Hero Factory 2012

[Tanma]

Well we're talking weapons vs. almost living robots here. I don't think their energy needs would be quite the same.

True enough, it could be like Elemental energy and Toa energy in Bionicle, both powers are in Toa but they have very different natures. One recharges by itself, and when the other runs out you become a Turaga.

But you have to admit, the heroes are advancing at an outragous rate. We know that way back when Stormer was a Rookie, they were already using the 1.0 format, and the heroes had been around for a bit by then. But in a little over a year they have developed 2.0, 3.0, and soon there will be 4.0 technologies. I know the rate of advancement can accelerate, not too long ago the internet didn't exist. But still, it sems like they are updating heroes way too much. One could argue that the 3.0 upgrade is more like a specialized 2.0, like the jetback version of 1.0 Bulk, but then why name it 3.0, like it is the next generation? And even if we believe 3.0 to really be "2.5," then 4.0 is still different enough to be "3.0." It has a different chest piece, Agori style heads, and for three heroes a bigger body. So that still means that by the start of 2012 Hero Factory would have replaced their basic design twice in the last year. It just seems like the factory is updating their technology too quickly.

Now I know that Bionicle also has made multiple toys of characters, some in the same year. But the natural metamorphisis from Matoran to Toa to Turaga explains away much of this. The Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Takanuva(2008), and Toa Hordika are a bit harder to excuse, although each happened because of mutations and wasn't really a technological leap. Gresh(star) just got new armor, Tahu(star) was demutated into his original form, and Takanuva(star) just cloaked his colors. The Makuta are shapeshifters, so they have an excuse for Teridax's many forms. The only two transformations I think of that resulted from technology was the upgrading of all Matoran of Mata-Nui(the island), and the Adaptive Armor of the 2008 Toa Nuva. So while we get four figures of Jaller/Jala, Takua/Takanuva, Tahu, Lewa, Pohatu, and five for Teridax(Turaga Dume, "Ultimate Dume," 2003, Maxilos; and the Antidermis in Zamor spherex technically), most of these changes are freak accidents, and are not the result of tech improving in an extremely short period of time.

One the matter of the common theme of good goes bad, I hope that one day we see a planet that has seceded from Hero protection, after noticing how often the robots at the factory go evil. Perhaps for the plot, the inhabitants built their own guardians for their defense, which have a code of ethics firmly engraved in their minds to prevent corruption. The heroes head to that world while chasing a villian, only to have to face the planet's own distrusting protectors.

Edit: wow this looks much longer posted. Sorry if this seems like a rant, it wasn't intended to be so.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Tanma

[Aanchir]

True enough, it could be like Elemental energy and Toa energy in Bionicle, both powers are in Toa but they have very different natures. One recharges by itself, and when the other runs out you become a Turaga.

But you have to admit, the heroes are advancing at an outragous rate. We know that way back when Stormer was a Rookie, they were already using the 1.0 format, and the heroes had been around for a bit by then. But in a little over a year they have developed 2.0, 3.0, and soon there will be 4.0 technologies. I know the rate of advancement can accelerate, not too long ago the internet didn't exist. But still, it sems like they are updating heroes way too much. One could argue that the 3.0 upgrade is more like a specialized 2.0, like the jetback version of 1.0 Bulk, but then why name it 3.0, like it is the next generation? And even if we believe 3.0 to really be "2.5," then 4.0 is still different enough to be "3.0." It has a different chest piece, Agori style heads, and for three heroes a bigger body. So that still means that by the start of 2012 Hero Factory would have replaced their basic design twice in the last year. It just seems like the factory is updating their technology too quickly.

