Hero Factory 2012

[TheRedGuy]

I don't get why people call him "another Thunder". All of the qualities of Thunder that you mentioned are not qualities that only Thunder possessed. If we're going to name a set that had metallic colors, was bulky, had "finger-ish things", and had a meteor launcher, then Fire Lord is a Thunder clone.

The only thing that even looks like Thunder is the face. Honestly, this is just as bad as calling Jawblade a Fangz repeat when the only thing similar is the head color and that he has trans-red. It makes no sense.

I was saying that they had more similarities, that's all. Not only those two have 'em.

Edited September 16, 2011 by TheRedGuy

[MakutaNocturn]

Hi guys. I have got two photos of newest sets for 2012. They are from polish newspaper for children. New heroes are awesome :3

One photo is small and is attached to the post. Second is in the link.

HF VILLIANS

[RedStar]

Did actually no-one comment on this yet?!

The sets are really awesome, especially the heroes! The only set I don't like is Dark Phantom, it's Fire Lord all over again, which was crappy. Interesting theme too.

[BRiAn]

It has been posted in the Hero Factory 2011 thread, and it has also received many comments.

[MakutaNocturn]

It has been posted in the Hero Factory 2011 thread, and it has also received many comments.

I am sorry. I didn't read this article.

[MakutaNocturn]

Oh my... this photos have got polish informations. HOW CAN I MISS THAT?! I'm from Poland and I haven't seen anything. Once, I saw an extra thing to the newspaper for children wich contain photos of HF for 2011 on the cover. I think that Thornraxx is the stupidest name in all HF theme. It's like Thornax. Nothing original!

I can translate something.

On the first photo with Heroes we have

"It's time for a new cool year!

More functions, launchers and cuffs for all heroes.

More elements give a posibility of longer fun.

Five different missions. Each hero have to fight with a villian.

Free points for the online game "Breakout" in every set.

Elements which give success:

Encourage to collect sets because of connection of missions, combiners and game-points.

New, unique boxes wich attract customers attention.

Bigger box shows "pros" and functions of the product.

New game "Breakout" will help to make sale bigger."

And in the second photo we've got the same.

I'm sorry if I write sth wrong. But this will help you.

[Aanchir]

I just threw all my canisters to a PET recycling container today. When you don't intend to use them, they are really cruel space crowders. I think that TLG is doing the environment a favor here. I am also very sure there is a zipper in the new containers. They are bags. Still plastic bags but at least more useful. It also seems that it would be easy to get rid of the "box art" in case you want to use the bags for something else.

At worst, you will be able to keep the bags using less space.

What I don't like is that all the characters but Phantom use the new packaging. I liked boxed villains.

I never thought the canisters had stack-ability. The 1.0-3.0 canisters surely can't be stacked unless you do it horizontally, but the curved surface is also difficult. Glatorian canisters were stackable. But that's not true for glatorian legends or mystica/phantoka canisters.

Hero canisters and Stars canisters are indeed stackable. Any canisters before the Barraki and any canisters after the Phantoka were stackable, actually-- there are grooves on the bottoms of the canisters specifically to allow for that. Most of the time since canisters have often been reused, they are even stackable between series-- only possible exceptions I can think of are the Mistika canisters (not stackable with each other if you want Makuta and Toa canisters all facing front) and the Vahki/Rahkshi canisters (not stackable with each other unless you want some of them upside-down relative to the others).

And I'm glad you approve of the new packaging for the most part-- you are the main reason I even realized there were significant downsides to canisters, actually, especially since people on BZPower went into a roaring fit when the Toa Mahri happened. Of course, these are significantly different than the Mahri packaging: these new packages maintain all of the useful aspects of canisters (reusable storage) with few of the negative aspects (taking up storage space, impossible to collapse). The Mahri packaging preserved most of the negative aspects and pretty much none of the positive ones besides their stylish design.

Oh. I was told "Gold" was expensive. Thanks for noting my gullible-ness.

It probably is. My question was why you thought purple was particularly expensive. It's not as cheap as more basic colors like red and blue, but I'm pretty sure the same applies for other non-traditional colors like lime.

Now that I take a second look, you're right. But I still don't understand the like for Breez. Unnecessary rockets, 1.0 feet... Ugh.

I mostly like Breez for her stylish armor design and color scheme. The rockets are also pretty cool IMO, and much less blatantly System than Toxic Reapa's back-canisters. In comparison, Furno, Surge, and Rocka strike me as having way more extraneous details, although it could just be the cramped space the pictures occupy that makes them seem this way.

Looking at the feet on the opposite page, they do seem kind of awkward on those legs... but then again, it might just be the oh-so-static pose that makes them seem unnatural. They look good from other angles, as seen in this MOC.

The fact that they might touch the head in certain posses, of course. I don't get how you don't see that.

Okay, I wasn't sure what you were worried about. If that sort of thing bothers you then that probably is something to watch out for... personally, though, it doesn't bother me any more than the awesome shoulder spikes on characters like Toa Mahri Hewkii or Mata Nui.

