The LEGO Group has made it clear that they don’t want to re-start old themes like Castle, Pirates, or Classic Space as stand alone themes. The fan base keeps asking for them so LEGO seems to find ways to bring back the themes without a stand alone theme. The Castle theme was recently seen in Ideas with #21325-1: Medieval Blacksmith which was released in February of 2021. On 2 August 2021, #31120-1: Medieval Castle was released in the US. It contains 1,426 pieces and retails for $99.99. That works out to $0.07 per piece which isn’t too bad.
The set is branded with the Black Falcon sub-theme from the original Castle line. You get 3 minifigures in the sub-theme and then a few shields with the logo. This is a win for all of the Castle fans out there.
When #31109-1: Pirate ship came out, I reviewed all three versions (here, here, and here). I decided not to do that here as I really like the main version and wanted to keep it. It’s one of those sets that I’ve added to my list of sets I would like to modify and add to some day.
The box highlights the main build on the front with the two other builds on the side. Then the back shows some of the play features and things you can do with the different builds. Unlike most sets, the minifigures aren’t front and center with a special call out. It’s nice to have the focus be on the build versus the minifigures.
The contents are nine parts bags labeled one through seven. There is also an 8x16 tan plate. The instructions come wrapped in plastic to keep them from damage. Bag one contains a piece separator.
The first bag starts the main section of the castle. You get the start to the draw bridge and then the wall structures. Some of the wall is made of grays while some is tan and various green colors to show that the castle is built into a section of elevated ground. A small tree grows out of it on the side.
This bag comes with one minifigure holding a bow and arrow.
The next bag adds another layer to the walls and the arch over the draw bridge. I had not looked at any reviews for this set prior to building and was not expecting a functioning draw bridge. Technic elements are used to allow you to turn a crank on the outside of the castle to raise and lower the bridge. There is also a part you can use to lock the bridge in place. This is a great feature in this set and isn’t overly a Technic build for those not into that system.
The third bag finishes off the front section. The detailing on the front is pretty impressive with two torches, one on either side of the draw bridge. There are two banners for the castle on either side of the draw bridge as well. The Black Falcon shield is placed centered above the draw bridge. I did see a post mentioning that you could add more texture to the walls of this build, but I didn’t think it was overly necessary. The designers added in a bunch of different bricks which helps to give the set a castle look versus just a building made of bricks.
I don’t know the technical term for the tops of each tower, but the use of gray Nexo Knight shields was a great addition. It’s a simple touch, but a cool look.
Not too much inside this castle section nor is there a lot of space to add many details. I guess that part is on you.
Minifigure number two is in this bag. It has a spear and another shield.
The fourth bag builds one of the back sides of the castle. From the front, they added hinges for you to connect other pieces of the castle and this is one of them. This section has an outer wall along the water. Like the front, there is some gray and some green.
Inside has a small armory with some armor and a forge to sharpen your sword which adds the functionality of being able to hammer the sword to sharpen it. There are some stairs up to the section above the armory. This bag comes with a minifigure not in the Black Flacon outfit. He looks more like he could fit in a Pirate themed set. He could be a squire or maybe he’s just on a break from wearing the armor set up nearby.
The fifth bag finishes up this section of the build. To go with the pictures I posted, you get a moveable water wheel on the outside and then a room above the first floor you built in the last step.
On the back side of the build are three brick built chickens/roosters along with a target for bow and archery practice.
The inside is the second floor area with a small chair and a mini fireplace. A lot of details here considering it is a Creator 3-in-1 set.
The sixth bag starts the last back corner/side of the castle. Inside, you get a small market stall with some food in a basket. Next to it is a jail cell with a skeleton minifigure inside (sorry, forgot to get a picture of it). I would like liked to have seen a ghost minifigure return, but we’ll take a skeleton. .
Not attached to the structure, is a small well that can go in the center of the castle or elsewhere. The well has a small green frog sitting on the edge.
The outside fits the style of the rest of the build. There is some greenery outside the wall here, but it is not going up the side.
The last bag adds in a tower above the section built with bag six. The tower is brown and yellow versus the gray similar to some of the other higher sections. I assume this is to show that this section would be made from wood versus stone.
Additionally, there’s a brick built dragon. Considering the size and piece count of the set, the dragon has a lot of detail. The head has horns, teeth, and fire coming out of the mouth. The wings are a bit lacking in my opinion, but they do okay. The body, legs, and tail are decent as well.
Here’s the final build from all slides. Overall, I think it’s a great journey back to the old Castle theme through Creator 3-in-1. There are a lot of great pieces, some fun details, and the minifigures are decent considering it is a Creator 3-in-1 set not known for minifigures.
I wasn’t a Castle fan as a kid, but I think this set is a nice venture into the theme for someone who wasn’t a fan back in the day. I recommend this one. If the price is a bit much, wait to see if it goes on sale. I haven’t seen this one on sale yet, but will keep watching for a discount later in 2022.
What are your thoughts on this one?
Happy building!
