Eldorado Fortress REVIEW - A Pirate Masterpiece?

Nearly a year after releasing the amazing Lion Knights Castle, Lego has launched an updated version of the classic Eldorado Fortress. Part of the Pirate theme created in 1989, this modern fortress ditches the old-school baseplate in favor of a brick-built base. With over 2,000 pieces more than the original set, are there any secrets Lego hid in that rocky base?
10320 Eldorado Fortress
2,509 Pieces
$215 US
#lego #eldoradofortress #eldorado #pirate #legopirates #legocastle #10320
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[@xboxist]

Seeing your video in July 2024. Just wanted to say great job and earned my subscribe.

[@mattmakesthings]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate it and glad you enjoyed it!

[@twixraiderhm]

Thanks for this video! I hadn't bought LEGO in over 20 years but this helped convince me to get this set, and it's a great one! Building it was a lot of fun (definitely way more interesting than building the sets of 20 years ago), and I enjoy rearranging the structures to make different looks. My wallet is not quite as thankful though, since I'm already craving for more and have my eye on both Rivendell and that Lion Castle set 😅

[@mattmakesthings]

I love comments like this, I also got back into Lego after not buying any for a long time, and it’s great to see what their designers have been able to create compared to the older sets. I know it’s expensive and takes up a lot of space, but if you enjoyed this set then I think you would really love the Lion Knights Castle!

[@link3rd]

So I thought the same thing for those 12 small pieces, but if u watch how the ramp fits together, you’ll notice that it needs a little gap for the edge to slot between.

[@mattmakesthings]

It looked like there was enough clearance to work without it, but I admit I’m not much of a Lego engineer. Thanks for the helpful comment! I owe Pierre Normandin a beer (the set designer).

[@mattmakesthings]

What kinds of sets do you want to see more reviews of? Think my videos could be better and have a suggestion? Let me know!

[@TheZohansolo]

I want to remake Rock Island refuge with this bottom half of the set and modernize it.

[@mattmakesthings]

I missed out on Barracuda Bay and I would cut off a finger for a remake of Rock Island Refuge. They probably won’t do it, but I’d love to see a return of that molded rope bridge.

[@TheZohansolo]

@@mattmakesthings I had that set as a child. I gave away all my legos when I went to college.And now I'm hitting 40 and I'm attempting to rebuild my child.The lego sets.I'm really enjoying the modern take on the new sites.And I cannot wait to build the pirates of barracuda bay

[@jacobelmslie3862]

The OG pirate ship and El dorado I think were my most played with sets that stayed as they were. most everything else got torn down and remade into other things. This looks fun, but so hard to justify since its a bit too much like the original I still have. Would be fun to have 2 to make a super port but that gets a bit crazy. Zero stickers is a plus and might have to find a end of production sale.

[@jacobelmslie3862]

watching this review after so long makes me appreciate it more

[@mattmakesthings]

I think the updated techniques for the ramp, caves, crane, and display variation are what I love about this set. You can’t have everything, but definitely worth a look if it does end up being discounted at some point. I just wish I was buying Lego when Barracuda Bay came out…

[@jacobelmslie3862]

yeah i had no idea that came out... a friend told me LEGO was a better investment than gold or the stock market so I went to check it out... found the castle and instead of an investor I became a collector. Best set ever.... @@mattmakesthings

[@danielmorgan8576]

The white ink on the torsos is the one thing that puts me off

[@XaeeD]

Just to point it out; pirates didn't wear eyepatches because they were missing an eye. They did it so that the covered eye became accustomed to the darkness. During the night, they would remove the patch and the idea was that this allowed them to have better vision at night. I don't know if that actually works, but that's the reason why they wore eyepatches.

[@mattmakesthings]

I’ve never heard that before, but what a clever idea! Not sure I’d be willing to give up the depth perception the other 90% of the time, but maybe I’d feel differently if I were still a privateer.

[@XaeeD]

@@mattmakesthings Lol yeah it's weird, but true. It's not a stereotype that they wore eyepatches. They actually did that, historically, but just not for the reason people think.

