Review: 8987 Kiina

[Bundalings]

Presentation

From the design of the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set.

Kiina's box is shiny and blue. Very attention grabbing. The bright blue lid and glowing Skrall symbol certainly bring attention to the box. Kiina is elegantly posed, standing in a puddle of water, trident poised for stabbing. Is she spear fishing? The gold lettering looks very nice, and reminds me of the old canisters of '01.

The back of the box is certainly a step up from the Winter line. Replacing the poorly rendered Glatorian and their Agori counterparts is a lineup of all the Glatorian legends, standing tall. In addition you will find the legal jargon (am I the only one who reads this stuff?), a picture showing how to shoot the Thornax (we need instructions for that?), the Bio Code and an advertisement for the new movie.

I hadn't noticed this in other pictures. The Skrall symbol/Click detailing on the DVD looks great. I hope it's the final design.

The lid is apparently designed to look like Arena Magna, and reminds me (and pretty much everyone else) of the Visorak lids of yore in terms of shape. Something I hadn't noticed before was the taper of the lid:

And a random shot of the instructions. Nice blue background with some wavy structures I assume are Arena Magna.

Building

Half the fun is had building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy or challenging is it?

I didn't take pictures of the build process, because I don't follow the instructions and build sets in a strange order (I also forgot to take a picture of the pieces, sorted). The build process is only slightly interesting. If you've seen a shot of the back of the set, instructions are not required for successful assembly.

Noteworthy of this set is that it has the first "custom" built torso since the Bohrok Kal (correct me if I'm wrong). The build of this set is a cut above average, but if you buy sets simply for the building process (does anyone do that?), then you won't find your hunger sated with Kiina (boy, that sounds creepy).

Set Design

Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.

Kiina has a fine selection of pieces, new and recolored.

New:

Fin-armor

Helmet

Trident

Double sockets with sideways oriented holes

Recolored:

Hands

Vahki leg

Feet

All in all, new or recolored pieces make up for 16 of 43 parts, a fair percentage. A yellow head would have been more welcome than the green, once again, and since I hear a yellow head is featured in the Summer variant of Fero, I'm not sure why it wasn't included here. All the same, the green looks decent.

I'm gonna tell it to ya straight. Kiina is an Atlantian goddess warrior. The trident, the fishy armor, and the colors all combine to create an undeniably feminine water warrior. I think she's one of the most undeniably elemental sets ever made. Too bad she has no water powers. =P

I'll throw in another undeniably for good measure. Undeniably.

Concerning her new pieces: The trident is great. The fin armor is great, if a little long, and it slightly restricts the bending of the knees. The helmet is really cool, and the silver bits accent the dark blue nicely.

Kiina's torso build is interesting. I'm surprised Lego decided to go out on a limb and try something new, but it's a pleasant surprise. I admit, when we first saw pictures of Kiina at toyfair, I thought the torso looked like garbage. But it's grown on me and now I can safely say I love it. It's definitely more feminine than previous female sets, but not disturbingly so as seen in Roodaka.

But Kiina is not without flaws. She suffers from the dreaded red axles, as well as the even more dreaded ape arms. Thankfully, the red pins aren't absolutely glaring, and can easily be replaced. Her torso is also short, and coupled with the long arms, doesn't allow her to stand completely at ease, as the Thornax launcher drags on the ground.

The ever-dreaded ape arms.

Her color scheme is also great, other than the aforementioned red pins. For some reason this is only the second time Lego has used this great color scheme in a Bionicle set, the previous incarnation being Hahli '03.

Kiina and her ticket out of there Mata Nui.

Playability

The other half of the fun is playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with?

Kiina is fun. She plays well and looks great while she's at it. She's got the basic 13 points of articulation, but her shoulders are unique. They restrict downward movement to an extent, but allow more realistic motion in every other direction, allowing for some pretty dynamic poses.

Pretend it's motion blur. >_>

The Thornax is one of the better launchers, having considerable power while being small, unobtrusive, and sleek in appearance. It can also be used (along with the life counter) in the BIONICLE ACTION FIGURE GAME.Though I haven't played it, I hear it's pretty fun.

