blogs_blog_494

I need to get Ackar now.

-K

Indeed; Ackar is quite possibly my favorite set in a while [though then I rememeber the colors of Berix, Gresh, and Vorox], and is definitely my favorite summer set.

 

I must disagree on the hands, though. They do look better than they did in CGI, sure, but I still don't really like them. I think it would have been better to have the neck piece orange, and the hand pieces red [which came on Tahu Star, so I'm not sure why they didn't have them on Ackar, too].

 

And I didn't even notice the sword until you pointed it out just now. That is absolutely fantastic [though, Tahu Star's sword does look much more lovely on Ackar, being both red and orange -- I hope it shows the flame as much as Ackar's does, like in the picture above (it's really cloudy today, so hard to tell)].

 

The grey hands drive me nuts.

 

I must be in a vast minority, because Ackar is my least favorite summer set. My list would be something like this:

 

1. Mata Nui

2. Stronius (very close second)

3. Kiina

4. Vastus

5. Gelu

6. Ackar

 

Don't get me wrong, I do like him, and other than the hands, I love the bright red. But he is, in every sense of the word, a Toa Inika. Gelu had the snowflake parts on his arms, which runs with his theme and places him higher on the list. I like Gresh better, too, as I love his color scheme, his helmet, and at least the slight difference from an Inika (adding depth to the torso).

 

Still, Mata Nui and Stronius are <3.

Ackar is by far one of my favourite 2009 sets. His build isn't much, but when you get him done, he captures the spirit of the fire element in a way that could only be described as Tahu-esque, between the colours, the weapon, the heroic build...

 

Also

 

 

Taken using my lamp since it's nearing 22:00 where I am, so no sun. Even still, Tahu's (top) looks much more beautiful in this regard, although Ackar's single-coloured blade gives it a sort of animated MNOG feel, at least to me.

 

Normally I'm not a fan of two-toned pieces but Tahu's new flame is an exception in my book. This was definitely a slick move by Lego, designing this piece like this. My mind was certainly blown when ToM pointed it out. =P

I'm personally waiting for a sale to get Ackar. (And Strakk and Kiina =P)

 

as for the hands, I can understand why people aren't fans of them, but I like them because I always think of them as gloves so he can actually handle the firesword without burning his real hands off. =/

But he is, in every sense of the word, a Toa Inika. Gelu had the snowflake parts on his arms, which runs with his theme and places him higher on the list.

Indeed, but I'm willing to forgive design reuse if we get incredible colors out of it. Whereas Gelu has practically nothing new in him at all, and though the snowflake shoulders do look cool, you have to admit Ackar has similar piece usage – shoulder adornments made of a piece released in the winter.

 

Aho – dude, Tahu's sword looks epic backlit. I can't wait to get him now. And you're right, there is a very MNOLG-ish feel to the solid orange one... Hadn't thought of that at all, but it's true.

 

Also, I remembered something else I don't like about him. Metru chest plates already exist in bright red. So why on earth does he have silver?

But he is, in every sense of the word, a Toa Inika. Gelu had the snowflake parts on his arms, which runs with his theme and places him higher on the list.

Indeed, but I'm willing to forgive design reuse if we get incredible colors out of it. Whereas Gelu has practically nothing new in him at all, and though the snowflake shoulders do look cool, you have to admit Ackar has similar piece usage – shoulder adornments made of a piece released in the winter.

 

Aho – dude, Tahu's sword looks epic backlit. I can't wait to get him now. And you're right, there is a very MNOLG-ish feel to the solid orange one... Hadn't thought of that at all, but it's true.

 

Also, I remembered something else I don't like about him. Metru chest plates already exist in bright red. So why on earth does he have silver?

I noticed that about the life counter mount too. Not that I mind silver-- the life counter and sword hilt are both silver, so it does a good job of setting the life counter mount apart from the rest of the set as an accessory rather than a piece of functional or structural armor.

 

MNOLG was actually the first thing that jumped to my mind when I saw the new Tahu's sword. The solid orange one works too, but on its own, without a hilt, it looks less like a flaming sword and more like a big jet of flame emerging from nowhere.

 

Meanwhile, I agree that the hands are necessary. I was originally disappointed with them not because they were differently colored from the rest of the set, but because in photos they didn't seem to have enough contrast-- the same reason I kind of wish the new Tahu had in fact been given blended black-and-orange arms like in that one preliminary Stars group photo. Having the set for myself, I can say for certain that the bley neck joint and hands do their job well, and while not as starkly contrasting as black, they're way better than an overdose of red.

Oh how I envy you guys. I got Ackar and his helmet was missing. To this day I still don't have the part.

Oh how I envy you guys. I got Ackar and his helmet was missing. To this day I still don't have the part.

 

LEGO Replacement Parts?