[@828centrum]

That is acutally a widely spread hoax. Nobody half-blinds himself on purpose, jsut to get accustomed to darkness. Working on ship requires 3D vision and a good distance estimation which is impossible with one eye. I believe LEGO uses so many one-eyed figure heads just to meet the classic pop-culture pirate stereotype.

[@danielitokun]

You are the most entertaining lego reviewer on KZbin you crack me up 😅 great video production too!. You deserve more nerd followers:)

[@mattmakesthings]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@raymillnerkust4251]

Haha. Love your videos, good quality and also love the humor.

[@mattmakesthings]

Thank you!

[@sammedders5976]

You've got me sold! Great review!

[@mattmakesthings]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@sportsander2841]

Awesome review!

[@mattmakesthings]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[@luis_pereirao]

Nice video. 👍

[@PigpenTheOneAndOnly]

You got my sub with your entertaining and energetic review. I just purchased the Lion Knight's Castle and now I have Eldorado Fortress on my list of set i must have. Not sure if i should watch you video before or after I assemble the castle...

[@mattmakesthings]

Thank you! If you’ve avoided any reviews so far then I think you should go in blind, the Lion Knights Castle is probably my all time favorite set (so far).

[@hunter4229]

Funny how I love these classic sets when I never even had the old versions (so no nostalgia). I have this and the galaxy explorer because they just have so much value for their price and they really embody what made/makes Lego so special. Great for both play and display which I would say is pretty rare. I would love to have the Lion Knight’s Castle but the price range of that set is sadly out of my budget. I only barely afford to save for 1 or 2 $500 sets a year and unfortunately had to go to other (licensed) sets.

[@mattmakesthings]

I like the older castles but the designers have really been delivering on these newer versions. I hope Lion Knights goes on sale at some point or you otherwise have the opportunity to build it, because it’s really an amazing set.

[@Stormy2021x]

Not as good as Pirates of Barracuda Bay, but not bad.

[@mattmakesthings]

Ugh I don’t own Barracuda Bay but I really really wish I did

[@Ardunafeth]

I like this one much better than the pirates of barracuda bay. Pirates of Barracuda Bay annoys me somewhat. They should have just focussed on making a proper ship or a proper island base. Now it's neither. A ship would have been preferred. However, when you convert it into a ship the hallways are clogged and you don't have proper functioning gun ports because of the windows. I like the old black seas barracuda much better. Of course nothing comes close to 10210 the imperial flag ship. But that one is extremely rare and expensive.

[@mattmakesthings]

I hope to be able to compare the two sometime! Maybe one day they’ll bring back the Pirates line more seriously.

[@tomasjari9412]

This is the best set ever build.

[@mattmakesthings]

I really like the Lion Knights Castle, but Eldorado Fortress is a great set (and a lot cheaper and modular)

[@raymillnerkust4251]

Hope to see the tranquil garden review.

[@Zombxst]

Just bought it

[@mattmakesthings]

I hope you like it as much as I did! I just picked up the Viking village.

[@miraantelj2439]

I was biliding police station set alone it took me 3h

[@GothicKittyMadness]

Time for a shave Matt?

[@mattmakesthings]

Perhaps

[@djdutch87]

I still wonder why this is 18+?

[@mattmakesthings]

The minifigs on 18+ sets are anatomically correct. Separately though, I think this is mostly to communicate to adults that it’s okay to like Lego and to feel comfortable buying it for themselves and not just for kids. But certainly this set would also be great for any young person into pirates or castles.

[@luis_pereirao]

What does the letter says???? 😂😂😂😂

[@mattmakesthings]

Only I and the spies at Lego know

[@luis_pereirao]

😂

[@cromedome6511]

When u go back n say in today’s money in which I makes no sense cuz it’s still the same thing it’s like saying there no trash in the ocean so y is Lego up the price

[@mattmakesthings]

This is my favorite comment so far.

[@skithunter8990]

There are too many females in these new Lego sets. Come on.