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Aanchir

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  1. Aanchir

    Late Brickfair Entry

    By Aanchir,

    Lehvak Lah was there.
     
    Lehvak Lah had the Kraata plushie.
     
    I was there.
     
    I didn't get to see/hug/steal the Kraata plushie.
     
    Other than that, everything was pretty cool. But no plushie makes Aanchir sad. :[
  2. Aanchir

    Google Is Awesome

    By Aanchir,

    Just was doing something I do for the BS01 Wiki on occasion: randomly googling names from the "Other LEGO Employees" page in hopes of finding more information.
     
    I found something useless to the wiki, but pretty darn spiffy. Observe
     
    Of course, not much to be found regarding everyone's favorite lead set designer, but nevertheless this was a pretty intriguing find.
  3. Aanchir

    Curiosity...

    By Aanchir,

    Why is it that people who like one fantasy series tend to dismiss another as terrible?
     
    I first saw this with Eragon. People dismissed it as a ripoff of various series, including The Lord of the Rings and The Dragon Riders of Pern. I haven't read the latter, but I've read the whole Inheritance Cycle so far, and it has a fairly unique plot with a heavy dose of fantasy-world politics.
     
    Next came Twilight. People dismiss it as a bunch of teenage, hormonally-influenced emotions packaged up in a fantasy novel/movie/whatever. And I have yet to read Twilight or its sequels (though thankfully I know the sequels' names, unlike the people at the Harry Potter movie today who shouted out "Twilight 2!" during the previews). However, a number of my friends are fans of the series, as are countless other people. Say what you will about the majority (which is often regarded as the evil reason everything from BIONICLE to the world media sucks), but if there's that many people pleased with the book and film, they must be entertained. Books are a form of entertainment. Therefore, the Twilight saga is obviously doing its job, even if it's not your personal favorite fantasy series.
     
    Are we really so abhorrent of competition that any fantasy series other than our personal favorite becomes the devil's work, an effigy of culture to burn for our personal, egotistical enjoyment? Can't we just try to enjoy books and movies without weighing them against each other, as if there can be only one true series?
     
    Blog entry today comparing Gandalf to Dumbledore (although obviously humorous in nature) got me thinking about this, particularly due to some of its comments. These are stories, people. Appreciate them as such, or ignore them, but don't take pleasure in spoiling the fun of everyone who happens to enjoy them.
  4. Aanchir

    Surel Contest

    By Aanchir,

    I dislike making entries telling people specifically to vote one way or another-- while I sometimes ask people to vote for my entries, I think it's unfair for anyone to vote for anything without at least looking at the other options. However, the Surel contest final polls are making me anxious, and so I feel it may be appropriate to break from tradition.
     
    Let me express that I am very much in support of Entry 2. It actually looks like a BIONICLE character who has been injured badly and forced to struggle for survival. His face looks like he is in pain merely by hobbling on his one good leg. His staff is improvised, possibly from old weaponry or equipment salvaged in the mountains where he dwells.
     
    Entry 1 has gained a lot of favor for looking decrepit and dark. However, it stands straight without difficulty, and scarcely seems to support itself with its staff, as Surel was said to do. Moreover, it evokes a mysterious, powerful look with its scepterlike staff and crownlike helmet. Rather than a warrior, he looks like a king, wizard, or shaman. It defies descriptions of Surel like his limp and withered right hand. And it does not look the slightest bit like its injuries make it undergo struggling or pain-- it looks more old than injured, when in truth we do not know Surel to be any older than the other Glatorian we know. The "encrusted in ice" look is also inexplicable, since those Glatorian we know with icy armor have it as just that-- armor-- and not as some sort of unnatural crusty growth.
     
    I encourage people to vote entry 2 before polls close tomorrow, and wish the best of luck to it and its creator!
  6. Aanchir
    Got them out today. All fours. It honestly wasn't as bad as some people make it out to be-- in fact, once it began it was inexplicably thrilling, perhaps because of the inherent knowledge that all of that surgical poking and prodding was for the sake of "fixing my mouth". So yes-- fairly exciting.
     
    Before and after the operation, I spent time reading the remaining two The Sandman graphic novels (a wonderful DC Comic series by Neil Gaiman), and once I was back home I eventually went to work on building the Mars Mission set MT-61 Crystal Reaper (which I bought for a considerable discount at the Potomac Mills LEGO store yesterday).
     
    I feel I probably never gave Mars Mission sets enough credit-- I was quick even at the beginning to realize the number of past Space themes the sets borrowed from. Life On Mars wasn't the least of these-- the logo and some set designs borrowed from classic Space, the giant rocket was reminiscent of Space Port, the later human mothership drew from older mothership designs like those in Ice Planet and Exploriens, and the alien vehicles had similarities to some of U.F.O.-theme craft with their odd, curvilinear shapes (the metallic stickers also recall a number of themes like Exploriens and U.F.O.).
     
