Sir Kohran

I've said more in the past about the game's merits than I care to repeat, so I'll talk about what else made it special - its context.For many fans who joined in later years and hold, say, the Inika or Mistika close to their hearts, it could easily be that the MNOLG is simply a piece of Bionicle history, like Mask of Light or the various books - something examined and discussed, and readily available online, and special simply for its tangible qualities and historical signficance. Being introduced to the wonder and mystery of Mata Nui as it was being introduced, meeting heroic or quirky or strange characters for the very first time, picking up on every little hint and detail...you had to have experienced these things in 2001 to really understand what it was that made MNOLG special beyond its aesthetic and atmospheric brilliance. That wasn't possible in the years thereafter, not only because Bionicle itself was established, but also because fans became accustomed to organised Wikis compiling vast amounts of information, Greg answering hundreds of questions, and regular spoilers and sneak peeks. None of this was happening in 2001. The MNOLG and some comics were all there was. The Bionicle fandom depended on it. Back then, MNOLG was more than a game, it was a way of life.The fact that it was free didn't hurt either

How? Rahi already have a speed advantage over Matoran due to their greater size, and Kapura (prior to developing his travel trick) is particularly slow.

Out of interest, was a reason ever given for why Kapura went out there alone and apparently unarmed? He was taking quite a risk in doing so.I do agree with you that he fits the specifications. Vakama describes him (IIRC) as 'slow and strange' even to Takua, who is something of an outsider himself.

I don't think it should've ended earlier in the sense of chopping off the ending, but I do think it should've ended earlier regarding the story's length. Some sections (2006-8) should've been condensed, whilst others (the Kal, most/all of 2005) should've been ejected.I suspect the reason the story was so drawn out was that, following Bionicle's smash hit first two years, Lego assumed that profits would remain that way and Bionicle would be (or already was) a guaranteed success. So the storyline advanced extremely slowly to ensure Lego could squeeze every last drop of profit out of every last aspect of it.But what they didn't count on was the very slow but more or less steady decline (or at least flatlining) in profits that began from 2003 onwards. For whatever reason, Bionicle just didn't become an unassailable brand in the manner of Lego Star Wars. So Lego ended up cancelling the line at some point in 2008, just two years after the story had returned to its present and was moving again, and just two years away from the line's scheduled demise.This led to the strange situation of a large amount of increasingly dramatic storyline rendered in an increasingly shrinking and underfunded media outlet. This might explain the complaints about the ending feeling rushed or unsatisfying; the line's health and the amount of story being delivered weren't in proportion.

I wouldn't say it's declining or dying at all - there's always something new to read, every day, even if activity's not quite what it was a few years ago.And it could be far worse. Another 'active' forum I visit has only just seen its first new posts in over three months.

You're somewhat missing the point. All that statement means is that the 2001 story didn't get a movie because it happened to be the line's first year, and there's obviously no sense in spending millions trying to promote something which might not have any commercial potential in the first place.If Bionicle's first year had been, say, the 2004 Metru Nui story, there probably wouldn't have been Legends of Metru Nui (for the above reason) and when the line reached the 2001 Mata Nui story, that would've gotten a movie.

A slightly condensed version of the 2006-7 plot would make for a good movie.I decided against saying 2002, as the very straightforward plot and general lack of a sentient opponent would make for a plain and unexciting movie.I do think Takua's 2001 adventures would make for a great TV series.

The continual debates result from the fact that both sides have valid arguments.Lego still exist, they're in a healthy financial condition, and they still own the Bionicle name. There could probably be Bionicle sets on the shelves next year if Lego desired it. A return is entirely possible.Simultaneously however, it's fairly well established that in Bionicle's later years it showed little or no significant sales growth, the storyline had become bloated and inaccessible to newcomers, and the books were steadily dwindling in number and sales. Its place as a constraction figure line has since been filled by Hero Factory, which appears to be doing well enough for the time being. There's no need or point in a Bionicle return.In summary, there is no theoretical reason that Bionicle won't return, and there's no practical reason that it will.Ultimately, unless either Lego collapse, or Bionicle does return, neither side can declare the other to be wrong.