Now I know that Bionicle also has made multiple toys of characters, some in the same year. But the natural metamorphisis from Matoran to Toa to Turaga explains away much of this. The Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Takanuva(2008), and Toa Hordika are a bit harder to excuse, although each happened because of mutations and wasn't really a technological leap. Gresh(star) just got new armor, Tahu(star) was demutated into his original form, and Takanuva(star) just cloaked his colors. The Makuta are shapeshifters, so they have an excuse for Teridax's many forms. The only two transformations I think of that resulted from technology was the upgrading of all Matoran of Mata-Nui(the island), and the Adaptive Armor of the 2008 Toa Nuva. So while we get four figures of Jaller/Jala, Takua/Takanuva, Tahu, Lewa, Pohatu, and five for Teridax(Turaga Dume, "Ultimate Dume," 2003, Maxilos; and the Antidermis in Zamor spherex technically), most of these changes are freak accidents, and are not the result of tech improving in an extremely short period of time.

One the matter of the common theme of good goes bad, I hope that one day we see a planet that has seceded from Hero protection, after noticing how often the robots at the factory go evil. Perhaps for the plot, the inhabitants built their own guardians for their defense, which have a code of ethics firmly engraved in their minds to prevent corruption. The heroes head to that world while chasing a villian, only to have to face the planet's own distrusting protectors.

Edit: wow this looks much longer posted. Sorry if this seems like a rant, it wasn't intended to be so.

Something to keep in mind, though, is that just as in BIONICLE the Hero Factory story is designed to explain the toys, not the other way around. Would you have preferred a situation like in BIONICLE, where accidental and unexpected transformations are occurring all the time (so as to stretch willing suspension of disbelief)? This is one of the things many people criticize about BIONICLE. Or would you have preferred a brand-new set of Hero characters each wave, instead of having the old ones get upgraded at all? Do that and you run the very-real risk of people not being able to keep up with the rapidly-expanding cast of characters, another thing the BIONICLE storyline has been criticized for. The fact is that the sales pattern which is working for TLG currently is two new sets of hero and villain sets per year. "Upgrades" are perhaps the easiest way to explain this, considering the alternatives.

Note also that the new Heroes probably haven't changed as significantly as it might seem. Their legs are longer, I think, but I'm pretty sure their torsos are the same size, and only look bigger because the new Hero Cores are smaller. It's a more significant change than the 2.0 to 3.0 one, of course. Something else of note is that the reason so many upgrades have been possible in the Hero Factory story is the same reason that so many have been possible in the sets: the new Hero build is more versatile and more easily modified to fit new missions and settings. And the changes between numbered versions have all been more significant than Bulk's jetpack or Furno's acid-resistant armor. Rather than just replacing a part with an identical part with a different material (like in Furno's refitting) or giving the Heroes new equipment separate from their armor (the jetpacks), the new building system allows the armor to be almost entirely swapped out for newer and more specialized armor and gear. Since this is all happening in a factory even more advanced than the one TLG uses to produce the real-life plastic components, I think rolling out new versions at the same rate is plenty realistic.

So why weren't there any numbered upgrades for the first hundred or so years of the factory's existence? There probably wasn't a need for them. Heroes' armor could be refitted quite efficiently, and perhaps it wasn't necessary or affordable to completely replace their armor with more specialized suits-- it might have been cheaper or (as mentioned in the episodes) safer to just send in a more specialized team of Heroes. There are dozens of possible explanations for why full upgrades weren't considered as a possibility sooner in the factory's history.

I'm beginning to wonder if BIONICLE hasn't made us spoiled by training us to expect every tiny, unimportant aspect of the story to be explained in exhaustive detail. Hero Factory isn't like BIONICLE. It's a slightly-campy adventure story of good versus evil, not en epic fantasy with an overarching plot, in which minor plot details from the first wave will be shrouded in mystery until they become extremely relevant seven to nine years later. And media like Hero Factory FM and the TV episodes (especially the joke-heavy Savage Planet special) make it clear that if we're treating this just like BIONICLE then we're taking it far too seriously. Just compare the Hero article on HS01 to the Toa article on BS01 and the difference becomes immediately obvious. The BIONICLE story is hard to condense into one main idea, and would be difficult to teach even in a full semester of college-level classes. The Hero Factory story boils down to "good guy robots fighting bad guy robots", which is ironically what many people think BIONICLE is about before they've been exposed to any actual story material, and the nitty-gritty details like Quaza cores and upgrades could probably be explained to someone after dinner one evening. Any explanations the story leaves out probably aren't important to the story to begin with.

