Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[TheGreatSpirit]

I still don't think HF has as big as a following as Bionicle

Not that I don't like HF (I do), but I would glady take Bionicle back over HF any day, regardless of the building style (well, as long as it isn't just HF with the Bionicle name slapped on, that is ).

[Lord-Vorahk]

This is something I'm glad Hero Factory has done away with. The point of LEGO is to create diverse models from the same system of basic parts, not to introduce lots and lots of new, functionally-identical parts with specialized molded details in order to create an artificial sense of diversity. This is part of why I'm glad the new BIONICLE is sticking with the CCBS.

I personally miss things like Metru limbs, and I'd rather have shells with a bit more detail like those.

[Aanchir]

I still don't think HF has as big as a following as Bionicle

Not that I don't like HF (I do), but I would glady take Bionicle back over HF any day, regardless of the building style (well, as long as it isn't just HF with the Bionicle name slapped on, that is ).

You're probably right. It's not as big a theme to begin with, after all. But that isn't to say there aren't ANY fans who enjoy it as much as a die-hard BIONICLE fan enjoys BIONICLE. I don't expect rioting when Hero Factory ends, but some people will definitely be upset.

[Zenerius]

I also liked Bionicle and HF rather equally. While Bionicle had its massive story to follow, Hero Factory lets you make your own. In my opinion, it wasn't the smartest decision to make Bionicle completely story-driven; it kind of strayed from the usual "LEGO" motif of making your own tales. Then again, it's good to get something different once in a while. Other themes, like Chima and Ninjago, are still story driven, yet they allow more space for making your own stories. Bionicle had too many limits with the gender specific tribes and such. Bionicle's expansive story could be a little intimidating for certain people, so hopefully the new theme can hit the "golden middle".

[Dorek]

Oh, have we gotten to the "BIONICLE is better than Hero Factory" point? Hooray!

If HF is ending this year, it's a shame. There's a lot of loose ends they needed to tie up, and I think just because it was meant to sort of cycle people in and out every year doesn't mean there aren't people who have followed it from the beginning. Hopefully they'll find a way to work things out (again, if true; I believe HF is ending as much as I believe BIONICLE is coming back, which is to say there's no convincing evidence yet :D).

[Aanchir]

I will not feel too bad if Hero Factory is ending, provided the new BIONICLE designs are diverse and well-designed enough to take its place. I doubt I'd be able to remain fully invested in both themes anyway, given how many BIONICLE sets there are rumored to be and how many System themes I'm still invested in. My biggest disappointment will probably be that the change in scale this year was not exploited to its fullest potential, since it would be awesome to see a greater variety of sets at this scale.

But as far as story is concerned, after Brain Attack debuted, I didn't get my hopes up for the loose ends from Breakout to be resolved. And that's the only one of the cliffhanger endings that ever had me convinced it might really be leading to something substantive. The stinger at the end of Brain Attack just felt to me like a Goosebumps-style "the end... or is it?" ending to tie in with the rest of the episode's sci-horror leanings, and I have a feeling that the end of Invasion from Below might have been much the same thing.

To me, the way Hero Factory presents each adventure as a stand-alone story means that it doesn't have the same obligation for a "grand finale" that BIONICLE did. There was no overarching saga that spanned the entire series which needed to be wrapped up. Rather, the few loose ends we got were set up midway through the theme and then abruptly abandoned. It will be frustrating if they're never followed up on, but it won't have the same sense of having been led in a very specific direction for years only to never arrive at our destination, like how the BIONICLE story would have felt if Mata Nui never achieved his destiny and Makuta was never defeated.http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=97374&st=1300#

Edited July 25, 2014 by Aanchir

[exxtrooper]

Bionicle had depth.

Bionicle had a clear theme.

Bionicle had a strong, story written narrative.

Hero Factory did not.

[Gatanui]

I would be more sad about a possible end of Hero Factory if I had not lost all hope of the loose plot points being resolved.