Kiina: OMIGAWD MY TICKET OUT OF HERE

Mata Nui: Please let go of me.

While it isn't as heavy or intimidating as Stronius' club, Kiina's trident looks light and agile, fitting the rest of her appearance. You can strike some pretty sweet poses with it, if posing is your thing. Since I no longer sit around banging my Bionicle sets together, or "fighting," as some call it, I can't really comment on the action-figure-ee play value of Kiina. It's good, I guess?

Final Thoughts

Once it's all said and done, how does this set stack up? Should I get it?

From right to left: Kiina, Berix, ewww

Pros:

Great color scheme

Generally sleek look

New torso build

A healthy amount of new/recolored parts

Unobtrusive launcher

Cons:

Monkey arms strike again, though they don't look as they do on some sets

Red pins

ok this is just a filler

Some people might not like the torso, I guess

So, should you get this set? I say wholeheartedly yes. Owning three Glatorian (Strakk, Vorox, Tarix), and two Legends (Mata Nui, Kiina), Kiina is probably my favorite, with only Strakk even contesting her rule. Even at full price she's worth it. If you just want to get one Legend, and you aren't a huge story fan, don't feel bad to pass on the super hyped (though I admit the hype isn't without reason) Mata Nui set and get Kiina.

Mini Mata Nui Review

Most everything that needs to be said about Mata Nui has been said, but there are a few points I'd like to make before you run out and buy this set.

For starters: This set is worthy of the name Mata Nui. But just barely. Why? Let us start with the lesser of two evils. That is the color layering. The Metru hips and Metru chest should have their colors swapped. Same with the arm's double sockets and lower arms. I wouldn't mind so much with most sets, but the set's colors are so close to perfect, and this is Mata Nui. Those two facts combine to make this one very sad. ;_;

Completely un-atmospheric recreation of that one scene in TRL

The other fact is Mata Nui has the most severe case of ape arms in any set...ever. Well, maybe Puke-ii Mahri and Kongu Mahri had worse cases, but we can pretend Hewkii doesn't exist and it kinda worked with Kongu. The torso is also a bit... large. The head and arms seem to be one one (excellent) scale while the body and arms are on that same, weird, overly thin, overly wide Bionicle scale.

But I <3 those ankleguards.

Mini Tarix Review

Everything bad you've heard about Tarix is true. I have all my 2009 sets lying around the living room now. All but Tarix. He's so ugly I had to go hide him in the dark of my room, out of sight. Unfortunately it's so ugly the sight has been seared into my brain, and it is not out of mind.

I will grant that he has a reasonable selection of parts. The blade part of the weapons are pretty cool, and the gold armor might be useful to some builders. His mask is pretty neat too. But all the parts in between are rubbish that most of us have in abundance by now.

In closing: This is a butt-ugly set you should only get if you are a diehard collector, need the parts for something in particular, or you find him on a great deal. Or maybe you're one of those people that like ugly sets like Hewkii Mahri and Tarix.

Edited October 19, 2009 by 3D Brickthing
Indexed and poll added

[Lordofdragonss]

Yay! It's Kiina Review!

Her Colorsheme is really nice and new torso design is near epic win. The stingray pieces are cool too.

The one thing I will change in her are her foots. I hate this spiked foots and they don't look so femine like Toa Metru one:

Of course the biggest con of his set is that she has no boobs.

ANd about Tarix- Its not a bad set. Its just like Ackar. We saw this build a lot of times, but it still works. I love his helmet and weapons anyway.

Edited July 31, 2009 by Lordofdragonss

[Shine]

Stop with the blended colors already, Lego. They make Shine sad. And, it's a shame they didn't use that spiked armor in more sets-- it looks great.

I hear a yellow head is featured in the Summer variant of Fero

Yellow Bohrok eyes, not head. Edited July 31, 2009 by Shine

[Phantoka Kopaka Nuva]

Love the review. But man, how can you call Tarix ugly!?! He might have a bland design, but that doesn't make him ugly!

