LEGO 80035: Monkie Kid's Galactic Explorer

This thing is pretty fantastic. It really feels like an homage to the heyday of Lego Space in the early 90s, with its overall shape and colors. The build is quite good, with a solid mixture of techniques and fun little details. Of course, the rocket is symmetrical, so many features will be duplicated or mirrored, but it didn't feel boring to me. The stickers are a little tedious, but they really add a lot to the final look. This set really has a lot to offer both in terms of display and play. I love that the rocket has seats for up to five, so you can bring the whole team on your adventures. The minifigure selection is solid, and although the set's features are fairly simple, they're still effective. The color scheme is flat-out ridiculous, and I love it. The yellow, red and turquoise mix really well with the white cloud motifs and metallic gold and bright light orange accents, and the trans-red windscreens evoke memories of Space Police I. The rocket is beautifully shaped and looks fantastic on display, with or without the "mission control" gantry tower. Overall, I love pretty much everything about it. The price point has never been good for Monkie Kid in general, but this set has a respectable piece count for the cost, and it feels like a pretty good value. For a space fan, it's a must.