LEGO vs. Mega Bloks?! Pokémon Fans SHOCKED by Pikachu Betrayal!

LEGO's foray into the world of Pokémon is finally here, and while the bricks are flying off the shelves (or rather, being pre-ordered), the reception is a bit of a mixed bag. The newly unveiled collection is sparking some serious debate among enthusiasts, with some LEGO faithful suggesting rival Mega Bloks actually did a better job with a certain electric mouse.

LEGO vs. Mega Bloks?! Pokémon Fans SHOCKED by Pika...

The headliner of the LEGO Pokémon line is undoubtedly the Pikachu and Poké Ball set. A hefty 2,050-piece build, it comes with a $199.99 price tag. Available for pre-order now and launching on March 1st (with VIP members getting early access on February 27th), this set, like others in LEGO's inaugural Pokémon wave, has elicited, shall we say, spirited reactions online.

The main point of contention? Pikachu's somewhat... angular face. And the Poké Ball, which some are saying looks less spherical and more, well, rectangular. Online commentators are quick to draw comparisons to earlier buildable Pikachu models from Mega Bloks, specifically the 1,095-piece Motion Pikachu design. Many argue that Mega Bloks captured Pikachu's iconic shape more accurately. I have to admit, looking at the images, Mega Bloks' version does seem a tad more, well, Pikachu-y.

However, it's not all brick-bats (pun intended!). The 587-piece Eevee set, priced at a more palatable $59.99, is receiving almost universal praise. Fans are saying that the Evolution Pokémon's design is far more faithful to the source material than its electric companion. As Lego fan COlimar788 eloquently put it, "Okay this one is really cute actually. Much smaller, but presumably a lot more stable, than the Mega Construx equivalent. I might snag this." Sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.

Of course, building the full Kanto team isn't going to be cheap. Adding Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise to your collection will definitely put a dent in your wallet. "[$]150 than Rivendell," noted heliostraveler, clearly feeling the pinch. "Yikes." And introvertmolecule chimed in with, "So pretty! But sad that it is so expensive 😭😭 I've just bought Rivendell, so my wallet is empty. 🫣" Ouch. Been there, done that with LEGO sets myself.

Luckily, there's a potential sweetener in the form of a free Gift With Purchase set: the Kanto Region Badge Collection. A replica of Ash Ketchum's badge collection, it's already generating positive buzz. Though, some are expressing disappointment that it isn't available for separate purchase – a missed opportunity, perhaps?

And finally, for the LEGO Insiders, there's the Mini Pokémon Center reward, redeemable for 2500 membership points. "That has old 70s LEGO feel to it," noted Iggy0075, which is definitely a plus in my book. Nostalgia sells, folks.

Interestingly, there's no mention of Smart Play elements, including the Smart Brick, which LEGO recently announced as a key component of its future strategy. Given that these are Pokémon sets, and Pokémon is all about interaction, it seems like a missed opportunity. But perhaps LEGO is saving that for future waves.

These LEGO Pokémon sets are just the initial offerings, with many more expected. Hopefully, LEGO will listen to the feedback and continue to evolve (another pun intended!) their designs. Maybe we'll see a slightly less angular Pikachu in the future. Only time, and perhaps a few more bricks, will tell.