[Tanma]

That is partly the point, Hero Factory isn't as deep as Bionicle. I am not saying that Hero factory is shallow and has no substance, but Bionicle has many layers, while Hero Factory seems to be abot capturing foes, nothing else. I like the sets, but the storyline ultimately isn't anywhere near as complex, nor as full of hidden easter eggs and foreshadowng.

I know that Hero Factory has only just started, and could grow to be complex, but Bionicle started off deep. For instance, in Maori Mata means face. And what was the isle of Mata-Nui? In 2008, eight years after the story had begun, we learn that that island was the face of a massive robot. Some fans even theorized early that the Matoran Universe was Mata-Nui(the robot), based off hints in the novels and other sources.

Bionicle also figured recurring villians, most notably Terridax. Some probably got tired of him coming back after each defeat, from the Toa Mata's attack to Takanuva's weird duel(I blame the movie), then to the flashback with the Toa-Metru. But this was because he was a chessmaster, not a brutasl warlord. His defeats were calculated, his losses were planned for. In truth the heroes only ever won because he wanted them to do so. Compare this with hero villians, who only last six months.

Bionicle reached tons of media, which admittedly Hero Factory has as well. But Bionicle has reached more with novels, comics, graphic novels, serials, four movies(ignore the first three though), quides, sets, online instructions, brickmaster sets, minifigure sets, and fan made contributions. There was a time when people could send in their Toa designs, or their unique Rahi, or even their Makuta creations, and possibly become canonized. We, the fans, could influence the storyline. Usually we only helped in small ways, a name suggestion here and there, but we were involved.

Bionicle also featured something Hero Factory has not, death. I am not saying that death made the story better, but it made the story more plausible. With all the dangers heroes and villians faced, death was bound to happen. I know Von Nebula is "dead," but to me not recovered body means not dead. In Bionicle we lost heroes, Matoro especially comes to mind. The first Matoran we ever saw in the comics gave his life so that Mata-Nui could live. We also lost Lihkan, Botar, Hydraxon(original), Carapar, all the 2008 Makuta, 2003 Rahkshi, Jaller(he got better), and lets not forget the Bohrok.

The revelation that the Bohrok, which the villagers had taken apart for robot suits, were originally Matoran was really disturbng. It took a few years to realize the horrors the Matoran had done on the island, but that was one big payload. The horror the Toa Nuva felt, knowing that they had ripped apart and canabolized their people, that was a good payoff. I doubt Hero Factory is going to feature body horror like that though.

All in all Bionicle can't really be compared to Hero Factory, because it is not just to sell toys. If it was, why keep the story going after the sets stopped being made? Or why have a story about a set no longer being sold? (Toa Nuva in 2006 for instance, not to mention that in 2009/2010 the Chronicler's Company teamed up again) Bionicle, to me at least, was a movie, not one of those three minute ads in the theater.

[Mr. Gundam]

Hi, Aanchir

Thanks for explaining what I was attempting to put together after Tanma comment. I was wondering about what 2.0 and 3.0 would be compare to new 2012 Heroes. I came to the conclusion 2.0 had a double meaning. One for the new frame and the other for the new equipment. Now 2012 heroes have new blasters and equipment. The good news is Stormer, Bulk, and stringer will be easy to MOC

[vexorian]

Bionicle was to sell the toy... They continued releasing stories just so there is less backslash against HF.

[Tanma]

Bionicle was to sell the toy... They continued releasing stories just so there is less backslash against HF.

