tl;dr joints aren't everything
So I commented on this great post by Aanchir and realized, first, I wrote a lot, probably more text than my last couple months of BZP activity combined. Second, it would make a decent post here.
So.
I suppose I just yearn for Bionicle's aesthetic. A lot of sets, particularly the early ones (the Toa Metru being my favorite example) looked a lot more cohesive and complex than HF sets. For all its versatility, the HF system can't match the level of detail and unique character personality that Bionicle sets often had. I feel like the stark, geometric shapes of HF pieces aren't particularly "cool" or believable. The edges and backs of HF armor in most sets makes the character look incomplete. Maybe it's the nostalgia, but the pinholes and Y-sockets in the first four or five years of Bionicle never felt that out of place. Later sets, though very original build-wise in general and creative in their parts use, started to look less cohesive in many cases, but still more aesthetically pleasing to me that the last couple of years of HF.
Also, I feel that points of articulation are over-stressed in discussions of playability. Yes, as far as creating cool poses go, any and every joint adds new possibilities. And few key joints really matter- a lack of shoulder, elboy, knee, hip, or heat articulation is usually a bad thing. But I find a solid build, with a good frame work and no more joints than necessary, to facilitate really satisfying play (or just handling, if you don't "play" anymore [you do and you know it]). You can't adjust the pose of a set well in the middle of a dynamic fight scene without pausing and carefully adjusting each joint. Adjusting the joints involves forethought, dexterity, and the ability to change that one joint without your grip on the toy messing up the toy's whole pose. Designing sets to make posing quick, intuitive, and satisfying is what matters to me, and I don't think HF sets as a rule really facilitate that. There are exceptions, but for me most sets with many legs with multiple joints each are very inconvenient to pose, especially is those legs are too close or too far from each other. I love the Rahkshi and Vahki because they're so satisfying to play with. The single-piece arms lacked elbow joints but looked so dynamic and cool with their respective staffs you only needed that one joint- in fact, I had more fun with them because they lacked elbow joints to keep track of. I'm not saying that HF sets need similar functions, but the arm-waving gear function was convenient to use in a dynamic play environment and did more to produce and absorbing play experience than any number of joints. Their legs were well-proportions and fun to use.
I'm no longer the younger kid I once was, so the playstyles of the target age group have changed since then. But while HF set design has been getting truly excellent in creativity and value in the last few years, I feel like the direction they're going in as far as playability is concerned is a good. I will say that some recent play features I really love, like the soft-tube wing motion in the recently reviewed Chi sets. I just think that joints don't add as much to the product as a lot of people say they do.
I'm all nostalgic now. The Rahksi and Vahki were just so cool.
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