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Set Review: 70782 Protector of Ice


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The Bionicle 2015 set reviews keep coming! This time I take a look at 70782 Protector of Ice, one of the small sets from next year's first wave. Should you pass over this set on your way to pick up all the Toa, or is this little guy still a worthy addition to your collection? You'll have to read on to find out!

 

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It's so adorable!! At first I thought the Protectors were pretty cool, but now I see that they're also as cute as the 2001 Matoran. I'll make sure to buy one of the Protectors next year if I can afford it!

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The model looks quite cool and I love that 3 of the new shell covers in white come in a small set. My one critiques would be he looks a little too fat/round and the yellow parts don't fit the scheme.

Edited by END
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Good review! The Protector sets are definitely pretty cool. This one appears to be 28 pieces, not including his weapons and ammo. His color scheme is very cool, though I agree the silver feet feel a bit out-of-place.

 

The design of the Protectors' masks is definitely very cool.

 

And the blasters both look and function great. It's amazing that after so many years of bulky, specialized blasters with specialized ammo in BIONICLE, a compact one like this can be just as effective! I do agree that with as powerful as they are, it can be easy to lose the ammo. At least with certain sets like the Protectors of Stone, Fire, and Jungle, the ammo is a fluorescent color that will glow under a blacklight, which should make lost ammo a bit easier to find... for those few people who have a blacklight, anyway. :P

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I reall like the color scheme on this set. The white and trans-blue really flow well together IMO. His weapons and Mask also look really good. Especially the blaster, which kind of look like a mini Cordak Blaster to me. Which isn't a complaint since that was one of my favorite blasters. :)

 

You mentioned that 'there are two versions of the Protector's Mask that are the same' when you talked about it. Do you, or anyone else, know the other Protector's Masks are like this as well, or is it does this particular one?

 

Anyways, thanks for the review!

Edited by Toa Smoke Monster
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I am very impressed! :D The Protectors are basically the small sets, and for the end of Bionicle those were like 15 pieces tops for nearly the same price, so it's great really get your money's worth this time around. The gatling gun works astonishingly well, I didn't think it would be able to aim that well, it looked to me like the studs would pop off wildly in different directions and not go that far. The mask being partly transparent threw me 'cause I never noticed that in the promos, so that's a super cool thing that I am in loooove with and I feel justifies using the same mold for all of them. The whole set is basically a triumph, the lack of elbows is the only disappointment but I feel like it doesn't impede the playablity or illusion of articulation that much at all anyways. I will definitely be picking this guy up and probably all his buddies too. 

I love that you can combine the Protector with Kopaka to make what should be a better version of the set, and if it actually does add to the figure (I couldn't even tell what change besides the weapon accesories and the gold mask to be honest so I'll have to wait to see the instruction when they go up) I will definitely go and beef up all the Toa that way, have my Toa team be extra cool :D I am actually kind of disappointed the Toa don't have the launchers because they really are so impressive compared to what I'm used to, and I guess that was sorta the point, because they're a really strong selling point.

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I am very impressed! :D The Protectors are basically the small sets, and for the end of Bionicle those were like 15 pieces tops for nearly the same price, so it's great really get your money's worth this time around. 

 

Hmm yes...

They are certainly better value than what we had towards the end & I'm not complaining there.

 

I love that you can combine the Protector with Kopaka to make what should be a better version of the set, and if it actually does add to the figure (I couldn't even tell what change besides the weapon accesories and the gold mask to be honest so I'll have to wait to see the instruction when they go up) I will definitely go and beef up all the Toa that way, have my Toa team be extra cool  :D I am actually kind of disappointed the Toa don't have the launchers because they really are so impressive compared to what I'm used to, and I guess that was sorta the point, because they're a really strong selling point.

 

I find the convert a Protector into a bit more armor to be a bit of a let down, I'm sure it makes them look cooler, but I would have preferred actual combiners. Still what they did wasn't bad. Not that into the launchers (well any reall) but they'll be good because pretty! (ammo) :3

 

This guy seems a bit too stocky for my liking, but hey; it's cold! :P

 

Edit: In entirely unrelated news: the Hydruka are officially my favourite Impulse sets to date! They were always cute but after ppp comparison it's undisputed ^-^

Edited by Iblis

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I agree with Aanchir, that after having so many specialised weapons in past sets, this new weapon that the Protectors use makes great use of Lego studs which have been in production for a long time, and at the same time manages to fire very well and function with ease. I really like it, though I have a feeling the studs will go missing quickly.

 

Thanks again for another review.

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This set looks great! Definitely miles ahead of the terrible Av-Matoran and Stars builds that were the equivalent in the later years of the first run of Bionicle. The mask of this Protector looks really sweet too, with that marbling of white and trans light blue.

 

Also: where has that pin spacer been all my life? MUST HAVE SOME.

