I've had this set for a while, but when I initially got it the boards went down. So boo on my part for not posting it sooner.

Okay, this was my first Glatorian of the Legends variety. Not that there was a huge difference between the winter and summer sets in terms of style... but still...

Anyway, as his name implies, Stronius looked strong. Seriously, this is one dude I would not want to fight, even if I were a Bio mechanical Glatorian. That was my problem with the original Skrall (of which I didn't get any); they weren't bulked up. For impressive fighters, they looked rather thin and not very imposing. (Besides maybe their helmets, but whatev) But Stronius take the look and adds spikes to it. Seriously, this is one of the better looking canister sets I've seen in a while. Pohatu Phantoka and Kongu Mahri both looked bulky, but so much muscular as in just wide. The Barakki were too into looking like sea creatures, and the Makuta had to be like bats or bugs; nothing with the bulk. Stronius seems to be the first set in a long time that screams "I'm a rough and tough villian, give me your treasures or I'll beat you with my club." (Going back, I would have to say that some of the Piraka also had that look)

What makes him so amazing, set-design wise? (Okay, I'm going off memory here, because the set's already dismantled to make MOCs for Brick Con) First off, the armor is ideal. New armor, too, and it was obviously designed with this set in mind. The torso armor really bulks him up, and then covers most of the empty space. (Unless you look down from above, but why would you do that??) The shoulder armor pieces also arch over the back nicely, leaving room for limited maneuverability, but also providing cover. Much better than most armor pieces that are attached directly to the upper shoulder. It's the same basic concept used on Mantax, and while he was my favorite Barakki design, Stronius's armor is better.

There are some other quirks that seem to work for Stronius that haven't worked elsewhere. For one thing, his arms and legs are the same length (actually, made out of the exact same pieces, basically). While this has totally irked me with alot of sets, it works here. They're shorted, so even if they give Stronius a hunched look, it works for somebody who's so, well, strong. The wide Vahki limbs also seem to help with the whole "beefed up" theme going. There's also the spiked thigh armor, which was a total failure on Hewkii Mahri. (Who was also my favorite Mahri, BTW) But the black on dark red seems to blend in better than the stark silver on Keetongu orange. That is enough to help overlook the fact that the armor can't be centered on the upper leg piece. Then there's his neck... Strakk-neck, I guess. (Although I don't have Strakk, so I wouldn't know from personal experience.) True, if you extend it up, you not only get a bizarrely tall Skrall, but you open up the empty space in his torso. But why in the Great Spirit's name would you do that? By keeping it hunched down, it allows Stronius an excelent amount of mobility with his head that you couldn't get with any other design. (Well, none of Lego's typical designs; I'm sure a master MOCist with the right pieces could fix the problem.)

The head (or helmet)... man, that thing's a monster. I've been getting some other Glatorian helmets, and I keep getting surprised at how small they turn out to be. But maybe that's because I keep comparing them to this beast of a helmet. Spiked, opposing, and evil. And his club? Like most others, I thought it was going to be one giant piece, as has become typical of many of Lego's weapons. (But, hey, at least it wasn't silver). The fact that the club is made of two main pieces with a few pins inside to hold it together... nice. I failed to incorporate the pieces into a MOC (as something besides a club) for BrickCon... but I know it can be done! And, as said before, that had to be a weapon that all can fall before.

In terms of playability, Stronius is just like all the other canister sets of the last... what, four years? In fact, his armor may actually limit him a bit more. But I'm sure that club is good enough for batting away most all of your other sets. As for posing, which is mostly what I've used him for (well, there may have been some role playing. ) he does just as well.

If you only want a few Glatorian (like me) then I would highly recommend Stronius. He's gotta be the most evil, intimidating Bionicle out there. I think he easily beats out the other Skrall, the Vorox (even if he may lack the tan), and even Tuma. It's a shame that he doesn't seem to have a big role in the movie. (If he appears at all.) And while his build isn't revolutionary, everything still seems to fit together for him to make a nice set.

In bloggy news, I have one more review coming up (Don't worry, it isn't a trap) as well as teaser picts for what I'm bringing to BrickCon. (In fact, I could use a few opinions too, since I'm unsure about bringing a couple of my MOCs). And maybe even some other stuff, of what I won't specify in case I never get to it.