Bionicle 2008 Images and Discussion

[hollisbrick]

Hmm I was thinking of buying the red motoran today, it will be my first bionicle in about 6 years..i've read a couple of reveiws over various websites but they didnt really help. I quite like this one because I reckon it looks cool and it stands out from the others. any one who has got it and would reckomend it?

cheers

[Phantoka_Chirox]

WARNING: The following has traces of extreme anger, extreme opinions, and extremely disgusting toy injustice. Read at your own risk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, summer is edging closer, and the summer means a lot of things to bionicle fans: higher prices, more serials and books, and, of course, giant vehicle sets. Sadly, though, the summer means one more thing as well – the arrival of the Toa Mistika, who also happen to be three of the Nuva trashed beyond comprehension.

I mean seriously, they have taken our favorite Toa of fire, water, and earth, and turned them into three of the worst canister sets to date. Okay, so 2005 and above have all had failures as well. 2005 had the visorak AND the hordika. 2006 had the awful rubber Inika masks. And 2007 had Pridak, Hewkii, Matoro, or whatever canister sets out of the 12 you didn’t like as much. But not in ages have we had the original toa back in set form, and that should raise the bar in quality. SHOULD, but unfortunately, has not.

Firstly, summer 2008 has brought a slowly appearing trend out into full force: the lack of melee weapons for Toa sets. This all started in 2007, when we got Kongu Mahri, who had double Cordaks instead of one Cordak and a different weapon. This was met with mixed responses, but since Kongu was established to be a distance fighter in 2006 (laser crossbow, anyone?) and even in 2001 was known for less melee fighting and more projectile fighting, this was not so bad. Then we got into 2008, and Kopaka suffered a huge downgrade. Toa Lewa got an air saber and a midak. Pohatu got two giant propellers AND a midak. But what did Kopaka get? A midak and an ice pick. That’s quite a downgrade from his usual shield and sword, if you ask me. Still, he had a melee weapon, and the other Toa faired much better.

All this, however, will change this summer. The Toa Mistika happen to be the most unarmed Toa set to date. Lacking conventional melee weapons, they have instead gone for a much more “shoot-em-up” style. Instead of a giant flame sword, something that he is known for and Jaller got as well, Toa Tahu has to make do with a spinning tri shield thing. Instead of a pair of massive digging tools of sorts, Onua has to make do with a piece of silver Takanuva armor for a shield. And instead of some sort of swimming tool or water based weapon, which Hahli got in the last two years, Gali has to make do with a tiny crosshair for her stupid launcher.

Come on TLC, is this the right way to treat characters who were once the staple of your theme and now are again? You gave Jaller flameswords, Hahli harpoons and giant swimming claws, and Nuparu GIANT shields and blaster drills, so why can’t you at least be as fair to the Toa Nuva as you were to them? More importantly, is this a trend you are going to continue – making Toa rely on giant shooters and tons of Halo style violence? Please, don’t do this!

But the madness doesn’t stop there. Look at the Toa Mistika, just look, and what comes to mind first? Their awful masks! Okay, so I know a lot of people here hate the old nuva masks just as much, but at least you can agree that they still looked like the original mata masks at least somewhat. Tahu still had the giant mouthhole and bulky shape, Onua stil had the small eyes, mouthhole and inner ridges, and Gali still had the diving mask look and nostril-thing. Now flash forward to 2008. Tahu now has a Knights Kingdom helmet with no mouthhole at all, Onua has a giant evil mask of shadows, and Gali has the face of a dark hunter. What has TLC done to our favorite toa? Look, if you made the Phantoka masks look at least somewhat like the originals, why couldn’t you have done this with the Mistika? And guys, I respect your opinions, but I still can’t see how Onua’s mask of shadows is better than his 2002 Nuva mask.

But above all, the Toa Mistika show one thing – TLC is running out of originality in Toa designs. All three of the Mistika have almost identical designs, minus specific part shapes and colors. Piraka body, legs and arms, armor – and there you go, a generic bionicle humanoid. Even the new aspects – the flying propulsion devices - are much more tacked on in the Mistika than in the Phantoka. Lewa had two giant jetpacks on his shoulders, Kopaka had a giant wingpack, and Pohatu had two giant propellers, but the Mistika all have little jet engines attached to various parts of their body. They don’t even look like they can hold their ugly bodies up!

Okay, so I may have very strong opinions, and I certainly am not mirroring everybody elses, but I still think a lot of people here understand where I’m coming from. TLC is getting lazy on toa designs – end of story. And in the process, they have mutilated three of the original toa and turned them into the most boring, ugly, underarmed “heroes” we’ve ever gotten in bionicle. And that just isn’t right.

