Top 3 Best\Worst Themes

[pr0visorak]

ALthough I agree with some that Fabuland is a bit weird...The minifigs and characters are actually quite cute! Take Sinner for example!

[Etzel]

I'm honestly shocked that Bionicle has the most votes for worst theme in this topic, and that many people have not even listed Galidor, which I think we can all agree is far worse. Heck, is there even a single person here that likes Galidor? Not really, and that should make it pretty evident which theme is the worst, at least in technical thinking. It's like how some movies are viewed worse than others depending on how many people disliked them. The movies considered the worst ever basically have no fans in any age level or demographic, which is how they earn the title. I think that kind of reasoning can apply to the Galidor issue as well

Well, my reason of not putting Galidor on the list is that it's a completely unknown theme to me. Before I entered Eurobricks I had never heard of it and at ths moment I can only remember that I've seen 1 picture of Galidor. From what I've heard I surely don't think it's a good theme and I agree that it's probably the worst of all. But when you haven't had any bad experience of the sets it's hard to judge them.

Bionicle on the other hand has been seen on the shelves in toy stores a long time and in my opinion they are just taking up room for better lego sets. (I described my reasons of my Bionicle-hate in a previous post )

[Rijkvv]

It's difficult to me to make a top 3. There are many more worse and good themes.

Best:

-Castle till the 1995 sets

-Pirates, the old theme

-City before the juniorizing

-TECHNIC

-Model Team

-Western

Worst:

-Galidor

-Bionicle

-Znap

-Jack Stone/4 Juniors/4+

-Power Miners

-Exo-Force

[Legoist]

Among the current themes:

my best

1. City

2. Creator

3. Star Wars

my worst

1. Bionicle

2. Racers

3. Spongebob (what the hell?)

other likes: Pirates, Castle, Modular Houses

undecided: Mars Mission, Indiana Jones, Technic, Exo-Force

other dislikes: Speed Racer, Power Miners, Agents, Ferrari, Batman, Bellville, Duplo

General themes of all times:

my best

1. Trains

2. Classic castle

3. Classic space

my worst

...the vast majority of stuff of the late '90 and early 2000's

[Rijkvv]

I now see some other dislikes. LEGO has released many worse themes last years, so it's easy to forget some.

I don't like Agents, Alpha Team, Speed Racer, Belville and Racers. I like racecars, but not those Hot Wheels-like things. Not compartible to anything. But the Town-subtheme of racecars in the '80s and early '90s is great, I still want to build a big raceway with the Fast Track Finish.

Oh, and don't forget Roboriders and Slizer.

Edited February 26, 2009 by Richie

[Legoist]

I now see some other dislikes. LEGO has released many worse themes last years, so it's easy to forget some.

Yep... when I open a recent catalog, most of its pages contain stuff I really don't want unless it was free (and maybe even in that case I'll just resell it).

But those themes which I like, I really do like. City has never been as good as it is today, except for an excess focus on emergency sets.

[kill will]

Favorites:

1: Fabuland

2: Space Police 3, it looks really awesome!

3: Fantasy line of Castle

4: Star Wars, I just like all the space pieces and cool minifigs.

Least Favorites:

1: Spiderman. No comment.

2: Jurassic Park III, Adventurers and studio equipment do NOT belong there.

3: Sponge-Bob Squarepants. Also, no comment

4: Power Miners.

Edited February 27, 2009 by kill will

[Algernon]

I forgot to add LEGO Sports to my list. That theme sucked like none other.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Algernon

[fallentomato]

Best

1) Aquazone - The original Aquanauts/Aquasharks subthemes are perfect and while I was initially opposed to the 2007 Aquaraiders, I got over that after buying a couple and soon I had nearly the whole line. The three subthemes in between were poorly designed, but I would love to see another return to the underwater world. And even though they are technically a city subtheme I'm just going to say that the Divers sets were also very awesome.

2) Agents - This theme sort of epitomizes the awesomeness of the current line-up. It's wildly creative, uses some great building techniques and is just generally fun.

3) Pirates - my first love

Worst

Galidor's too easy, it failed so quickly and so completely it's hardly worth mentioning. And as much as I am opposed to Bionicle for the low piece counts and high prices and its emphasis on collectibility over creativity and battling over building, I do appreciate that it sometimes gives us totally awesome pieces. I'm going to limit myself to system themes since that's what I collect.

