6949 - Robo-Guardian

Rating:
Pros: Great design; a good assortment of pieces
Cons: None
Contents: 360 pieces including 3 mini-figs
Price: $39.99 (Discontinued)
Reviewed: 28-Feb-1997
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

Cy Smythe considers himself a shrewd businessman. Always ready for a quick backstab or to kick an opponent when he's down, he thought himself rather sly when he contracted Spyrius agents to steal hi-tech components from a rival company, then he never delivered on the payment to the spies. He is giving that decision serious second thoughts as Monday morning's staff meeting is interrupted by a heavy rumbling and emergency warnings that all security systems have been shut down in the six-level structure.
Blood runs cold in Cy's veins as he rushes to a nearby window to see an immense armored artificial intelligence working its way up the narrow paths of the corporate installation, smashing wheeled transports in its path, and finally to the building where Cy's meeting is being held. Long powerful arms begin tearing at the girders and support beams of the building, collapsing lower floors of the structure and bringing Cy closer and closer to a grasping robot claw.

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Some impulse of madness caused me to pick this set up because I was never really interested in any other Spyrius sets beside the 6939-Saucer Centurion, but the "oh my heck, it'll be discontinued soon and I still don't have one" mania grabbed me. I picked one up and I really like it! The principal model is cooler than I originally thought and there are plenty of pieces here for some great alternate models (just check out that pseudo-batmobile on the back of the box!).
The robot stands roughly four stories tall with a ten-wheel two-tier base. Two of the levels on the robot are hollow and open in the back; one of these levels can hide a minifig, while the other level is for hiding an open-cockpit scout-type flying vehicle. The detachable robot arms feature a magnet for one hand and a two-pincer claw on the other.
The robot's head is another flying craft (this one is enclosed). Pictures of the model show the option of removing the head and attaching the detachable arms to the sides, then allowing the other slightly smaller scout ship to function as chief control unit for the rest of the robot. Quick note here to express thanks to the Lego Company for providing a sticker for one of the panels on the robot's body (rather than having a preprinted piece).
The set includes two Spyrius astronauts and one Spyrius droid. There are no particularly unique parts with the set although the windscreen for the covered craft is my first in transparent red and I did like getting ten wheels for some alternate vehicles.
The creation of this robot and the inclusion of another in the sub-theme, plus the suggestion for yet another robot as an alternate model for the Saucer Centurion undoubtedly served as impetus for the Lego Company to branch into a sub-theme solely devoted to robots. And while the new 1997 Robo-Force sub-theme looks good, only a couple of the newer models really equal the innovation of the Robo-Guardian.
I was surprised at how well I like this set and strongly suggest adding it to your collection if you are a space enthusiast.