-Gata

[Dorek]

I will not feel too bad if Hero Factory is ending, provided the new BIONICLE designs are diverse and well-designed enough to take its place. I doubt I'd be able to remain fully invested in both themes anyway, given how many BIONICLE sets there are rumored to be and how many System themes I'm still invested in. My biggest disappointment will probably be that the change in scale this year was not exploited to its fullest potential, since it would be awesome to see a greater variety of sets at this scale.

But as far as story is concerned, after Brain Attack debuted, I didn't get my hopes up for the loose ends from Breakout to be resolved. And that's the only one of the cliffhanger endings that ever had me convinced it might really be leading to something substantive. The stinger at the end of Brain Attack just felt to me like a Goosebumps-style "the end... or is it?" ending to tie in with the rest of the episode's sci-horror leanings, and I have a feeling that the end of Invasion from Below might have been much the same thing.

To me, the way Hero Factory presents each adventure as a stand-alone story means that it doesn't have the same obligation for a "grand finale" that BIONICLE did. There was no overarching saga that spanned the entire series which needed to be wrapped up. Rather, the few loose ends we got were set up midway through the theme and then abruptly abandoned. It will be frustrating if they're never followed up on, but it won't have the same sense of having been led in a very specific direction for years only to never arrive at our destination, like how the BIONICLE story would have felt if Mata Nui never achieved his destiny and Makuta was never defeated.http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=97374&st=1300#

Invasion From Below I got that vibe, but given the magnitude of BA's ending (coupled with the mysterious villain at the beginning of the episode who is supposed to be the same one from the end of Breakout) I was expecting a little bit more in terms of resolution.

Really, I'd just like to see another guidebook, but that's neither here nor there.

It's funny, because a lot of people actually say that BIONICLE might have been better ending in 2008 as opposed to dragging its heels to a final confrontation (which we were lucky enough to get!). Closure works is mysterious ways, sometimes.

Bionicle had depth.

Bionicle had a clear theme.

Bionicle had a strong, story written narrative.

Hero Factory did not.

An increasingly convoluted lore was one of things that killed the brand, and why we shouldn't expect a repeat of that strategy. And I would argue BIONICLE's theme is pretty muddled; sure there's the perennial struggle of good vs evil, but not only is that generic, I would say Hero Factory embodied that much more distinctly.

As for a strong written narrative, yeah, I guess it did; that's what the audience at the time wanted. HF tried dipping its toes into that, and it didn't work out for them.

[Aanchir]

It's funny, because a lot of people actually say that BIONICLE might have been better ending in 2008 as opposed to dragging its heels to a final confrontation (which we were lucky enough to get!). Closure works is mysterious ways, sometimes.

Could have worked, yes, provided that Makuta was destroyed in some way and Mata Nui actually did awaken and return to the stars. That would more or less check all the boxes, since Mata Nui would be restored to power so he could complete whatever his mysterious destiny might have been, the forces of good would be victorious, and the greatest threat to Mata Nui and his Matoran occupants would have been eliminated. Of course, it would have made Makuta's lack of direct involvement in 2008 seem rather bizarre.

Bionicle had depth.

Bionicle had a clear theme.

Bionicle had a strong, story written narrative.

Hero Factory did not.

There are plenty of things that lack these sorts of things that still manage to be enjoyable, though. The only one of those things that the original Scooby-Doo cartoon had was "a clear theme", but it was still a beloved franchise. And I don't see why you feel like Hero Factory lacked a clear theme, anyway. Seems to me that the theme of heroes fighting to protect the innocent from villains and monsters was pretty consistent. Unless you mean "theme" in terms of a consistent moral or message, which not even BIONICLE had in my opinion (at least, not until its third years where it adopted the malleable moral framework of the Three Virtues).