    Still, I can say with certainty even now that the theme was the most ethically questionable space theme so far. Put aside that the humans are, like in most space themes, the good guys, fighting a noble crusade against the Alien Menace. Look at the details of the plot-- humans come to Mars and discover a new crystal-based energy source (another Life On Mars/Rock Raiders trademark), but find that a highly advanced Martian species will fight to defend this resource. But the humans don't try to negotiate or establish ties with the Martians-- no, we start stealing as many crystals as we possibly can, while imprisoning Martians in strange and probably inhumane research facilities (my new set honestly has a Martian lying on the floor of the ship, evidently comatose, with an orange tube plugged into his chest and diagnostics registering on a nearby screen).
     
    All in all, it's the traditional alien invasion/abduction scenario. Except in this story, we're the aliens.
     
    Thoughts on any of the above?
  8. Aanchir
    Let's begin with a quote:
     
    "What happened next was a sight no one present would ever forget. From the depths of the ice rose a creature unlike any they had seen before. His armor looked as though it had been forged from the sun, and his very presence radiated power."
    --BIONICLE Adventures #9: Web of Shadows
     
    2009 is not the first year in which that shade of yellow-orange which MOCists and other BIONICLE fans tend to call Keetorange was used to depict what might have been imagined in gold. The color's debut was in 2005, depicting a being who had not been seen within memory, but only described in legend. The film BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows colored this being gold, but in the set Keetongu appeared in this color which bears his name.
     
    In 2006, our modern-day shade of gold made its debut in the Brutaka set, and the set's shared piece with Keetongu-- a gold Hordika foot, which Keetongu had in Keetorange-- spawned a ridiculous number of MOCs using the two colors together. This was accelerated in 2006, when the color became standard for the ever-fluctuating "sixth color", that normally given to stone sets.
     
    In these poorly-crafted MOCs the difference was obvious. Even Brutaka's yellowish-gold is a great deal duller than Keetorange. And herein lies my problem with the color. It's dull. While it may be shiny enough to be "special", gold does not exude power the way the vivid Keetorange does. If a chrome version of the color could be released, perhaps it would have a chance. Otherwise, the Keetorange retains its sun-god brilliance while the yellow-gold is if anything a mere alternative to silver for those sets in need of a metallic shade.
     
    Also, remember that colors have been reinterpreted in BIONICLE media to sound or look more refined since the early years of BIONICLE. Most comics show Takanuva with a yellow-orange mask and armor color, rather than the brownish gold that appeared in the set. Hapka's novels were plagued with instances of metallic-sounding color names being applied to what in sets was solid-colored armor-- for instance, Pohatu was called bronze or copper at varying instances, while Kopaka was silver. Even in Greg Farshtey's more canon-compatible writing, color names are dramatized-- black becomes ebon; red becomes crimson, and green becomes emerald. My current desktop background, an Ignika, shows it in a yellow-orange that I would have loved to see the actual piece appear in.
     
    In a recent correspondence with ToM Dracone, we discussed the titan-sized Toa Mata Nui set thoroughly, and a recent PM is largely what got me back to thinking about these colors. ToM pointed out that he attributes the Keetorange and yellow that are so prolific on both sets to the usual preference of young children for brighter colors, comparing the color to that on construction vehicles. I disagree on this point, although it is a very sensible interpretation. After all, wouldn't kids be just as giddy for metallic colors as for bright solid colors? It certainly would be my expectation, given the long success of metallic colors as a gimmick in BIONICLE and other LEGO themes.
     
    So yes, I would very much have preferred if the titan-sized Toa Mata Nui set were without gold, and if the Ignika had been Keetorange. It would have been a boon to the color scheme, as well, and if LEGO expected gold to be such a selling factor they could easily have added an extra mask as they did in the Takanuva set of 2003. A bright, flashy emblem reading "Includes GOLD Ignika!" could be added to the box, featuring a heavily photoshopped version of the mask with radiant highlights and other eye-grabbing effects. After all, it has worked fine for the last two years for every "Special Edition" set released, even if their only gimmicks were "Special Edition-- New Color!" and "Includes 2 Figures!"
     
    Alas, though. I've come to like my brother's Mata Nui set sitting on the shelf, and I find my enthusiasm for the new set diminished with the knowledge that its Ignika will be gold. Still, I hope to get it, as I very much like many aspects of its build and would love to put my imagination to work on a revamp to cure those aspects without such appeal.
     
    P.S.: Yes, I can see now that I rambled. I didn't mean for this entry to get this long, but I like typing-- it's like having a conversation with myself. Perhaps that is just compensation for the conversation I'm missing out on from those who haven't the time to read this mess.
  9. Aanchir
    Ever since Mata Nui appeared before our eyes for the first time in 2008, there has been a lot of complaining regarding his appearance. You know, how in my mind/your mind/Bob's mind, he was this glimmering god in armor that seared your flesh off with its shininess, wielding some weapon that only a god would carry and wearing armor in white and gold, which are the only colors a greater being is allowed to wear. (I always personally thought white and brown, maybe with gold-- after about 2007 this color scheme shifted in my mind to being more appropriate for Artakha). For examples of the many ways people viewed Mata Nui, sort through here for a while.
     
