source of information. His head is a huge scanner, and this information is transmitted to any other data collection source that wants to collect it. It’s a kind of good-natured machine despite its great appearance.
Having made a brief presentation of what we are dealing with, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s get to know the ins and outs of this set. It is again this other set, a set for adults, catalogued with the already more than established 18+. It has 1222 construction pieces and its set number is, as the title of the review says, 76989 Tallneck. In the set we will build a Tallneck on an apocalyptic base, a small scouting vigilante, and of course we will enjoy the minifigure of Aloy, the great protagonist of the game.
The contents of the box are 8 numbered bags, an instruction booklet, an 8x16 plate in green and a piece of the reference 27965 in dark green. In addition, as it seems to be a dynamic that is going on forever, we are also provided with a small sheet with various stickers.
In the first few pages of the build book we will be treated to a number of images from the Horizon universe. In the words of the set designer, Isaac Snyder, who has already been captivated by the Horizon Zero Dawn prequel, the Horizon community is very creative and that is what he has tried to capture in this set, which he dedicates to the great passion and imagination of the Horizon community.
In the first bag we will enjoy the Aloy minifigure. This is a recreation of the digital model which we can compare in the inside pages of the construction manual. Very well done, I really love it. The hair and arms are very futuristic.
Next we will make the little bipedal watchman. I have remembered some models of Tim Goddard building it.
Next we start with the base of the model. It has an obloid shape and as always it is quite interesting to implement this kind of structures. Also the references are very common so recreating such a base in our own creations is a piece of cake.
In the second bag we will begin to establish the soil at the base as well as the texture in the form of grass, soil, some moss and rocks.
The third bag embroiders the realism of the base with a tree and a traffic light that succumbed long ago to the vortex of nature.
We have now reached the construction of the Tallneck. In this section we come to a rather abstract design in which a priori it is not clear what is being built until it takes shape. Evidently it is the part of the central trunk where the limbs will go as well as the long neck and finally the head at the end.
Now we will make the neck of the animal. So far the technique is simple but very, very precise. As we are used to from LEGO designers, there are many touches of genius. Comparing a picture of the Tallneck with what we have already implemented only strengthens my opinion.
In the next two bags the legs of the Tallneck are implemented with a sort of brackets and hinges with some wraparound texture, but this time they use 3 and 4 technic elbows, so the parts of each leg have no mobility at all and it detracts from the playability. It’s a pity that LEGO perhaps thinks that…We over 18s don’t play with the models in the sets anymore? We’ll see if we find out why later.
Finally we have reached the last bag where we will make the head as well as the details that I find so beautiful on the back. I love the use of snowboards here. The technique of making circles with bricks, and brackets in all directions has always seemed to me a real art, quite complex and that like any base of ingenuity you have to practice to assimilate. Regarding the stability of Tallneck without being attached to the base, it is limited. Perhaps this is the explanation for using technic elbows and limiting the kneecaps on the legs as much as possible. I don’t think it would have held in any way if it hadn’t been implemented like that.
Once exposed on the base it is evident the mastery that has been applied to the model in all its aspects, the base, the environmental details are accurate despite being few, they point well to an apocalyptic environment of times past. As an exhibition set for me it has a high mark even if it is not without some limitations such as the one commented on the playability.
As with every model there is always some less positive nuance. In this case for example the scale of the Tallneck is much smaller than it should be but then we would be dealing with at least a UCS of a few thousand pieces and not a display set. It is not very playable mainly because of the limitation of its stiff legs. It is certainly very well made and is in proportion in shape, not in scale, very similar to the real subject of the game. Both the vigilante and the Aloy minifigure as well as Tallneck himself are a real delight. Needless to say, but we will say it, if you are a bit of a “gamer” and have spent some time with this game, either you are a fan of LEGO - it has several novel and very tasty references as well as some beautiful building steps - or why not also a fan of futuristic machines, this is a set made for you. The ratio of number of pieces to price in my opinion is quite good and the result is more than evident that it is close to outstanding.
We are grateful to LEGO for providing the set for review although LEGO does not endorse or support our opinions in any way.
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