Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Lord-Vorahk]

Man, I should've made a bet. I knew that the moment the sets turned out to have their own identities rather than just being revamps of the original sets (You know, like basically every update of a character has been), people would start Oh-wunning.

[Gatanui]

They're growing more and more on me. I think they did a great job establishing new identities while more or less paying tribute to the originals.

-Gata

Edited September 29, 2014 by Gatanui

[Timeline15]

revamps of the original sets (You know, like basically every update of a character has been

except half the nuva, all the hordika, all the mahri and all the mistika, who looked nothing like their previous forms. None the less, I don't have a problem with change if it's change for the better. Tahu's new mask simply looks less cool than the old hau to me, and lewa still looks like a surprised monkey.

The reason people want revamps of the old sets is that these are still the same people, and while it's long been established that Bionicle characters change appearance entirely sometimes, that's jarring to people, because they still expect a certain character to look a certain way.

I resent the suggestion that legitimate criticism of somewhat ugly designs is akin to being a 2001 fanboy/girl.

On the bright side, you can at least tell that this Tahu is Tahu without being told, unlike the mistika one. (which was the first Tahu I saw, so imagine how confused I was when I saw the mata XD)

Edited September 29, 2014 by Timeline15

[Shakar]

Personally, I knew that the moment I saw the Miru and the Kaukau looked way different than the classics- I knew I had to keep my expectations low (as far as of faithfulness to 2001 goes, not the quality of the designs on their own). In the end they turned out ok, I absolutely love the Miru.

I'm just surprised and disappointed that Tahu, who seemed to be one of the three finalized sets, got his mask changed for no reason. The changes the Hau went through really make no sense to me. Was it to make the piece sturdier? Did the (grah) focus groups actually like the final design more?

[Mandate]

My main problem is just the sets themselves (and some of the masks... and most of the printing. Pohatu's looking good though!).

Anyway, time to bring up the background of the rest of the sets

LOSS is in some kind of cavernous area, there's a fallen bridge in the background. The Skull mask has the same wavy energy as some of the earlier MOCR renders.

All of the masks sit on a podium of some kind, which is interesting.

Pohatu's background has cacti in it, and I don't recall ever seeing cacti in Po-Wahi/Koto (koro?). So either we're not in Kansas Mata Nui this time or they're changing the scenery a bit. Not worried either way.

There's some kind of structure in the background to the right on Tahu (minor question, in the original series was Tahu able to conjure up waves of lava? Because I only ever recall him doing fire stuffs)

Kopaka's background looks sorta like a scene in Frozen Kinda odd how every background for the Masters has some gigantic Citadel monolith.

[Shakar]

IRRC Greg said it on the Chat: Tahu can manipulate lava because Fire Toa can control heat, but he can't create lava since it's molten rock.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Shakar

[Mandate]

IRRC Greg said it on the Chat: Tahu can manipulate lava because Fire Toa can control heat, but he can't create lava since it his molten rock.

Ah, thanks for that.

[Shakar]

You're welcome!

And, I've been wondering, which Toa could manipulate weather on their own? Lewa and Gali joined their forces to create a storm in an early comic, but can Lewa manipulate air masses to cause (indirectly cause, not create out of, pun not intended, thin air) a thunderstorm, a hailstorm and such?

[TheRedGuy]

Dat new Hau though... <3

[montgocloud]

The return of Bionicle caused me to rebuild a lot of the original sets this weekend. And with the sudden wave of nostalgia came new opinions on these sets:

Firstly, I love the look of these new Toa. Sure, I wish Lewa's mask was a little more reminiscent of the original mask, but the axes make up for it. The focus on collecting masks is a welcome return to form; I feel that part of Bionicle's decline in quality over the years was due to the decline in yearly collectibles.

Also, has Onua's final design been leaked yet? He was always my favorite Toa Mata, right next to Tahu.

[arc]

Also, has Onua's final design been leaked yet? He was always my favorite Toa Mata, right next to Tahu.

just2good said he should have the rest of the Bionicle pics later in the week.

[GK733]

just2good said he should have the rest of the Bionicle pics later in the week.

Someone on Reddit is taking photos of the catalogue, so we should see glimpse of Finalized Onua, defenders and combiners. at least.

[Mr. Gundam]

You can split his lava board into 2 larger blades for him to hold,

Hmmm, I wonder if model can hold it wit one hand?

Did anyone notice the new claw pieces on the small spyders

[Jasonified]

The connection for the lavaboard is a bit odd.

It looks like it's just one rod at the bottom.

[Kalhiki]

Thinking about the Hau... I don't really like the design, but I like the change. All the other masks are heavily redesigned versions of the Mata masks. Unique in their own way, but still reminiscent in some part to the originals. The prototype Hau pretty much looked exactly like the Mata version, and by comparison didn't jive with the other masks. This new one follows closer to the aesthetic of the other masks, and I appreciate that.

[Jasonified]

Also, I think Kopaka's massive swords (the two joined together) are a spinning blade. There's a technic piece connecting them both together, which connects by a CIRCULAR pin to the hand. (Sorry, unfamiliar with part names)

[Aethersprite]

Also, I think Kopaka's massive swords (the two joined together) are a spinning blade. There's a technic piece connecting them both together, which connects by a CIRCULAR pin to the hand. (Sorry, unfamiliar with part names)

It's circular because of the piece they used, I think. If you look closely, the technic piece is connected directly to a hand. It can spin, of course, but if that was their intended purpose, Lego would've used the frictionless tan pin instead.

[Jasonified]

It's circular because of the piece they used, I think. If you look closely, the technic piece is connected directly to a hand. It can spin, of course, but if that was their intended purpose, Lego would've used the frictionless tan pin instead.

Now that I look at it again, it could be one of those pins where one side is the circle pin and the other is an axle..

[Mr. Gundam]

Awww even with the better pics I can't make head or tails of Gali shoulder armor

Edited September 29, 2014 by Mr. Gundam

[Kalhiki]

Woah. Pohatu has the good elbows. They use the free balljoint, not the hinge-like one that's usually seen with knees and elbows. This means crossed arms and hands-on-hips poses!

Yep. Pohatu's the best.

[Lord-Vorahk]

except half the nuva, all the hordika, all the mahri and all the mistika, who looked nothing like their previous forms.

WHat I meant was that every set had its own identity, not that they've all been revamps.

[Still Raindrop]

One of the things I like about the new masks is that they're reimagined versions that actually (in my opinion) fit with the aesthetic of Bionicle post-2001. When you look at Vakama's great Huna, or Jaller's Arthron, or the Ignika, or other later masks, they all had a somewhat similar aesthetic--and the original Kanohi were much more smooth and simple by comparison. Now, I got into Bionicle in 2001, so I love those original Kanohi, but I do like the way that these feel--it's very much in the spirit of the Bionicle aesthetic that developed (not sure if I'm making sense).

[Aethersprite]

I noticed something about friction joints: The bigger sets (Tahu, Kopaka) have them for good reason, but somehow, when it comes to the smaller sets - Lewa has them but Gali doesn't. I'm not sure about Pohatu because his hips are obscured by his boomerang. Inconsistent much?

Edited September 29, 2014 by Lockon Stratos

[Leewan]

Awww even with the better pics I can't make head or tails of Gali shoulder armor

It's attached to a balljoint with a 3M bone :

[GK733]

Awww even with the better pics I can't make head or tails of Gali shoulder armor

I think it moves with her arm.

Kopaka's shoulderguards however are attached to the exposed balljoints of the torso.

EDIT: I'm totally refreshing page from this on now...

Edited September 29, 2014 by GK733