Set #9516 Jabba's Palace: This set looks so much better than the original Jabba's Palace I can't believe it took them so long to get it right. Originally Jabba's Palace was a very limited build, originally released during the yellow skin era of LEGO Star Wars. (I think it was 2003.) It took a long time to see a better interpretation of the palace, this one features more structure and less open space.

It also really looks like the palace seen in the movie and the Mini-Figures are updated quite nicely. The only real issue I have with this set is the price, it does seem to cost a bit more than what you get. Still some of the contents help outweigh the value with the price-per-piece ratio. Anyway let's get on with this review.

Box/Instructions

This box is huge, I believe it is slightly larger than the Republic Cruiser (the last really big Star Wars set I've purchased) and the design really grabs your attention. You want this set, every feature and Mini-Figure shown on the front and back excites you far more than the original palace ever could.

There are two instructions for this set which are protected by cardboard, awesome LEGO. A set this large you naturally have numbered bags and each step builds one section of the palace, these instructions work pretty good as simple to follow and straightforward. I do think they might be a bit large for their own good, mostly because it's hard to find space for all your pieces and the manual on a table while you're working... Depending on the size of the table at least. Still great looking box and instructions this time around. Unfortunately they don't cross-promote the other sets from this wave and there's no Mini-Figure checklist for all the 2012 sets... No posters in this set either showing them all off.

Parts

I'm sorry folks there are so many parts in this set that I'm not sure where to start. All I can say about the pieces in this set is that you're going to see a lot, at over 700 pieces this is a set with a lot of potential for MOC lovers who enjoy good useful parts in sets. My all time favorite piece is the new sculpted Han-In-Carbonite piece, as someone who owns the original Jabba's Prize set with the first attempt at Han-In-Carbonite this update with actual sculpting and space to clip the Han Mini-Figure into it... Just such a great improvement.

Minifigures

The box advertises nine Mini-Figures (the Carbonite piece doesn't exactly count) and of those nine 7 are brand new for this set. We'll start with the not-an-actual Mini-Figure Mini-Figures.

B'omarr Monk: A buildable droid body for the B'omarr's brain in a jar, this honestly is a bit weak. I'm not too sure if it's the same type of build we saw back in 2003, it's possible they've updated it slightly, still it's passable as a B'omarr Monk. My one real issue with it is the leg assemply, using Mini-Figure swords for legs works, however it makes the poseability lacking. Considering in the Star Wars LEGO Games you can ride these things making the build slightly larger with more poseable legs would have been a fun little nod to the games.

Salacious B. Crumb: This is an unposeable sculpted creature, much like the original Sebulba from 1999. The sculpt work and the details on him are a vast improvement for this guy... Um, I believe this is brand new though we haven't seen Crumb in any past sets. Unless he was in the original Sail Barge or Palace sets, nope, he's brand new so he's a welcome addition to the Star Wars RotJ Characters.

Chewbacca: He's not new to this set actually he hasn't changed much over the years they've added a bit of paint since the first Chewbaccas, they haven't however added painted eyes to his piece yet though. Still he's a good addition to the set.

Bib Fortuna: This Mini-Figure is brand new for this set. We haven't seen the character since the original Jabba's Sailbarge set. The update to the print work on his face is a welcome addition. His sculpted Twi-Lek head piece looks fantastic, although it doesn't like to fit very well with his black cape. He only has single-sided torso printing sadly, still one can't complain too much as his costume was fairly forgettable and not super detailed if memory serves.

Gamorrean Guard: LEGO has really improved the look of this character since the old days, I have Jabba's Prize which featured a Gamorrean Guard. The updated print, sculpt and paint detail work on this Mini-Figure just screams awesome. He's also got printing on his legs for his furry shorts, the original was lacking in any printed detail. He get's a buildable vibroaxe to wield. One of my faves from this set.

Han Solo: He has a frumpy looking shirt print and a double-sided face, one with eyes closed the other with a slightly worried expression as he realises he's still at the mercy of Jabba. He doesn't have any accessories like a blaster or anything, but he does include a Han-in-Carbonite sculpted piece that he clips into, which I suppose is like an accessory. This Han looks great, and it's nice that if you buy this set, the Desert Skiff, 2013's Rancor Pit and Jabba's Sailbarge you won't have too many repeat characters from the scene of the films. I think the only ones missing are 3PO and a couple more Weequay and stuff.