I am not in denial that selling toys was how Bionicle started, but it grew to be much more. If it was only to sell toys why make the serials about characters we haven't see in years? There were no longer sets of the Nuva in 2006, but they were the main Toa of the first few novels in that year. Their last set was four years prior, and their pieces weren't even used anymore. Or why let fans create some content, since it stops you from making a set of that character? Sure, one could argue that fans might buy sets to MOC that character, but then why approve drawings and computer art, like all those Xian weapons and the images of certain characters? Why let a fan create the description for a creature sen briefly in a children's graphic novel? And even replica MOCs can be impractical, many pieces of the Tahtorak were out of circuation when that giant fan made Rahi was featured in a comic.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Tanma

[Aanchir]

That is partly the point, Hero Factory isn't as deep as Bionicle. I am not saying that Hero factory is shallow and has no substance, but Bionicle has many layers, while Hero Factory seems to be abot capturing foes, nothing else. I like the sets, but the storyline ultimately isn't anywhere near as complex, nor as full of hidden easter eggs and foreshadowng.

I know that Hero Factory has only just started, and could grow to be complex, but Bionicle started off deep. For instance, in Maori Mata means face. And what was the isle of Mata-Nui? In 2008, eight years after the story had begun, we learn that that island was the face of a massive robot. Some fans even theorized early that the Matoran Universe was Mata-Nui(the robot), based off hints in the novels and other sources.

Bionicle also figured recurring villians, most notably Terridax. Some probably got tired of him coming back after each defeat, from the Toa Mata's attack to Takanuva's weird duel(I blame the movie), then to the flashback with the Toa-Metru. But this was because he was a chessmaster, not a brutasl warlord. His defeats were calculated, his losses were planned for. In truth the heroes only ever won because he wanted them to do so. Compare this with hero villians, who only last six months.

Bionicle reached tons of media, which admittedly Hero Factory has as well. But Bionicle has reached more with novels, comics, graphic novels, serials, four movies(ignore the first three though), quides, sets, online instructions, brickmaster sets, minifigure sets, and fan made contributions. There was a time when people could send in their Toa designs, or their unique Rahi, or even their Makuta creations, and possibly become canonized. We, the fans, could influence the storyline. Usually we only helped in small ways, a name suggestion here and there, but we were involved.

Bionicle also featured something Hero Factory has not, death. I am not saying that death made the story better, but it made the story more plausible. With all the dangers heroes and villians faced, death was bound to happen. I know Von Nebula is "dead," but to me not recovered body means not dead. In Bionicle we lost heroes, Matoro especially comes to mind. The first Matoran we ever saw in the comics gave his life so that Mata-Nui could live. We also lost Lihkan, Botar, Hydraxon(original), Carapar, all the 2008 Makuta, 2003 Rahkshi, Jaller(he got better), and lets not forget the Bohrok.

The revelation that the Bohrok, which the villagers had taken apart for robot suits, were originally Matoran was really disturbng. It took a few years to realize the horrors the Matoran had done on the island, but that was one big payload. The horror the Toa Nuva felt, knowing that they had ripped apart and canabolized their people, that was a good payoff. I doubt Hero Factory is going to feature body horror like that though.

All in all Bionicle can't really be compared to Hero Factory, because it is not just to sell toys. If it was, why keep the story going after the sets stopped being made? Or why have a story about a set no longer being sold? (Toa Nuva in 2006 for instance, not to mention that in 2009/2010 the Chronicler's Company teamed up again) Bionicle, to me at least, was a movie, not one of those three minute ads in the theater.

You have a good point. I understand that this is why a lot of people liked BIONICLE more than Hero Factory. It was an entirely different kind of story-- true, it had the same target audience, but it was trying to reach them in different ways, playing off of the expansive backstory and world-building of stories like Star Wars. BIONICLE existed to sell toys, but it was selling them in a different way than Hero Factory, by getting people deeply invested in the story, and thus, in the product. (Incidentally, including fan-created content and putting older characters in stories are both effective marketing techniques that help sell the sets, because they help establish a stronger relationship between the fans and the franchise).