 

~B~

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You mentioned that 'there are two versions of the Protector's Mask that are the same' when you talked about it. Do you, or anyone else, know the other Protector's Masks are like this as well, or is it does this particular one?

 

He means that no two masks will be the same. Due to the nature of dual-injected plastic, some will have a little more cyan and some a little more white, or slightly unequal coloring in general. This applies to all protectors, since they all have dual-injected mask pieces.  ;)

In terms of the feet, I honestly think that them being silver isn't the problem- the figure itself should have more silver, in my opinion. Maybe that's just because silver's my favorite color. :D

Edited by Gukko Lord
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This set looks great! Definitely miles ahead of the terrible Av-Matoran and Stars builds that were the equivalent in the later years of the first run of Bionicle. The mask of this Protector looks really sweet too, with that marbling of white and trans light blue.

 

Also: where has that pin spacer been all my life? MUST HAVE SOME.

 

~B~

Ah yes. At last, a normal pin spacer!!! :D That really would have been quite useful in some of my MOCs I've made in the past...

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I'm really excited for the Protectors. They're much more interesting than a lot of the gen 1 Matoran, and I'm personally a big fan of their build/masks/weapons/colors.

 

People are complaining that this guy looks fat, and I see it too, but I like it. It's a shape I've never really seen before in Bionicle, and it looks good.

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Finally! The perfect use for the large cup of trans-light blue studs I got from the PAB Wall!

The Protector of Ice shall never run out of ammo.  B-)

 

I like the two-tone mask a lot, it makes me very excited for the other color combinations; particularly the Protector of Earth's. But I'm not so much a fan of the arms, I'll definitely be adding these to give him forearms. :pakari:

Edited by OnuaNut
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This set looks great, and I only have one gripe with him and Kopaka. That's that Kopaka's powered-up form is easily the worst of the powered-up Toa. For some reason, the combined form adds the saw blade to Kopaka's spear making a really strange, cumbersome weapon, but more importantly, the gatling launcher replaces Kopaka's shield altogether! This is a little ridiculous considering how easy it would have been to instead attach the gatling launcher onto the base of the spear where Kopaka holds it, and put the sawblade on the front of Kopaka's shield for an added elemental effect. That makes for a much better look WITHOUT having to deprive Kopaka of his signature weapon. And from what I can tell it could be done effectively without using any parts other than those of the Protector's weapons.

 

The only reason I can think of that they might not have done that is that it would require disassembling the Protector's weapons and rebuilding them a bit. But I think that that would be well worth the trouble if it meant that Kopaka's "upgrade" were less of a downgrade.

Edited by Lyichir
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For those of you who think he looks fat: not all the protectors will have this build. The Protectors of Fire and Earth, for example: They have extra armor shells on the sides of their main chest armor, making them look a little less chubby and a little more buff. They all have differing designs, so if you want something with elbows, get the Protector of Stone. The Earth Protector has easily the most drastic change, as his gatler is in his chest! Don't worry, friends, all is not lost.  :P

Edited by Gukko Lord
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Question: Did Lego only send 1 protector to BZPower, or were you given more than 1?

 

At least 1 of each Protector was sent out, as to who has been delegated what to do for a review etc. IDK

~ Sophistry: A way to be antidisuncorrect. ~


 


 


In a decade you might convince maybe a small tribe of people.


In a decade you might also conquer one million km2 of land,


& in over a thousand years you might have over a billion followers.


 


I like building things. Please don't break the big ones.


& evidential philosophies that dare to extrapolate beyond


an individual's direct experience aren't easily built.

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I wasn't really inclined to buy the protectors because I was already going to spend enough money on the toa, but this review has pretty much changed my mind about that (dang it BZPower).  

 

That white/ice blue color scheme has always been pretty sweet.  This time around it's balanced beautifully.  I do feel like I would rather have his feet in white though, but the silver seems to work.  

 

Now I have to wait for the other protector reviews to see if I want them too...

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I really, really like how the protectors look. I've already said it elsewhere but from what I've seen so far, they are my favourite small sets in all of BIONICLE. Small is of course relative, considering these have more pieces than the first Toa. :P

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Question: Did Lego only send 1 protector to BZPower, or were you given more than 1?

 

At least 1 of each Protector was sent out, as to who has been delegated what to do for a review etc. IDK

 

Black Six is the one who recieved the shipments of BIONICLE sets for BZPower, and those he didn't keep for himself he had to mail to the other BZPower staff members who will be writing reviews. This is why his Kopaka review came before Nuju Metru's Onua review or DeeVee's not-yet-posted Tahu review — he was the first BZPower staff member to actually have the sets in hand. I'm guessing he chose to keep and review the Protector of Ice instead of mailing it to another reviewer because it's the one that matches the Kopaka set he already chose to keep and review.

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Wow, they look pretty good in set form. I just hope all the other Protectors don't have stubby arms like his


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Wow, they look pretty good in set form. I just hope all the other Protectors don't have stubby arms like his

They don't all have short arms like this, just the Protector of Ice and Protector of Fire.