How the heck does Kopaka Nuva's head look anything like an Hau? Ok, maybe it does now that you mention it, but I never thought so.

No similarities to Thunder at all? What about the metallic colors, finger-ish things, bulky, meteor launcher and dare I name more?

The Akaku Nuva's resemblance to a Hau bothered me from when the Toa Nuva first came out. Besides the eye thing, it resembles the Hau much more than the Akaku, and looks almost like a custom mask made by putting modeling clay on a Hau. The original Toa Nuva masks were a bit haphazard in whether or not they matched the original Great Kanohi and that's part of the reason why I had such a hard time taking criticisms of the 2008 versions too seriously.

Other people probably notice different sorts of details than I do, though. It could be easy for someone to take a quick glance at the original Akaku Nuva and say "eyepiece means it's an Akaku", or for someone to take a glance at the 2008 Miru Nuva and say "lime mask with visor=Lesovikk's Faxon". In contrast, I'm more likely to say "dome-shaped mask with oval-shaped mouth=Hau" or "mask with trapezoidal mouth and air intakes on cheeks and forehead=Miru Nuva".

Meanwhile, all the similarities you make to Thunder are the sorts of things I'd quickly write off as coincidences. Incidentally, I got more of a Hellboy vibe from his mask than a Thunder vibe when I first looked at it. Yes, he has a metallic color, as do most of the other villain sets in that wave-- and that metallic color, in Splitface's case, is a different one than Thunder had.

On a side note, I couldn't help but realize that in terms of launchers, this is the first year that the heroes are more heavily-armed than the villains.

[Tanma]

I really hope that Jawblade doesn't have legs. He(she?) has a very unique shape, and I don't want it's exotic flavor ruined by being a humanoid, even a shark humanoid. I see that Phantom has one of Breez's blades in green, that could be useful. It reminds me of the Skrall swords, both came in red and green versions, and both had the larger set with the green variation.

[Brickman125]

Guys! In the villian backgrounds(save for Splitface and Black Phantom.)you can see heroes, that supports the splitting up theory.

But anyways, the heroes look freaking awesome. I do like the 1.0 helmets, except for Furno. Looking closely at Evo's helm, you can see the one side-things that were on his 2.0 version.

I'm waiting for Rocka and Evo 1.0 MOCS!

[The Crazy One]

Jaw Blade is a fish. Why not just wait for a water theme? Now he's out of place. Even so, I do like the variation, but I didn't really want a fish.

[Dorek]

He's not a fish, he's a SHARK. That makes him awesome. And I'm still thinking that this is going to be the last line.

It's funny how people are saying "1.0" MoC's when they were never like that in the story. Also, Evo reminds me of Dekar.

[The Crazy One]

An over gloryfied fish.

Okay, my main problems are that I don't like the inconsistency in Hero size, and the fact we have now cut down to 5 heros. I think they should have either cut it to 3 heros all large, and 3 large villains, or don't vary the size and stay with six. That's just my petty feeling about it. Anyway, I think any sets that I do buy will be quite fun to awesomeise with their previous incarnation's parts.

[vexorian]

An over gloryfied fish.

Okay, my main problems are that I don't like the inconsistency in Hero size, and the fact we have now cut down to 5 heros. I think they should have either cut it to 3 heros all large, and 3 large villains, or don't vary the size and stay with six. That's just my petty feeling about it. Anyway, I think any sets that I do buy will be quite fun to awesomeise with their previous incarnation's parts.

Many kids wouldn't get to buy any hero if there were only large heroes, or any villain if there were only large villains.

I like this idea.

[Dorek]

Exactly. It's why they decreased the set sizes to begin with; smaller sets are called "impulse sets", and generally sell much better than their larger boxed counterparts. By varying sizes for each, you create a more interesting purchasing atmosphere.

[ZORK64]

I must shamefully admit I haven't read all new posts, but anyway, here my thoughts about the new sets:

- Heroes -

First of all, no Stormer and no other white set -> Sad ZORK is sad.

Breez - As already stated, looks somewhat like Samus Aran. Wich is very, very good. However, I need those parts in orange, not lime, to realize a Samus MOC. I like her design, except for the feet (simply because I never really liked the original HF feet, the way to attach the joint socket makes the ankles less poseable than in other cases).

Furno - Not really a must-have for me, but he's well designed. However, I'd probably give him the 3.0 helmet.

Rocka - Looks interesting, but since he's golden... nah.

Surge - My favourite of the bunch so far, though I wish he would also get a few more new pieces.

Evo - Looks nice, but nothing special.

- Baddies -

Black Phantom - Let us just hope that this is a really early prototype...

Thornraxx - Looks neat, though I'm slowly get tired of mosquito-like monsters (he's already the third one in Hero Factory). But I like his design, and some of his colours (his arms are turquoise!)