    It makes me wonder-- what kind of screaming/whining/moaning fits will ensue when we actually see Mata Nui's personality? After all, everything about his personality was just as unknown as his appearance prior to this year. All we knew about him was that apparently he deserved respect (which naturally made everyone think that he must be a god, because nothing less than perfect can possibly be so important to everyone, right?)
     
    So suppose that when we get a good look at Mata Nui's personality in the movie, he has *gasp* character traits? Suppose he has *double gasp* flaws? Already people have objected to that he has a pet insect-- after all, a being who has cared for hundreds of thousands of Matoran surely can't have compassion!
     
    Yes, it's true, Mata Nui's personality will probably not be exactly as you imagined. And of course, his personality will therefore be terrible and bad and the death of BIONICLE. In fact, perhaps Mata Nui should have never woken up at all, and the Toa Mata should have stayed on Mata Nui fighting scores of new enemies every year, presumably helping this soulless entity Mata Nui somehow, despite his condition never changing. Better that we not risk the disappointment, eh?
     
    To sum up, Mata Nui has woken up, just as we knew he would since 2001. Perhaps it's time for fans to do the same.
  10. Aanchir
    Check BIONICLE Artwork I if you dare.
     
    PLEASE, people. The caption to my Gelu drawing was meant to be a harmless lolcats reference. It was NOT meant to spawn a fad of sloppy edits and disgusting drawings focused on the BIONICLE fast food industry.
     
    In all honesty, it would be best if this stopped now. My drawing was popular enough, but I am beginning to regret ever bringing my art back to BZPower. The dignity of the BIONICLE Artwork I forum is falling into question, and I'm ashamed that my well-intentioned art spawned this creative train wreck.
  11. Aanchir
    From the new PICTURE REVIEW IN THE SETS FORUM (No link! Quick, everyone, make haste!), the titan-sized Mata Nui met all of my expectations. Overall decent color scheme (except the gold, which seems from pics to irredeemably clash with everything else), BEAUTIFUL build (except the shoulders, which would have been questionable on Takanuva and are really pathetic here), and an ingenious piston style.
     
    But as I predicted, the gold is possibly the set's biggest flaw. I wish so dearly that the Ignika and Inika thigh armor had been in Keetorange, which would have unified the legs with the rest of the build, been entirely more photogenic, and maintained consistency with the smaller Mata Nui (save for the Mata Yellow accents, which seem to contribute rather than clash).
     
    Regardless, I can't wait to get the set. And since I may be at college when I get it (and thus, away from many MOCing parts), I hope some of the people who will get the set for parts and parts alone (thank heaven there are so many!) will put forth the effort to redeem some of these flaws in a revamp (no, you can't MOC a Keetorange Ignika in a revamp, but perhaps someone will bother with a can of spraypaint enough to produce such brilliance).
     
    And of course I wonder if anyone has the guts to make an UBERHUGE Mata Nui revamp, using Bitil's canister lid for a mask... Again, I'll probably be away from my MOCing parts, but to those reading this...
     
    Good luck, everybody.
  12. Aanchir

    Speculation_fail_

    By Aanchir,

    I have a lot of respect for BZP's news staff, especially when they make publicly known a huge influx of movie info, but in all honesty...

    » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «"Metus's Revenge" really doesn't make me think that he's the traitor. Now, don't get this wrong, he is still a candidate for the traitor-- after all, he seems to be the master of wheeling and dealing, and is in my eyes quite capable of getting Tuma to eat out of his hand as the traitor did in Empire of the Skrall. 
    However, consider this-- how is a movie going to work in an "extended ending" where the traitor exacts revenge on his foes? That would require a MAJOR cliffhanger ending, since his "enemies" would probably be those characters we regard as "the good guys". And there's no way that with an ending that critical to the story, it would get shoved aside to appear only in an "extended version".
     
    As I see it, it could very easily be Metus exacting his revenge either on the traitor (which would imply a traitor that Metus either trained or trusted, possibly Strakk) or some Skrall who wrongs him during the movie plot (which is on the other end of the spectrum, as an ending that wouldn't be dramatic enough to be advertised as anything other than a "deleted scene").
    ...but these are just my personal thoughts. Any you'd like to share?
  13. Aanchir

    Glatorian Legends

    By Aanchir,

    I has them.
     
    Or rather, we has them. My two brothers & I. I'm thoroughly impressed with all of them, although I will not deny that there are minor flaws in some of them. I'll probably end up writing reviews, which given my laziness will probably be pictureless. But oh well.
  14. Aanchir
    Beautiful. Did you hear that music? It's brilliant! It's like a blend of the very rhythmic Cryoshell stuff we've been treated to for the past few years and the MNOLG and animation music from the days of old!
     
    I liked the old movies' music, but daaang. This right here... this is BIONICLE at its finest.
     