Exploring the wonder and mystery of Mata Nui in 2001 without any extra knowledge. Before Greg, before BS01, even before BZPower.Just me and Bionicle.

Sorry to be a Scrooge, but I find it a bit tedious. Either because it removes their recognisability, or because a lot of the stuff they find funny just seems weird to me.I'm not trying to say they can't or shouldn't, simply that it doesn't personally appeal.

I don't entirely agree. Whilst not exactly rock, the songs May It Be, Gollum's Song and Into the West were written for the movies and well received.

My first year was Bionicle's first year.

Sorry for the late reply, real life's been keeping me. I thought the sets were the definitive versions?If not, what do Bionicle beings 'really' look like? Why do you think Hapka inserted it if it was unfounded? Or to make Lewa appear doomed, which he probably wouldn't if he was just facing Krana'd Le-Matoran. I don't think it is; surely Lewa would've reacted had there been nearly a dozen Bohrok stood just a few metres from him. Floodwater does take a while to recede, and I doubt the Gahlok would leave a large gap of time between their strikes on the village.It might also be worth noting that seeing as nearly a year lies between the release of the animation and that of the book, the animation's situation was probably created well before that within the book. And given how Hapka wrote over the Kini-Nui stages of the MNOLG, it's almost certain that she wasn't trying to be consistent with any of the online content. Surely there would've been a register/roll call once they reached safety. Certainly Onepu, as the most important Matoran of the village, would've been missed very quickly.And the three Onu-Matoran were in the collapsed tunnel for a fairly long time, long enough for their absences to be noted and Onua to return for them. I had in mind this artwork, set either in the sea or a very deep lake:

Fascinating analysis Aanchir, thank you for compiling it.It seems Bionicle was a big hit in its first two years, had something of a dip from 2003-5 (the movie years, which is puzzling given that they existed to boost sales), had a resurgence around 2006-7, then dwindled in significance until its end.I had to laugh upon finding this in the 2002 report: 'One particular product launch during the year proved disappointing: The introduction of Galidor products in the United States.' Ah, the memories

I wonder if the economic difficulties are actually to Lego's advantage, with families being less eager to spend large sums on elaborate video gaming systems, leaving Lego sets as a much cheaper alternative.

That's not really a matter of opinion though, is it?Bionicle either helped Lego or it didn't. That can be verified through its sales figures and the company's financial state.The same can't be done when considering the quality of various sets, movies, Greg Farshtey's writing, etc. because there's no definitive measure for quality.IMO, the primary reason is a little thing called LEGO Star Wars.One thing to remember about Lego Star Wars is that it's under license from Lucasfilm. I don't know the exact nature of their relationship, but I imagine that either the profits are divided between the two companies or at the very least, Lego are paying Lucasfilm for the Star Wars name and content. Whichever it is, Lego have to automatically give up a considerable amount of money to release the line. This wasn't the case for Bionicle, because Lego own the entire franchise. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Star Wars has been a big benefit to Lego, but there is that factor to consider.

That's not really a matter of opinion though, is it?Bionicle either helped Lego or it didn't. That can be verified through its sales figures and the company's financial state.The same can't be done when considering the quality of various sets, movies, Greg Farshtey's writing, etc. because there's no definitive measure for quality.

I can't remember where I read it, but wasn't Bionicle's end (privately) decided in 2008?

Yeah, the early years are missed solely for nostalgia. It's absolutely nothing at all to do with garbage like 'Free the Band', replacing complex set builds and combiners with gimmicky light-ups and projectiles, continual and increasingly ugly mutations, locations devoid of exploration and atmosphere, having to get all the storyline from books that were barely available outside America, and having a cast the size of a country's population.

