BIONICLE: Difference between revisions

 

=== Release History ===

In early 2001 the [[Rahi]], creatures of the BIONICLE saga, were released. Each of them came in boxes and had a [[Kanohi]] mask, which could be removed. They usually came in pairs, although they were available in singular boxes too. The Rahi were able to rip off the mask of the other Rahi by using one of its attacks, [[8549 Tarakava]] by boxing with its long arms or [[8538 Muaka & Kane-Ra]] by launching their heads forward.

 

;[[2002]][[File:Bohrok-_Gahlok.jpg|thumb]]

In 2002 the ''[[Toa Nuva]]'', transformed forms of the Toa Mata, were introduced. They included silver armour and larger, more smooth masks. They wielded silver modifications of their former weapons, for example [[8533 Gali|Toa Mata Gali's]] hooks transformed into water axes. Their canister lids had new designs and could be stacked. The lids also had axle holes in the lid, similar to the 2001 lids.

Also released were the [[Bohrok]], insectoid creatures controlled by the brainlike [[Krana]]. By pressing down a lever at the back of each Bohrok, its head could snap out. The headplate could be opened to reveal a [[Krana]]. By leaving the headplate open and pressing the lever, the Bohrok could launch its Krana at an opponent. The Krana could be fitted on a Toa Mata or Toa Nuva's head. The Bohrok were also capable of rolling into a ball. With a special peg the Bohrok could be hung up inside its oval canister. The image of the set could be peeled off to reveal the set inside. The Bohrok were accompanied by the smaller [[Bohrok Va]], similar in size to the Turaga, and packed in boxes. They carried dormant forms of the Krana.

 

In spring 2003, the [[Bohrok-Kal]] were released. They wore [[Krana-Kal]], which in appearance are more shiny and metallic versions of [[Krana]]. The Bohrok-Kal are the same size and shape of Bohrok, with slightly different weapons and armour in silver, with their heads showing the symbol of their group. Their canisters were mainly the same design as that of the Bohrok, having a peg to hang the Bohrok-Kal up.

[[File:Kraata Container.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The ''Kraata'' container]]

In 2003, the bigger sets [[8593 Makuta]], [[8594 Jaller and Gukko]], [[8595 Takua and Pewku]] and [[8596 Takanuva and Ussanui]] were available. Makuta came in one of his various forms, carrying a shadow staff. He wears black, dark-copper and red armour. Also released was Takua with his crab Pewku and Takua as the Toa of Light, Takanuva, with his vehicle ''Ussanui''. Also released were the Matoran in their new, rebuilt forms.

 

In 2004, the form and shape of the Toa and Matoran changed entirely. The new gears of the [[Toa Metru/Toa Hordika|Toa Metru]] now rotated in a different way, and both the Toa and Matoran were taller. The [[Toa]] had bigger weapons and different masks. In addition, the heads forms changed, a mask could now be fixed on the head via an axle. Adapting the Rahkshi leg bending design and improving it, the Toa Metru's whole leg was built upon ball-and-socket design, with a new double-sided hip-joint holding onto the ball hip and the ball piece of the bottom leg section. Along with that, each design was designed to be almost independent from the other, with small modifications including height adjustment and neck position. Along with neck positions were actual head pieces designed for the purpose of movement on the head, a technique which evolved from the Rahkshi design, and was used on later sets right up to present time. Though they hadn't yet adapted the arm bending technique to today's standards yet, they had progressed further than the Toa and Toa Nuva arms which hadn't flexed at all. The canisters of the Toa were round, having screw lids. By combining two lids a ''Matoran Sphere'' could be created, used in the storyline to transport Matoran.

 

 

[[File:8748 Rhotuka Spinners.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A red ''Rhotuka Spinner'']]

The [[Visorak]] also used the Rhotuka Spinners, mounted on their backs. Additionally, by pressing the back of these spider-like creatures down, their pincers would open and close. Their canisters were similar to those of the Toa Hordika. The lids had a transparent plastic dome which could be removed to remove a Rhotuka Spinner. These also had a code printed on them.

This year the ''Playsets'' were introduced, LEGO models of big buildings and vehicles of the BIONICLE universe. The figures included in these sets didn't have any articulation points and consisted of two parts: the figure and its weapon. The Titans were packed in big boxes, all of them including Rhotuka Spinners.

