The most fun I’ve had at work for some time is when Josie and I got to build the Lego Smart Brick Darth Vader TIE Fighter set for our YouTube channel. Well, it was… as now that’s been replaced by the hours I spent playing the brand-new Lego Pokémon sets today — all 12 of them — as they’re everything I could want as a long-term fan of both, and they're a true evolution (pun intended) of the Lego Smart Play system.

My favorite improvement: you could forget these sets are at all Smart Play compatible.

This isn’t meant as a slight against the Smart Brick — I think the techno block is an incredibly fun play feature — but my biggest criticism of the original Star Wars batch is that they feel incomplete without the brick. Darth Vader’s TIE fighter literally has a giant open space at the back for the Smart Brick, and even with it in place, the set feels a little more open than a spaceship should be.

Here, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Garchomp, and the gang are complete models without the Smart Brick; perfect blocky action figures to pose and battle with. But lift off their belly, and you’ll expose a Smart Play tile that, with a charged-up block, will help to bring these critters to life.

Further, the sets are jam-packed with play features enhanced by smart features, but aren’t dependent on them.

Smart Play's improvements have left me thunder-shocked!

The all-in-one Pikachu’s Training House couldn’t be a clearer showcase of this. With the electric mouse, you’ll experience the full Pokémon cycle. He starts out hiding in the tall grass, waiting for you to throw a pokéball at him — which you do by hitting a target, which makes the grass fall back, and, with a Smart Brick, plays a successful tune.

With your new partner, you can then touch the training tile to begin getting Pikachu ready for battle. In training mode, Pikachu and all other 19 Pokémon in this lineup can grow their strength by hitting targets, practicing moves, and generally preparing for battle (activated by your movements as you shake them about).

When they next take a breather, you’ll complete the training and, if you both worked hard enough, you’ll hear Pikachu level up. You can then prepare him a sandwich in the kitchen to reward his hard work, before folding down his bed so Pikachu can take a well-deserved rest (complete with sleeping noises).

With a second Smart Brick and Pokémon, you can also engage in a battle — just make sure to remember your type matchups, and to consider the inherent strength of each ‘mon. Even with training, Mewtwo might be a tough foe for your mouse.

As an all-in-one set, Pikachu’s Training House is a little pricier at $69.99 / £59.99/ AU$129.99, but seeing it in action with all of its smart and non-smart play features, this feels like a very reasonable price.

Though if you are on a budget there are simpler yet still delightful options like Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof ($19.99 / £17.99 / AU$34.99), Trainer's Buggy Adventure with Squirtle ($29.99 / £24.99 / AU$54.99) and you’ll also find pricier sets with more pieces like my favorite: the Umbreon vs. Garchomp Championship Battle ($79.99 / £69.99 / $139.99). The trophy is designed to look like Cynthia’s hair, I’ve been told.

All 12 of the new sets will launch on August 1 at Lego.com and are up for preorder right now.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.