LEGO Atlantis #8078 Portal of Atlantis Review

Theme: Atlantis
Name: Portal of Atlantis
S/N: #8078
Year: 2010
Pieces: 1007
Minifig: 7
Price: RM679.90, SGD199.90, USD99.99, GBP81.99

Box

The front box are the box art where the diver are battling their way through the portal and also shows all the key given at the lower left of the front. The top side of the box shows all the minifigs included in this set and also the actual size of the key as comparison while the back of the box shows the playability of the set.

Content

Inside this big box, there are nine numbered bags which each bag are to assemble different parts of the portal. Two instruction books and a dreaded sticker sheet are included as well. The Atlantis key and the Portal Emperor's helmet and armor are packed separately as well.

To view the instructions, please click on the following link: Book1 / Book2

Accessories

There are a lot of accessories included in this set as you get all the key, six trident (where two of them are use as decor for the portal), gems and others. As a result, this set have sufficient accessories for everyone.

Minifigs

There are seven minifigs included in this set of which there is one skeleton from Aquanauts team which the warrior steal the oxygen tank away from, three divers, a portal emperor, squid warrior and shark warrior. The divers and portal emperor have both side of their torso printed.

Below are pictures of the emperor and squid warrior which shows their face, (although most of you have seen them in others' review).

As for the diver, they have two expressions printed on their head like usual which you can switch their expression if you feel like it.

Living Shark Statue

So here's the two living shark statue, which have a few parts that are movable, mainly the mouth and its tail. Got nothing much to play with them though.

Portal of Atlantis

The main thing over here, which is the Portal of Atlantis looks just nice. I like the big shark head very much, and there are a few interior details added there.

Moving to my favorite part of the portal, which is the movable giant shark head. The shark mouth can be open very wide and is very steady. However,in order to let the diver swim through it, we cannot fully open it. It do fit the diver with lights and the female diver, but not the one with propeller at the back and it can snap them with their jaw as well.

Right behind the giant shark head are bedroom for the emperor and in order for us to place the emperor on his bed, we need to remove his helmet.

Right above the bedroom are a room with a table with a goblet and a map placed on it. I have no idea what it is about, but at least the emperor has something to do and the divers has something to steal.

There is a gate on both side of the portal and each side are slightly different, as the left side added with a table instead of weapon holding rack.

Moving to the right side of the portal, the lower part which is, have this rack that hold handcuff and whip.

While on the left, there are a table with some potions and a frog in some sort of container. Maybe the emperor use it for some sort of experiment.

Other than that, there is another rack that hold a sword and a trident. No idea why the emperor need so many weapon when he only have two hands.

There are stairs on both side of the portal that lead the diver to upper level of the portal as they have similar design, just added a table on the lower level of the left and the stairs just fit the divers, not sure about the squid though as I forget to try him out.

Here's the upper level of the portal which is empty and there is another stairs to climb. Anyway, I do not hate the portal but instead loving it.

There are this two thing that holds the shark statue on both side of the portal and it's very easy to remove the shark from the portal but of course at the same time the shark will move around, but the two green thing preventing it turning 360 degree.

Finally, moving to the portal, there is a number of things to highlight over here. First, is that we need a key to open the portal and without the key, you are not able to open the portal.

Next is the four key that are placed on the portal, and for your info, they will NOT move. They are fix there and by turning the main key, it will not make any different.

Lastly, the blue translucent piece which moves easily, so the portal open by itself whenever you move the whole thing. I was expecting something that hold very strong but I'm wrong.

Extra pieces

This set do include us with many extra pieces for spare. It's surprise me when I found out that extra whip are included, however is not packaging mistake.

Completed model

The set looks great, but the portal that are flimsy (those blue translucent piece) and the four keys that are not rotating while you are opening the portal is a bit sad as I was expecting all the key to turn together. However, this is a nice set, with interesting playability and some added interior.

Playability: 8/10 Unique playability, especially the portal and the giant shark head
Design: 9/10 Very neatly done I would say as the curve fits very well
Price:6/10 I would say it is expensive although it has unique playability, but it has too few functions
Overall: 7/10 I don't think Atlantis fans would like to miss this set, is recommended to you fans out there.