EDIT: Merged this post in from the "Mistika = Mistaka" topic... because Hades knows we've been here already.

-JINZO

well, it is good enough that we DO have the toa nuva come back in 2008 right? It is better to have ugly lookin bionicles rather to not have any bionicles. And maybe the LEGO group is giving the villians the melee weapons but the toa long range considering maybe... toa are more 'futuristic' so giving them guns which is more to the future that melee weapons but I disagree them having guns too :)

the reason the nuva has different masks etc is that they were given NEW armor and masks read BL8 ;)

EDIT: radiak is not that cool :) he has no feet :P

Edited May 4, 2008 by Phantoka_Chirox

[hollisbrick]

Well I got radiak, I got to say I'm fairly impressed I like how he has 4 feet/legs definately better than the normal humanoid shape like the other ones I really quite like it. The mask and the head which the mask goes on is a definate improve ment than it was last time I got one. The only bad thing is, is that the wings although they look kool and suit him they dnt move. I might even do a reveiw! well done TLG

[Icesaber]

well, it is good enough that we DO have the toa nuva come back in 2008 right? It is better to have ugly lookin bionicles rather to not have any bionicles. And maybe the LEGO group is giving the villians the melee weapons but the toa long range considering maybe... toa are more 'futuristic' so giving them guns which is more to the future that melee weapons but I disagree them having guns too :)

the reason the nuva has different masks etc is that they were given NEW armor and masks read BL8 ;)

EDIT: radiak is not that cool :) he has no feet :P

So by your logic, since it's NEW armor, they could release a red and blue two-headed monster with no arms and four tentacles instead of legs and call it Lewa. And they could cook up some storyline excuse ("having tentacles is better for flying!!11!") for it.

I absolutely love that their going to bring back the Nuva storywise, but would it hurt to have more resemblance setwise?

People claim they can't make sets similar to the Nuva because they were on the market "only" five years ago so people would think they were the same exact set. Greg has also said the majority of the fans around the Nuva era are gone by now, so the majority of the fans wouldn't even know the Nuva, so it doesn't match up. The new fans would buy them since they don't know the old Nuva, and some of the older fans would buy them, making more revenue.

[Zarkan]

People claim they can't make sets similar to the Nuva because they were on the market "only" five years ago so people would think they were the same exact set. Greg has also said the majority of the fans around the Nuva era are gone by now, so the majority of the fans wouldn't even know the Nuva, so it doesn't match up. The new fans would buy them since they don't know the old Nuva, and some of the older fans would buy them, making more revenue.

Exactly. Although, it is not completely TLC's fault that this is happening. I head Greg say that the stores are very worried about carrying sets named "Toa Nuva" again just because they carried sets named that 5 years ago. I believe Gregs telling the truth, but I must say I'm not happy with the stores, especially since they carry every stinkin' GIJoe, Transformer, and Superhero action figure, even if they have the same names as the last year's lineup.

well, it is good enough that we DO have the toa nuva come back in 2008 right? It is better to have ugly lookin bionicles rather to not have any bionicles

I disagree, especially since TLC already showed they can make great looking Toa Nuva remakes with the Phantoka. It boggles my mind as to why TLC didn't make the Toa Mistika in the same way that they made the Toa Phantoka. Sometimes I just don't get them.

[Ikki o' Moopyville]

Actually, Greg did say that the Mistika prototypes looked much more like the Nuva (a la the Phantoka), but those were ditched by the focus groups. And now look what we've got.

Burn the focus groups!!11

-Ikk

[Icesaber]

Actually, Greg did say that the Mistika prototypes looked much more like the Nuva (a la the Phantoka), but those were ditched by the focus groups. And now look what we've got.

Burn the focus groups!!11

-Ikk

I think our similar and his similar are different. I've heard he claimed Voya Nui would have a similar feel to Mata Nui because both have trees. I'd like to see the prototypes. And didn't he say the same thing about the Phantoka prototypes? That they were similar but the focus groups rejected them?

[Phantoka_Chirox]

well, it is good enough that we DO have the toa nuva come back in 2008 right? It is better to have ugly lookin bionicles rather to not have any bionicles

I disagree, especially since TLC already showed they can make great looking Toa Nuva remakes with the Phantoka. It boggles my mind as to why TLC didn't make the Toa Mistika in the same way that they made the Toa Phantoka. Sometimes I just don't get them.

