Favorite Bionicle line?

[exxtrooper]

What is your favorite line in the story through the years of Bionicle?

Piraka, Toa Mata, Toa Mahri, Phantoka etc;

Personal opinions are welcome.

[Walter Kovacs]

From what I've read so far (and I certainly am no expert on the Bionicle story; I've been reading the novelizations to my son, and we are only up to the middle of the Toa Metru Arcs), I would say the Piraka. They are the only enemies to give the Toa Nuva a thorough megablocks-whoopin, and their story arc seemed to last longer than others (not that I've read the books or comics).

As for sets, I'm partial to the Phantoka/Mistika Brotherhood of Makuta sets. But that is when I started to collect Bionicle, so my opinions might be skewed a bit. I never did like the Mistika/Phantoka Toa Nuva, though. And for a runner up, I think the Rahkshi sets are fantastic as well.

If you couldn't tell, I like the bad guys a bit more than the goody two-shoes types.

[prateek]

I loved Toa Nuva and Rakhshi. I also liked the Bohrok and Toa Metru lines, because their play features were so cool.

[Bfahome]

There will never be anything as good as the Bohrok saga in any way ever.

[Aanchir]

I think that the Mistika and Phantoka were some of my favorites. They established a cohesive "good-vs-evil" identity while still distancing themselves from the clone sets of past years. The Toa Nuva had a mechanistic design, while the Makuta designs were bestial. The Toa Nuva had silver and gray armor while the Makuta had black armor. The Toa Nuva had yellow-green eyes while the Makuta had red-orange eyes. These characteristics helped solidify trends that had existed in BIONICLE, in one form or another, for many years.

Story-wise, 2008 was also a brilliant year. The story was split into numerous adventures-- Takanuva's dimension-hopping, the Mistika's battle in the swamp, and the Phantoka's battle in the skies. These were all brought together brilliantly in the last novel of that year, which not only tied up the loose ends for those storylines but had an overall conclusory role in the grand scheme of 2001-2008 story.

Mysteries were revealed. The defining characteristics of the Toa we knew and loved were explored. We gained insight into what sort of mindset drove the Brotherhood of Makuta, as well as Makuta Teridax himself. And, to top things off, we had an absolutely brilliant climax, where Makuta Teridax won. It was the perfect way to bring the Matoran Universe storyline to an abrupt close, while setting up for a new adventure.

I liked 2009 and even 2010 story afterwards, but 2008 was special to me because it made growing up with BIONICLE for so many years feel worthwhile. There was a dynamic sense of fulfillment that I think 2010's story was too rushed to perfectly replicate. A new setting would have helped, as the mysteries of the Codrex and later of Bara Magna were heavily dependent on their new and unexplored settings. While I think that the previous plan of going to the Valley of the Maze and then mysteriously winding up on Bota Magna felt awfully contrived, 2010 just didn't live up to my immense satisfaction with the story of two years ago.

[vexorian]

The mystika toa all had great designs, but it was very regrettable that they are not like the original toa in any possible way. Gali is for example completely unrecognizable. I think that the world would have been a much better place if the 2008 toa kept those designs but were a new team.

Anyway, I think 2009 was a great year in terms of designs. Almost every character had its own look and the skrall and Vorox ensured builds weren't all cloned. Plus most of them look great except both dark green ones (dark green + lime just does not look right). For the old times, I'd go with toa-mata and bohrok. The toa mata may not look like a big deal now. But compare them with the slizers and the roboriders and they were quite a positive change (even though builds started to get repetitive) and bohrok were all cloned but also great army makers and I can't think of a canister set that had better features packed in such tiny format. Plus the bohrok pieces are very useful, so useful that HF still use bohrok shields and canopy...

[dviddy]

There will never be anything as good as the Bohrok saga in any way ever.

This, this, one thousand times this.

[VBBN]

Anything pre-2005. I mean, 2001 is a classic and any long standing fan of Bionicle loves it. I also really enjoyed Metru nui because of a large colesium and city and everything, but the execution of the 2005 portion of it was crap IMO.

[Mesonak]

Metru Nui was a disaster, I didn't care for 2001 all too much...

I'd honestly have to say 2009. They had it all set up to be a mysterious new world, complete reboot...

Until they brought in Mata Nui. <_<

It was still awesome though. Story was ehh at times, but the sets didn't fail to disappoint.

Also 2002-2003 are <3 too.

