REVIEW ON MEGABLOKS

	You might have heard of this Lego clone.  I have looked it over in my earlier years, as the "Buzz for Lego" was stronger.  About 2001, I finally took some time to look at it.  Finally deciding to buy a set from the local zellers, I tried it out.

BRICKS

The brick colors are... well... different from lego's.  The black is still black... uhh, that's about it. Dark gray is slightly off-tone, and the light gray is more of a "Metallic silver" gray. However, if you know how to mix these with Lego, and you will be able to make some great color themes.

The odd parts are different, that's for sure.  In the Warriors: Future Force series (See my other Brickshelf gallery) The autocannon guns, missile launchers and clicking legs are like nothing else that Lego has. 

Some sets have tracks.  They are more flexible than Lego's, and the wheels for them look like they go great on a tank.

The wheels are all plastic, no rubber. This is kind of sad, but they are roughly the same size as Lego, so a little bit of modifying to the model in question and you got rubber tires!

The parts sometimes do not fit completely on.  However, that is not much of a complaint, but they also sometimes do not hold on very well.  But, I have not noticed this happen on Lego yet.

INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions for Megabloks are very clear.  They show what you need for parts, (Lego does this only on Model team and Technic) and "Ghost" the previous step.  If a sticker is needed, it shows you where to put it.  The instructions are very well done.

MINIFIGS

Head:  Where the head on Lego is cylindrical, the heads on Megabloks are spherical. I note that Megabloks has tons of head and helmet designs, and no two minifigs are not exactly alike.

Torso: Where Lego have a pivoting arm, Megabloks has a ball joint.  This make the Megabloks figures do shrugs, waves and anything shoulder-related.  However, their arms are straight, and do not have rotating hands.

Legs: there are two types, I notice.  The first design looks like it has been used for a few years, and may have been standard on these figures.  They look butt-ugly, Looking like they where modified to tilt forward, and tapered so they are thick at the feet.  Think of two cones placed together and you will get a rough idea.
The second design looks newer, and more "Legoish"

None of the Megabloks minifig parts can fit Lego, except for the legs, with the pins being a bit short.
None of the Lego minifig parts can fit Megabloks.  They are two different animals altogether.

MINIFIG TOOLS

I have not seen many Megabloks tools, I do not know if it is because of the design of the minifig arms, but I think this is it.

The only tool I have seen is the Dirt Bike.  This dirt bike looks pretty cool, and the best part is, it can fit Lego minifigs! The dirt bike does not have much detail, as the spokes are stickers, but other than that, it is very realistic.

Headgear will not fit Lego. Period. The head, being round and smaller in size, the Lego head will not fit, let alone hold on.  For the holding attachment to hold on to the head, it uses a pin, rather than a clip like Lego (I notice that the headgear does not hold on very well on the Megabloks). 

However, the helmets have lots of verity.  Dirt bike helmets, skateboard helmets, astronaut helmets... The choices are endless.

SETS

They have some good ideas for sets.  They still use stickers, like Lego used to do once.  And they would use more bricks to make things than Lego ever would dream of. They have some really good designs for sets, such as the Warriors: Future force series and others like the Blockbots (Like the transformers) and the Pro Builder sets, sets that are like model team.

But still, Lego has some good ideas for sets, Like the Racers they just made.  I would like to see the space theme come back, but they seem to be getting more realistic.  I do not know if this is because of the demand by kids or what.

FINAL OPINION

Megabloks would make a darn good competitor to Lego.  If you are tired of Lego, and do not feel like making an MOC, grab a couple of Megabloks sets and you will not be disappointed!