Review: 7137 Piraka

[Ratbat]

The Stars line has gotten a lot of varying feedback from many Bionicle fans. Some like them, for the simple fact that they are fan favorites, others find them underwhelming. Today, I will be looking at 7137, Piraka, A.K.A., Nektann, as confirmed by Greg Farshtey.

Name: Piraka

Set #: 7137

Year: 2010 (Released November 2009 at Toys R Us)

Pieces: 15

Price: $7.99 USD

The Canister-

I quite like the simplicity of the Stars canisters. Nektann looks pretty pissed. The front shows the set info, and the special gold piece.

The back showing how to put the set back in the canister, and the gold Tahu.

Building Experience-

If you've built an Agori or an 08 matoran, you've built Nektann. The headpiece is the only major difference.

Instruction Booklet-

The front of the booklet has the same image of Nektann as on the canister. Not much else to say.

Random Page-

The instructions are easy to follow. It could have been a fold out poster due to how simple the build is, but Lego went the extra mile.

The building experience wasn't anything special, but for those who like quick builds, you will be pleased. The head piece has an interesting connection, but it's the standard Agori build.

New Pieces-

Gold piece, and the back of the headpiece.

Head Piece Front View-

The head piece has some very cool details such as the teeth and bulges at the top of the head. I don't think I would call it a spine, as it doesn't go all the way down the back, and it has two tubes running from the head to the connector. The limbs are also new in dark blue, but I didn't remove them in fear of breaking joints.

Gold Piece On Tahu-

As shown, the gold piece can be used on the shoulder, or on the torso. The gold piece has a lot of nice Mocing potential, and kind of looks like a Tiki head.

The Complete Set-

Nektann looks pretty good. The head piece really sets him apart from the other Stars, and gives him a lot of character. The colors are a little dull though. Gray and dark blue work, but I think another color instead of gray could have been used.

Head Close-up-

One small problem I have is that the eyes on the glatorian head (call it the other established term and I'll kill you), don't match up directly behind the head piece. It's not a terribly big deal, but it does bug me.

Head piece connection points-

The connection uses a four pin connector. The instructions also tell you to twist the side "spines" outwards when connecting to the shoulders.

Weapon-

I'm not to sure about the weapon yet. I guess I like it, but it's pretty far out there. What I'm trying to say, is that it is a giant claw with a blade on the bottom.

Articulation-

Nektann has the standard nine points of articulation. The head and arms aren't really hindered by the head piece, which is a big bonus. The legs use, in my opinion, the best limb piece out of all the impulse set limbs, which provide a good amount of posing.

The next picture, showing that the gold piece can be used as a blaster-

Overall-

Playability-7/10 (It's a small set, so there isn't loads to due. He does have good articulation however, which means there's a lot of posing possibilities.)

Design-8/10 (While small and simple, the Agori build is still as good as it was. The head peice gives the set a lot of character.)

Price-10/10 (Considering that this set has a canister and more pieces than the average agori and is only $1 more than an agori, the price is spectacular.)

Final Grade- 8.5/10 (He's not the most interesting of the Stars, but he is still good, and in my opinion, worth a purchase.)

Overall, if you have been enjoying the Stars, or just like the agori, then I would recommend Nektann. He isn't amazing, but the head piece adds a lot of nice character, and does set him apart from the other Stars. Worth the money.

Edited February 2, 2010 by 3D Brickthing
Indexed and poll added

[prateek]

Another nice Stars review I like Piraka, but I think that Gresh and Rahkshi are better

[Aanchir]

I'm so conflicted... my little brother at home has always gotten the blue and black sets in each series of six... but Nektann is so awesome! When I came home for winter break he made a big fuss over the fact that I'd bought Kiina, Berix, Tarix, and Atakus, all of which he already had. But... the widdle Nektann... it calls to me...

You know, it might have been cool if Nektann had been bright blue instead of dark blue. After all, his every dark blue piece is new in that color. But bright blue probably wouldn't have had the same look of brutality that dark blue has. I agree, another color besides dark bley would have been nice for his secondary color, but this requires fewer parts in new colors, and helps to set him apart from Vezok.

Nektann's tool is awesome, and works well as a dual-sided Piraka weapon (even if the two ends aren't that consistent with one another). Props to Binkmeister for that gem.

The Rahkshi's new head/spine is almost exactly the same size as an older Rahkshi head/spine would be, even though it wouldn't attach without a custom body structure underneath. Sadly I think Nektann would be even harder to adapt to a form to scale with 2006-2009 era sets, since his "spine" is so short and lacks the characteristic tail of Piraka spines. But one can dream...

[Ikki o' Moopyville]

This set was probably the Star that least interested me at first sight, but your review really does make it look superb!

I wonder -- might applying Berix's Mata blue body and hands to Nektann, and giving him some Mata blue feet (if any ones of fitting design exist) would remedy the drab colors?

-Ikk

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

I bought him along with Gresh and Skrall the other day... and he is one lovely little set. Thanks for the informative review on Piraka!

-ZotS

[ShadowWolfHount]

This Star is amazing but i don't get why they just call the set Nektann, then just Piraka (it just bugs me). The color is really good and i don't think i will like it if the set was Black and Dark Blue, the Crescent Scythe i do like and the part of it is really good. The head look great and i do like that the mouth is close.

the body and limbs well there nothing much to say but that it just a 08 Matoran/09 Agori build.

Anyways this star is my favorite out of the others and i recommend it.

[Aanchir]

This Star is amazing but i don't get why they just call the set Nektann, then just Piraka (it just bugs me). The color is really good and i don't think i will like it if the set was Black and Dark Blue, the Crescent Scythe i do like and the part of it is really good. The head look great and i do like that the mouth is close.

the body and limbs well there nothing much to say but that it just a 08 Matoran/09 Agori build.

Anyways this star is my favorite out of the others and i recommend it.

They call him Nektann because the whole point of the set was to pay tribute to the Piraka sets, and the name Nektann doesn't have any significance to anyone but die-hard fans of the story (except maybe people who played the VNOG, who'd just be confused why the name of a four-legged robot is being used for a humanoid character). Same reason why they didn't just call it "Skakdi" — nobody who hasn't read the books or serials will know what a Skakdi is.

This is a nice set, although it has the worst piece count of the Stars and a terrible price-per-piece by today's standards.