Set Review: 70792 Skull Slicer

[Hapori Tohu]

It's time for another BZPower Bionicle set review. Today, BZPower Reporter Xccj takes a look at the new summer villain set 70792 Skull Slicer. Is this a set you'd rise from the grave to get, or would you rather slice and dice it apart? Read on or watch the video review to find out.

 

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[Naota Takizawa]

I like that those exposed ball joints are put to good use rather than just being left bare, which can be jarring to some people. The skull spider mask should've had the legs though, it looks like the spider hopped on the dead body and its legs fell off during the reanimation process.

[Nescent]

Thanks for the early review xccj!

 

Personally I think Slicer is the weakest of the Skull gang, but I respect how creative his four-arm gearbox is, and the chain is neat even if it doesn't work well. The piece count is pretty low, but like half of the parts are new/interesting, and the new parts look great - especially the new addon and the spiky armor piece.

 

The blended masks are just so pretty, I must have them all!

[Aanchir]

I like that those exposed ball joints are put to good use rather than just being left bare, which can be jarring to some people. The skull spider mask should've had the legs though, it looks like the spider hopped on the dead body and its legs fell off during the reanimation process.

Which do you mean? The only exposed ball joints on most of the sets (the ones on the "shoulders" of the torso beam) are still just as exposed here as on any of the Toa.

 

I like Skull Slicer's spindly design because it makes him look sprightly and agile compared to, say, the lumbering Skull Basher. Between his colors, his spindly limbs, and his slicing weapons, he reminds me a bit of Ehlek. Also, I love the reddish-orange accents, which add a lot of evil energy. I've seen some revamps that remove them, and it's just not the same without them.

 

Is the armor on his shoulder really black? I had thought it was Titanium Metallic (Pearl Dark Grey/gunmetal). That's how they look in some of the photos too, but it might just be the lighting. What color is the printed chest plate?

The swords don't attach together like Tahu's or Kopaka's, but you can combine them easily using one of these or a pair of 3M Technic half-beams. I didn't realize this until I saw a picture on Facebook from somebody who combined one with one of the Hero Factory Brain Attack sword pieces.

 

After watching the video, still hard to tell how I feel about his function. It's definitely creative, but it also seems a bit awkward and really highlights the reason I'm glad Lord of Skull Spiders didn't have more articulation. Six fully-articulated limbs can be a chore to pose, especially when some or all of them are going to be swinging rapidly back and forth due to a gear function!

 

One small build error — in some of the photos, the shell on his left shoulder is upside-down. At least compared to the box pics (I don't have the instructions so for all I know there might be a contradiction there).

 

The mask being identical in shape and color to many of the Skull Spiders is a slight disappointment, but at the same time I think it fits his design quite nicely. I don't know if a different mask or a different color would have been such a nice fit. I feel the same about Basher/Scorpio, whose masks are not only the same shape as each other but also the same color. On one hand, it would have been awesome to have that mask in both Silver Metallic and Titanium Metallic, like the ones used for Warrior/Grinder! But I honestly don't know if either set's design would have been genuinely improved by changing the mask color.

 

Overall, Skull Slicer is probably not my favorite of the skull villains, but I'm still very enthusiastic to pick him up! He has great parts, a cool function, and loads of personality. It's a shame that as a news reporter I'm probably not eligible for the giveaway on YouTube anyway.

[bionicleFanatic]

It's interesting: even though it's nice what they've done, brining back Bionicle and all, I would take any of the pre-2010 sets over any of these. I don't think it's the building system, because it's a pretty good one (even possibly slightly better), I think it's more the depth. I'd prefer to spend my money on Macku, the cute little matoran from Ga-Koro who wears a Huna and canoes around Lake Naho, than a nameless and characterless (and specie-less) figure. If I think about it, the new sets aren't much better than hero factory's cardboard cutouts.

 

Maybe I just need to give lego time, and maybe the books will inject some actual depth into the reboot. But until then, I'm sticking with my lovable Nui-Jaga.

