26 October 2026

Review: part 8057 and set 77120 Shadow's Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper from LEGO® Sonic the Hedgehog™

Posted by Tom Loftus

Something is afoot with LEGO® Sonic the Hedgehog™ 77120 Shadow's Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper. Today I take a look at the new 2 x 4 plate with ball joint, before analysing the other parts and the construction of the set that introduced it.


We were given this product by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

77120 Shadow's Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper

  • Release date: 1 August 2026
  • Pieces: 374
  • Ages: 8+

Price: 

Other countries click here

Lego Sonic the Hedgehog 77120 Shadow’s Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper

 

New mould: 2 x 4 Plate with Ball Joint (part 8057)

So far only found in this set, Plate Special 2 x 4 with Ball Joint in White (6591754 | 8057) feels like the kind of element that could go unnoticed – so naturally, it's essential we analyse this little beauty, not least because it was co-designed by one of our New E alumni: Aron Gerencsér! 



It's a welcome alternative joint to 2 x 2 Technic Brick with Ball and Axle Hole (57909) which can be cumbersome in some situations. The underside of the new piece (above right) strongly resembles that of a regular 2 x 4 plate, but features some extra ribbing and a teeny-tiny, plus-shaped hole in the central underside tube.



A natural companion is the 2 x 2 Technic Brick with Ball Socket (67696), though any element with a compatible socket (i.e. 10.2mm) will work. 

The height of the ball allows for ample range of motion – though the spacing is far from arbitrary: 


While it's largely pointless to do so, the joint can be fixed in place thanks to the LEGO® System-friendly geometry of the new mould.



The same spacing can't be achieved with existing parts, though a couple of studs and a Technic 10.2mm ball piece (32474) comes close.



I'm sure there's a super-collector out there that could amass every element with a 10.2mm ball for a comprehensive family photo, but hopefully the above assortment conveys the idea. It's just the latest addition to a long line of parts introduced in past CCBS themes like Slizers/Throwbots, LEGO® BIONICLE®,  LEGO® Hero Factory, LEGO® Ben 10 and many more.



Here are some other distant, LEGO System-based 'relatives'. Above left is Brick Special 2 x 4, with 2 x 2 Brick with Top Pin and 1 x 2 Side Plates (30592), often used as the mount point for rotor blades on helicopters. It's a passing resemblance at best, but I think there's some tangible kinship there. 

Same goes for the comparison above right with two 1 x 4 Plates with 2 Studs (41740) which matches the stud layout on the new joint.


A peek at the finished mech's foot demonstrates the prime reason the new joint was introduced. Its slim, plate-based design streamlines the assembly massively and allows for a sturdy, low-profile ankle joint with space around it, without relying too heavily on SNOT construction. 

However, it'll surely have utility beyond mech building too:

One possible use is as anchor points for positioning something big and heavy at a dynamic angle (I'm picturing an old-timey galleon on stormy seas, but feel free to imagine something else big and heavy at a dynamic angle). Granted, for big models, the older joint types probably could be employed just as easily, but the new plate-based element is still easier to integrate onto a studs-up surface.

The highlight parts-wise is definitely the ball joint, the the set also has selection of other goodies.


Recoloured elements

  • 1x Brick Wedged, Sloped 45° 6 x 8 with Pointed Cutout in Black (6591605 | 22390)
  • 2x Grille Bar 1 x 4 x 1 2/3 Bull Bar, Squared in White (6621051 | 77083)
  • 1x Brick Wedged, Curved Triple 4 x 4 x 2/3 with 2 Studs in Dark Green (6617307 | 45677)
  • 2x Bar 1L with Rounded End in Pearl Gold (6668515 | 7768) - Previously appeared in this colour with printing in 31386 Wild Animals: Majestic Lion

Rare parts

The following appear in 2 other sets or less:

  • 6x Brick Sloped 33° 2 x 2 Double in Dark Green (6617306 | 3300) Found in 1x other set
  • 2x Brick Special 2 x 5 with Slope, Studs on Side in Dark Green (6540945 | 79897) Found in 1x other set
  • 2x Ghost Effect with Bar in Trans-Black (6586826 | 5500) Found in 1x other set
  • 6x Technic Brick Special 1 x 2 with Ball Socket Wide in Red (6553183 | 7510) Found in 1x other set
  • 2x Vehicle Track, Roller Coaster Straight 4L in Black (6475095 | 80562) Found in 2x other sets

Minifigure

Shadow receives a new decoration on his head (6614102) and legs (6626352). The torso (6474420) is recycled from previous versions and can be found in two other sets. He also has a bike, or "Dark Rider" as it's known in-game. 


The builds 

G.U.N. Trooper

The name feels a bit contradictory to LEGO® values. Presumably the fact it's the name of an in-game entity and an acronym (Guardian Units of Nations) makes having the word gun on the box permissible? 

In any case, the side build itself is neat.

Its small size packs a great number of articulation points, including the waist, which makes the little dude highly poseable. 

As I was unaware G.U.N. troopers have absurdly wide shoulders, I initially had the upper arms connected the wrong way round (above, bottom right). I corrected my mistake for the review, but I think I prefer the erroneous configuration, it feels more natural even though it's inaccurate. 


Shadow's Mech

Unless the G.U.N. trooper bought friends, this probably won't be a fair fight...

Shadow's Mech is a solid, mid-sized mech with a build complexity befitting the target age range of 8+. There's not much in the way of fancy techniques or elaborate shaping, but the build is not without merit. 

A highlight are the sword sheaths on the thighs, which use black 4L roller coaster tracks (80562, above top left). It's an awesome use of parts and provides simple yet effective storage for the massive blades. Note the colour-blocking nearby on the shins too; extending the 45° angle of the armour piece (79897) with a pentagonal tile (22385, 35341) looks great.

The fixed knees are a bit restrictive for striking action poses, but they do make getting the model to stand much easier for younger builders. Unfortunately though, all the ball joints on my copy feel a tad loose – not much, but enough to make it tricky to pose the legs on a slidey surface or keep an arm outstretched. Hopefully I just got unlucky and it's not a widespread problem, but if it is, let's hope it's resolved swiftly.


Verdict

The price of US$49.99/ £44.99/ 49.99€/ AU$79.99 feels pretty steep for a set this size, so definitely try to find a discount if you can. Overall though, 77120 Shadow's Mech vs. G.U.N. Trooper is a fine introduction for the new ball joint mould. The two mechs are well designed and each have a selection of parts to please the MOC builders. 

READ MORE: Coming Wednesday 28 October: GwP 40889 Build, Paint and Play

 

Help New Elementary keep publishing articles like this. Become a Patron!

A huge thank you to all our patrons for your support, especially our 'Vibrant Coral' tier: London AFOLs, Antonio Serra, Beyond the Brick, Huw Millington, Dave Schefcik, David and Breda Fennell, Gerald Lasser, Baixo LMmodels, Sue Ann Barber and Trevor Clark, Markus Rollbühler, Elspeth De Montes, Megan Lum, Andy Price, Chuck Hagenbuch, Jf, Wayne R. Tyler, Daniel Church, Lukas Kurth (StoneWars), Timo Luehnen, Chris Wight, Jonathan Breidert, Brick Owl, BrickCats, Erin and Dale, Jake Forbes, H.Y. Leung and our newest top-tier patron, Keith Marcelletti! You folks are better than inverted cheese slopes.

All text and images are ©2026 New Elementary unless otherwise attributed.

Posted by: Posted on
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)