2162 - Hydro Reef Wrecker

Rating:
Pros: A nice array of green bricks. Small sub model is pretty cool
Cons: Main model is a dog
Contents: 279 pieces including 2 mini-figs, a shark, and an octopus
Price: $39.99 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 28-Jul-1997
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

Blackshark technicians race out of a hidden outpost in response to a bogus emergency signal from their commander while hidden enemy Raiders chuckle to themselves. Giving the gullible Blacksharks a few more minutes to position into the sites of electro-net launchers, the unsuspecting sub is dispatched with an EMP charge that immediately deactivates the ships energy systems and drops the sub into a deep sea gorge. Nullifying that closest threat, the Mauler moves out from its cave of surveillance and rolls menacingly toward the station.
A minimal number of techs left behind will never have the opportunity to call for any nearby assistance as the I-Wing minisub detaches itself from the back of the Mauler and lifts off to race ahead and destroy the station's communications array. Arriving at the walls, the Mauler begins spinning giant gear-faced drills that jut from its face, tearing into protective energy fields and the outside wall. A sudden explosion of released pressure announces the breaching of the outer shields and wall. The blast throws the Raider machine back a few yards, but it rolls forward and begins tearing anew at the station walls, burrowing in like a giant worm. Soon, a few surviving Blacksharks are taken prisoner along with over 30 new crystals as the Mauler turns from the gutted station and proceeds to their pickup point.

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While Aquanauts have never been more appealing to me than an occasional purchase, the 1997 release of Aquaraiders (with lots of green bricks) has been enough to encourage me to at last pick up a larger model. The price wasn't too much more than what one pays for a medium size space ship and while I think the principal model is kind of ugly, it did have a lot of bricks which made it worth the purchase.
The Hydro Reef Wrecker (neat name) is a rather bulky model comprised of a three-wheel surface roving unit (much like the 1728-Crystal Crawler) with a detachable minisub that fits nicely on the back. Two crystal boxes and a spacious 6x9x3 area for storage are located just beneath the minisub's docking base. Three giant drills on the face of the rover unit give it a very nasty appearance. Also, there are two wing-like appendages that can hinge back to make the rolling unit look a little more sleek but they really don't help much, still these hinges add up to useful elements for your own creations.
Unique pieces that come with the set are mainly the trans-green vertical dome halves (top and bottom) including optional sticker/decals, but there are also a great amount of regular building bricks: plates, sloped, octagonal (straight, elbowed and jogged) both in green and black.
The set comes with two of the new Aquaraider mini-figs (mustache guy and the kid) with standard chrome daggers and spears, plus a dark grey shark and an octopus.
I gave the set three stars because I think a cooler model could have been assembled (maybe adding or changing a few bricks), but it is a nice collection of bricks in itself and it makes for a great introduction to more green elements.

This set is a Parent's Magazine award winner.