 

During spring 2006 the [[Piraka]] were introduced. They featured light-up eyes, rubber faces and spines and a new weapon called the ''Zamor Launcher'' which fired plastic balls called [[8719 Zamor-Spheres|Zamor-Spheres]]. The secondary weapon of the[[File:Zlauncher.jpg|thumb|Zamor Sphere Launcher]] Piraka was a double-sided weapon which could be flipped. [[8903 Zaktan]], for an example, featured a secondary weapon with a three-bladed scissor on the one and pincers on the other side. Their canisters were bullet grey with a screwable lid. The lid contained the light-up eyepiece and it had to be taken out before it could be built with. There was also a plastic mold of the respective Piraka head, which in turn could also be removed from the lid, although it wasn't compatible to any [[LEGO]] [[TECHNIC]] piece.

The [[Toa Inika]], which were released in summer 2006, carried a modified version of the Zamor Launcher: It had an additional piece that made it able to hold four Zamor-Spheres at once, instead of one. The Zamor-Spheres included with the Toa Inika came in the colours orange, blue and green. As their secondary weapon, although used as a primary one, was a strobe-light tool which glowed either red, blue or green. It could be activated by pressing a small black button on the side of the weapon. The weapon pre-included small batteries, which were removable. Each head of the Toa was designed with a rubber mask, and could not accept any other mask. This caused problems for some builders who wished to use the new masks on custom characters but wanted the original eye colour of that character, not the green they had. The plastic canisters of the Toa consisted of two parts. The bottom part could hold the four Zamor-Spheres and the strobe-light weapon. The top part fastened everything into place. The sides of the canisters showed the word "BIONICLE" on them.

 

Also sold at this time were six Voya Nui Matoran, packaged in small boxes, and Zamor packs filled with bronze, silver and gold Zamor-Spheres. Additionally, this year there were four Playsets, six Titan sets and many promotional sets released.

 

 

The [[Toa Mahri]] were released in the third quarter of 2007. They carried [[Cordak Blaster]]s which fired red Cordak missiles. The Cordak Blaster is based upon a pump system, by pushing the back the Cordak missile came flying out. The Toa also carried a secondary weapon, like a shield or a talon, except for [[8910 Kongu]], who wielded another Cordak Blaster. Their canisters were composed of a big plastic frame and a transparent plastic window. Behind it there was a cardboard piece with the image of the set and plastic bags containing the pieces. The canister/box was sealed with another cardboard piece on the back, showing the set from another view.

The Matoran and Hydruka of Mahri Nui came in small boxes. There were two Matoran and two Hydruka available. The titans were also packaged in a box. The sides of the boxes were decorated with the image of a rusted, metal frame. These titans also featured the first appearance of a mask with a removable axle, until then all axles of the masks were fixed in them. This year also marked the end of the BIONICLE Playsets, with [[8925 Barraki Deepsea Patrol]], [[8926 Toa Undersea Attack]] and [[8927 Toa Terrain Crawler]] being the last playsets released.

 

In spring 2008 the [[Phantoka]] and the Av-Matoran were introduced. The three Toa were armed with a [[Midak Skyblaster]], which could fire Midak Sky spheres, silver coloured [[8719 Zamor-Spheres|Zamor-Spheres]]. The first half of the year concentrated on battle in the skies, so the Toa, Makuta and Matoran had flying devices. The three Phantoka Makuta carried [[Tridax Pod]]s, which were orange transparent spheres which could "explode" by hitting the ground, releasing "''Shadow Leeches''", which could drain the light of a being. These Makuta were the first Makuta to have real Kanohi masks with a certain power instead of having normal faces. The Phantoka canister design is unique, it features a plastic box with a lid and a plastic frame representing rock columns which can be fitted on to the side. These canisters could not be stacked. The Titan sets all came in a box, one of them being [[8697 Toa Ignika]], the first set to have an Ignika included, although it was silver.[[File:Toa_Ignika.png|thumb]]

[[File:Midak Skyblaster.png|thumb|right|200px|The ''Midak Skyblaster'']]

During summer 2008 the [[Mistika]] were released. This line again featured three Toa and three Makuta. The Toa were released with swamp armour because of the plot playing in a swamp. The Toa, as well as the Makuta, carried ''Nynrah Ghost Blasters'' with rubber projectiles in either lime green or silver. The Makuta were released as a mutated form of themselves, but they too wore Kanohi masks. The canisters of the six Mistika featured a lid with a Kanohi Ignika on the side. The Ignika had two sides: the one side was scarred and rough, the damage the Ignika received in time. The other side was smooth and without any scars, the appearance it had when it was created. The canisters had a notch in the bottom so they could be stacked.

The Matoran were the biggest Matoran to be released, but also the ones with the least pieces, all of them having 14 pieces, except for [[8947 Radiak]]. They did not have uniform weapons and flying devices, the Av- or Light-Matoran had a jetpack and the Shadow Matoran had black wings. Their canisters were a mix of box and canister: The top and bottom part was a plastic piece, representing rocks. The middle part however was made out of cardboard with an image of the set. It was hold together via a plastic band.