 

I'm not sure what to think about the arms... these ones that lack an elbow joint have a much more limited range of movement, but on the other hand they're much better proportioned compared to the figures' heights. The others are much more poseable and dynamic but their length can make them look bizarre, especially when they're hanging straight to the figure's sides.

Formerly Lyichir: Rachira of Influence

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I find it an odd omission that there's no photo of Kopaka with the PoI's weapons like advertised on the box. Do neither of them come with instructions for it? That would be consistent with LEGO's tendency these days to put combo instructions exclusively online, but for something as relatively simple as this I wouldn't think it would be too much trouble to put short, simple instructions at the end.

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I find it an odd omission that there's no photo of Kopaka with the PoI's weapons like advertised on the box. Do neither of them come with instructions for it? That would be consistent with LEGO's tendency these days to put combo instructions exclusively online, but for something as relatively simple as this I wouldn't think it would be too much trouble to put short, simple instructions at the end.

The instructions will only be available online and have not been posted yet. We've put in a request to LEGO to see if we can get them early.
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These are certainly some of the most high-quality impulse sets to come out in a long time! Very good design, does a good job keeping it simple while filling in holes. The lack of some articulation bugs me, but it is not unlike the Matoran of many years ago. Glad the launcher is only on the Protectors this time around, the launcher always bugged me in G1. Fortunately this launcher looks small, unobtrusive and very fun to play with (though yeah, those studs are gonna be gone in a day knowing me).

 

Good colour scheme, definitely echoes "Protector of Ice". Weapon is pretty awesome too. 

 

Thanks for the review! Loving the first line of 2015 sets!!

 

-NotS

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They are smaller than I thought.

Yep, actually shorter on average than the 2008 Matoran (not counting Radiak), if you imagine that you could straighten those Matoran's knees. Those Matoran were 19 modules tall on average, while the new Protectors are more like 18 modules tall on average.

 

Of course, the Protectors use around twice as many pieces as the 2008 Matoran for their bodies alone. And counting their weapons, they have about four times as many pieces on average, even if you exclude the Skull Spiders' pieces and spare ammo. They also have a better price per piece than most Matoran — only the 2007 Matoran cost less per piece than the Protectors.

 

When we got our first glimpse at the size and prices of the new Toa and Protectors, I was extremely uneasy about them, not becuase I thought they were a poor value for money, but rather because I thought it could have been great to go back to 2002–2003 Toa and Matoran sizes and prices: 25-piece, 12.5-module-tall, $5 Matoran and 50-piece, 22.5-module-tall, $10 Toa. But now that I have some of the sets in hand my misgivings have been cast to the wind, because they really do offer a great value, great aesthetics, great diversity, and a great play experience. The designs don't feel nearly as repetitive as in classic BIONICLE sets, but they still feel incredibly polished and unified.

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I love how stocky and compact the Protectors are. It makes me think of the 07 Matoran, and how robust and strong they were both set-wise and within the story. I also adore the fact they all share the same mask. While some would say this takes away their individuality, having the same mask in six unique colors just screams gen1 to me.

 

The launchers are also very nice. They are nowhere near as cumbersome as previous gimmick weapons, and are another component that helps these six little guys appear as a team.

 

As for the Skull Spider, I feel as though it works better as an in set enemy for the Protectors, since the size difference isn't as severe. Next to the Protector of Ice, it looks like something to fight. Next to Onua, it looks like something to step on. I wish the silver ones were a different color though. The green and dark blue look quite exotic, but the silver ones just look too artificial IMO. The gunmetal limbs probably add to this, but hey. More spiders for army building.

 

Look forward to your next review B6. Keep it up.

Edited by Kek
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Protector of Ice looks neat! Tribal-esque mask, great color scheme and adorable body portions :D Cool gattling gun and rotating saw there, and kudos to LEGO for including additional stud "ammo"! As compared to the Toa, the addition of the Skull spiders make even more sense in the case of the Protectors, as the difference in size is smaller and thus conflict is sort of more "balanced"/fair :P

 

I always thought that transferring the "uniform launcher weapons" from the medium-size sets (e.g. the Toa and the main "villians of the year") to the small-size sets (e.g. the "villagers" like the Matoran, Agori or the Protectors) is an excellent idea. This gives the smaller sets more playability (and increase its worth given its price) while the medium sets retain great playability via Toa Mata/Nuva-style multi-functional Toa tools. This awesome idea should have been embraced earlier!

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I am loving the look of the Protector of Ice. Although the Protectors are indeed a fair bit smaller than I thought they would be.

 

Those launchers are also seriously cool. Suitably unique and fun, it seems. Although I too do not look forward to losing all those studs heh.

 

These really seem like fantastic incentive sets. Lots of pieces, lots of playability, all at the lowest price point? Yes please. Much improved over the offerings from years past.

 

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