Funny, I think the Makuta Phantoka are the best bad guys since the Rahkshi. (As far as I've seen, people love the Rahkshi (knees!), but don't go discussing this point)

Anyway, I like these guys because they look so evil. The bat design gives them that look that strikes fear into you and just the thought of them sweeping from above is chilling.

Vamprah looks cool, though I don't understand his (why a he? IMO it's about time the blue bad guys were female.)...I don't understand his "feet." It doesn't seem conventional to crawl around spider/insect-like. But the blue mahri-toran blades make up for it. Does he come with black double joints that are the 5 stud long type? We need those.

If Antroz is normal red, I'll praise him. But overall he looks pretty cool. I don't think any of their wings are part of their back. I guess you have to worry about his positions for drawings. I wish he had some more red though. Like his legs. That's be nice to get away from all the black and not much red.

I also like Chirox. (He and Antroz being my favorites). Finally a bad guy in full black. (save the silver bits) Normally I don't like all the dark (I didn't like Kongu Inika's full dark scheme) but he looks great! His arms are weird, but I think it's creative. I also can't think of another way to do it. What I'm more worried about is his hands. I don't think Hordika skulls make good hands for bigger beings. It doesn't look like a hand. ("Hand" LOL) I like the variation on the feet, though I haven't used any piraka feet yet. I'm indifferent on the Nuparu Mahri armor too. Something else could go there but I'd like to see more of this armor used, but more creatively (like on the Toa MoLi). I've seen plenty of MOCists use the metru armor like that and I'd like to too, I think it works well. Better than nothing. And different than using Takadox armor as seen on Vamprah.

Can't say much about the ribcage. It's interesting, I guess it has a purpose, but looks kind of weird. I'd like to wait for a storyline reason.

So, how much do we agree and disagree?

-CF

Funny, I think the Makuta Phantoka are the best bad guys since the Rahkshi. (As far as I've seen, people love the Rahkshi (knees!), but don't go discussing this point)

I thought I made it clear that the similarities to the Rahkshi are what worry me. They'll make drawing more fun, but the lack of practical pistons in the Rahkshi tools annoyed me, and I'm glad Antroz does not replicate that flaw. Also, the Rahkshi had not one piece of frame (Toa Mata/Metru torso motif) armor. These guys also are better than them in that respect, at least by my standards. By now you realize I'm very much about the pieces in my judging of new sets (mostly new masks and practical pistons).

Anyway, I like these guys because they look so evil. The bat design gives them that look that strikes fear into you and just the thought of them sweeping from above is chilling.

The batlike appearance was carried out nicely, and I'm glad to see they can base three sets off the same thing without making them complete clones. Thank you, LEGO! *wonders what the summer villains will be like*

Vamprah looks cool, though I don't understand his (why a he? IMO it's about time the blue bad guys were female.)...I don't understand his "feet." It doesn't seem conventional to crawl around spider/insect-like. But the blue mahri-toran blades make up for it. Does he come with black double joints that are the 5 stud long type? We need those.

Who says he's going to crawl? Not sure if you're familiar with the Pokemon Crobat, but for the longest time I didn't realize it had legs. Why? Because it's almost ALWAYS flying! Its feet are the tiniest little things, and aren't even visible on most front-view pics! That's what I envisioned for this (though a news article linked to in the 2008 sets topic shows a way I can picture this guy walking, and it's rather nice). Are those black parts the 5 stud variety? *goes to check* Yes, they are! Of course, they're the new variety of socket that looks more like the 7 stud version in style. Hope it holds up better.

If Antroz is normal red, I'll praise him. But overall he looks pretty cool. I don't think any of their wings are part of their back. I guess you have to worry about his positions for drawings. I wish he had some more red though. Like his legs. That's be nice to get away from all the black and not much red.

At first I was skeptical of the fact that these were normal blue and red. It seemed to me that the pics would just make it look like that, as many pics almost did in the past. But now with the high-quality canister photos available, it seems incredibly likely that these are the older varieties of red and blue! I suppose LEGO did that to provide contrast from the black "skeleton." Pity, though... if they had been dark red and blue it would have supported my theory I had begun to form that the new Nuva would all be bright colors... meaning we'd have a normal red Tahu (though since I ended up liking most of the new Nuva so far, LEGO may again pleasantly surprise me-- Prior to the coming of new Nuva pics I didn't think it would be possible to evoke Pohatu's feel without brown, and I feel they managed anyway).

I also like Chirox. (He and Antroz being my favorites). Finally a bad guy in full black. (save the silver bits) Normally I don't like all the dark (I didn't like Kongu Inika's full dark scheme) but he looks great! His arms are weird, but I think it's creative. I also can't think of another way to do it. What I'm more worried about is his hands. I don't think Hordika skulls make good hands for bigger beings. It doesn't look like a hand. ("Hand" LOL) I like the variation on the feet, though I haven't used any piraka feet yet. I'm indifferent on the Nuparu Mahri armor too. Something else could go there but I'd like to see more of this armor used, but more creatively (like on the Toa MoLi). I've seen plenty of MOCists use the metru armor like that and I'd like to too, I think it works well. Better than nothing. And different than using Takadox armor as seen on Vamprah.

Kongu Inika's scheme was a bit unbearable; Kongu Mahri felt a mild relief. But anyway, we're discussing Chirox. I don't like him too much. I like Vamprah and maybe Antroz (especially if practical pistons become evident in Antroz's tool...). I don't mind the Hordika skull-hands as such, though the reason he needs them (the oversized arms) makes me uneasy (is the hand thing an inside joke or something?). And the new Piraka feet please me, since they may make it easier to use the Piraka foot on an MOC with stylistic consistency (which is another priority I have for sets and MOCs). The Nuparu Mahri armor just looks weird in that manner to me... maybe it will look better in the set; I should test that out with the parts I have to see. And the use of Toa Metru armor on the groin displeases me because it's hard to draw (cf. Sidorak), and because it doesn't make it look like that area is covered (though I suppose it's as sufficient as Matoro Inika armor, even if it doesn't look it). The variety and contrast with Vamprah is nevertheless welcome.

Can't say much about the ribcage. It's interesting, I guess it has a purpose, but looks kind of weird. I'd like to wait for a storyline reason.

I think it's wonderful in appearance, and probably similarly good in function. It will also be simple enough to draw as long as it's an actual part of their bodies (Working in HSB, I stylize the body parts anyway). And storyline reason? They're shapeshifters; that's been established since '01! Sure, it's annoying, but at least it lets them make Makuta that look different from the original without much distress.

I'd say we disagree quite a bit, but at least I can understand your views. No matter how much I disagree with people like you and ToM about new sets, I always love getting a good discussion started so I can understand how other people judge sets. Can't wait for Matoran pics/reviews to become available so I can post my opinions on them as well.

EDIT: I now have confirmation that Chirox has practical pistons on his tools, courtesy of an image on BS01!