Why Hydruka?

[Lord-Vorahk]

Who remembers these guys?

They formed the second pair of small sets from 2007, and I have to admit that I never got either of them, so I can't really say anything for their build quality. What I can say is that they had no recoloured parts, no new parts, and, story-wise, no personality. They were just Rahi. I can't help but think that they weren't a good choice for the sets.

2007 had, in all likelihood, the best Matoran design. The only real hinderance was the use of Mata arms to allow for the shoulder-blaster, and in fairness, with the parts available at the time, they couldn't have done better (I find that Metru forearms and CCBS limbs can do the trick nowadays). Good designs, nice parts usage, great mask recolours, and they looked much more like upscaled versions of the classic body style than the Metruan did. However, we only got four small sets, and then two of them weren't Matoran. Sure, we got more Matoran later, Sarda and Idris, but they were only available in a larger set, and somehow only got one mask recolour (Was it too much to ask for a blue Huna and a red Ruru?), and were the same colours as the two Hydruka, leaving us without a small Onu-or-Ko-Affialated set for the year.

To make matters worse, there were two Matoran characters, Gar and Kyrehx, who didn't get sets, but had small, but important roles in the story.And instead we get these two. All I can wonder is... why?

[Agent Fusion]

No recoloured parts? What about the lower lower jaws? As for the sets, they were probably just for variety's sake.

[Lord-Vorahk]

No recoloured parts? What about the lower lower jaws? As for the sets, they were probably just for variety's sake.

Pretty sure they're pearl silver on the Hydruka, and pearl silver on Nuparu Inika from the previous year too.

[Agent Fusion]

On the above image, you can see some red and blue on the jaws, unless it's just a reflection.

[Voxovan]

They had new parts - the blue one had glow-in-the-dark Takadox's armor and the red one had Kalmah's armor (yeah, those pieces weren't unique for Hydruka, but they were "new" for 2007). Plus, if you had them, as well as Rahaga Norik and Gaaki, you had two dark blue and two dark red Rahkshi heads, which is very useful in MOC-making (Rahkshi heads make great shoulder pads and chest plates). They also had some other useful pieces, like those long "upper leg" parts in black and trans-blue and those Visorak leg pieces. So overall I think those sets were ok.

@Agent Fusion: the lower jaws of Hydruka were just pearl silver.

[Lord-Vorahk]

They had new parts - the blue one had glow-in-the-dark Takadox's armor and the red one had Kalmah's armor (yeah, those pieces weren't unique for Hydruka, but they were "new" for 2007). Plus, if you had them, as well as Rahaga Norik and Gaaki, you had two dark blue and two dark red Rahkshi heads, which is very useful in MOC-making (Rahkshi heads make great shoulder pads and chest plates). They also had some other useful pieces, like those long "upper leg" parts in black and trans-blue and those Visorak leg pieces. So overall I think those sets were ok.

That just makes them decent as parts-packs. I like a set to be good in its own right, not just something to be bought and emptied into the bitz box. Also, remember, these were 07 sets, so those long "upper leg" bones would probably fall apart after one or two uses.

[Voxovan]

That just makes them decent as parts-packs. I like a set to be good in its own right, not just something to be bought and emptied into the bitz box. Also, remember, these were 07 sets, so those long "upper leg" bones would probably fall apart after one or two uses.

None of the 07 "upper leg" bones have broken for me, except for the lime ones, and I've been MOCing A LOT. And these were good on their own, I mean, they looked good, had good parts, had some playability, I guess they had everything you would expect from small sets.

[Aanchir]

My guess? For variety's sake. The 2007 Matoran were a great design, but they didn't have as much variety as the Matoran from the year before, so instead of releasing a full wave of near-identical Matoran the designers decided to divide up the year's small sets between Matoran and Hydruka.

[Lord-Vorahk]

None of the 07 "upper leg" bones have broken for me, except for the lime ones, and I've been MOCing A LOT. And these were good on their own, I mean, they looked good, had good parts, had some playability, I guess they had everything you would expect from small sets.

Lucky you. My trans blue ones have gone (The ones from Matoro Inika still hold up), so have my orange ones.

My guess? For variety's sake. The 2007 Matoran were a great design, but they didn't have as much variety as the Matoran from the year before, so instead of releasing a full wave of near-identical Matoran the designers decided to divide up the year's small sets between Matoran and Hydruka.

