LEGO® Super Mario™ parts review + MOCs: 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure and 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

Today I'm looking at parts from two 2023 LEGO® Super Mario™ sets, 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure and 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride. I'll also present two new MOCs inspired by the parts from these sets, and there are building instructions for Patreon supporters. Let's-a-go!

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.
LEGO® Super Mario™ 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure
US$64.99/ £59.99/ 64.99€DE/ AU$99.99
567 parts

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LEGO® Super Mario™ 1419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride
US$49.99/ £44.99/ 49.99€DE/ AU$79.99
453 parts

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Parts in 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure

Unique parts

• 4x Plate, Round 4 x 8 x 2/3, Raised 2 x 8 and 2 x 2 Cutout in Blue (6353589 | 73832)

• 3x Plate, Modified 8 x 8 with Rounded Corners and 4 Feet in White (6426726 | 66790)

The "Mario plates" feel quite weird. The slots in the corners make them easier to use, but hinder their use in architectural builds: I don't want slots ruining my pretty rounded corners.

Unique prints and stickered barcode parts

• 1x Tile, Round 3 x 3 with Black Oval Eyes with Pupils and Dark Blue Zigzag Mouth Pattern in White (6431339)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Red Koopa Troopa Pattern (Sticker) in Red (6428420)
• 1x Slope, Curved 1 x 4 x 1 1/3 with Black Oval Eyes on White Background, Bright Light Orange and Dark Bluish Gray Border Pattern (Super Mario Fliprus) in Yellow (6422406)
• 1x Slope, Curved 2 x 2 x 2/3 with 2 Black Curved Lines Pattern (Super Mario Fliprus Nostrils) in Bright Pink (6431371)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Fliprus Pattern (Sticker) in Medium Azure (6431379)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Campfire Pattern (Sticker) in Medium Nougat (6431426)

Out of these, the scary snowman print feels the most universal. The Fliprus eye print is interesting, but the nostrils feel quite novel. I haven't yet seen many good uses for the code sticker parts, but it's just a question of time.

Rare Parts

Fliprus Snow Adventure includes two new moulds and several recolours and prints that were introduced in the 2023 LEGO Super Mario line, being also available in 71415 Ice Mario Suit and Frozen World.

• 4x Brick, Modified 6 x 6 x 2/3 No Studs with Embossed Ice Crystal Surface in Medium Azure (6414927 | 3160) - also in 71415 Ice Mario Suit and Frozen World

The new 2-plate-thick panel is the most interesting mould in this set. It has an uneven polygonal surface consisting. The profile is very shallow, less than half a plate deep. On the underside, the middle 4x4 part is empty, with antistuds circling it.

It represents an icy floor for the set, but is hard to perceive as ice in bright Medium Azure, even though that colour often appears in icy Super Mario levels. It looks, well, like plastic. White would have been more ice-like; transparent or satin coloured would have been outstanding. 

It's hard to come up with uses for this robust piece. Maybe a modernist building with a prefab element facade? But a rougher colour of cast concrete or natural stone would work better.

43215 The Enchanted Treehouse has 3 of this piece in SatinTrans-Purple, which feels a lot more interesting colour for it.

• 1x Rock Panel 2 x 4 x 4 in Trans-Light Blue (6414928 | 3161)

This is practically a squashed version of 47847 Rock Panel 2 x 4 x 6 from 2005; almost like someone distorted it vertically in Photoshop. Fliprus Snow Adventure also includes two larger ones in Trans-Light Blue (6240045 | 33458), but this element isn't particularly rare.

• 2x Tile, Modified 4 x 4 with Rounded Corners and 4 Feet in Medium Azure (6426729 | 68869) - also in 71415 Ice Mario Suit and Frozen World
• 2x Plate, Round 4 x 6 x 2/3, Raised 2 x 6 and 2 x 2 Cutout in Blue (6386992 | 89681) - in 2 other sets
• 2x Plate, Round 4 x 6 x 2/3, Raised 2 x 6 and 2 x 2 Cutout in White (6427625 | 89681) - also in 71415 Ice Mario Suit and Frozen World

• 10x Plant Leaves 2 x 2 with 4 Petals and Axle Hole in Dark Green (6426730 | 15469) - in 3 other sets
• 5x Cone 2 x 2 x 2 with Hollow Stud in Dark Green (6426731 | 14918) - in 2 other sets

The petal pieces have gradually come in more colours, and Dark Green is very nice. The spruce trees they make up are a bit cartoony, but nevertheless quite cute.

READ MORE: New Elementary is 10 years old and we examined the petal piece back when it was introduced in 2014

• 2x Slope 18 4 x 2 in Bright Light Blue (6385642 | 30363) - also in 71402-1 Freezie
• 1x Shell with 4 Recessed Studs and Hole with Molded White Bottom Pattern in Red (6420955 | 67013) - in 2 other sets. Pattern is actually a misnomer, as the element is dual-moulded.

