Hero Factory 2011

[Once In A Lifetime]

At first glance, I thought it was going to bomb horribly. After some reviews, I actually want to get Evo and Surge. But, the only thing I dislike. They pretty much just removed the whole pin/axle with the ball/socket. And that makes them look more like action figures, unlike the bionicles, which had a unique look. So to sum it up, they are soon going to become like the Ben 10 sets. Just a single piece for the head, very minimal building, Lego's just removing the fun of building. Hopefully, the Firelord isn't so bad. I also question, What happened to Dunkan and Jimi?

[Aanchir]

At first glance, I thought it was going to bomb horribly. After some reviews, I actually want to get Evo and Surge. But, the only thing I dislike. They pretty much just removed the whole pin/axle with the ball/socket. And that makes them look more like action figures, unlike the bionicles, which had a unique look. So to sum it up, they are soon going to become like the Ben 10 sets. Just a single piece for the head, very minimal building, Lego's just removing the fun of building. Hopefully, the Firelord isn't so bad. I also question, What happened to Dunkan and Jimi?

Ummmm... how does a different attachment method mean less building? Next year's Hero Factory sets (the canisters in particular) have waaaay more building than this year's. If anything, this could be taken as evidence that the sets are going to begin to have more building involved as time goes on. Especially since most of the new parts are so much less specialized than the 2010 parts.

No idea what happened to Bulk and Stringer in-story. In terms of sets, perhaps they didn't sell well. Or perhaps LEGO just decided it wanted more brightly-colored heroes, and learned their lesson after BIONICLE that many fans can't accept two sets as being the same character if their color changes. In any event, I don't foresee those two appearing in any more sets, but LEGO could always surprise us-- this is still just the second wave of Hero Factory so there's really no precedent to go by.

[VBBN]

These sets will be incredible additions to any mocist collection and will change the landscape of constraction Mocs, I can tell you that

[Once In A Lifetime]

Ummmm... how does a different attachment method mean less building? Next year's Hero Factory sets (the canisters in particular) have waaaay more building than this year's. If anything, this could be taken as evidence that the sets are going to begin to have more building involved as time goes on. Especially since most of the new parts are so much less specialized than the 2010 parts.

Okay, I guess I didn't exactly word it right. I had meant now that they look a lot more like the Ben 10 sets than the Bionicles. In the way if you compare a Ben 10 chest plate, a Hero Factory Chest Plate and a Bionicle Chest Plate, such as the type on the Inika. The Heros look a lot more like the cruddy Ben 10. The upside to all this, however, is the amount of new parts. Probably the most in a set for a long time, I'd still love to get Evo and Surge, however.

[Aanchir]

Okay, I guess I didn't exactly word it right. I had meant now that they look a lot more like the Ben 10 sets than the Bionicles. In the way if you compare a Ben 10 chest plate, a Hero Factory Chest Plate and a Bionicle Chest Plate, such as the type on the Inika. The Heros look a lot more like the cruddy Ben 10. The upside to all this, however, is the amount of new parts. Probably the most in a set for a long time, I'd still love to get Evo and Surge, however.

Aesthetically, I actually felt the Ben 10 chest plates felt more appropriate for LEGO than BIONICLE armor had been. The simple, smooth contours of the Ben 10 (and now Hero Factory) armor felt more consistent with regular LEGO for me than the intricate detailing of BIONICLE armor. If you use BIONICLE armor on a System MOC (the Inika armor would be a particularly good example of this), you're going to need to add a lot more BIONICLE parts if you hope to establish stylistic consistency. Ben 10 parts, on the other hand, can be and have been used inconspicuously on System MOCs. Consider this MOC which seamlessly blends Ben 10, System, and even what look to be Scala parts to create a unified aesthetic. Or these ones.

The Ben 10 parts might not have been too versatile functionally, but they have a profound versatility in terms of aesthetics, and I'm glad to see the Hero Factory sets for next year emulating this.

[vexorian]

Ben 10 parts are great actually. And if you consider things up, the HF 2.0 sets are using the same feel. The problem with Ben 10 is the price but that's another discussion, it seems they bombed in sales for that reason.

[Aanchir]

BZPower has a new review of Breez 2.0. Regrettably, they don't have any closeups of the face to show me if it looks sufficiently feminine with the helmet accessories attached. Somebody buy Front this set, stat! I'm sure he could work some of his camera wizardry and show us the set in amazing detail.

Also, the review includes a side view that shows me that the lack of back armor not only hinders aesthetics from back view, it makes the torso look too thin from side-view. And this is from someone who never understood people's claims that Inika torsos were too thin (being about the same size as Metru torsos and slightly thicker). I hope future series add some back armor to amend that.