So then... No bionicles for you? At all? (not in a mad tone )

I think our similar and his similar are different. I've heard he claimed Voya Nui would have a similar feel to Mata Nui because both have trees. I'd like to see the prototypes. And didn't he say the same thing about the Phantoka prototypes? That they were similar but the focus groups rejected them?

I thought only the mistika prototypes look like the old nuva

So by your logic, since it's NEW armor, they could release a red and blue two-headed monster with no arms and four tentacles instead of legs and call it Lewa. And they could cook up some storyline excuse ("having tentacles is better for flying!!11!") for it.

I absolutely love that their going to bring back the Nuva storywise, but would it hurt to have more resemblance setwise?

People claim they can't make sets similar to the Nuva because they were on the market "only" five years ago so people would think they were the same exact set. Greg has also said the majority of the fans around the Nuva era are gone by now, so the majority of the fans wouldn't even know the Nuva, so it doesn't match up. The new fans would buy them since they don't know the old Nuva, and some of the older fans would buy them, making more revenue.

the one about the tentacles... thats a whole new different body I said ARMOR and MASKS not some mutant... thing

If they got new masks it means they got different masks (but same powers?) if they got new armor it means they got new armor (new weapons : air katana = air saber

Edited May 5, 2008 by Phantoka_Chirox

[Ikki o' Moopyville]

The Phantoka look plenty like the Nuva, IMO. I just can't see why they couldn't apply the same level of similarity in the Mistika Toa.

-Ikk

[Icesaber]

Miserix!

A pretty good model...as a Rahi.

[Zarkan]

Waitaminute - from what I saw on BZP, I thought the winning MOC was a black and gold Makuta with wings, not this monstrosity.

[Icesaber]

Waitaminute - from what I saw on BZP, I thought the winning MOC was a black and gold Makuta with wings, not this monstrosity.

No, that was a first-place model.

[Makuta'sdarkslave]

Miserix!

A pretty good model...as a Rahi.

Ok, first the Mistika and now THIS? Excuse my language BUT I HAVE OFFICIALLY DECLARED THAT TLC HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVER-TAKEN BY A BUNCH OF SHIT-BRAINED NO-NOTHINGS!!!!!

[Phantoka_Chirox]

Miserix!

A pretty good model...as a Rahi.

your right!

Waitaminute - from what I saw on BZP, I thought the winning MOC was a black and gold Makuta with wings, not this monstrosity.

Its not a monstrosityyy ITS COOL!

Ok, first the Mistika and now THIS? Excuse my language BUT I HAVE OFFICIALLY DECLARED THAT TLC HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVER-TAKEN BY A BUNCH OF SHIT-BRAINED NO-NOTHINGS!!!!!

TLC didnt make that, it was a girl named Sarah Newkick

A rahi exclusive

A combiner made from vamprah pohatu and ignika named Naizesk

Edited May 6, 2008 by Phantoka_Chirox

[Pencoin]

your right!

Its not a monstrosityyy ITS COOL!

TLC didnt make that, it was a girl named Sarah Newkick

why did they pick it as first place?

A combiner made from vamprah pohatu and ignika named Naizesk

shoot me please

ok im really pissed what the hell has TLC done with bionicle?

[VBBN]

A combiner made from vamprah pohatu and ignika named Naizesk

Hmm, excuse me, but I think that is a nice combiner(now adays). Nice bug eyes.

[hewkii9]

OH GOD!!!!

What...is that? Red Saphira with a stick?

Now, I would have picked iron or brown. Most people would have used a dark color. Maybe that would have made Godzilla here stand out. But...I would at least have given him a mask. Now GregF is forced to give him a lame mask power [i would have been much happier with a Mask of Intangibility in plastic then a Mask of Silence, they can already do that] instead of something useful [golly, aren't the Calix, mask of Probability and mask of Possibilities the exact same thing?]. Disgusting. And it resembles the Tahtorak a lot. Dumb. Again, I know a bearlizard thing straight out of bad fantasy is somewhat original - but so would be introducing the fact that, for once, a character has sexuality - remember Nuhrii, who's old news? He's gay. [sorry, forgot, JK Rowling just did that a while back]. We all had in our heads a dark colored, possibly winged, most likely metallic-highlited fellow, or maybe something closer to MoD's Evil Tahu - looking more like the first appearance of Makuta. I will give you a cookie if you like this model.

Here's an idea -

When making a contest whose results affect something someone cares about, DO NOT USE OVERPRIVELEGED AMERICAN KIDS [and as a rule of thumb - not a 12-year old], USE PEOPLE WHO CAN BUILD. I'm sure we'd all be happy if this was a BZP contest, for all its rules and bonesiii, at least it's members know what to build.