This is also a reason I really liked BIONICLE, but the fact that Hero Factory isn't as deep is ironically also a good thing for me. Hero Factory has given me some much-needed "relief". It doesn't require me to be as dedicated or thorough in understanding the story. It doesn't take as much effort on my part as a collector and fan. It's just a fun kids' toy with a simple story.

One advantage of Hero Factory's simpler story, as I mentioned, is that it's easier to explain to others. Being an extremely dedicated fan of BIONICLE, I was under a lot of stress to explain to non-fans why I liked this kids' toy. And as soon as you start giving a lot of species names and such to a non fan you begin seeming like you're speaking in tongues. In contrast, someone might ask who a certain character is, and I can say, "That's Will Furno. He's a robot hero who fights crime." The theme is more accessible to outside audiences, and I imagine that also helps it from a sales perspective.

So yes, BIONICLE was much, much different. But I think Hero Factory is just as good, for variety's sake if nothing else. Comparing their quality from a set design perspective is somewhat valid because they're both action figure themes (although I don't recommend it, because since Hero Factory is newer it's not at all a fair comparison). But from a story perspective you might as well be comparing Ninjago with Classic Space, or Lord of the Rings with The Giving Tree. Two different types of story, with two different types of quality.

Edited September 22, 2011 by Aanchir

[Studs Not On Top]

A new picture of the Superheroes has been released, and the Joker figure sports a handful of purple armor plates. This includes sizes 3M and 5M, and the Evo large shoulder armor. I'm really hoping for a purple hero this summer!

[SoupOrFishOil]

A new picture of the Superheroes has been released, and the Joker figure sports a handful of purple armor plates. This includes sizes 3M and 5M, and the Evo large shoulder armor. I'm really hoping for a purple hero this summer!

I'm pretty sure that's been posted in the Super Heroes 2012 discussion thread.

[Tanma]

Yeah, I can understand the appeal of Hero Factory, it just isn't for me. Bionicle had such a great plot, I remember writing my own stories based off of Bionicle. The first few stories started out pretty weird and ill formed, but in time they improved. And with the detailed back stories and mythology of Bionicle, you can easily create an alternate universe which is plausible. It was harder to understand and research than Hero Factory, unless you had early exposure, but in the end it was more rewarding. I can remember crying once while reading Wildfire in the BZPower library, when I finally understood what had happened that had doomed their universe. It was something small and insignificant, but for want of a nail had lead to a series of terrible events.

Another thing that annoys me is how it effects my building style. I am horrible at making MOCs, at least of anything over the height of a 2008 Matoran. So instead I make tiny wildlife and weapons, and on occasion Agori/Matoran. I once made up an entire island of custom Matoran, using a body type made from a Vahki leg-waist, a four long rod, a Toa Metru upper leg joint, two three long cylinders, and two Inika feet. It wasn't very unique, but it gave me a way to create new exotic characters.

But these new pieces have no easy way to link up with Technic parts, and I am not the best with creative use of parts. So the new parts have rendered me unable to make as many unique creations, like the Inika, though it may be only thanks to my own issues. I do like the sets, the joints and armor are well made and don't break for once, but I can't really use them to make small scale creations. Now I have seen some great creations on this site, like a double wide hero and many others. But for someone of my skill and price range, MOC has become much more difficult, in turn driving me away from the factory.

[Vinyl Scratch]

So many walls of text.

Do not want.

Hold on, is Thornraxx supposed to be a Mosquito or a Bee?

He has a Bee Hive Pattern but he looks more like a Mosquito.

[Tanma]

So many walls of text.

Do not want.

Hold on, is Thornraxx supposed to be a Mosquito or a Bee?

He has a Bee Hive Pattern but he looks more like a Mosquito.

I am not sure, he/she has a stinger for sure, but it also possesses a proboscis. Perhaps it is intended just to be a random alien insect robot? Sharks don't have arms after all, but Jawblade does.