-Mesonak

[Aanchir]

The mystika toa all had great designs, but it was very regrettable that they are not like the original toa in any possible way. Gali is for example completely unrecognizable. I think that the world would have been a much better place if the 2008 toa kept those designs but were a new team.

Anyway, I think 2009 was a great year in terms of designs. Almost every character had its own look and the skrall and Vorox ensured builds weren't all cloned. Plus most of them look great except both dark green ones (dark green + lime just does not look right). For the old times, I'd go with toa-mata and bohrok. The toa mata may not look like a big deal now. But compare them with the slizers and the roboriders and they were quite a positive change (even though builds started to get repetitive) and bohrok were all cloned but also great army makers and I can't think of a canister set that had better features packed in such tiny format. Plus the bohrok pieces are very useful, so useful that HF still use bohrok shields and canopy...

I agree that the Mistika Toa Nuva were a real stretch to picture as the Toa Nuva we knew. The Phantoka, though, did admirably in that regard. I love both forms of Pohatu (the Phantoka one and the one that came in Rockoh T3), and Kopaka and Lewa aren't bad, either.

And regardless of how much the Phantoka and Mistika could have been improved, I had to cut myself short every time I tried designing "improved" versions, because I'd always end up making them too much like the existing sets! That may be because of my poor creativity rather than unmatchable designs by LEGO, but I still think the Phantoka and Mistika were quality products.

[The Crazy One]

Set wise, I have to say the Toa Mahri. Okay, perhaps you believe it is an odd choice but I can't help but love them. I loved the fact that they were he first Toa team to be individual in build and design. I have to say, though it makes them look disorderly but I like that. I would have to give the second favourite to the Piraka.

Story wise, I don't know. I never followed it much.

[Aanchir]

Set wise, I have to say the Toa Mahri. Okay, perhaps you believe it is an odd choice but I can't help but love them. I loved the fact that they were he first Toa team to be individual in build and design. I have to say, though it makes them look disorderly but I like that. I would have to give the second favourite to the Piraka.

Story wise, I don't know. I never followed it much.

I originally hated the Toa Mahri when images of them first surfaced. Back then I already had a strong and irrational idea that Toa shouldn't use blatantly "non-Toa parts". That is, I felt that Toa should use parts specialized for them, unlike the Piraka torsos of Hewkii and Hahli, the Vahki shins of Norik, and the Rahkshi shins of Iruini.

This was probably in part because of what you mentioned-- the disorder. I wasn't a very creative artist then-- I'm still not-- and I didn't like having to draw characters whose armor matched unless they were on the same team. In the same vein, I didn't like drawing characters on the same team unless their armor matched. My attempts to draw the Toa Mahri in the long run were desperate attempts to make it look like "Okay, this armor could have once been a Toa Inika's, before transformation".

Of course, the Toa Mahri helped me to get over that. I quickly grew to love Matoro and Kongu, who seemed like some of the more creative designs. And I had many lively debates with BZPower members regarding the Toa Mahri (not defending their quality of design, but defending how well the designs fit the characters).

Really I feel that 2006-2008 sets are under-appreciated. Looking at 2006, we see the first attempt at non-formulaic color schemes (Toa Inika), and in 2007 that was surpassed by non-formulaic builds (the Barraki and Toa Mahri). 2008 was the only of the three years where the designs weren't really innovative, but I think the simultaneous unity and variety of the design choices makes up for that.

[The Crazy One]

This was probably in part because of what you mentioned-- the disorder. I wasn't a very creative artist then-- I'm still not-- and I didn't like having to draw characters whose armor matched unless they were on the same team. In the same vein, I didn't like drawing characters on the same team unless their armor matched. My attempts to draw the Toa Mahri in the long run were desperate attempts to make it look like "Okay, this armor could have once been a Toa Inika's, before transformation".

Yes, I agree. I am a keen artist, but I am not a Bionicle drawer, so the Mahri were not the place I would start.

Edited July 30, 2010 by The crazy one

[Aethersprite]

The Toa Mistika aren't my favourite, but I have grown to like them. A lot. When I first saw them I thought they were a mess. Looking nothing like the original (unlike the Phantoka) and Gali looked total bish. I still hate Gali, but I have grown to like Onua and Tahu a lot. In fact, I just bought Onua off eBay, and am still searching for Tahu.