New or rare prints and stickered parts

• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Baby Penguin Pattern (Sticker) in Blue (6388503) - also in 71402-7 Baby Penguin
• 1x Tile, Modified 2 x 3 Pentagonal with Black Eyes and Dark Blue Zigzag Pattern (Freezie Face) in Bright Light Blue (6382175) - also in 71402-1 Freezie
• 2x Brick 1 x 1 with Dark Blue Eye with Black Pupil Pattern (Super Mario Baby Penguin) in Blue (6382171) - also in 71402-7 Baby Penguin
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Freezie Pattern (Sticker) in Bright Light Blue (6388502) - also in 71402-1 Freezie

The Freezie face is fun, and the penguin eyes look quite cute. I might have built another penguin with them…

Parts in 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

In contrast to Fliprus Snow Adventure, this set has more of a "World 1" (i.e. like the original Super Mario game) grasslands feel, which makes the overall colour palette a bit more standard. There are nevertheless some interesting parts.

Unique parts in Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

• 2x Brick, Round Corner 6 x 6 x 2 in Red (6427242 | 87559)
• 1x Legs with Plate Round 2 x 3 - 2 Feet in Dark Pink (6433363 | 66859)

It's surprising that the large curved piece hasn't appeared in Red before as it's such a core colour. It's very nice to have this omission sorted out.

• 2x Panel 10 x 4 x 13 Curved Tapered with Bar Handle at Each End, 4 Studs On Side in Bright Pink (6433365 | 65783)

This piece bugs me a lot. It is the second large hot air balloon in a relatively short time. 18969 Panel 4 x 4 x 13 Curved Tapered with Clip at Each End was introduced in 2015, and as it's a slender and pretty part, I've used it as hair ad nauseam (sorry). This one is not slender. 4 pieces are needed for a balloon, so they're wide and sturdy. In addition to the bars in the ends, there is a 2 x 2 round brick seemingly embedded in the middle. Argh! I wish it wouldn't protrude like that. It makes it very hard to use this piece satisfyingly as a billowing cape or something similar, and parts connected to it stick out too much. It would be nicer if it was level with the balloon shape. As is, the part feels lacklustre, like the one-part palm trunks from the LEGO 4 Juniors line in the early 2000s.

Rare pieces in Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

• 2x Panel 10 x 4 x 13 Curved Tapered with Bar Handle at Each End, 4 Studs On Side in Dark Pink (6427511 | 6287522 | 65783) - also in 41252 Poppy's Air Balloon Adventure

Same mould as above. This part has a new Element ID, while the Design ID remains the same.

• 2x Plate, Round 3 x 4 x 2/3, Raised 1 x 4 in Green (6425980 | 3263) - also in 71418 Creativity Toolbox
• 2x Arm and Hand Long with Pin - Vertical Grip in Dark Pink (6428310 | 66788) - also in 71413-4 Birdo
• 2x Technic, Brick 1 x 1 with Hole in Bright Pink (6353190 | 6541) - also in 71387 Adventures with Luigi
• 2x Arm and Hand Long with Pin - Vertical Grip  in Bright Pink (6359698 | 66788) - also in 71387 Adventures with Luigi

The Bright Pink 1x1 Technic brick is especially welcome, as this piece is useful on pretty much any kind of build.

• 1x Shell with 4 Recessed Studs and Hole with Molded White Bottom Pattern in Red (6420955 | 67013) - in 2 other sets. 
• 4x 1/4 Brick, Round Corner 5 x 5 x 1 without Studs in White (6334179 | 24599) - in 2 other sets

The White macaroni curve is elegant and inspiring, for both buildings and characters.

Unique prints and stickered pieces in Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

• 1x Brick 1 x 3 with Angry Dark Red and White Eyes with Black Eyelashes and Eyelids Pattern (Super Mario Pom Pom) in Red (6422399)
• 1x Tile 2 x 3 with 3 Dark Tan Curved Lines Pattern (Super Mario Boom Boom / Pom Pom Belly) in Yellow (6422401)
• 1x Tile, Round 2 x 4 Oval with Black Nostrils and Open Mouth Smile with White Fangs and Red Tongue Pattern (Super Mario Pom Pom Lower Face) in Bright Light Yellow (6422400)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Black Oval Eyes with Pupils Pattern (Super Mario Turnip Face) in White (6422385)
• 1x ile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Pom Pom Pattern (Sticker) in Red (6431835)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Hot Air Balloon Pattern (Sticker) in Dark Tan (6431840)
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Turnip Pattern (Sticker) in White (6431845)

