Sonic's Speed Sphere Challenge

"With a BrickScore of 70.1, Sonic's Speed Sphere Challenge is a fun, well-priced kids' set with a genuinely inventive launcher mechanic and admirable all-printed construction — though adult collectors will find the build brief and the layout a little haphazard."

Reviewers broadly agree that 76990 Sonic's Speed Sphere Challenge is a charming, entry-level kids' set that cleverly translates Sonic's signature speed into a physical play mechanic. The Speed Sphere launcher and all-printed (no stickers) construction earn consistent praise, and the set is seen as a solid, affordable introduction to the LEGO Sonic theme. However, the adult-collector camp finds the build thin and the overall layout a bit random, and the launcher itself divides opinion — fun and forceful to some, temperamental and requiring too much muscle to others.

Where they split: The launcher mechanism is the biggest point of disagreement: BricksFanz called it something that "works extremely well" and shoots "with considerable force," while Brick Fanatics noted it can be "temperamental," and Zusammengebaut felt it requires too much force and causes parts to scatter chaotically. Similarly, two reviewers gave a clear "buy" recommendation, while Zusammengebaut advised skipping it — largely reflecting the adult-vs-kids audience split.