    Some of the clips and concept art would seem to foreshadow that the BIONICLE of the past should not be discounted as a future plot element.
     
    Also, the Mata Nui render seems to stylize the waist piece as similar to one of those Roman-style armored skirt, much like I have chosen to do in my drawings (which I need to finish and scan in... ).
     
    To those who think BIONICLE has died, clearly they're counting their chickens before they hatch. The story continues to show that it's not somehow defying the ideas of the past, but that it's continually growing according to the standards set in place in 2001-- namely the notion of a biological/mechanical coexistence, and of course the mysterious Great Spirit Mata Nui.
     
    Has the story been the same throughout? No, and it was never planned to be. I'm not sure how far the current storyline is planned, but like any avid follower of a story I'll put up with any amount of change, any amount of revelation. As long as we continue to find out what lies ahead...
  15. Aanchir

    Exo-force Lulz

    By Aanchir,

    Here
     
    Takes a long time to download, but totally worth it. Watch for the scene near the very end: "This team won't let you down!"
     
    Perfect example of storyboard artists having too much fun (and yes, this is a mock-up of what would become the official Exo-Force animations).
  16. Aanchir
    Today's awesome is brought to you by:

    ...or something to that effect.
     
    Anywho, today I got a chance to take a closer look at some Binkmeister Brickmaster scans we internet folks were offered. Spoilers are to follow, so I'll tag the following for your convenience:
     

    » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «Mmm, I love the smell of convenience in the morning. 
    Anyway, the scans (which you've probably seen if you're bothering to read inside these spoiler tags) included an image of the Mata Nui set, some info about Mata Nui, and some pics of him from the upcoming movie BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn. The style appeals to my interests. Largely setlike, it may not have the independent charm the past movie styles have featured, but it allows the movie makers to stylize all characters consistently, rather than unevenly among the various species and series of set characters.
     
    To sum up the character info, Mata Nui crash-lands on Bara Magna and joins the Glatorian. Basically what you knew all along. His weapon is, intriguingly, referred to as a "Scarab Shield"
     
    But before we look any closer, let's do as I did and check the topic on the upcoming Brickmaster model, of which we shameless spoiler-hunters have probably already learned. It will apparently be a Scarabax Beetle (that creature which taunted us in the Glatorian promo image, sitting in the foreground oblivious to the walking dead that stood far behind). More importantly, according to the image we received, it will be a particular beetle by the name of Click.
     
    Make all the Click/Klakk jokes you want, but such an endearing name is not typical for a mere creature, particularly one that already has a species name. It must be more important than that. And, after reading a post in another Scarabax topic (this one in the promotions forum), I finally took a closer look at the Brickmaster scan, and all was made clear.
     
    The post in question expressed a desire for LEGO to have made the Scarabax model violet, as it would be in the movie. Obviously, the typer was a person who either spent more time around here and not on the spoiler-scant BS01, or they had looked at this image a lot harder than I have. In fact, I'm probably the last person to realize the fact I am about to reveal, so instead of grandstanding with this supposed discovery, let's jump back to that Scarab Shield.
     

    Purple, buglike shield. Just what you'd expect from a tool with that name (aside from the purple bit). But wait, didn't someone say that the Scarabax was purple?
     

    Looks like Ol' Goofy Grin knows more than he's telling us! Sitting on his shoulder is a small purple beetle-- undoubtedly a Scarabax, and quite probably the specimen known as Click. And Mata Nui and Click seem to be hitting it off like good chums.
     
    Perhaps our pal the Ignika decided to make Mata Nui's new friend into a shield? Or perhaps it was not a decision, but rather one of those old-time country curses Iggy's so fond of. In fact, perhaps a cursed being became Mata Nui's new body as well-- anyone remember our nameless friend the Hero Agori?
     
    The Scarabax model is rather lame based on the poor-quality image we have. The Scarabax itself, however, is as endearing a little bug friend as the Ussal, and our brightly-colored pal Click is shaping up to be the next Pewku. Regardless, it looks like the upcoming story is shaping up to be at least as dramatic-- if not more-- than the advent of BIONICLE, ushered in by a hero and his animal companion in a powerful realm which perhaps will never cease to surprise us.
  18. Aanchir

    Fero=retro

    By Aanchir,

    Recently (or really not-so-recently, but whatevs) someone discovered that the German bio for Gresh on BIONICLE.com called his weapon a "Jungle Shield" (actually something more like Dschungelshield, but we all know what it means translated). The BS01 Wiki rejoiced to have an actual name for this weapon to replace the article's previous name, "Razor-Edge Shield".
     
    Out of curiosity I decided today to run some German LEGO S@H and BIONICLE.com product descriptions through Google Translate. And when I tried to run Fero and Skirmix...
     

    So the German S@H is clearly more explicit than the English one, even going into detail on the bargain the Bone Hunters had made with the Skrall to deliver certain captives to the Rock Tribe. But what I want to bring to attention is how Google Translate interpreted the German words for "Rock Steed".
     