Edited June 29, 2015 by bionicleFanatic

[Maskmaker of Light]

He's probably my least favorite. I really enjoy the gear function and the parts, but there are a lot of things I don't like about this set; There's little armor, no back coverage, the trans. neon orange does not fit with this set, and the end result of the build looks kind of hideous.

 

You can give him a revamp easily, but the out of box set is not too great.

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

I think Slicer is probably one of the villains I'll get despite his flaws, as he looks like he's stepped right out of a Harryhausen workshop. I just can't resist that aesthetic appeal...

[Rooster Nui]

I like that those exposed ball joints are put to good use rather than just being left bare, which can be jarring to some people. The skull spider mask should've had the legs though, it looks like the spider hopped on the dead body and its legs fell off during the reanimation process.

I prefer him without the legs on his mask. With them added on, there would be less articulation around the head area, something his rival already lacks. 

 

Anyway, I quite like this set. He, like all of the new sets, has an energetic flow to his appearance and a cool color scheme. However, that gear function is a bit of a worry. I don't like his arms smashing together. I guess if you've got them posed right, it shouldn't be bad. 

 

Thank you, Xccj.

[Lyichir]

While I certainly don't think his mask needs legs, I kind of wish SOMETHING had been attached to his mask just to give it a little more variety. The Skull Spider mask has more connection points than any other mask we've ever had, and it almost seems like a waste not to use them.

[General Scales]

Not my favorite set, but it's definitely interesting! I always liked figures with four arms.

[Wazdakka]

Just curious, how did you guys get ahold of him so early?

[Aanchir]

Just curious, how did you guys get ahold of him so early?

 

The LEGO Group gives BZPower and other fansites registered with the LEGO Ambassador Network a budget with which to buy sets, which can then be used for reviews, contest prizes, parts drafts, etc. This includes early access to sets that haven't yet been released globally.

[Toa Smoke Monster]

I honestly wasn't expecting reviews on any of the summer Bionicle sets to be done this early in the year. I thought they would've started at least sometime next month. Not that I'm complaining.

 

Anyways, Skull Slicer is probably one of favorite summer sets that I've seen. If only because he has trans-green pieces. It is a shame that he doesn't come with a new mask for himself, while the others do. But the Skull Spider mask is cool enough I suppose.

 

Thanks for the review!

[MrSciFiGuy]

I like him better than the Scorpio, but still not a fan of the new armor parts. I dont like how far they jut out from the connection point. I guess it works for this wave since the skeletal look emphasizes hollow and spindly bodies. 

[Lenny7092]

The set looks very cool! I like sets with four arms. I also like his cool sword pieces, his wicked chain whip, lime green colors, bone pieces, and printed chest piece. The infected Lewa mask has a very nice blend of transparent green and gold colors. Plus, it's interesting on how the gear system, where the arms are attached to, is made and how it can function. Even though that he is a bit too skinny, he looks, as I said, very cool, overall.

[Tristan Teridax]

His gear box looks very interesting and I'm starting to like this set the more I see it, that shoulder armor still bothers me but at least it isn't a giant technic tail.

[Aanchir]

By the way, I didn't mention it, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see that the chain in this set IS in fact Transparent Fluorescent Reddish-Orange. It would have been very easy for LEGO to have just included a Transparent Bright Orange one like last year's Hero Factory sets used, but instead they went ahead and gave us a new color so it would be consistent with the claws, eyes, and armor shell from the right arm. Bravo!

[Shadow Destroyer]

I wasn't a big fan of this set, but I think the 4 arm function convinced me to get him. I had so much fun with Nocturn, and this guy reminds me of him.

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

Those partially trans-elemental masks are beautiful, and look really great with their Toa counterparts. The Skull Slicer itself is an intriguing set with awesome trans-green and orange. The four-arm gear function is the most enticing part of the set. The review has definitely solidified my thoughts on the set. Definitely a must buy. Thanks a lot!

 

-NotS