[Dorek]

Probably a generic insectoid; there's only three legs, so I can't think of anything in particular that he specifically resembles.

[Jouster]

Hey y'all. Look what I found: 2012 Breakout Book

Another 2012 book

[MrSebi]

Regarding the Hero Core power source and infinitely rechargeable weapons.

Wouldn't it be that the Hero Cores are designed to just provide power to the weapons themselves? Thus explaining why the Hero can just keep fighting as long as they have a powered core. As for the 3.0/4.0 being upgrades, that just might be a niche, the system story wise still seems to be pretty much 2.0, the only difference being that the 3.0 and ''4.0'' sets are more specialized, the basic construction system for the Hero bodies is the same.

[Tanma]

Regarding the Hero Core power source and infinitely rechargeable weapons.

Wouldn't it be that the Hero Cores are designed to just provide power to the weapons themselves? Thus explaining why the Hero can just keep fighting as long as they have a powered core. As for the 3.0/4.0 being upgrades, that just might be a niche, the system story wise still seems to be pretty much 2.0, the only difference being that the 3.0 and ''4.0'' sets are more specialized, the basic construction system for the Hero bodies is the same.

You fool, you will release the demons of text walls! The discussion that was will be remade again! (insert lord of the rings music here)

...anyway, I hope that one day gears return. I know that Hero Factory is just action figures, and are cybernetic not biomechanics, so I know that like 2006-present Bionicle the factory probably will not feature such parts. But the old geared sets had a charm, a call back to their Technic roots. The Toa Metru will always be one of my favorite sets, in proportions, limbs, and features. So I know it isn't likely, but I will always that gears return, but are better designed than those onthat 2008 Makuta.

[The Crazy One]

...anyway, I hope that one day gears return. I know that Hero Factory is just action figures, and are cybernetic not biomechanics, so I know that like 2006-present Bionicle the factory probably will not feature such parts. But the old geared sets had a charm, a call back to their Technic roots. The Toa Metru will always be one of my favorite sets, in proportions, limbs, and features. So I know it isn't likely, but I will always that gears return, but are better designed than those onthat 2008 Makuta.

I doubt your wish will ever be fulfilled I'm afraid.

[Tanma]

I doubt your wish will ever be fulfilled I'm afraid.

I know, but I can still dream. It probably would be easier for Technic to make mechanical creatures than the factory to use gears.

[Vinyl Scratch]

You want gears?

Here are your damn gears.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but I am sick of all you guys missing the gears. I for one welcome our new pony overlords don't miss the gears, Action Figures aren't the place for gears.

@Books: Level 4 Books? Will be like The Journey of Takanuva I guess.

Wait. Thornraxx has three legs?

HOW COME I JUST NOTICED THAT.

[Omicron Squad Leader]

Action Figures aren't the place for gears.

I'm not adamant about the return of gears, I don't miss them as such, I think Hero Factory is perfectly fine as it is, but I think that's going a little too far; gears CAN work with action figures.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Omicron Squad Leader

[Mesonak]

I don't see the problem with people wanting gears back; many people enjoyed the functions they brought to the sets, and thats fine; it explains why they were so popular. Really was a stroke of ingenuity on Lego's part.

I personally hated them, because they limited play, posability, and even display; they obtrusively portruded from the backs of the Toa Mata/Nuva, and in sets like the Rahkshi/Hordika/Vahki, lended themselves to really odd torso structures and side-functions that detracted from the overall experience. The only sets where I enjoyed gears, honestly speaking, were the larger sets where they were integrated better and the Bohrok, where they meshed seamlessly with their design without adversely affecting the posability.

But hey, that's just my opinion. :P

As for the books, I'm happy to see those re-introuced. Hopefully this will lead into full-scale chapter books set in the HF universe; I'd enjoy that.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Mesonak

[Tanma]

I don't see the problem with people wanting gears back; many people enjoyed the functions they brought to the sets, and thats fine; it explains why they were so popular. Really was a stroke of ingenuity on Lego's part.