    This is all you need to know.
  19. Aanchir

    Certavus

    By Aanchir,

    Still need to get a more reasonable set of categories for my blog. How long ago was it that these ones made sense? If ever?
     
    Anyway, in regard to the title...
     

    Gallery
     
    Voting has begun! You can find my Certavus as Entry 2 in Poll 6!
     
    As always, I encourage people who choose to vote in the contest to make the best decisions they can-- if you think another entry in my or another poll is the best, by all means vote based on your own choice. Of course I wish my own entry good luck, but I have seen several entries which I would not be ashamed to lose to. Good luck to all those entries, and may the best Certavus win!
  20. Aanchir
    Here. I spent good time on this; please read it.
     
    EDIT: Since it has become clear from this and issues in my personal life that I'm just a horrible, insufferable person who is rude and heartless to people without even realizing it, I'm locking this entry. Yes, locking a discussion that hurts you is a tactic which is pathetic for an avid debater to use. But I ought to have nothing but shame for whatever so-called "talent" I might have with words. There is nothing more to say but that.
  21. Aanchir

    The Sand Stalker...

    By Aanchir,

    ...is actually awesome somehow.
     
    I just built an recolored one (I don't have Fero and Skirmix), and it works splendidly as a camel-like creature I imagine it would be even better with correctly-colored pieces. No gaping holes in its construction, and a surprisingly unified look.
     
    There's half a Thornax Launcher sticking out of its mouth, and I can't figure out what it's supposed to be. A lolling or flicking tongue, perhaps? A bit like that which would be attached to a bridle? An oddly-positioned tooth? A trunk? It's an enigma as of yet, and sadly I doubt this will ever appear in enough visual media to explain that any further.
     
    The two Visorak feet on the sides of the mouth will stress a few pieces if they are pressed as far as they can go onto the pins that hold them on.
     
    The head won't stay straight due to its weight and complexity. Perhaps if I had used newer-style joints that would be different-- I'll have to see when or if I am able to make the actual thing.
     
    The Carapar chest piece which acts as its hump meshes marvelously with the Flame Claw which sticks up from the back. I can't figure if this is meant to be a split tail, the back of the seat, or handlebars (if one rides it as I initially suspected but now am questioning, with their feet resting against its flanks).
     
    The feet also work with their two-toed unity, although it would have been immensely preferable if the feet matched in color as they did in my mock-up. Even the legs, awkward as their arrangement may be, worked remarkably. I put it through some plodding motions which I imagine would resemble its walk, and it seemed surprisingly natural for a being of this sort.
     
    Drawings will have to wait until I can figure out some of these few remaining enigmas. But the end result will certainly be largely camel-based. I wish people who had the parts to build the actual thing would take the time to put some pics on Brickshelf so I can more effectively evaluate it (not to mention keep reference for it on hand when I don't actually have the model built).
  22. Aanchir
    Glatorian Legends
    The Glatorian Legends are an interesting bunch. Certainly they can be regarded as more "generic" than the original Glatorians, but they manage to use innovative new weapons, masks, and combinations of old pieces to establish overall unique looks. I'll address them one at a time.

    Ackar
    Ackar is somewhat disappointing with his almost exact Toa Inika build. The Mahri blades which act as his shoulder armor are a neat idea, but sadly one that does not match any of his other armor styles, and furthermore doesn't evoke at all as awesome a feel as some bladed shoulders of the past. A Berix mask does a good job as a fire-themed mask, particularly in its forehead area (the wildness of the back of the head is a bit more watery in feel, but still manages to pass as fire). Which is not to say a mask that better matched his spiky new firesword (another awesome piece) would not have been preferable.

    The most notable thing about Ackar, of course, is his Mata red primary color. This is not a color that has been absent from BIONICLE, but certainly a welcome one in some of the newer, more conventional BIONICLE armor pieces like the Inika torso, the Metru waist, and the Vahki leg. I also welcome the 2008-era joints in red-- they have avoided breaking for me so far, anyhow.

    On Ackar? I can't be so sure Mata Red works here. After all, Tahu Mata and Tahu Nuva both featured black as a liberally-applied neutral color. Ackar's only neutral color is a poorly-distributed dark bley, and it fails to work even nearly as well-- in fact, it is more of a hindrance to color scheme since it is only highly-visible on the hands. I'd have even preferred to further overload the red in his color scheme and use the red hands from Skrall.

    The torso armor is forgiveable, both because it is orange and because it is perhaps the best armor for Glatorians. It resembles a common style of armor used by Roman soldiers, after all, and features no pistons denoting it as mechanical in nature.

    Gelu
    Gelu is one of my favorite Glatorian Legends. He not only has a good color scheme (the same Strakk uses, but differently arranged to build uniqueness). An Inika-style build like Ackar, I have to say I prefer Gelu due to his clever use of Metus's snowflake-shield halves on his shoulders. And of course the Jaller Inika armor is as valid here as on Ackar, and the Vahki legs help the variation even further.

