Hero Factory 2014 Discussion

[wghost]

I'd say that, while they won at the end, the episode feels more like a "f*** you" to guns than anything. Breez's solution was right at the end, the incident was in no way tied to her actions.

Uhm, irony? That's the problem: the episode doesn't imply this. Breez offered a better (harmless) solution but it was made pointless by a terrible cliché and winning the day with guns (= harm > harmless). Gimmeabreak, LEGO.

Edited January 10, 2014 by wghost

[Kalhiki]

Surge BM and the Queen seem to be the best sets. I must say that making the majority of Machines non-humanoids is a BOLD move by Lego. I wonder how these will sell.

I think it's kinda cool that not all the mechs are humanoid. It goes with the whole "check out what can be made with the new system!"

Granted, walkers aren't my favorite mech designs, but I appreciate the inclusion and the unique builds.

Anyway, I watched the episode, it wasn't all that bad. I thoroughly enjoyed it, actually. I'll admit some parts weren't that great, but in the end it was a fun watch.

Though I didn't like the ending. I'd have preferred Breez's non-violent solution to the fighting outbreak. From now on I'll just say the red jumper was the evil mastermind all along. Maybe he's Von Nebula reincarnated and is now stowing away on the ship.

[PenPlays]

I'll be quite honest, if the Invasion from below cast was mixed in with the cast from the previous cast, then this would be perfect.

The VAs from Invasion are good, Breez having the best. Surge's voice was different, but fit in nicely. The rest were, monotonous, and very bland, much like the plot. Problem-answer to problem-problem solved. Nothing else.

Both pleased and disappointed with Invasion.

[WARHEAD]

wait, that 22 minutes length movie is just a cut-up and shortened version? then how long will the real movie be?

Oh, whoops, didn't see there was a full full version, I thought you guys were talking about the 4 minute one. Disregard my ramblings :v

[Chro]

Not only did the Heroes lose most of their personalities, the VAs were horrible. The lines delivered were just flat with almost no expression at all.

Exactly. (I misspoke when I said the sound quality was bad; I was still referring to the voice acting.)

Penkid might have a point there- Breez and Surge weren't awful, but the others... eh. XD

[Kalhiki]

One of my biggest complaints with the voices was that most of them sounded to similar. I couldn't easily differentiate among the characters. And that combined with the emotionless monotone of their voices makes it even worse.

But the animation makes up for it. And look at that lighting!

[Kalmahiczek]

How can I unlock a full version of movie?

Edited January 10, 2014 by Kalmahiczek

[Vinyl Scratch]

I have to say that, errors aside, Invasion from Below was really an extraordinary thing for being the first CG Action Figure LEGO film that actually has shown the main heroes without their helmet. Every other film from BIONICLE and Hero Factory always had them from the back when they had their masks/helmets off, this is the first time that we've seen their heads straight-on.

...

And god it's ugly. But oh well.

[Gatanui]

I have to say that, errors aside, Invasion from Below was really an extraordinary thing for being the first CG Action Figure LEGO film that actually has shown the main heroes without their helmet. Every other film from BIONICLE and Hero Factory always had them from the back when they had their masks/helmets off, this is the first time that we've seen their heads straight-on.

...

And god it's ugly. But oh well.

I think they look cute. :P

-Gata

[Aanchir]

Surge BM and the Queen seem to be the best sets. I must say that making the majority of Machines non-humanoids is a BOLD move by Lego. I wonder how these will sell.

Very strongly agreed. I also wonder if the decision to put so many of the humanoid machines and beasts in the winter wave was a strategy to help kids who were used to humanoid figures get used to the idea of having machines and beasts instead of humanoid heroes and villains before transitioning to less traditional designs.

I haven't watched the episode yet — I'm really getting behind; haven't watched Brain Attack either. But I watched the five-minute version without sound, which is enough to get me excited.

[Phantoka_Chirox]

One of my biggest complaints with the voices was that most of them sounded to similar. I couldn't easily differentiate among the characters. And that combined with the emotionless monotone of their voices makes it even worse.

Guess the people from Ghost did something similar with the Toa Mahri CGI short for this year's HF episode, with the 'radio chatter-ish' voices and all.

[Leewan]

Guess the people from Ghost did something similar with the Toa Mahri CGI short for this year's HF episode, with the 'radio chatter-ish' voices and all.

Are they also in charge of dubbing ?

[Cirkit]

Just saw the new episode. I've got mixed feelings about it.

I like the new opening introducing the Heroes. They all look shiny and the group shot reminded me of the old Bionicle promo shots from back in the day.

The new Hero builds look great, as do their machines. So nice to finally see them in detail. I found it nice that Surge has a double-cockpit machine but it does include Rocka in what I assume is his third set for the wave; and we get to see a new combiner machine!

There's a few funny bits here and there. I like Evo and Furno's dialogue after taking on Splitter-Beast.

Breez finally gets to use her abilities again, and we see them monitored as well.

And, I think this is the first time we see a Hero without a helmet, or removing a helmet after battle. Nice touch.

I'm not a fan of how all the male character voices sound like they're the same person. Sure they have different tones but it isn't hard to tell that one guy voiced all those characters.

Some of the dialogue just felt forced. Bulk's line at the end before the Heroes get on the drop ship is one I cringed at.

And I just feel like the whole plot was wrapped up a bit too tidy.

Two other things I've noticed:

-Surge has gained an Aussie accent.

-The mayor of whatever the city is called (I know it starts with an A) has a paint job that looks like a suit.