Boushh: We all know who this really is, it certainly isn't the Bounty Hunter with a dangerous reputation. This Mini-Figure has a double-sided torso print, a great sculpted helmet piece, some nice accessories and leg printing. There's also a double-sided facial print, happy and angry expressions, and a spare hair piece to reveal the true person beneath the helmet.

Oola the Dancing Girl: I love this Mini-Figure. I mean the detail, the print work and the fact that this is my first Twi-Lek Female head piece... Yeah she's just great. She has a double-sided torso, leg printing and a double-sided head, happy expression and terrified. Honeslty the only thing to make this figure perfect would be the inclusion of a neck bracket and slave collar since she is a slave of Jabba. The head piece is pretty nicely detailed also, I believe it's the same one we've seen on Aayla Secura, still it works and looks great.

Jabba the Hutt: This 'Mini-Figure' is awesome. He's been given more printed detail work compared to the older Jabbas and is a giant slimy looking bag of putrid vileness. It's amazing how a different paint job can improve upon the same basic pieces we've seen before... I'm pretty sure the parts are the same, it's the printwork and the details that are 'new' and they work great.

A huge selection of Mini-Figures and an awesome group with only one or two weak members.

The build

I love the build in this set, I have never built anything more satisfying than Jabba's Palace as far as buildings and structures are concerned. I mean I own City Park Cafe and the Silver Mine Shootout, but there's just something truly fun and exciting as building an iconic building from my childhood. This is how I always wished Jabba's Palace would be built, I mean compared to what we got in 2003 this new build just is far more satisfying and accurate to the screen representation.

There are 7 numbered bags in this set and each bag builds a certain section of the palace, bag 1 is Jabba, Boushh, Chewie, the monk and the front entrance to the palace. Bag 2 is the upper section/tower for the entranceway, the door and the Gamorrean. Bag 3 includes Han, Bib, Oola and the first half of the main audience chamber, bag 4 gives us the Rancor Pit's trapdoor and the upper floor of the audience chamber so your Mini-Figures have somewhere to stand. Bag 5 starts the walls with the archways and Jabba's food holder with Hookah Pipe attachment, bag 6 involves the rear wall of the audience chamber and the throne itself and bag 7 is the roof.

Each section of the build is really satisfying as it takes shape, there are a few instances of missing stability as you're building, so I don't recommend building this set without having a table or other hard surface nearby to work on. Still just an awesome build.

The completed model

This is what fans wanted when Jabba's Palace was first announced in 2003 I'd wager at any rate. And after we saw the first design attempt we all knew it would take a while before we truly got the 'Palace' portion of Jabba's Palace. This model just looks great, and it is loaded with details and features for some playability.

The front door can slide open and close, the clever geared mechanism that works to hold the door open is a fun feature, the moveable blasters and pop out eye-stalk built into the doors are really fun and don't get in the way like other features can.

The best part of this model is that LEGO designed it to connect with the new Rancor Pit from 2013. (Can't wait to nab that so I can see how it works.) As it is the sliding open trap door doesn't have anywhere to go at the moment, but just knowing that it will work as an interesting play feature when you have both sets together... It just adds to the score of this set. It's also nice because you can slide Jabba's throne forward to cover the trap door and that adds a bit to the play features. The only questionable inclusion for play features is the flick-fire missile in Jabba's roof. There's a Technic bar and pin that you can push to fire a missile, it's just really wierd having this be included as older fans might not appreciate this function. At least it doesn't intrude blatantly like some flick-missiles do.

Summary

Overall... How can you not love this set? This is the best interpretation of Jabba's Palace LEGO has made so far, and if we ever see it again after certain controversies that cropped up because of the overall design of the palace... Well I'm just glad LEGO made this available and I was able to get it as the set I believe has retired by now.

I definitely recommend trying to track this baby down, it combines with the Rancor Pit which means you'll have over 1000 pieces once you have both sets together and it is an iconic building from Return of the Jedi with many iconic characters and moments re-enacted in LEGO form. I do wish they'd updated the B'omarr at the same time as most everybody else, this is in fact the same build from the original Palace which... Just looks dated next to the new and improved Mini-Figures.

There are no stickers in the set either, so that's a huge plus. Oh right and before I forget the roof doesn't lock in, making it easy to get access to the inside from above for playing. Yep, this is a great and welcome update for Jabba's Palace's design, get it if you can. I wouldn't wait to see if it goes on sale if you still have some in your area though, while the price is a bit high (175$ in Canada if memory serves, which includes taxes) it is definitely worth the price. Especially for Original Trilogy fans.