    I like Gelu's weapon-- it appears to be a multi-crossbow. I fear "no weapons with functions" might apply here, however, and thus we might not be seeing it as more than a blade. I hope such is not the case.

    Gelu reminds me of Samus for some reason. It's not a bad comparison, and I hope he gots an awesome role in story to suit his awesome appearance.

    Vastus
    Alas, Vastus, I cannot get a good read on you. I look at the set and already find minor annoyances, such as the seemingly unnecessary lack of back armor, the dubious thigh armor on his torso (I'll have to try it out for myself to see if it deserves any merit whatsoever), and the silver spines on his shoulders. Hordika legs are not my favorite leg armor due to their awkward proportions and shape. I suppose it works for Vastus, though, despite no obvious attempts at making it stylistically consistent with anything.

    The eyes of his mask are crafty-looking, and I can see this character as an almost definite villain. The vine motif contrasts with Gresh's more benevolent motifs to establish a sinister persona. Speaking of which, those shoulders strike me as a piece that will never be used again on a set that works well with them. Hope LEGO surprises me.

    And finally the blade. I believe there's a name for that type of blade which is not quite a scythe, but none jumps to mind. It is certainly awesome, though I am questioning the placement of the Thornax launcher at the end. Clever, but does it work? I cannot predict the effect it might have on the set.

    Stronius
    Here we see a brilliant set. It manages to use one new piece-- the torso armor-- as both torso and shoulder armor, which is a plus. And let us not ignore the mask, which certainly manages to feel superior to the Skrall mask, even if I still like the Skrall mask considerably. The replacement of the Skrall's red with dark red also builds the level of sinister might implied, even while reducing contrast. I assume this will be the named Skrall we've been told about, and I am without a doubt impressed.

    A club is a clever weapon that BIONICLE may have gone on far too long without. I cannot tell quite how it is constructed, but somehow it avoids looking plumb useless and instead serves as a weapon suited to use by this set and perhaps elsewhere.

    Note that here we can see Hewkii Mahri's style of using Knights' Kingdom mace halves as thigh armor, only it works far better on this set which spreads the spiky motif all across the armor. This stands out as perhaps the most creative of the Glatorian Legends, or rather the best use of such creativity.

    Kiina
    Kiina is peculiar to say the least. Using a more feminine, more creative torso style, this set manages to avoid similarities to too many sets. Unfortunately, the rest of the set is not quite so impressive.

    I didn't mention the new joints on Vastus, but Kiina makes good use of them as well. They will certainly prove useful in the future. Were they a necessary creation? That remains to be seen. The new arm/leg armor piece is already in use on one of the upcoming vehicles, proving that it has potential beyond this set.

    Kiina's mask has so far only appeared in a peculiar plastic, making it harder to judge. Presumably it will be light blue, but I'll try to avoid judging it with that prediction in mind. It manages to look feminine, offering further evidence that this might be the female set we've been expecting. The way it drapes over the shoulders is a nice creative touch.

    I find fault in Kiina in that the arms and legs seem far too long. True, she might be a good set to use the thin Rahkshi shins on, but without added length to her torso it proves awkward. Perhaps the thighs also play a role in her gangliness-- I might have preferred more conventional thigh armor to thicken them up a bit. Will the set work well with so many new styles? It remains to be seen, but I can't say I'm as confident here as I am with Stronius.

    Mata Nui
    What we've all been waiting for. I can't say I'm disappointed with Mata Nui's stature as a canister set, or even with his Keetorange armor-- after all, it is very likely that gold was the color LEGO used it to evoke in Keetongu, Umbra, and Toa Ignika-- three other characters with lofty importance. The new Ignika does not bother me much-- I'm surprised the people complaining about the round head didn't speak up about the Mistika canisters as negatively.

    Mata Nui's armor is a bit disappointing-- his torso uses the exact same armor as Onua Mistika. With such a versatile piece used as the upper half I'm surprised LEGO couldn't have done something more creative. His lower legs feature copious Keetorange and little black, and one wonders whether some blended parts or purely black parts might have helped the set's overall look.

    His shoulders use the same piece used for his tool, which is also the same used for the hilt of Ackar's sword. A bit much for one year, perhaps, but somehow I doubt such an awkwardly-shaped piece runs any risk of becoming the next Gali hook or Staff of Light. But anyhow, the piece works well in both its applications in this set.

    An oddity (neither negative nor positive) of considerable note is the means with which his thigh armor is attached. It's the old ball and socket piece from Technic, a piece which to my knowledge hasn't even seen a minor use in BIONICLE outside of a rubber-band holder. But anyhow, it does the job better than any part I can think of, so hats off to LEGO for that decision.

    Mata Nui, while not the best incarnation he could have, certainly stands high above my own intentions for him in depicting the ruler of the Matoran Universe.