I like that combo model though, it rocks. Crappy name though.

EDIT - Here's an idea, switch'em around. Give the crappy model the crappy name, and make the halfway decent thing Miserix.

Edited May 7, 2008 by hewkii9

[Icesaber]

I will give you a cookie if you like this model.

I'll like the model if you give me the cookie... nah, not worth it. Personally, I would've made Miserix black, silver and blue. Black because all the Makuta so far have black. Silver because Miserix seems a sinister, sly type of guy and silver seems to fit that. And blue because Miserix is quite a bit different from MoMN. One of MoMN's prominent colors (though he has more dark grey) is red, and blue is a contrast to red. However, I would have a similar color arrangement to the MoMN '03. Black would be used as a base color for the silver, like how MoMN had a lot of dark grey (though IMO he should've had black, not dark grey in the first place) as a base for gunmetal, then silver as an "armor" color, like how MoMN had gunmetal as an "armor" color, then blue as a secondary color, in smaller amounts than the other colors (like how MoMN has smaller amounts of red compared to the greys).

[Clonie]

Miserix!

GAAAAAAAAAAY

Edited May 7, 2008 by Clonie

[Zarkan]

GAAAAAAAAAAY

Actually, the design is quite nice. The problem is that this is a MAKUTA building contest, not a RAHI building contest, so TLC's judgement automatically fails. Disky over on BZP should have won.

Oh, but look - a nice combiner for once! Beats Spiriah easily.

[Wrinkledlion X]

I'm reserving judgment on Miserix, but I love that combiner.

EDIT:

I think our similar and his similar are different. I've heard he claimed Voya Nui would have a similar feel to Mata Nui because both have trees. I'd like to see the prototypes. And didn't he say the same thing about the Phantoka prototypes? That they were similar but the focus groups rejected them?

He said the "location may be more appealing to the fans of Mata Nui." He never mentioned the feel of it, just that the location itself was similar.

Edited May 7, 2008 by Gunnar

[Commander Andrew of 501 st]

I hate that Miserex so badly

the who said disky should have won is correct

i'm pissed

[Clonie]

Actually, the design is quite nice. The problem is that this is a MAKUTA building contest, not a RAHI building contest, so TLC's judgement automatically fails. Disky over on BZP should have won.

Oh, but look - a nice combiner for once! Beats Spiriah easily.

It's still gay.

Yeah, the combiner's pretty good. Whoever said Tridax pods were useless?

[hewkii9]

I think our similar and his similar are different. I've heard he claimed Voya Nui would have a similar feel to Mata Nui because both have trees. I'd like to see the prototypes. And didn't he say the same thing about the Phantoka prototypes? That they were similar but the focus groups rejected them?

That was me who mentioned aforementioned '01-'06 link. I said the 'similar feel' [which I feel was a bit of a lie on his part - he's said '06 is supposed to be dark, whereas '01 always struck me as kind of innocent and mythological] was trees.

And how I would have designed Miserix -

I don't like the whole idea that All Makuta Have Rejected Goodness. Why would Miserix do so if it gets him nowhere? What I imagined him as was more of a benevolent makuta than the others. He'd be humanoid, but with extra arms just in case. And no weapons. Maybe the extra arms would be more like bludgeons, but not the frakking Staff Of Repetitiveness [every year, bar '02, '04, and '07, has had at least one staff-wielding character.]. And NOT Mata Red. Iron and brown [iron for metal and brown to stick it to LEGO], and maybe lime for contrast. And some nice wings.

Not Godzilla and Saphira's love child.

[Icesaber]

Maybe the extra arms would be more like bludgeons, but not the frakking Staff Of Repetitiveness [every year, bar '02, '04, and '07, has had at least one staff-wielding character.].

'07 had staffs. I consider Hewkii Mahri's and Maxilos's weapons staffs. And I actually think a staff fits Miserix. I don't think bludgeons fit the personality of Miserix, or even your version of a more benevolent Miserix.

And I rather liked this version of Miserix. I'd keep the crown made by the Ehlek spines, but give him the Pakari Mistika, inject some Metru blue, maybe change the weapon to silver, change the fingers from gunmetal to black, seeing how there's no other gunmetal (I don't get that, ever since Hydraxon was released, I've been seeing tons of MOCs with identical fingers color-wise, even where it doesn't make sense), and give him bigger wings. I think the wings should be made of #7 and #8 Technic panel fairings, probably black.

The thing I like about this MOC is that it's still a humanoid form, but there are some reptilian touches (feet, tail).

Edited May 8, 2008 by Icesaber