[Front]

....Somebody buy Front this set, stat! I'm sure he could work some of his camera wizardry and show us the set in amazing detail.

lol, you know I have easy access to sets, but I really should wait till the sets hit stores somewhere in the US. I would love though to make some photos explaining some of the detail of the new parts. Or how you could put them together.

Also, the review includes a side view that shows me that the lack of back armor not only hinders aesthetics from back view, it makes the torso look too thin from side-view. And this is from someone who never understood people's claims that Inika torsos were too thin (being about the same size as Metru torsos and slightly thicker). I hope future series add some back armor to amend that.

This is one of the issues I would like to pass on to the designers. Although you have to admit that the new torsos by them selves like terrific Or at least the have a universal look like a normal Technic beam.

Erland, Part Design

Edited December 6, 2010 by Front

[Bfahome]

The 2011 sets are up on the Hero Factory product page.

With some really flippin' sweet animations of the characters.

[Aanchir]

The 2011 sets are up on the Hero Factory product page.

With some really flippin' sweet animations of the characters.

No matter how Breez 2.0 looks, they managed to animate her so she looks pretty sexy. That's more than can be said of any BIONICLE females.

I guess you could argue that Gali looked OK in her little animation, but I think Breez 2.0's product page animation has her beat.

Other animations are also cool. I've seen all the hero ones now and am just starting the villains. They load kinda slow on my computer, probably because today's the last day before exams so a lot of people might be online at my college for final assignments. The slow internet at my college is part of the reason I don't do much gaming (no matter how cool the Hero Factory game for this year seemed to be).

EDIT: Also, Fire Lord wins in my book. That animation shows him from really attractive angles, true, but still I hope a review shows him to live up to that standard.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Aanchir

[Aethersprite]

The 2011 sets are up on the Hero Factory product page.

With some really flippin' sweet animations of the characters.

I really hate how they portrayed the villains as total goons. Seriously.

I have to agree with Aanchir, though. FL's animation made me like him a little better. I guess I'll wait for a review to solidify my stand on him.

[dviddy]

but still I hope a review shows him to live up to that standard

It won't. :)

[Aanchir]

I really hate how they portrayed the villains as total goons. Seriously.

I have to agree with Aanchir, though. FL's animation made me like him a little better. I guess I'll wait for a review to solidify my stand on him.

I liked the villains' animations. They were amusing. It's not like this was a full commercial; these are just little snippets to show off the sets' poseability.

Besides, Jetbug and Fire Lord both looked pretty competent. And awesome.

It won't. :)

:( But I liked the picture on your Flickr...

Edited December 7, 2010 by Aanchir

[Aethersprite]

It won't. :)

Besides, Jetbug and Fire Lord both looked pretty competent. And awesome.

Jetbug has always been awesome for me.

On a side note, is Fire Lord USD$19.90 like usual?

[Phantoka_Chirox]

Where's the limited edition HF for this year :P

[Aethersprite]

Where's the limited edition HF for this year :P

We'll probably have to wait for Summer 2011 for that.

[Darkness Falls]

I've suggested several times putting the original heroes' heads and helmets on these new sets. Think anyone could supply is with some pictures of this look?

[dviddy]

I've suggested several times putting the original heroes' heads and helmets on these new sets. Think anyone could supply is with some pictures of this look?

[VBBN]

Pretty fluent but looks a bit restricted

[Darkness Falls]

Heh, thanks for posting these on TFW too, DV.

Some of the Heroes, like Furno and perhaps Breez, look like they would benefit from the head-switch, but I think Stormer and Surge look fine.

[SpiderSpaceman]

Heh, thanks for posting these on TFW too, DV.

Some of the Heroes, like Furno and perhaps Breez, look like they would benefit from the head-switch, but I think Stormer and Surge look fine.

OK I can't work it out - what is tfw?

[CabooseBM]

OK I can't work it out - what is tfw?

Transformers World 2005, a substandard, yet popular, Transformers Board, I assume.

Edited December 8, 2010 by CabooseBM

[Darkness Falls]

Transformers World 2005, a substandard, yet popular, Transformers Board, I assume.

We ain't substandard!

[Ratbat]

Transformers World 2005, a substandard, yet popular, Transformers Board, I assume.

Oh no you didn't!

Man, I like the heroes, but the armor placement on some of them is pretty poor. Especially the lack of any armor on most of the weapon arms.

[Masked Builder]

Hero Factory site has been update with the new heroes. Strangly enough they're not on Shop At Home yet.