After an extended break, we’re diving back into the world of building blocks with a revisit to Sick Bricks! Launched around the same time as this blog, Sick Bricks aimed to enter the toys-to-life market, much like Lego Dimensions. However, it seems Sick Bricks didn’t quite capture the hearts of kids, leading to sets like this Jack Justice Team Set ending up heavily discounted, even as a Target exclusive. Let’s explore why this set, and perhaps the Sick Bricks line in general, struggled to gain traction and why retailers couldn’t sell it at its original price.
Unpacking the Sick Bricks Experience
Inside the box, the Jack Justice Team Set is quite simple. All the parts, along with a folded instruction sheet, are contained within a single plastic bag. This unboxing experience is rather basic, lacking the satisfying element of multiple bags or organized compartments that you might find in comparable building sets.
Building the “Scan Cars” Sports Car
The main focus of this set is a sports car, which isn’t visually unappealing at first glance. The hood piece features a printed pattern, adding a bit of detail. However, the assembly process of this “scan cars” vehicle turns out to be quite unexciting and frankly, underwhelming.
Prefabricated Frustration
The primary reason for the lackluster building experience is that the car is largely made up of just two large, pre-made pieces. This drastically reduces the building aspect, which is a core appeal of construction toys. Adding to the disappointment, the plastic quality of the Sick Bricks parts is noticeably subpar, almost on par with the notoriously low-quality Block Tech bricks. While the clutch power, or how well the pieces stick together, is acceptable, the overall finish of the plastic feels dull and cheap.
Meet the Jack Justice Team Characters
The set includes three minifigures, presumably the Jack Justice team. The instructions don’t bother to name them, but it’s a safe bet the central figure is Jack Justice. The other two likely have equally forgettable, generic names. One character is equipped with a Nerf-like blaster, while the other wields a crossbow, suggesting some sort of action or combat play scenario. These characters are intended to interact with the “scan cars” feature, bringing them into the digital game.
Monstrous Mashups and Limited Play
One of the touted features of Sick Bricks is the ability to mix and match parts to create bizarre creatures. You can indeed combine pieces to form monstrosities, like the example shown. However, the actual playability and enjoyment of these creations are questionable.
Playability Problems with “Scan Cars” and Figures
As depicted on the packaging, the figures can sit inside the car. However, in practice, this feature is poorly executed. A character cannot be seated in the car while also holding their weapon, contradicting the box art. Furthermore, once a figure is placed inside the vehicle, it’s very difficult to remove them. You are more likely to detach the figure’s head than to extract the entire body from the cramped space. This design flaw significantly detracts from the play experience with these “scan cars”.
Value Proposition and the LEGO Comparison
The original retail price of this Sick Bricks set was an exorbitant $13 USD. Looking at the completed set, and considering the contents within the box, the value for money is severely lacking. It feels as if the packaging itself is more substantial than the toy inside. The core idea seems to be that you are paying for access to the Sick Bricks video game, where you can “scan cars” and characters into the digital world. If you have no interest in the game, the physical toy set offers very little to justify the price.
To further illustrate the poor value, consider this comparison: a LEGO polybag set currently available at Target, containing a blue car and traffic light, retails for just $4 USD and includes 47 pieces. The Sick Bricks set, with only slightly more parts at 49, was originally priced at more than three times the cost. It’s no surprise that Sick Bricks ended up in clearance aisles. The real surprise is that it took so long for retailers to discount these sets. The choice between a cheap Sick Bricks “scan cars” set and a comparable, more affordable and arguably higher quality LEGO set is a no-brainer for most consumers.
