In early July, a picture was illegally leaked online that helped fuel growing rumors that LEGO's popular Bionicle theme will be making a return next year. There are even possible set names and numbers to burn more coal on the hype train. But as we know, rumors are just rumors until confirmed or busted. Thank Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman for that one. Read on for my thoughts.
EDIT August 19, 2014: Bionicle has been confirmed by Lego for release: www.fb.com/LEGOBionicle
IF Bionicle makes a return next year (which IMO I think it will), it seems nice. But it doesn't depend on if it does, it depends on the execution (i.e. HOW it returns). They could take hints from Hero Factory and allow more creativity and storyline expansion than before... or they could introduce a complex, closed-minded canon that discourages any of that and really screw everything up.
Looking at the picture (which will not be posted on this website), the new sets (if they are real) seem to be using the current building system, a.k.a. CCBS (Character & Creature Building System) or "Hero Factory parts." That's right. The new Bionicle sets would use Hero Factory parts. I laugh in the face of every purist and hater right now, and I'll laugh even harder if this whole reboot turns out to be real.
Anyhoo, the use of the CCBS pieces is the only logical choice. Nearly every mold used to create "Bionicle pieces" has been destroyed. The older pieces were proven as useless in 2011, so Hero Factory pieces it is.
And speaking of Hero Factory... Will it get the axe, or will it continue in harmony with Bionicle?
If it gets discontinued, I'm going to be really, really sad. The haters won't be, but who gives a crap about them? Hero Factory encouraged more creativity than Bionicle, by a giant long shot. The theme had so much potential, especially in winter 2011. The idea of creating your own character from scratch was something never before seen in the Bionicle series. Most of our MOCs were made in the Hero Factory realm, and most were made in LDD. LDD's temporary Hero Factory offshoot, Hero Recon Team, was something I thought would never happen in Bionicle, and I thought right. And speaking of Bionicle, it is but a stark contrast to Hero Factory. Defined clearly from page 1. It is what is is. You are CONFINED to whatever they tell you. For example, Lewa can't wear anything other than the Miru- it wasn't written in the canon.
Hero Factory was unfortunately like that for a few waves. In the first wave, Furno's helmet was Furno's helmet. Any character that had that helmet put on it was a form of Furno in some respect. Same for Breakout and Brain Attack. In the 2.0 series, they really took a step in the right direction about creativity, but they didn't take any hints. Savage Planet returned to character-unique features. But if HF continues to run, I'll be happy, especially since they have practically become Exo-Force starting with Invasion from Below.
Hopefully this valiant return of Bionicle will be a reboot, not a continuation, since I would hate to keep seeing a rigid storyline. The BAF (Buildable Action Figure) section really needs to keep themselves in the LEGO spirit, but if these Bionicle sets come with good, generic pieces to create with, then I'm content. You bet we'll find a way to expand on the storyline at StoneHart LEGO, and really, I hope JANGBRiCKS' Zeyek will return to the Bionicle universe and tell more tales. Speaking of which, StoneHart's Bionicle chronicler is eager to start telling stories!
If and or when this change comes, I'm ready. Thanks for reading this rant.
~Christian H.
a.k.a. "XTN" and "Hart"
stonehart-lego.blogspot.com