[Bfahome]

Noteworthy of this set is that it has the first "custom" built torso since the Bohrok Kal (correct me if I'm wrong)

Well there was Ehlek and Takadox and Pridak.

I'm surprised Lego decided to go out on a limb and try something new

IS THAT A PUN I THINK IT IS.

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

Awesome. Kiina actually looks feminine! I am loving the design, the new torso is definantly cool, and the mask is really interesting.

So all in all Kiina's a BABE

-ZotS

[Bundalings]

Yellow Bohrok eyes, not head.

...

;_;

Love the review. But man, how can you call Tarix ugly!?! He might have a bland design, but that doesn't make him ugly!

I hate to break it to you, but your opinion is wrong. Tarix is a terrible set. =/

BTW I took off the tube and the shoulder spikes and made his weapons a double ended spear thing and made him hold the Thornax in a normal fashion and now I can look at him without hurling. He's still really bland, and looks kind of pathetic, but I'm not too ashamed to have him on my shelf.

Well there was Ehlek and Takadox and Pridak.

IS THAT A PUN I THINK IT IS.

1) Ohyeah, can't believe I forgot about them. Mantax too. Some of my favorite sets... a pattern?

2) Not intentionally, no.

Edited July 31, 2009 by Bundalings

[Bfahome]

Dang, I forgot to ask; can Kiina's arm armor be put on a Glatorian head as a "helmet"?

[Bundalings]

Dang, I forgot to ask; can Kiina's arm armor be put on a Glatorian head as a "helmet"?

The axle only fits halfway in, and it looks stupid.

So no.

~Bunda

[HumanPackMule]

That settles it! I'm gonna get Kiina next

[The Ackar X Kiina]

That is bull!Kiina hugging matanui,you must be a stand up comedian!HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!You liitle ***!i think your on drugs!

[The Crazy One]

That is bull!Kiina hugging matanui,you must be a stand up comedian!HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!You liitle ***!i think your on drugs!

What an appropriate reply.

Great review though, I just got her, nice set on the whole.

[Bundalings]

That is bull!Kiina hugging matanui,you must be a stand up comedian!HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!You liitle ***!i think your on drugs!

Probably one of the strangest replies I've ever seen.

What an appropriate reply.

Great review though, I just got her, nice set on the whole.

Thanks. But old topic is olde. =P

~Bunda

[S-N]

That is bull!Kiina hugging matanui,you must be a stand up comedian!HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!You liitle ***!i think your on drugs!

O_o

[Partario]

Nice review.

After reading that I think I'm gonna use your style of reveiwing if thats alright.

BTW after seeing TLR I think Tarix has made up for his crummy set. Seriously though get rid of the silly tube, a the thornax on his hand and then give him one blade he doesn't look half bad.

[Zarkan]

Overall nice review and great pictures. However:

I hate to break it to you, but your opinion is wrong. Tarix is a terrible set. =/

BTW I took off the tube and the shoulder spikes and made his weapons a double ended spear thing and made him hold the Thornax in a normal fashion and now I can look at him without hurling. He's still really bland, and looks kind of pathetic, but I'm not too ashamed to have him on my shelf.[/font]

What the... how on earth can an opinion be wrong? That's why it's called an "opinion," after all - it's not possible to classify it right or wrong, as it's a matter of taste, not fact.

But, since you're playing that way, I might as well add my thoughts about Strakk. In a word, he is a horrible set, and one of the two worst Glatorian along with Malum. As awesome as his axe and helmet are, I can't get over the fact that he only looks good in about one pose. Those giant ice pieces may be great parts, but they simply do not work as shoulder pads. That, along with the Toa metru arm used to connect his head to the body makes Strakk look like a giraffed-necked monkey in just about every position besides the generic, frontal caveman pose. And worse, because of the way the shoulder armor part is made, he is virtually unfixable - unlike Tarix, who had wasted potential that can be brought to full glory with a bit of MOCing.

Edited September 6, 2009 by Grevious

[Ikki o' Moopyville]

What the... how on earth can an opinion be wrong? That's why it's called an "opinion," after all - it's not possible to classify it right or wrong, as it's a matter of taste, not fact.

asdfgh flashback from loooooooooooooong BZP debates with bonesiii.

