LEGO are excellent at taking characters, devices, locations, and more from famous franchises and recreating them in brick form.
They have an outstanding back catalogue filled with epic characters like Optimus Prime or sets from TV shows like Friends.
What makes these LEGO counterparts so special is the attention to detail paid in creating these epic homages.
Amongst all of these franchises, LEGO have also worked with video game companies such as Sega, Nintendo, and even Guerrilla games on the Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck figure.
Now LEGO has teamed up with Atari to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary by releasing a nostalgic recreation of the Atari 2600.
The Atari 2600 is one of the first video game consoles that was released in 1977.
It brought many famous arcade titles into the home for the first time, with the likes of Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Centipede to name a few, appearing on the console.
The LEGO Atari 2600 is an intricate masterpiece made up of 2532 bricks that have each been coloured and shaped to match the console.
The number of parts will sound very daunting if this is your first foray into LEGO building, however, the model comes with a very well illustrated guidebook to help.
What I also found handy was that each part of the console came in a numbered bag, making the process a tad easier.
That being said, the LEGO Atari 2600 is one of their most ambitious models to date, as it's not only made from bricks of different shapes and sizes, it includes hinges and cylindrical components for the moving parts.
Building the console can take anywhere from five to ten hours depending on how competent you are with LEGO.
The process won’t be as complex as the Nintendo Entertainment System however it did include some unforgiving angles and tricky rubber bands for the moving parts.
Once completed it measures around 8cm x 33cm which is almost identical in height and width to the original.
What is even more amazing is that LEGO has paid so much attention to detail by including little things like Atari logos, control buttons, and even a cable for the joystick.
LEGO’s clever craftsmanship includes interactive elements like being able to insert cartridges or even the ability to toggle the control buttons.
Hidden within the console is a homage to a 1970s bedroom that comes fully designed with relevant posters, a boombox, CRT TV, and a minifigure of one excited kid.
This inclusions are simply outstanding as it adds another dimension to the console.
There are other mini builds that come in the form of game cartridges, a shelf for them, and mini builds that pay homage to the biggest games on the console like Centipede and Asteroid.
They may not all attach to the console itself, but standing on their own, the mini builds really raise the value of this LEGO set.
My favourite mini build is the joystick that can be plugged into the back and actually moves like its counterpart.
My only gripe is that the build can feel a bit fragile at times, especially when opening the hidden compartment with the bedroom.
But as this is probably aimed more at adults who will treat this as a static model rather than a toy.
Verdict 5 / 5
LEGO have really outdone themselves with this excellent homage to the Atari 2600 console.
The attention to detail is phenomenal and dramatically elevates the overall quality of the model.
This is a must-have for Atari fans who will appreciate LEGO’s dedication to this life-like nostalgic recreation.
LEGO's Atari 2600 model is out now for £209.99