    ~~~~~~~
    That's all I've got for now, but I'll be sure to share my thoughts on the vehicles soon. Hint: I'm impressed.
  23. Aanchir

    Tarix Review Rebuttal

    By Aanchir,

    Well, I wrote this review rebuttal shortly after the Zesk Review Rebuttal revealed that this was now a possibility on BZPower. I find it's a wonderful medium in which to express one's opinions of sets. Sadly, although I e-mailed it to news@bzpower.com a few days after writing it, it was not published prior to the one-month cutoff date. Therefore, I have opted to post it here instead. I hope people of all opinions find they learn more about the set's flaws and surprises here.
     
    This rebuttal is most informative when coupled with the review that prompted it, which detailed most of the notable features of Tarix and had pictures of magnificent quality. here is a link to Darth Vader's official BZP review of Tarix.
     
    Presentation
    From the design on the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set
     
    Darth Vader, after entering with a pretty great joke, states that he would like the canister lid to reflect the color of set included. Thus, Tarix’s canister lid should be Metru blue rather than Mata blue. (How is Mata silly and Olda sensible, DV? Seems a bit backwards, especially since Olda was almost coined as a joke.)
     
    On this canister lid allegation I disagree. Why is this? Simply put, I feel that brighter colors are often suited to a canister, which in a usually dark color sits on a usually dark shelf and needs all the flamboyant coloring it can get to stand out from its fellow canister sets as well as from the shelf itself. Until we have brightly colored canisters, I don’t think we’d want to edge that close to the black of the canister’s actuality.
     
    To some extent, I like the staircase motif of canister images this year. However, it does bring us awfully close to what we saw on the Bohrok canisters, with Bohrok nests placed in various environments including (inexplicably) underwater. However similar the canister and box backdrop designs of late 2008 sets might have been, they were each completely distinct sections of one swamp and, like the Toa Metru canister backdrops, depictions of the actual environment where that figure’s story would take place.
     
    I have nothing else to disagree with, though you pay surprisingly little attention to the back of the canister. I hope you observed the graphic that demonstrates the ability, having removed the shoulder armor, to store Tarix inside the canister. Another relic from pre-2007 has come back, and apparently was also present on Mistika canisters, but even if for a while unnoticed it is still appreciated by fans like myself who actually do store their figures in the canisters most of the time.
     
    Building
    Half the fun is building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy/challenging is it?
     
    In the building section of your review you explain the straightforward build well enough. However, to those who like my brother (proud owner of the Tarix set, going by Meiko: Toa of Meikoes on this site) used the instructions anyway, there was a flaw in the instructions, as the neck joint was shown attaching to the torso one hole lower than it ought to have attached. On the next page, as the chest cover was affixed, it shows the proper attachment point, but even I took this to be a flaw in promotional images rather than a page of the instructions until doing this review.
     
    Set Design
    Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.
     
    DV, I find issue with your allegation that the hands are disproportionate. I have several times compared them to my own hands and they look fine. Part of the issue, of course, lies in the thumb from all appearances having no actual thickness. If you compare the lengths of your fingers to the length between your first knuckle and your wrist it will seem to compare adequately—unless, of course, my own hands are also disproportionate to those used by you meager Earthlings.
     
    Had you going for a while, didn’t I? Nah, I didn’t think so either.
     
    Your review manages to depict the set fairly well until we get to the mask. You state that the mask is bland. I, for quite some time, agreed with you—now, holding the set in my lap, I disagree. The mask is quite exciting under appropriately bright lighting. Of course, I have for some time been inclined to prefer sets that looked good under even dim lighting, that being part of my reason for preferring fluorescent-colored eyes like those of Gresh or Tarix to glassier colors like those of Whenua or (for a more modern example) Strakk. Not including the Barraki’s fish-eyes, of course—glassy worked for them.
     
    Back to Tarix’s mask. I think it shows Tarix’s character superbly, demonstrating that fair quality that one might attribute to “higher beings” in fantasy stories—elves, demigods, or some varieties of extraterrestrial. It also looks fairly masculine, not a trait that wasn’t to be expected but nevertheless helping reinforce to me that I wasn’t just a victim of a well-trained mind when I associated several controversial Water Toa masks with the femininity of the characters who wore them.
     
    Tarix’s thin armor doesn’t strike me as weak, but rather as unimposing. I have always had a nice time associating armor not as a covering defensive layer so much as part of the body—after all, even the allegedly tough armor of the Toa Metru has scarce differences in style from the flimsier armor of the Toa Mata. Thus Tarix, who is as you say a veteran Glatorian, has a leaner physique, depending more on technique than burliness to win fights.
     
    The tentacle/horn pieces on his shoulders, in my eyes, look fairly good. Certainly Tarix has scant silver elsewhere, but he does have that Mahri tubing (In regard to that I don’t see how it is out-of-place, although it does keep us from seeing his glorious golden armor as clearly). Also, I don’t see how the spikes are much more than defensive ornamentation—they make as much sense in my eyes as the silver tools of the Toa Metru, among other minor detail pieces over the years. I see no need for it to blend in color or style with the rest of the armor, since it is meant to stand out from the actual armor as more of a stylistic trait.
     