1) Basketball sets - those spring loaded legs just make me gag. The soccer sets I didn't mind so much, didn't understand why anyone would want to buy them, but they didn't repulse me.

2) Dino attack - lego should not make realistic military sets, i don't care if they're in an apocolyptic future fighting mutant dinosaurs, an attack helicopter is still an attack helicopter

3) Time Cruisers / Time Twisters - wonderful concept - terrible execution, I bought several of the sets, but none of them stayed together very long

[CP5670]

The soccer line had a bunch of cool "side" sets, like stands, lights and so on, even though the main playing fields were nothing interesting. The best one was that riot police squad. Of course, they also gave us the balls for the Great Ball Contraption.

[Legoist]

1) Aquazone - The original Aquanauts/Aquasharks subthemes are perfect and while I was initially opposed to the 2007 Aquaraiders, I got over that after buying a couple and soon I had nearly the whole line. The three subthemes in between were poorly designed, but I would love to see another return to the underwater world. And even though they are technically a city subtheme I'm just going to say that the Divers sets were also very awesome.

Interesting pick! I don't want to divert the thread, but I just wanted to say that IMHO the theme stands alone and shouldn't be too much thought as a city subtheme, because it's mildly anachronistic in the sense that it's probably technologically possible, but doesn't exist in the current era. This is very similar to classic space. So IMHO aquazone and classic space could be coexistent with City/Town in a very "optimistic" setting, or alternatively could be set in a not-so-far future.

[Rijkvv]

2) Dino attack - lego should not make realistic military sets, i don't care if they're in an apocolyptic future fighting mutant dinosaurs, an attack helicopter is still an attack helicopter

In Europe Dino Attack was released as Dino 2010, with almost the same vehicles, but the weapons were replaced by cages and other tools to catch dinosaurs, instead of kill them. Edited February 27, 2009 by Richie

[fallentomato]

Interesting pick! I don't want to divert the thread, but I just wanted to say that IMHO the theme stands alone and shouldn't be too much thought as a city subtheme, because it's mildly anachronistic in the sense that it's probably technologically possible, but doesn't exist in the current era. This is very similar to classic space. So IMHO aquazone and classic space could be coexistent with City/Town in a very "optimistic" setting, or alternatively could be set in a not-so-far future.

Sorry for the confusion, I mentioned Divers at the end there and was saying that was a Town subtheme. I certainly didn't mean to imply that Aquazone was part of Town.

Although in my world all the themes coexist simultaneously.

[dviddy]

It is *almost* as if it is only valid reasoning when it aligns with the self evident truth that bionicle is Lego...

I'm glad you can see that it's a self-evident truth. Whether you like it or not, Bionicle is LEGO, with various connection points, including, but not limited to, classic technic pin/axle holes and connectors, technic ball sockets, studs, yes, studs do exist in Bionicle sets. Etc. Plus, one seems to forget that holes molded for technic pins are the exact size for a stud to fit into, thereby creating yet another system/Bionicle/Technic connection.

LEGO is LEGO. If you can't find a way to connect something, you're not trying hard enough, and shame on you for limiting the creativity of a hobby that is near unlimitable.

Now, for my list.

Best:

1- Creator sets. I love the range of fantastic parts offered in these sets. I can find almost anything I need in these sets, and that makes me happy. Plus, it's TLG acknowledging what LEGO is best for: building lots of different things.

2- Bionicle. The creative ability offered here is astounding, especially as a near-untapped medium in the AFOL community. I promise, see some of the more prominent Bionicle MOCs in person at a convention will instantly cure your belief that the pieces are capable of nothing. Also, the Bionicle community is invading the larger AFOL community. Like it or not, we're here to stay.

3- Star Wars. I'm biased, but since they first announced SW LEGO sets, I've been in love. SW captured my imagination as a kid in a way LEGO has even yet to do, and I've been in love with it for most of my life. SW LEGO sets? Best of both worlds. And while I hate that they keep re-doing the same ships over and over, when a fantastic depth of ships and locations exist in the uncharted EU, I can't deny the sheer playability plus part availability in SW sets. <3

Worst:

1- Town/City. I just think it's boring. I suppose my imagination runs in different directions than just 'build a city'.

2- Pirates. Not interested. Give me the old ninja theme back instead. ;)

3- Sports. If we want to talk lack of imagination and parts...