I can kinda see that, except they'd had no qualms with releasing nigh-indentical larger sets for years.

[arc]

I personally really liked these guys, they were something much different from the rest. Although why I'm not entirely sure, If I had to guess I would probably say what Aanchir said, for varieties sake.

[Shakar]

2007 was just a really weird year in general. 4 small sets instead of 6, lots of large sets, unusual (at that time) price points like Nocturn, large sets not related to the main plot (Karzahni and Lesovikk), parts with unique colours (Ehlek, Takadox/Nocturn and Carapar), a set under 20 Euro with two figures included (Jaller).

They tried to experiment a lot, unlike the far more standardized 2006 sets. The sets weren't perfect, but gosh they were fun. Too bad 2008 was so bland.

[Aanchir]

2007 was just a really weird year in general. 4 small sets instead of 6, lots of large sets, unusual (at that time) price points like Nocturn, large sets not related to the main plot (Karzahni and Lesovikk), parts with unique colours (Ehlek, Takadox/Nocturn and Carapar), a set under 20 Euro with two figures included (Jaller).

They tried to experiment a lot, unlike the far more standardized 2006 sets. The sets weren't perfect, but gosh they were fun. Too bad 2008 was so bland.

I don't think the number of large sets in 2007 was all that unusual. There were basically the same number of large sets that there had been in 2006 — the only difference is that two of the 2006 ones (Irnakk and Kardas Dragon) had been combi models of other sets. And personally, I saw the reduced story focus on some of the sets like Lesovikk and Karzahni as a good thing. The 2006 story had been fast-paced and bloated, with the Toa Inika running a veritable gauntlet from battle to battle to battle as they tried to reach the Mask of Life. The latter end of the storyline ended up feeling like a video game composed of nothing but boss battles.

The 2007 storyline fixed this by introducing the story serials, which relieved some of the pressure to include each and every retail set in the main storyline. Thus, more time could be spent on actually establishing the characters and their relationships with one another, something that the fast-paced "boss rush" of the 2006 storyline didn't really allow for the Toa Inika.

I should also mention that the Barraki didn't really have any unique colors — what they had was unique color combinations. Carapar, for instance, used a blend of Flame Yellowish Orange ("Keetorange") and Transparent Brown (a color that had last appeared in BIONICLE as the color of Onua's Kanohi Kaukau) to create a mottled brownish color that simulated a crab's chitinous shell. Barraki Takadox, Morak, Nocturn, and Gadunka all used a blend of Phosphorescent Green (the current glow-in-the-dark color, and the same one used in some of the 2006–2007 playsets) and Transparent Blue. And Ehlek used a blend of Transparent Green (yes, the same one used for Lewa's Kanohi Kaukau and the eye colors of Onua, Whenua, and Pahrak) and Bright Yellow.

[Dorek]

Don't forget that we got two MORE Matoran of that design in the second half of the year, in Karzahni's set, so variety certainly played a factor. In general the four small sets were of a bigger size and part count than the previous years (and contained more pieces than their similarly sized counterparts from the following year), so I imagine that probably had something to do with it.

For all 2007's excellence at diversifying the storytelling, though, we still barely saw the Hydruka =P.

I've always wondered what the sheer amount of rubber did to the budget in 2007, too; as far as I know plastic and rubber cost about the same, but still...

[Aanchir]

Don't forget that we got two MORE Matoran of that design in the second half of the year, in Karzahni's set, so variety certainly played a factor. In general the four small sets were of a bigger size and part count than the previous years (and contained more pieces than their similarly sized counterparts from the following year), so I imagine that probably had something to do with it.

For all 2007's excellence at diversifying the storytelling, though, we still barely saw the Hydruka =P.

I've always wondered what the sheer amount of rubber did to the budget in 2007, too; as far as I know plastic and rubber cost about the same, but still...

I think the rubber material the LEGO Group uses for things like the spines on Ehlek or the Piraka is actually more expensive than their typical plastics, but at the same time, I don't think the amount in 2007 would have had a huge impact on the budget for the year as a whole. After all, materials cost is negligible compared to other factors like the cost of new molds.

