LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog has been a highly anticipated theme, but also one that left fans unsure of what to expect when it was announced. The games are, after all, more known for their characters and general locations than any specific structures or vehicles. One thing that obviously had to be on the way, though, was some version of the Tornado biplane, and here we have it.

This set has a lot of elements from different Sonic games. I presume anyone at all interested in the theme will already be familiar with Sonic, Tails, and rings, but I feel I need to start with a little tour of what else is here:

• Sonic fans will recognize the biplane as the original Tornado, introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), rather than any of the series of successors introduced in 2000s-era games; those more attentive to detail will note that the specific color scheme matches its appearances in Sonic Lost World (2013) and Sonic Frontiers (2022), but replacing the usual "winged bumper" symbol on the tail with the version of Tails's personal logo from Sonic the Fighters (1996).
• Tails tends to have a lab or workshop in whatever location is convenient for a particular game's plot, rather than working out of a single recurring headquarters. LEGO's version is an original design as far as I can tell, but unexpectedly seems to take heavy inspiration from Tails's lab from Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008), an obscure game remembered primarily for its role in the infamous Ken Penders lawsuit. It also again features Tails's logo from Sonic the Fighters.
• Buzz Bombers are one of the earliest types of of Dr. Eggman's Badnik robots, pestering Sonic from above for nearly half of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) and recurring in multiple games since. I don't think they've ever appeared in Tornado-based levels before, but since they're the most famous aerial Badnik type by a wide margin, the matchup seems obviously appropriate.
• Chickens known as Clucky are one of many types of small animals imprisoned by Dr. Eggman, variously inside his Badniks or large capsules. They also first appeared in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, where they could indeed be the occupants of Buzz Bombers in Spring Yard Zone.
• The mint candies in one of the drawers are Tails's favorite food. This rarely comes up onscreen, but in the obscure Game Gear title Tails' Skypatrol (1995) they appear as a powerup enabling Tails to fly longer.
• The yellow accessory with green lights on it inside the workshop is the Miles Electric, a portable computer first introduced in Sonic Unleashed (2008).
• The gem also in the workshop is, of course, the yellow Chaos Emerald. In the backstory to Sonic Adventure 2 (2001), Tails received this particular Emerald in recognition of his heroics seen in Sonic Adventure (1998) and analyzed it, allowing him to create a fake (potentially represented by the spare of this piece).

The first of four bags contains parts to build the world's famous hedgehog himself in minifig form, along with what amount to odds and ends: the Buzz Bomber, a Clucky, three rings suspended in midair (on trans-clear bars, presumably to be knocked over/"collected" by the plane), a tool cabinet on wheels, and a recliner. All are simple, and unfortunately the only major commentary I can offer on them is a complaint: Buzz Bomber's construction prevents it from straightening out to the "flying" position seen in the games, leaving it stuck perpetually in its firing pose (or curled up further into an odd "sitting" position seen in the main set image). A second, less immediately obvious flaw is that the dome containing the Clucky holds on very securely--normally the opposite of a problem, but in this case it means the Buzz Bomber, unlike most of the LEGO Badniks, is unlikely to release its animal upon being knocked over. It's a shame, because it's otherwise a very nice design, immediately recognizable as Sonic's recurring aerial foe.

Bags two and three bring with them the main attractions: Miles "Tails" Prower himself, and the Tornado. It's a solidly built plane, an excellent match for the source material. The pilot's seat is constructed primarily around obscuring Tails's lack of leg articulation so that he can seem to be sitting and flying the plane, but fans of the classic games will recall that Sonic typically takes the controls himself when it's someone else's turn to be the player character, and accordingly he can sit comfortably as well (and even has an easier time grasping the control stick). Even more importantly, the otherwise-smooth surface of the upper wing has a pair of exposed studs for a minifig to stand on, matching up with the usual in-game presentation. My one complaint is that the pilot's seat is too shallow, causing Sonic or Tails to sit with most of his body exposed; it still looks reasonable, but the plane's most memorable appearances in the 2D Sonic games depicted only the pilot's head protruding above the fuselage. Granted, this was probably necessary to accommodate Tails's tails, which are very wide, but it's still an annoyance.

The fourth and final bag supplies parts to build Tails's workshop, which feels like almost an afterthought after the Tornado. That said, the unexpected use of Sonic Chronicles as a design basis proves to be a good decision, providing an interesting downward-curving roof and a checkerboard pattern on the exterior walls that, while not matching per se, helps tie the workshop in with the other Green Hill-themed sets of its wave. The front entrance is marked by a winged version of the same Tails logo, as well as yellow stripes on the ground suggesting Tails often wheels in heavy machinery (though the Tornado itself is far too large to fit). The interior is simple, but gets the job done. On one side is apparently a small animal care area for attending to the presumably-rescued Clucky, with a plant and a water bottle for it to enjoy; stored high above this are a couple more tools, well out of reach for a normal minifig but merely slightly inconvenient for a flying fox. The other side is dedicated to Tails's technical work, featuring some display screens, a cute rendition of Tails's yellow "Miles Electric" computer, and a Chaos Emerald being analyzed by an instrument of some kind.

Pros:

• Spot-on representation of the Tornado
• Workshop is surprisingly effective and detailed

Cons:

• Buzz Bomber design is flawed
• A bit on the pricey side

How I know the spare Chaos Emerald is the fake:

• Because you just told me, fox boy!