I personally hated them, because they limited play, posability, and even display; they obtrusively portruded from the backs of the Toa Mata/Nuva, and in sets like the Rahkshi/Hordika/Vahki, lended themselves to really odd torso structures and side-functions that detracted from the overall experience. The only sets where I enjoyed gears, honestly speaking, were the larger sets where they were integrated better and the Bohrok, where they meshed seamlessly with their design without adversely affecting the posability.

But hey, that's just my opinion. :P

As for the books, I'm happy to see those re-introuced. Hopefully this will lead into full-scale chapter books set in the HF universe; I'd enjoy that.

Yeah, I often used those black spheres in place of gears for the Mata and Nuva. On the other hand I was very fond of the Bohrok's gear use, which is probably why I didn't mind the identical Bohrok-Kal. Honestly gears were just a feature, just like any part of a Lego action figure. And just like any feature, they could be designed well or poorly. For instance, the jointed legs and arms of Bionicle allowed for more possibility than the Mata, but they often looked freakishly long and disproportionate.

[Aanchir]

Yeah, I often used those black spheres in place of gears for the Mata and Nuva. On the other hand I was very fond of the Bohrok's gear use, which is probably why I didn't mind the identical Bohrok-Kal. Honestly gears were just a feature, just like any part of a Lego action figure. And just like any feature, they could be designed well or poorly. For instance, the jointed legs and arms of Bionicle allowed for more possibility than the Mata, but they often looked freakishly long and disproportionate.

Agreed. Personally, I don't miss the gears. Occasionally as BIONICLE moved onward I would occasionally enjoy pulling down my older Toa Mata sets and having them swing their arms around. But when the sets were actually out, this was not how I actually played with them (besides, of course, Pohatu, whose kicking feature was extremely fun). Instead, I preferred to use the figures to act out stories, in which case the gear functions didn't really help with much. I loved the vehicle sets of 2008 as they provided an instance where gears could be included in sets and not feel out-of-place.

In a sense, the gear functions were a relic from the early days of BIONICLE when kids were above all else expected to make their sets "fight", much like the earlier Competition/Cyber-Slam theme. This is also why the masks were attached in a somewhat flimsy fashion-- the objective of the fights was of course to knock off your opponent's mask. The real end of the gear functions presumably came when TLG realized this wasn't how people wanted to play with their action figures. Kids wanted greater control in the form of posability and so forth, so that they could use the figures to tell real stories rather than just battle competitively (the heavily story-based nature of the theme probably had lots to do with this). I feel that in 2003 when some of these play features were abandoned, BIONICLE genuinely became more of a "toy" and less of a "game".

I still think the gear functions were brilliant, and some of the Rahi sets were extremely fun to play with in more of a "game" context. But overall, I felt that the change between 2003 and 2004, with play features becoming less competitive and the theme abandoning the Technic title brought the theme closer to its core essence as an action figure theme (something which I feel, by adopting a more uniform building style with fewer Technic-based builds, Hero Factory has continued). Ironically, Ninjago has recently emerged with many design characteristics similar to early BIONICLE: an in-depth story, a colorful and diverse fantasy universe, and game-based gimmicks for play, demonstrating that within LEGO there is still a place for these sorts of ideas. Action figures just might not be that place.

[Aethersprite]

I agree, gears were fun, but these are action figures. I prefer posability and articulation over gears, to be honest. The best way gears can be used here would be in vehicles. 2008/2009 Bionicle vehicles did that very well.

[Bfahome]

I get that some people don't like the gears. What I don't get is the argument that these are action figures, so they shouldn't have gears.

I mean, what part of the title "action figure" precludes them from having action features? It's right there in the title.

I liked the gears (or other functions that didn't necessarily use gears), as they required a bit more complexity to integrate. And they were cool.

Yeah they could impede posing, but sets like the Bohrok and Visorak showed that that doesn't have to be the case.