Splitface - If he wouldn't had those red armour thingies which were also used by Breez to give her that Samus-look, I would probably totally ignore him. But yeah, red is so far the closest thing to Samus' design. Aside from this, his design is... I don't know. But I'm not a great fan of the entire two-face theme in general.

Toxic Reapa - I already got enough lime, but he looks nice so far.

Jawblade - I don't like his proportions, but his head is awesome. Also, maybe he comes with new-coloured Furno blades?

For now, I like the new wave. But only time (and proper reviews) will tell if I'll like them more than the 2011 lines.

[Aanchir]

Thornraxx - Looks neat, though I'm slowly get tired of mosquito-like monsters (he's already the third one in Hero Factory). But I like his design, and some of his colours (his arms are turquoise!)

As always, be aware that it's not the same turquoise (Bright Bluish Green) as in 2001 BIONICLE, since that one's discontinued. It's probably Dark Azure (or maybe Medium Azure? We still haven't seen any definite uses of that color in next year's sets, even though it's likely used some places in the Friends theme).

Also, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to call him the third mosquito-like monster. Jetbug wasn't remotely mosquito-like—if anything, he was beetle-like, judging by his heavy armor, bulky wing-jets, and his Spanish name Coleóptero. And Waspix was obviously more wasp-like than mosquito-like. The last mosquito-like villain I can think of is Gorast. And before that, Nui-Rama (incidentally, I get a serious Nui-Rama vibe from Thornraxx).

Toxic Reapa - I already got enough lime, but he looks nice so far.

But do you have enough Transparent Fluorescent Green?

[vexorian]

I like how every >= 2.0 season included a villain with a different set of transparent goodness. First nitroblast, then waspix, then reapa. All pretty vital sets to get.

I hope the fish villain is indication that there will never, ever be a water theme.

Edited September 17, 2011 by vexorian

[BrotherDog]

But do you have enough Transparent Fluorescent Green?

That is and has always been Transparent Fluorescent Yellow. I am very happy to finally get some legit Transparent Fluorescent Green, apart from Atlantis sets, from Black Phantom and a glat-head to boot. Let alone Rocka's shield.

Looking at the feet on the opposite page, they do seem kind of awkward on those legs... but then again, it might just be the oh-so-static pose that makes them seem unnatural. They look good from other angles, as seen in this MOC.

Your MOC is millions of times better than the 4.0 set as it's that horid red that ruins it. That 2-headed villain a frame over is awesome by the way, too bad there were only 2 helms ever made to fit that head-type. One of which was Toa Mahri Hewkii "mask". WHile other hate on it, I like it and that double mask variated for that head-type

While everyone else hates on the BlackPhantom set, I kind of like it other than a fixer tip.:

*as Phantom implies stealth which requires agility, those bulky, clumsy legs don't fit and neither does that eye-gouging red.

Give him nondoubled legs, perhaps claw-feet and change ALL of the red parts to darkpurple. He'd then be awesome from what I can see. I never got any of those expensive boss-sets he's being compared to, as they were either/both expensive and/or overwrought with horrid red parts.

*A fixer tip for Breez that would/could make it nigh perfect. Change ALL red parts to Magenta.

*A fixer tip for fruno set. Replace him with either Bulk, Nex, Stormer or Stringer. Yes, I went all alphabetical on it.

*For Evo. At least make the ammo/ball darkpurple if they do anything else.

In general for all 1.0 rookies, at least swap helms around to give us variant colors of those helms. I'd love either a Blue or Lime variant of fruno's helm, as I'm sure fans of red would like red versions of Breez's and Surge's.

Edited September 17, 2011 by BrotherDog

[Vinyl Scratch]

BrotherDog you are asking colours that will possibly NEVER be on LEGO action figures.

I have yet to see Magenta on a LEGO set.

[Phantoka_Chirox]

Pictures are ugly (as in quality not the sets). The HF 2011 topic's got some HQ pics (thanks to Mesonak) check them out

[Vinyl Scratch]

A polish newspaper for children?

I thought this was a retailer catalog

[dviddy]

It's funny how people are saying "1.0" MoC's when they were never like that in the story. Also, Evo reminds me of Dekar.

Depends on which version you're looking at, doesn't it? I'm pretty sure in the comics Evo and Nex were just the first two heroes to get the upgrade, not built already as 2.0 models like on the show. And how do we know Rocka never had a 1.0 form?

[Vinyl Scratch]

TV > Comics in this case.

Nex and Evo were "born" as 2.0

Rocka was also made as 2.0 according to Stringer and Nex on Savage Planet.

[ice dragon]

Could the rehash of the old helmets mean that Hero Factory is ending? This sure is a possibility, although if this is the end, I wonder what they will use to take Hero Factory's place?

[Vinyl Scratch]

Give me a break.

With the Superheroes line revealed and the false rumor spread around by youtubers everyone is thinking that Hero Factory is about to end.

Why would they end a series that has shown to be really successful?

There are NO PROOF that Hero Factory will be ending anytime soon.