Really I feel that 2006-2008 sets are under-appreciated. Looking at 2006, we see the first attempt at non-formulaic color schemes (Toa Inika), and in 2007 that was surpassed by non-formulaic builds (the Barraki and Toa Mahri). 2008 was the only of the three years where the designs weren't really innovative, but I think the simultaneous unity and variety of the design choices makes up for that.

Well, the Mahri were quite unique in their own way, focusing more on armour on their limbs rather than their torso.

For the 2008 Toa (all of them), only one out of the 6 had a unique torso, Onua, as compared to 3 out of 6 for the Mahri. It's a visible step down, and sometimes I feel it's a real pity Lego couldn't have gone just a small step forward and create new armour pieces for them. I mean, I really like the torsos of Jaller Inika and Onua Mistika, and I was really glad when Mata Nui reused Onua's design.

Edited July 31, 2010 by Lockon Stratos

[vexorian]

I think the Inika had some very nice ideas and color schemes (I specially like Jaller's and ... er the rock one) but I feel the whole line was ruined by some of the worst features possible. Some of the Inika just were the victims of using two colors in the same pieces and and unlike Malum's they look just wrong (eg: The white-blue toa Inika) Then we have the rubber masks, which are probably the number one reason they and the Hordika are the only Toa I have not purchased a single new set of (I did buy a pair of used inika really cheap) Plus the light-up feature in weapons forced all the weapons to look the same.

edit: The best feature from the Inika's year was the inika/piraka build. I believe the reason it was used for so many years is that it works, it really does. The two-part torso allows some flexibility in height and shape without making it too complicated.

The mahri had some improvements (specially the non-rubber masks) but somehow they did not really impress me that much. It could be because water accessories were never big on me. Most toa mahri look kind of skinny to me.

Phantoka and mistika were great years, basically refining all the good ideas that were around since 2006 into nice packages. Gali mistika is a great design (once you decide that it is not gali but a terminator) I mean, it has such unique parts like the silver scipe.

Edited August 1, 2010 by vexorian

[Aanchir]

I think the Inika had some very nice ideas and color schemes (I specially like Jaller's and ... er the rock one) but I feel the whole line was ruined by some of the worst features possible. Some of the Inika just were the victims of using two colors in the same pieces and and unlike Malum's they look just wrong (eg: The white-blue toa Inika) Then we have the rubber masks, which are probably the number one reason they and the Hordika are the only Toa I have not purchased a single new set of (I did buy a pair of used inika really cheap) Plus the light-up feature in weapons forced all the weapons to look the same.

edit: The best feature from the Inika's year was the inika/piraka build. I believe the reason it was used for so many years is that it works, it really does. The two-part torso allows some flexibility in height and shape without making it too complicated.

The mahri had some improvements (specially the non-rubber masks) but somehow they did not really impress me that much. It could be because water accessories were never big on me. Most toa mahri look kind of skinny to me.

Phantoka and mistika were great years, basically refining all the good ideas that were around since 2006 into nice packages. Gali mistika is a great design (once you decide that it is not gali but a terminator) I mean, it has such unique parts like the silver scipe.

I actually like the Inika weapons a great deal. They might look similar, but when you own them you can see that the weapons have a lot of detail. For instance, Toa Inika Hahli's harpoon gun has a visible coil of rope/cable attached to the harpoon itself-- which, to make things even more exciting, is on tiny wheels on a rail along the top of the weapon. It's essentially a low-tech railgun.

Kongu's crossbow is also nice. It, too, has rope/cable, but in its case there are gears connected with it. You can actually picture it making that ratcheting sound that crossbows make.

The only of the Inika weapons that I don't particularly like is Nuparu's drill. It's just too peculiar in shape to look like a genuine drill, even a sci-fi "laser drill". But overall, I really liked the Inika tools for being the first Toa Tools since the Toa Mata's to have such great implied functions. I always have been fond of parts where the pistons and such are more than just decorative, and actually seem to serve a purpose. "Practical pistons", I call them, and they've been one of the things I use regularly to judge the design quality of a part.

I also like many of the Inika masks. It was cool to see masks that felt so much like the "movie-style" masks from MoL and LoMN. But I won't get into that conversation, because that can get long and tiresome.

[Zenox]

Toa Mahri, Barraki, Toa Nuva, Glatorian.

[Ratbat]

The barraki and Toa Mahri.

[Ehlekrebound]

In my opinion 2006-2008 was best in terms of stories and sets for me, but thats just my opinion.