Edited July 25, 2014 by Aanchir

[Lord-Vorahk]

Could have worked, yes, provided that Makuta was destroyed in some way and Mata Nui actually did awaken and return to the stars. That would more or less check all the boxes, since Mata Nui would be restored to power so he could complete whatever his mysterious destiny might have been, the forces of good would be victorious, and the greatest threat to Mata Nui and his Matoran occupants would have been eliminated. Of course, it would have made Makuta's lack of direct involvement in 2008 seem rather bizarre.

If they were going to end it in 08, then I think they would've made Icarax's set a new Teridax instead, or maybe Takanuva's?

[Mesonak]

I can summarize my thoughts on this discussion fairly simply.

I enjoy both Hero Factory and BIONICLE for different reasons. I followed both of their stories, collected both of their sets, and became generally invested in both themes to about the same degree. I love Hero Factory! It has its issues, sure, and there are PLENTY of them, but overall it's a very unique theme that brought a fresh, new take on the constraction brand. I'd be sad if it ended, and would like for it to continue, buuut....

...if HF has to be sacrificed to bring about BIONICLE's return I probably won't shed a single tear. If the build system remains roughly the same (though with new aesthetics for BIONICLE), so as not to lose the uniqueness HF brought to the table, there is literally nothing that HF can offer to me that a BIONICLE return could not.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Mesonak

[TwistLaw]

Uh... that's exactly what I'm saying. Latter-year Bionicle sets had diverse builds among their canister sets, breaking the mold with sets like Takadox, Bitil, and Strakk. The heroes are almost clones. It doesn't help that HF sets are so often lacking enough shells, or big enough shells.

Sorry, crappy reading comprehension

One thing that really makes me sad is reading people praising HF's "free thinking" as opposed to BIONICLE's fixed set of story rules.

I find this way of thinking really conformist: who on earth told you to follow religiously the storyline? Hero Factory is creative as much as BIONICLE was, since they both give you robots to play with. I can take my Toa Mata and pretend thyey're japanese buisnessmen, for instance, and no thought police is gonna cuff me. What the story bible says is of no concern when you have a mind of your own to build whatever on earth you may come up with.

Also, as it was noted, BIONICLE had so many particulars under a strict storyline perspective it was a gold mine for imagination fuel (as well HF did, but with far less species involved etc.).

@Aanchir, I was of course referencing to the bulding system itself, with the same armor piecies since 2011 (more or less).

[Lord Oblivion]

A new video by the leaker has just been posted, with a better image of the display. It now has color and looks more like a finalized display we'd see.

[Kamen Rider Kiva]

A new video by the leaker has just been posted, with a better image of the display. It now has color and looks more like a finalized display we'd see.

Link please? I must see this!!! :D

[TheBatstan]

Link it.

[Lord Oblivion]

[Kamen Rider Kiva]

That is so beautiful, I can't explain the emotions that gives me. :D

[EdWebhead]

Yes! What a wonderful display. From what I can see, those "defender" sets are most definitely Matoran!

[Floundie]

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/floundie/eurobricks/bionicle2015.png

I'm a believer.

[Shakar]

It seems like all Toa are wearing gold armour. Unexpected..

And the Fire Defender's box looks to be the same of Onua's, Kopaka's and Tahu's. That's really weird. Nevermind, it's slightly smaller.

Each set seems to contain an extra gold mask.. but they're different from eachother!

Edited July 25, 2014 by Shakar

[Floundie]

It seems like all Toa are wearing gold armour. Unexpected..

I fully expected that. And Pohatu has white?

[Chro]

Ah crap, Lolo... you beat me to it XD

[Shakar]

Pohatu seems brown and tan.

And eachToa seems to feature a gold mask along a coloured one.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Shakar

[SoupOrFishOil]

Oh, wow. I like a lot of what I see, but I still want even better pictures to judge. I like that the Toa seem fairly diverse amongst themselves though. I'm still not sure if the Defenders are Matoran (or Turaga) but I hope so.