Rare prints and stickered parts in Peach's Garden Balloon Ride

• 1x Brick, Modified Cube, 4 Studs on Top with Blue Circle Pattern on All Sides (Super Mario Blue Toad Cap) in White (6353856) - also in 71390 Reznor Knockdown
• 1x Brick 2 x 2 with Black Eyes, White Pupil, Wink, and Dark Red Open Mouth Smile with Red Tongue Pattern (Super Mario Blue Toad / Purple Toad Face) in Light Nougat (6407497) - also in 71410-3 Purple Toad
• 1x Brick 1 x 2 with Dark Blue and Black Eyes on White Background Pattern (Super Mario Yoshi) in Bright Pink (6353864) - also in 71387 Adventures with Luigi
• 1x Slope, Curved 1 x 2 x 1 with 2 Magenta Curved Lines Pattern (Super Mario Pink Yoshi Nostrils) in Bright Pink (6353865) - also in 71387 Adventures with Luigi
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Coin Pattern (Sticker) in Dark Orange (6407673) - in 2 other sets
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove with Super Mario Scanner Code Yoshi Egg Pattern (Sticker) in Bright Pink (6371087) - also in 71387 Adventures with Luigi

The cheerful Toad face is pretty scary! Another brick in the wall… I wonder what builders might come up with for it. It feels that MOC makers haven't yet discovered the potential of Mario sets; some of these prints could be used on all sorts of crazy stuff.

Eero Okkonen's MOCs inspired by parts in 71417 and 71419

King Dedede

Wait… this isn't a Mario character! But close; King Dedede is from Kirby, another Nintendo 2D platformer series. 

Dedede is pretty great - a fat, regal penguin that eats about anything. I had this idea from the very beginning - I thought those Koopa shells would make an interesting fur-lined coat in a small scale - and the penguin eyes printed on blue brick were a slam dunk match.

The main challenge wasn't about these parts though - it was the beak; I went through countless iterations that didn't quite work. This final version uses two of the old 1x1 round plates with ball joints - aka Homemaker hands - and the D-tiles are simply pressed between the balls. Those same pieces have been used on Dedede's mitten thumbs. I wanted to use some of the Mario characters legs from these sets as Dedede's foot, but they were way too small; I had to settle with curved slopes. 

I've also built Dedede before, only in a much larger scale.

Interested in building King Dedede yourself? Become a New Elementary Patreon (Sand Blue tier and upwards) to access Eero's step by step pictures of his custom build! 

The Wanderer

This model stays in the gaming department but takes us from video to card gaming. 

The Wanderer is a character from Magic the Gathering. At first sight it doesn't seem to have very much to do with these Mario sets reviewed above, so I'll open my thinking to you a bit. 

As we know, there are common and rarer LEGO colours. For example, Nougat would be a great colour for human characters, but there are not enough generic organically shaped pieces (slopes, curved slopes etc.) and hinge parts to work satisfyingly. Both of these Mario sets have some character submodels built with Bright Pink, and although not all the pieces are new or even rare, they made this colour reach the critical mass in my inventory, enabling both organic shapes and some joints.

The Wanderer wears a beautiful Bright Pink dress, so she was a good choice. Again, I have built this character before, and due to part limitations, its patterns were jagged and its movement limited. The curves were simply made by the old round wall technique of 1 x 2 plates and 1 x 1 round plates. 

This time I chose to abandon such a trick altogether and work with the neat modern array of curved slopes and rounded tiles. 

I managed to make the dress with some upper leg articulation by making two L-shaped panels and connecting them on the back with small ball joints; the Bright Pink brackets from these sets helped a lot. The long sleeve went through many versions too, with several different elbow joints, but in the end I managed to make a Bright Pink joint that has enough movement to be natural, enough friction to hold the blade and not too many gaps. The back of the elbow is capped with another Boat Stud connected by a 1 x 2 tile and a pony ear technique (which is legal with tiles). There is a turning joint above it, as a simple swiveling elbow isn't enough for a natural joint. This uses the rare 1 x 1 Technic Brick: the joint consists of a stud-to-pin hole connection, strengthened by a bar going through it.

Other set parts can be found in the hair: curved parts from Peach's fountain are waving in the wind. Their movement is reflected on the billowing capes made with the same pieces in Dark Turquoise - from LEGO House's special AFOL Day Pick-A-Brick back in 2019!

Conclusion

LEGO Super Mario sets are full of bright colours, weird prints and unexpected part assortments, ranging from recoloured basic parts to new moulds. As most of them don't have the electric playing figure (Mario, Luigi or Peach) and even the paper instructions have been omitted, they're easily pure part packs for builders.

However, the pricing - US$49.99/ £44.99/ 49.99€DE/ AU$79.99 for 71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride (453 parts) and US$64.99/ £59.99/ 64.99€DE/ AU$99.99 for 71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure (567 parts) feel relatively high for sets without minifigures, even in this age of inflation. All set prices have risen, but nonetheless these sets lack the oomph and Sturm und Drang of, for example, non-licensed action and adventure theme sets. Even the most exciting weird moulds - the ice tile and large balloon panel - leave something to be desired. It's hard to recommend them just for parts for full price - even though there are some nice bits that inspired me to build my own models.

That said, if you do purchase these LEGO Super Mario sets or other products from LEGO.com, please do consider using our affiliate links, as we may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop.

READ MORE: LEGO® NINJAGO® review: vehicle sets 71789, 71791, 71792 & 71794

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