    Long arms are an issue I won’t really bother to debate. They bother some people; they don’t bother me. Nor do any other proportion issues that we have encountered among the sets of the past. Kongu Mahri was a favorite for me; I think that makes my stance on the issue pretty clear.
     
    Holding a staff at the bottom also doesn’t bother me, but perhaps this is because I’m such a fan of badminton. I feel it adds to the swooshiness of the weapon, particularly in this case. I do feel it makes the weapon itself look a little flimsier than it should, but the ease of wielding it strikes me as unchanged if a longer handle is added.
     
    Playability
    The other half of the fun is playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with?
     
    I don’t want to seem like I’m just LEGO’s spokesperson. Sometimes I may seem like that with my overall positive view of sets, but I would never want to think that my overall purpose of debating the positive traits of sets was just another person telling you to buy, buy, buy.
     
    Thus, please forgive me when I direct you to get yourself at least two Glatorian sets. Why? I’ll let this link explain. http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTempla...0B012D03D9E.pdf
     
    This is a link to the BIONICLE Action Figure Game’s advanced multi-figure rules on BIONICLE.com. I cannot vouch for the versions of play that use Agori sets or vehicles—I have played neither. However, I have played the version in which each player controls two Glatorian sets. It throws several new variables into play and by far exceeds the lack of strategy encountered in the head-smashing role-play of 2001 sets. Play this version, and I can guarantee you’ll want more than a rematch. You’ll want to play again… and again… and again…
     
    Final Thoughts
    Once it’s all said and done, how does the set stack up? Should I get it?
     
    Why You’re Right
    What did you agree with?

    Mask is not one of the most exciting Pieces are a MOCist’s treasure trove
    Hands and feet are a bit too sparse a use for the set’s Mata Blue
    Set is thin
    Arms are long
    New heads aren’t backwards-compatible
    Why You’re Wrong
    What did you disagree with?

    Tools are made of swooshy awesomeness which is in no way awkward Launchers are universally bad things
    Inika build is universally a bad thing
    Any of the aforementioned traits are a serious blow to the set’s quality.
    Overall, Tarix used to strike me as one of the most boring Glatorian sets. That was one Tarix ago, and today I can confirm that Tarix is a thrilling departure from the traditional feel of canister sets. Elegance dances alongside brilliance in this set’s appearance, demonstrating once more how the Inika torso and overall articulation still has potential in the realm of new characters (yes, I was hoping for a new one too, but it’s not hard to get over the disappointment when faced with a Glatorian level of awesomeness). Certainly Tarix is worth a second look.
     
    Darth Vader, meanwhile, proved himself a capable reviewer (despite being a relatively new face to the news team). He detailed all the points objectively and accurately before his mostly tongue-in-cheek criticisms—Lyichir: Rachira of Influence (my other brother) thought this review scathing, but besides the final thoughts section the review gave me a good description of the set in the form of a highly entertaining review. I look forward to attempting more review rebuttals of this sort if I ever again find fault in a review’s treatment of a set, which I certainly will—these are opinions, and I hope my expression of my own can show people this set’s intricacies just as much as Darth Vader’s expression of his. Whether the review or the rebuttal convinces you is your own decision, and I hope you understand the Tarix set as well as you can before you choose whether to buy it.
  25. Aanchir

    Helmet-masks >.<

    By Aanchir,

    You go to a costume shop. There are plenty of Halloween costumes still strewn about, including a variety of rubber masks.
     
    You go to the counter and say, "I'd like that Frankenstein helmet, please."
     
    The clerk is confused. She pulls out a Roman soldier helmet with bolts on the sides. "Is this what you mean?"
     
    "No," you say, "that rubber helmet over there."
     
    The clerk laughs at you. "You doofus," she says, "That's a mask"
     
    DO YOU...

    Insist that it's a helmet, because it goes on over your head Acknowledge that it's a mask, slapping your head in embarrassment for making such a stupid mistake. Ignore her, buy it, and go tell all your friends about the "Frankenstein helmet" you bought. If you picked B, congratulations! You are a reasonable person.
     
    If you picked A or C, then you are the sort of person we have too many of on BZPower. The people who insist that the Ultimate Dume Kraahkan is a helmet, that the Garai is a helmet, that the Felnas, Crast, and Mohtrek are all helmets. Who insist even today that every Agori or Glatorian mask is a helmet.
     
    Wikipedia's definition of mask begins "an artefact normally worn on the face." These are masks. So is this. Really a mask is anything that covers the face, whether or not it is pressed against the face and whether or not it covers the whole thing.
     
    What about in BIONICLE? BIONICLE masks, known as Kanohi within the Matoran universe, follow the same rules, plus another: most masks cover much of the sides and top of the head as well as the face. Does this make them helmets? No. What if they are attached on top of the head? Again, not in the slightest. They are masks. LEGO has told people this-- BIONICLEstory.com has even hinted that next year's face-covers are masks, as has Greg-- but many people would just ignore this and choose answer C, propogating nonsense for the world to spread further.
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