Full disclosure: My first foray into Super Mario 64 wasn't via the N64, but instead through the Nintendo DS port that I first played in Christmas 2004. Being the first truly 3D (or should I say, non side-scrolling) Mario game on a handheld, it was pure magic to the child I was, and cemented itself in my memory as the gold standard of platforming.

Suffice to say when 71395 was finally revealed, I was ecstatic. Of course, a more accurate set would've been the red '!' Blocks found within the game, yet the logic behind focusing on a '?' Block is faultless; no other object from Super Mario is nearly as iconic.

The building process for the '?' Block itself was more enjoyable than I expected given that it is, after all, just a yellow cube. But there's a satisfaction to the way the whole cube comes together and feels in your hands once it's assembled, even if that alone belies the true joy of the set with what lies within it.

The micro-scale dioramas representing various levels of the game are simply inspired; particularly because the topology of each is just so vastly different:

• The tranquility of Peach's Castle, immediately recognisable with its colours, the portrait of the princess, and the wonderful little touches like Lakitu and Yoshi on the roof, are wonderful. It's amazing that the designers were even able to squeeze in an interior to the castle, complete with paintings on 1x1 Tiles!
• The sheer verticality of Cool, Cool Mountain, complete with penguins, treacherous slopes, and snowmen, immediately harken to platforming excitement I remember. Once again, the designers go above and beyond by sneaking in the Slip Slidin' Away slide, even if it's hidden.
• The fiery chaos of Lethal Lava Land, where you're reminded of being assailed by Big Bully, navigating the moving Bowser mosaic, the spinning volcano entrance, and more.
• The joy of Bob-Omb Battlefield, which I imagine is most people's first level they played within the game.

The mechanism that allows the four dioramas to spring and 'pop' out is smooth and doesn't degrade in performance with repeated use, and I appreciate how it ties in to how a '?' Block works within the games. Not one to waste the space used by this set, the designers even snuck in a hidden compartment to let the microscale Mario swing Bowser around by his tail. Brilliant!

Though I may not be a fan of the direction the Lego Super Mario theme takes with the course builder sets, there's no denying the theme as a whole truly thinks outside the box, especially with sets like these. The addition of small brickbuilt characters in this set is greatly appreciated, and whilst Lugi isn't included, he can thankfully be easily made with the spare pieces that come in the set.