Don't make me go there again. xD

For the record, I love both Tarix, Kiina, Strakk and all other Glatorians. I hate reviews like this, though they make me want to go buy the sets. (but awesome pics)

Edited September 6, 2009 by Ikki o' Moopyville

[Bundalings]

Nice review.

After reading that I think I'm gonna use your style of reveiwing if thats alright.

BTW after seeing TLR I think Tarix has made up for his crummy set. Seriously though get rid of the silly tube, a the thornax on his hand and then give him one blade he doesn't look half bad.

It's actually BZPower's style of reviewing.

Yeah, after a few mods, Tarix goes from hideous mass to acceptable but boring toa-thing.

What the... how on earth can an opinion be wrong? That's why it's called an "opinion," after all - it's not possible to classify it right or wrong, as it's a matter of taste, not fact.

Wow.

I don't really know what to say.

uhhhhhh

Welcome to the internet? (It was a joke, if you couldn't tell. I know a lot of people like Tarix. But all the important people don't. =P)

For the record, I love Strakk in all ways.

I hate reviews like this, though they make me want to go buy the sets. (but awesome pics)

D=

=D

O_o

wait what

~Bunda

[Ikki o' Moopyville]

D=

=D

O_o

wait what

~Bunda

LOL I missed a comma there -- it's meant to read "I hate reviews like this, though, they make me want to go buy the sets." Illustrating how good the review was because it made me want to go buy the set.

And now I've ruined the joke.

<_>

-Ikk

[Zarkan]

Wow.

I don't really know what to say.

uhhhhhh

Welcome to the internet? (It was a joke, if you couldn't tell. I know a lot of people like Tarix. But all the important people don't. =P)

For the record, I love Strakk in all ways.

Yes, I had a slight suspicion that you might be joking - however, since it is nearly impossible to detect sarcasm on the internet, I thought I might as well play your comment straight. Perhaps this distaste for joking of this kind come from the fact that one forum I used to attend was overflowing with it, making it hard to tell whether someone was being serious or not. And seriously, I'm not that familiar with many of the more popular members from BZP - for all I know, you could have been serious, as I have heard people say before that opinions can be wrong.

[The Ackar X Kiina]

What an appropriate reply.

Great review though, I just got her, nice set on the whole.

(laughing in a little way) HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa,haaah,Hah.I got to caried away, its just the fact that someone thought you could falll in love,or "my ticket outta here" thing,it's just funny you make it . Okay,i admit it, it was an in idiotic thing to say,nothing against mata nui.

It's just she cant go with him,or anything with him when he's toa mata nui.

ACKAR:Gelu,Vastus,do you think we should tell her is now humungo?

GELU:Also,that he realy is not be leting her travel with him?

VASTUS:And that mata nui doesnt know crap about emotions?

GELU and VASTUS:Good luck with that (now running away).

ACKAR: you litle......

KIINA;(in a crurios way)what are you talking about?

ACKAR:(sighs)Ah ****.Why does this happen to me?Okay he......

[The Ackar X Kiina]

What an appropriate reply.

Great review though, I just got her, nice set on the whole.

Like i was saying,okay,i know it was stupid.(tiny bit laughing)When i saw the picture i died laughing!Another scene.

ACKAR:You think we should tell her that he has no emotions,and he thinks she's ugly?

GELU:And doesn't like her?

VASTUS:And he is now to big?

GELU:Uh....Hey,your her closest friend,you do it.

VASTUS:Ya,I got a date with someone now.

ACKAR:Who is it?

VASTUS:Someone.....gotta go!By!

GELU:Hey,don't look at me,me go now!

ACKAR:Why me?

KIINA:What where you just talking about?

ACKAR:Vastus having a date.

KIINA:After that.

ACKAR:Talking....to you.

KIINA:You paused,something is going on.

ACKAR:Fine...Mata Nui is......

1 hour later

KIINA:Get back here so I can ring your neck!