I implore you to highlight a single instance of someone calling him that.I don't think Greg's a terrible or even bad writer. I simply think he wasn't dextrous enough to pull off anything beyond the conventional. Or if he was, he didn't do it. BioGio didn't compare Bionicle to Twilight. At all.He used Twilight as an example of something he hasn't personally surpassed in terms of success, but should still be able to criticise regardless.Nothing relating it to Bionicle whatsoever.

If you'd bothered to read my post properly, you would've seen that I said he was 'extremely good' at these and that it was a 'positive side' of his writing. Those concerned 2001 and 2003, neither of which any of Farshtey's books (excepting Tales of the Masks) covered. As the MNOLG, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and numerous other subtley-written stories have shown - loads. I asked him about this in early 2010 and he said that the MNOLG is considered canon, just certain details within it aren't. He may have made statements to the contrary before or since, though.You do raise a good point about his lack of involvement in the MNOLG. It's more interesting when the fondness and nostalgia many fans have for it is considered. I vaguely wonder if Farshtey resented not having created what was effectively the foundation stone of the Bionicle story. Total agreement here.

Do four criticisms really amount to 'mass denunciation'?I think the flaw in Farshtey's writing is that it's rooted in the style of comic books. The positive side of this was that he was extremely good at writing action scenes, intricate plots, villains and one-liners. But the downside was that as far as happy times, quiet and sombre moments, the wider world around the characters and the Matoran society they defended went, such things were barely touched upon. He told the main story of good and evil well enough, but rarely seemed to go far beyond it.

I dislike how much of the storyline became concentrated in Greg Farshtey's books. I think that by himself he just didn't quite have the storytelling talent to pull it all off. I do admire the great effort he put in; I just don't feel the results quite matched up.

He can't do that due to Copyright issues.....It's been 11 years since it was cancelled and all that remains from the company that made it are multiple small groups of people locked in a bitter and endless law suit against each other. It is a case identical to medieval music. One might know who originaly created it but nobody knows which of the thousands of descendants of the composer should hold the rights to it and therefore nobody cares.It's not remotely identical.Firstly, in the medieval times there were no laws regarding copyright, whilst this game was made and intended to be released under established copyright laws. Secondly, we aren't dealing with the distant descendants of the people who created it - the original makers are all (presumably) still alive and, however unlikely it may be, could potentially take legal action. Thirdly, we know who did and apparently still does hold the rights to it - Lego.I also believe that the game could and should be released without much fuss, but we must be aware that the game's circumstances are more complex than they might seem.

Whilst we're on the matter of building Boxors, is it really possible to get a whole one out of one Bohrok? Given that they have a load of parts (Gali hooks, very long beams, etc.) which the Bohrok's fairly compact bodies surely can't include. Just to really mess things up...In Hapka's book, Lewa lands in a clearing and sees Matau and the Le-Matoran all Krana'd. Smoke is rising behind them, but no Bohrok are mentioned. Much later, when all the Toa regroup, Lewa is explaining himself to them. He claims the Le-Matoran tricked him by telling him that the Krana were just a physical problem and they needed his strength to remove them. Lewa says that when he began to do this, his mask was suddenly pulled off and a Krana quickly put in its place. Tahu is suspicious of this, feeling (like me) that a Toa couldn't be overpowered by Matoran. The veracity of Lewa's story is left unconfirmed.The book is clearly inconsistent with the comic, which has Lewa landing, seeing the Le-Matoran and at least nine Lehvak stood in plain view with them, which are not mentioned in the book. And regardless of whether Lewa understood what had happened to the Le-Matoran, he would've immediately recognised the Lehvak as hostile Bohrok and wouldn't have stayed there passively talking. The book actually states that 'Onua had a full set of Krana' from the Nuhvok.And even if he didn't, surely the safety of his people would take priority. I gave the book a quick read today, and as far as I can tell, yes, the situation is left hanging. There's one inconsistency - the first wave apparently leaves enough water that '(a)ll sorts of debris floated on the water's surface', yet the episode's opening shows Onu-Koro completely dry. If Onua was there, why didn't he return for Onepu, Taipu and Nuparu when they were left behind? Which would simultaneously provide at least some light for the Gahlok to see by.