But remember, I am first and foremost a MOCist, and what exists inside the box is most likely bought purely to add to my parts selection. Very rarely does an official set get to stay together very long. Of course, they may last years in near-half-deconstructed states, as I pull single pieces of interest off of them at a time, haha.

[CP5670]

Plus, one seems to forget that holes molded for technic pins are the exact size for a stud to fit into, thereby creating yet another system/Bionicle/Technic connection.

This is only partially true. The Technic holes are very slightly smaller than the stud receptacles on the bottom of a brick/plate, which means that a stud grips it a lot more tightly. This doesn't cause a problem for a single stud/hole connection, but if you connect pieces together with several such connections, they may become very difficult to remove.

TLG was more lax about this in the past (I have some pieces with 5 such connections from 8448, which I have never managed to separate in the 10 years I've had that set), but their current internal rules are that there cannot be more than one adjacent stud/hole connection between any two pieces.

[Algernon]

Bionicle is not quite has flexible as system, but there's still plenty you can do with it. System doesn't render biped figures quite as well as Bionicle, but System can do everything else much better. Yet with enough imagination you can use both quite effectively.

I don't like Bionicle too much myself, but people saying that it's not even LEGO... just not true.

[5150 Lego]

Best

2) Agents - This theme sort of epitomizes the awesomeness of the current line-up. It's wildly creative, uses some great building techniques and is just generally fun.

Worst

2) Dino attack - lego should not make realistic military sets, i don't care if they're in an apocolyptic future fighting mutant dinosaurs, an attack helicopter is still an attack helicopter

Sorry, but i feel your being a bit contradictive. Especially when you consider that this year one of the Agent sets is going to be a helicopter very simular to the Dino attack Helicopter. There are many Agent sets that are very simular to the Dino line.

If you feel that lego shouldn't be making "realistic" style military sets, then you should include Indiana Jones. Those sets should have been on your worst themes list also.

Edited February 28, 2009 by 5150 Lego

[RangerBob]

The Best:

1) Space

I just love space ships and especially building them.

2)Aquazone

But only the sets back from 1995/1996. I had hours fun playing with them.

The Aquanauts Base was just pure awesome.

3)Star Wars

I just like it the space ships. But there are also a lot of Sets I dislike.

The Worst:

now it's getting hard to choose. Due to the limited variety in my Lego sets, it's tough to decide which is

the worst. The order is completely random.

1) Bionicle

I have no idea what to do with this 'action figures'. It just looks kinda awkward.

2)Exo-Force

The idea to build Mecha is great, but the conversion is lousy. They are to skinny.

And the minifig heads creep me out. And whats with this weird hair?

3)Power Miners

I don't like the color scheme and the build is also kinda odd.

[Justin]

I put SpongeBob as 3rd best, because of all the unique parts, and because I like the show. The sets could've been designed a little better, though. And about those comments about SpongeBob being just for little kids, you're sadly mistaken. The show is like a Rocky & Bullwinkle-type show for the 21st century, as it appeals to both kids and adults. It's just that some people appreciate it more than others. SpongeBob SquarePants is celebrating his 10th Anniversary this year, by the way! He's been on Nickelodeon since 1999.

[Donut]

Themes

1. Galidor

2. KKI/ (Action Figures)

3. Dino Attack

Themes

1. Star Wars

2. Castle

3. Pirates

[gladiator]

Best :

1. Castle, especially Fantasy era theme.

2. Technic, beyond of my imagination.

3. City - never dies.

others : Indiana Jones, Creator set (This is LEGO! )

Worst :

1. Bionicle, I really hate. Sorry

2. Mars Mission, absolutely nothing special

Clikits, Galidor.... I never knew before,

[Norro]

I was just about to explain to Grevious that I would let this lie, as I think the cultural gap (especially the Irish taste for banter) makes it hard to conduct a debate...

Then I saw this, and it strikes me as exactly what the anti-Bionicle camp was accused of doing...

Whether you like it or not, Bionicle is LEGO,

I never questioned whether it or not it was manufactured by the Lego Group, just whether it was inherently a subset of the Lego system...

LEGO is LEGO. If you can't find a way to connect something, you're not trying hard enough, and shame on you for limiting the creativity of a hobby that is near unlimitable.

I don't appreciate slurs on my creativity... I have never leveled insults at people who build exclusively with bionicle, just asserted that it is a different art form to my own.