[Lord-Vorahk]

Don't forget that we got two MORE Matoran of that design in the second half of the year, in Karzahni's set, so variety certainly played a factor. In general the four small sets were of a bigger size and part count than the previous years (and contained more pieces than their similarly sized counterparts from the following year), so I imagine that probably had something to do with it.

For all 2007's excellence at diversifying the storytelling, though, we still barely saw the Hydruka =P.

I've always wondered what the sheer amount of rubber did to the budget in 2007, too; as far as I know plastic and rubber cost about the same, but still...

I talked about Sarda and Idris in the original post. Furthermore, I don't have a problem with only getting four small sets. I have a problem with the fact that half of those small sets weren't characters, and as a result, Gar and Kyrehx, who were characters, have no representation. Not to mention that having Matoran in a large set didn't result in some of the smaller sets becoming Rahi in 03, nor did it in 08 and 09.

That's probably because you can't really do much with what amounts to a moody cow with a gun for a tail, when the rest of your characters are vicious warlords with armies of much more dangerous animals, or powerful elemental warriors. Morak didn't even appear in the story at all.

[Aanchir]

I talked about Sarda and Idris in the original post. Furthermore, I don't have a problem with only getting four small sets. I have a problem with the fact that half of those small sets weren't characters, and as a result, Gar and Kyrehx, who were characters, have no representation. Not to mention that having Matoran in a large set didn't result in some of the smaller sets becoming Rahi in 03, nor did it in 08 and 09.

I think Dorek's point was that if the LEGO Group had wanted four individual Matoran sets, they could have dropped Sarda and Idris from the Karzahni set and sold them individually in place of the Hydruka (they're the same colors and everything), but they consciously chose not to.

Also, the fact that non-set characters existed in the storyline is irrelevant. New characters for the sets are decided before new characters for the storyline, not the other way around. They don't write the storyline and see how they can work the characters into the sets — rather, they create the sets and then write them into the storyline. Who's to say that Gar and Kyrehx were even conceived as characters when the sets were being planned? They might have been invented purely for the storyline after the sets had already been decided, the same way Lariska was in 2005 or Dezalk and Jovan were in 2006. And in that case, it makes no more sense to complain about Gar and Kyrehx not being sets in 2007 than it does to complain about Dezalk and Turaga Jovan not being sets in 2006.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Aanchir

[TwistLaw]

One think that bothered me was that in Mahri Nui the matoran villagers were the leaders.

This stole the role Turaga were thought for, further confirmation that kids don't like elders but prefer instead ready-to-action characters.

Of course this bothers me just because I knew Turaga were scrapped during the storyline due to market reaserches saying they weren't the small set of choice.

[Lord-Vorahk]

One think that bothered me was that in Mahri Nui the matoran villagers were the leaders.

This stole the role Turaga were thought for, further confirmation that kids don't like elders but prefer instead ready-to-action characters.

Of course this bothers me just because I knew Turaga were scrapped during the storyline due to market reaserches saying they weren't the small set of choice.

The Southern Continent had one Turaga, Jovan, who died when the island broke off.

I think the Turaga would've had more staying power as sets if they hadn't been made from "Just elders" to "stereotypical elders" in the movies. As I've said in other topics, the set form Turaga carried themselves upright, normally holding their staves by the end, and while they were wise and mysterious, they never gave the impression of being what we would call "Old". Come the movies, and they're pensioners who use their staves as walking sticks. While maybe they make sense in the story, "Old guy who tells stories" isn't much of a toy, and certainly not one that you can sell six variations of. Plucky action survivors who do their best to scrape out a living and fend off their more dangerous foes before the Toa arrive? Now that's something you can sell.

[Lyichir]

The Southern Continent had one Turaga, Jovan, who died when the island broke off.

I think the Turaga would've had more staying power as sets if they hadn't been made from "Just elders" to "stereotypical elders" in the movies. As I've said in other topics, the set form Turaga carried themselves upright, normally holding their staves by the end, and while they were wise and mysterious, they never gave the impression of being what we would call "Old". Come the movies, and they're pensioners who use their staves as walking sticks. While maybe they make sense in the story, "Old guy who tells stories" isn't much of a toy, and certainly not one that you can sell six variations of. Plucky action survivors who do their best to scrape out a living and fend off their more dangerous foes before the Toa arrive? Now that's something you can sell.