MATANUI:F*** this place!

GELU:You think we should help him?

ACKAR:I have no answer

GELU:What happened?

ACKAR:Trying to cheer up a girl when she is mad-sad......

GELU:You never witnessed a woman like that?

ACKAR:She was more than that,way,way more.

GELU:HaHaHaHaHa!

ACKAR:If I could kill you right now,I would be writing your will right now.

GELU:Why cant you?

ACKAR:I'm not answering that ether.

GELU:Suck it up!(smacks him)

ACKAR:(wakes up)Oh ya,i still need to kick your as* for leaving me bit**!

GELU:What the Fu**!

BOOM!

MATANUI:They swisted it,I actuly said I hate you,Dam***!

KIINA:Now I'm going to kick your a** twice as hard now!

GELU:I hate life.

ACKAR:I think MataNui is dead.That's why I don't pi* her off.

GELU:Why cant you kick her as*?

ACKAR:I don't hit girls.

KIINA:Now that he's in a coma,what person am I going to spend time with,because I will have nothing to do.

GELU:Don't look at me,I need a face reconstruction.

VASTUS:I already have a date.

GELU:Where did you come from?

VASTUS:(In a nervous way)Uh......Shut up!

ACKAR:(crashed asleep on a spinning chair)

KIINA:What happened to him?

GELU:After he nuked me I sleep darted him.

KIINA:Well when he wakes up I will have a talk with him.

GELU:(has a funny look on his face that he put back together).

KIINA:Get that smirk off your face,I mean it!

VASTUS:(Laughing a little)

KIINA:I will kill you both if you don't stop!

KIINA:What is so funny?!

GELU:Well,you said you need a new man,and then you said you need to "talk to him"

VASTUS:And that we can't go out with you.

KIINA:Besides,he is to old.

GELU:About that...He is acutely your age.

ACKAR:(Wakes up)What!How did this happen!?

GELU:Remember that insane party a couple years back?

ACKAR:Yes,why?

GELU:Because when you passed out and forgot your age,i lied that your 40.

ACKAR:So I have been chasing girls older than me for five years.

GELU:Yes.

ACKAR:Gelu!!!!!!!!!!

GELU:I just resembled those atoms!

VASTUS'S GIRLFRIEND:(Grab's Vastus by the ear)There you are!

VASTUS:Ah!

MATANUI:Young love....it was nice when i had it.

ACKAR:You are still taking Kiina right?

MATANUI:Not if she is going to kill me.

ACKAR:Here's the thing with Kiina in a argument,just shut and listen.

MATANUI:How do you know this?

ACKAR:Well i usually never get my as* kicked by her.

GRESH:What the hel* is going on here?

ACKAR:Gelu getting his as* kicked,figuring out I'm 25,Mata Nui and Kiina are over,Vastus having a date,I now got a date,a lot.

GRESH:(Sad face)You..You..You..female canine!Sweet!

GRESH and ACKAR:Score!

ACKAR:(Moon walking)

BERIX:You are all gay!

Edited November 18, 2009 by The Ackar X Kiina

[VBBN]

Thanks for the review,

I for one must disagree with tarix. He looks like a Gladiator. I doubt you want him looking so nice that a woman glatorian goes out on the field and says, "Zomg hes so hawt now lets kill him" do you?

And his mask is the closest to any roman gladiator mask and armor yet, so I have a fondness for him.

Whatever, Kiina still sucks and Mata Nui is a wee ittle bumblebee.

With an awesome trans blue head.

[Bundalings]

Thanks for the review,

I for one must disagree with tarix. He looks like a Gladiator. I doubt you want him looking so nice that a woman glatorian goes out on the field and says, "Zomg hes so hawt now lets kill him" do you?

And his mask is the closest to any roman gladiator mask and armor yet, so I have a fondness for him.

Whatever, Kiina still sucks and Mata Nui is a wee ittle bumblebee.

With an awesome trans blue head.

Wait, what? When did I say he should look hot? I think I just said he looks awful. =P

I do like his mask, though. And the weapons have potential.

~Bunda