While I won't rest on past laurels, I like to think that I have a decent track record of MOCs. Could you link to some of your superior, and more broad minded works please? I'm always glad to learn...

Nathan

who is still slightly flabbergasted... 'shame'?!

[dviddy]

just whether it was inherently a subset of the Lego system...

This is just silly. Of course it's not 'system,' it started as a subset of Technic. But regardless, both are LEGO. Not only are both produced by LEGO, both are LEGO and are designed for interconnectivity and creativity.

System and Technic/Bionicle merge quite nicely, as long as you try. I have seen many the advanced builder integrate Bionicle pieces into their MOCs, and have yet to find a single Bionicle piece that has only the one use it was molded as. It may flabbergast you to hear that, but I would say this to anyone who MOCs. If you can't find a way to use a piece, you aren't trying hard enough. That goes for myself as well. I don't have a 'useless bin' because I don't think any piece is useless. Even those round colored balls with no built in connection location can be connected and integrated into MOCs.

And though I like and purchase the theme, you'll find me a very vocal critic of the current sets (and the majority of the storyline), and it is not my favourite line. But I do owe my lack of a 'dark ages' on Bionicle, and the original motif still stokes my imagination.

I have no qualms showing you MOCs , I am and have been an active member of the Bionicle MOCing community for the better part of seven years now. However, I do not build exclusively with Bionicle, as I believe LEGO is LEGO, and all themes and pieces, whether they be System, Technic/Bionicle, Fabuland, Clickits, or what have you are free game within the MOCing world (and then I still consider myself a purist who disavows cutting, gluing, or non-LEGO elements, even).

Dragon, BZPower's mascot, Were-cat, Chariot WIP, Robot holding pipe-cleaner flower, And a SCUBA MOC.

I make no claims that these are better than any MOC you may have done. This is simply a recent sampling of my MOCs, since you asked for them. I merely aim to prove that LEGO is LEGO, and all elements are, and should be accepted as, fair game.

[Algernon]

I think a line needs to be drawn between both ends of the spectrum here. I personally get quite annoyed with people who scream "&lt;insert that tiresome argument&gt;!!!" at every piece that's got a bit of curvature on it. Such people don't really understand LEGO and they annoy me to no end. On the other hand there are some cases when you have to wonder what LEGO's thinking. Just because it's physically possible to make use of a certain part doesn't mean that it's a useful part. When you have to go out of your way just to find a way to use a part, then I think it's getting to the point of &lt;insert that tiresome argument&gt;. I mean this in the extreme sense; there are times when you have to scratch your head just to fit a particular piece onto ANYTHING, and at that point it's moved from the realm of a strange LEGO piece to the slowly growing stockpile of megablocks parts. Sure, there are talented MOCists out there who can make use of expired pudding if they want to, but I doubt even these professionals would call such pieces useful.

I don't feel that Bionicle is guilty of such parts besides accessories like disks and spheres. But these are still OK because system has the same things for minifigs that are of limited use, like carts and walkie-talkies. But, Bionicle can't really be used for anything other than mechanical creations because all of the parts are textured with mechanical doodads. Also Bionicle doesn't render anything but characters very well, as I said before. It's limited, more limited than system, but it's still LEGO in the sense that it can be used for plenty of interesting MOCs, and it has been. It's just not everybody's cup of tea because all it can really do is characters.

[Fluyt]

I'm honestly shocked that Bionicle has the most votes for worst theme in this topic, and that many people have not even listed Galidor, which I think we can all agree is far worse. Heck, is there even a single person here that likes Galidor? Not really, and that should make it pretty evident which theme is the worst, at least in technical thinking.

Well, you said yourself that people should have experienced a theme and given it a chance before calling it a bad theme (yet you listed Galidor as top worst, while I have doubts if you have actually given it a chance/experienced it, but I could be wrong). Therefore Bionicle has more votes, since people experienced it and its pieces, and most just don't like the theme since most pieces are useless in most mocs, they're very restricing compared to most regular LEGO+ the most Bionicle sets are all basically the same, they're all action figures, with very low "alternate model" value (and the non-actionfigure sets (and most actionfigure sets also) are hideous in design).

It has brought us some usefull pieces, but in general the pieces are not LEGO-worthy, I mean, LEGO is all about building, and most Bionicle pieces are very restricting when it comes to that.