The Turaga had been portrayed the way the movies did from the very beginning. The set pictures may have featured them in slightly more actionlike poses, but the comics and Mata Nui Online Game ALWAYS portrayed them as "old and wise". They were never included in action, mostly standing around and telling stories. The fact that they were not hunched (except Whenua and Matau, who WERE) is just a consequence of their fairly limited design, which had to make do with standard Technic elements at a very cheap price point. In fact, in 2004 it was somewhat of a surprise that the Turaga had been Matoran alongside familiar faces like Jaller and Takua. I'm really sick of the revisionism that people try to force by claiming the Turaga were never meant to seem old or that the Matoran were never meant to seem young, and that the movies ruined that. Those aspects of the characters were always there in one form or another, and the fact that some fans didn't pick up on that is irrelevant.

More to the point, the fact is that 2001 was the ONLY year in which there was a full set of Turaga and a full set of Matoran, and that's because the Matoran were McDonalds promotions. In 2004 a Turaga was made as a set only because they were the main villain, and thus an integral character who could be packaged in a larger set. But small sets sold worse and worse as the years went on, and by 2006 there was simply no room for a full set of six Matoran AND a Turaga. In 2007 there was not even room in the lineup for a full set of Matoran, let alone a less exciting elder character. Matoran are essential, far moreso than Turaga—there's no need for a wise leader without the people they will be leading, whereas villagers can go without leadership much more easily.

Edited September 8, 2014 by Lyichir

[TwistLaw]

But small sets sold worse and worse as the years went on, and by 2006 there was simply no room for a full set of six Matoran AND a Turaga. In 2007 there was not even room in the lineup for a full set of Matoran, let alone a less exciting elder character.

Let us not forget the terrible small sets the Rahaga were in 2005. Leftovers Rahkshi heads with some '04 Matoran parts.

But in perspective 2005 was a troubled year itself, with fantastic titans, good villains (rahi? so '01) and terrible, TERRIBLE Toa.

Turaga could have been a nice addition in bigger sets, but 2004 came only once, sadly.

[Lord-Vorahk]

Had a random thought about the Hydruka.

I think they should've switched the places of Sarda, Idris, and the Hydruka. Sarda and Idris would've been suitable as Matoran on their own, just give the four of them different weapons to make them less weak, and replace their arms with the Mata legs so they can have wrists. Maybe make Idris a Ko-Matoran and add Kyrehx and Gar as other sets, because more Mask recolours.

Then we can have the Hydruka in with Karzahni. But not as grumpy cattle with guns, oh no. They're lizards. Salamanders even, if you want to add a fiery theme. And they're Karzahni's pets. The fiery theme would be because they'd be restrained by more of the flaming chains. He was supposed to have a Rahi army, after all, and he had more than just Manas.

[arc]

^that actually sounds really awesome! Might have to take out my old '07 bonkles and make this.

[TheBrickPal]

I remember either getting one, or both. They were fine sets. It's weird; Brickset categorizes the sets as Matoran. Perhaps they would be better suited as Rahi in the database.

And, unfortunately, I only ever got one (Defilak) out of the two single Matoran sets. Never got Karzahni. Is he a good set?

Edited September 10, 2014 by Puffle Pal26

[Lyichir]

Let us not forget the terrible small sets the Rahaga were in 2005. Leftovers Rahkshi heads with some '04 Matoran parts.

But in perspective 2005 was a troubled year itself, with fantastic titans, good villains (rahi? so '01) and terrible, TERRIBLE Toa.

Turaga could have been a nice addition in bigger sets, but 2004 came only once, sadly.

The Rahaga decidedly did NOT use leftover Rahkshi heads, seeing as every single Rahaga head was in a brand-new color (even the white and black ones used standard white and black, as opposed to the rare metallic colors the Rahkshi used). Frankly, I thought the Rahaga were a great deal better than the simplistic and awkwardly-proportioned 2004 Matoran... even though by that point I was starting to get tired of clone sets in general.

New Turaga would have made zero sense in 2005 anyway since both of Metru Nui's known Turaga were out of the picture and there was no change in setting.

[Lord-Vorahk]

Sets come before story, though. If the set designers had made Turaga, we would've got Turaga.