It isn't a bad way to promote the products, and in fact it has gotten me rather excited for when Wave 1 hits the stores, but I do feel some things could have gone a bit better.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Cirkit

[Jetrax99]

Worst. Episode. Ever.

The voices: WTF

The faces: Bad

The heads: oh my, what have they done.

It was getting good too. I'll still get the sets, but if they ever do another episode like this again......ugh.

[Chro]

Guess the people from Ghost did something similar with the Toa Mahri CGI short for this year's HF episode, with the 'radio chatter-ish' voices and all.

Well yeah... there were literally two people doing all of the voices for the Mahri video. (I loved it anyway.) :P

After watching the full episode, the voice acting is still the part I'm most frustrated with, though it isn't as bad as I'd expected from the five-minute one. Bulk... no. It really just doesn't feel like Bulk, I suppose- plus it sounds a lot like Rocka, Stormer, and Furno. I think overall the voice actors for Rocka and Breez were the most consistently decent, while some lines from a few of the others showing energy, but for the most part they seemed a little emotionless as others have mentioned. I don't mind Surge being Australian, it's just that his lines generally didn't feel energetic to me.

Some funny lines, intentional and not...

"MY LEGS! MY LE- oh wait, just the machine's legs."

I like how immediately after Breez gets entirely swarmed Evo is just like "are you okay?"

Also the "final battle" with the Mother thing was hilarious just for how each of their attempts failed miserably. Rocka will save youuu- oh. Nope.

Consistency problem- didn't Breez originally have to speak in the language of the creature to talk to it, instead of just speaking normally and having it understand?

I agree about the gun thing... eh.

Oh, and one more thing:

Anyone else notice this? XD

Edited January 10, 2014 by Chro

[Kalmahiczek]

How can I unlock a full episode? I played the game few times.

[Aanchir]

Are they also in charge of dubbing ?

Nah, Ghost is just an animation/VFX agency. Advance would be the ones responsible for the dubbing, and it doesn't surprise me if they used in-house talent. I haven't watched the episode yet, but I'm hoping the voices are at least on par with Hero Factory FM.

[Chro]

They almost entirely weren't.

[DraikNova]

Personally, while I absolutely love the vehicles (Surge's quadrupedal winged mech is without a doubt the best of the year , with Bulk's Driller coming in a close second), I liked the episode up until the ending. Seriously, guys, murder of hundreds of babies, innocently attempting to protect their home, from what probably look like eldritch abominations to them, is worth getting three people back? Sure, as a whole the episode is a big improvement over older ones, but calling Breeze, the person who attempted to ride a kaiju, a treehugger for trying to solve things peacefully? No, not good. Deciding to shoot when the only person on the team who appears to have a modicum of control over the situation tells you not to? No, not good. Too bad the chances of the heroes getting reprimanded for this is virtually zero.

Also, I feel the mechs got destroyed a little too quickly and in far too quick succession. Relatively speaking, they take a significantly smaller beating than the heroes (which they are supposed to help protect) have taken in earlier episodes before getting damaged beyond repair. They're practically made out of cardboard.

Edited January 10, 2014 by DraikNova

[Mesonak]

^The heroes are complete morons and also absolutely terrible at combat.

That's what I got from this episode, at the end of the day. :P

ALSO:

How can I unlock a full episode? I played the game few times.

You can watch it from the main menu of the game (the bottom left icon), or you could just watch this video that somebody uploaded to YT.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Mesonak

[wghost]

Seriously, guys, murder of hundreds of babies, innocently attempting to protect their home, from what probably look like eldritch abominations to them, is worth getting three people back? Sure, as a whole the episode is a big improvement over older ones, but calling Breeze, the person who attempted to ride a kaiju, a treehugger for trying to solve things peacefully? No, not good. Deciding to shoot when the only person on the team who appears to have a modicum of control over the situation tells you not to? No, not good. Too bad the chances of the heroes getting reprimanded for this is virtually zero.

*thumbs up* Good posting, literally my thoughts. I don't see any plausible reason acceptable for that ending - nah, just what I said a few posts earlier.

Edited January 10, 2014 by wghost

[DraikNova]

I suspect many fix-fics will be written because of this episode. The impression this episode gave me is "Sometimes, it's better if the monsters eat the heroes". Also, I suspect the Queen Beast will actually include some of the pods.

About the Tunneler Beast, it's front-most set of legs appear to have smaller "paws" than it's back pairs. Any ideas what the back pairs use?

Edited January 10, 2014 by DraikNova

[Kalhiki]

I suspect many fix-fics will be written because of this episode. The impression this episode gave me is "Sometimes, it's better if the monsters eat the heroes". Also, I suspect the Queen Beast will actually include some of the pods.

About the Tunneler Beast, it's front-most set of legs appear to have smaller "paws" than it's back pairs. Any ideas what the back pairs use?

The back legs appear to use the new claw piece (the kind Jaw Beast uses for hands). And about the pods, I imagine we'll get some considering the Tunneler Beast has what appears to be the leafy shell bits that the pods have on his back. And the Queen Beast has a blue one attached to her rear (the only blue one on the show).

[DraikNova]

That's more or less what I thought. The summer sets seem to have a lot of MOCcing potential. I'm going to be combining all of Evo's mechs, the same goes for Rocka.

[Zenerius]

I just watched TTV's full review on the show, and I have to say I agree with Kahi the most. It's kind of odd how Mesonak disliked it so much. However, I do think that the plot could have been developed better and the same goes with the characters. It was probably due to the short time constraints and low budget, though. But, as I stated earlier, I thought it was the best episode yet.