Childhood toys

[Jewish Candy]

They appear to be a reboot of the original storyline - only good in my books, since it all got so very stupid and convoluted later on. That said I am not a fan of the new designs because I'm a stick in the mud. You planning on collecting 'em?

[MrBadGuy]

I've seen the trailer for tahu, they seem to be going in a completely different direction which is cool, but I'm not into it myself, I really liked the original mysterious, spiritual and...quiet... atmosphere that it had. Like the original trailers for each toa had no dialogue whatsoever, I liked that.

[Master]

I got into Bionicle with the advent of the Toa Inika, I like the new designs. But the art style I'm not so fond of.

[Haruka]

I dislike the new designs, I really do prefer the simplistic ones that the original Toa had back in 2000/2001.

The best storyline is really the one between the first (The quest for the masks) and the second year (the fight against the Bohrok). Things started to crumble from the 3rd year onwards, with real crumble in the 4th. They ruined the true essence that was making me really liking the franchise: the environments and the mystery.

[MrBadGuy]

I think you and I have similar tastes, Hukakarak

[Jewish Candy]

Totally agree with both of you. Quest for the Marty Stu The Mask of Light was the beginning of the end, and once Metru Nui appeared... hoo boy.

I hadn't thought about it that way before, but the 'quietness' as Badguy puts it really was one of the most compelling aspects of the setting. It imparted something of a commonality between the mythical and the mechanical, which is what BIONICLE was all about.

[Haruka]

Really, take a look at this:



How cool is this? It was thanks to this promotional disc that I got into the franchise. It really had that atmosphere of mystery, something I really really praised in BIONICLE. They decided to eliminate that from the 3rd year onwards.

[MrBadGuy]

I remember each toa had a code on the inside of their masks that I input into a mini CD I got with a magazine, and it would unlock the video for each one.

Anyone ever play the Mata Nui Online Game? Point and click type deal, a lot of fun memories...

Edit - still exists it seems: Mata Nui Online Game

[Jewish Candy]

Ahh, back in the day when Matoran were Tohunga... I love the groovy beatz in that game. I'm not very good it seems, but wow, the atmosphere is fantastic.

[Haruka]

I remember each toa had a code on the inside of their masks that I input into a mini CD I got with a magazine, and it would unlock the video for each one.

Anyone ever play the Mata Nui Online Game? Point and click type deal, a lot of fun memories...

Edit - still exists it seems: Mata Nui Online Game

Oh yes, the hours I played in that flash game back in those days! Cool memories.

[Thebananacrafter!]

This maybe not a toy but does anybody remember those captain underpants books?

[Haruka]

I think I remember to see the books on the shelves...

Back to BIONICLE, I saw Kopaka and Tahu in FNAC. When I looked to the price my eyebrows lifted. They charge 22,00€ ._. each!

I still remember how each Toa used to cost 9€! LEGO went expensive with the years, I see.

[Sny]

This maybe not a toy but does anybody remember those captain underpants books?

I've read some of them a few months ago. They're really not bad :3

[Shrooblord]

Yes indeed! There's still four or so books of them in the bookshelf at my parents'.

I remember the old Bionicle series fondly. I have a Toa Pohatu 'figurine' myself. But the reason I remember him so well is not for the Lego itself. Instead, it is for someone I met online when playing Jazz Jackrabbit 2. He went by the name of Toa Pohatu. I would estimate his age at about 5 to 10 years greater than mine. He was the first person I really had contact with and he was the head of his 'clan' in that game. I was very young and excited about this clan of his. After a short while, I became a new member there - I now assume it was just a little friendly thing he had set up with his brother (Toa Matau) and the enthousiasm of a small child pursuaded him to let me join - nevertheless, I was extremely excited. It was the first friendly 'secret group' I'd been in since my first year in primary school.
Since then, I've worn the clan tag proudly. Running around with the tag in-game now brings back fond memories - and I even get some people to join once in while in a now-defunct clan of which I (and those I recruit) am most probably the only remaining member. It's like an old badge with nostalgic meaning.

I sometimes look back to my little plastic figurine - the only way I can imagine what he looks like, while truly, he'll be much alike you and me. But seeing him as that Bionicle figure makes him special.

But yeah. Toa Pohatu, as I knew him online, was a great guy to hang out with. I'll always remember him as one of my first ever online 'friends' (I use the term lightly here - how friendly can you really get just interacting in a simple game with such an age difference between you?). I have not a clue where I could find him today.

So the Bionicle is one of my favourite childhood toys for many reasons. Other than that you can take three Bionicles and merge them into some ungodly three-headed, two-chested, six-legged monster, naturally.

[Shrooblord]

Yes indeed! There's still four or so books of them in the bookshelf at my parents'.

I remember the old Bionicle series fondly. I have a Toa Pohatu 'figurine' myself. But the reason I remember him so well is not for the Lego itself. Instead, it is for someone I met online when playing Jazz Jackrabbit 2. He went by the name of Toa Pohatu. I would estimate his age at about 5 to 10 years greater than mine. He was the first person I really had contact with and he was the head of his 'clan' in that game. I was very young and excited about this clan of his. After a short while, I became a new member there - I now assume it was just a little friendly thing he had set up with his brother (Toa Matau) and the enthousiasm of a small child pursuaded him to let me join - nevertheless, I was extremely excited. It was the first friendly 'secret group' I'd been in since my first year in primary school.
Since then, I've worn the clan tag proudly. Running around with the tag in-game now brings back fond memories - and I even get some people to join once in while in a now-defunct clan of which I (and those I recruit) am most probably the only remaining member. It's like an old badge with nostalgic meaning.

I sometimes look back to my little plastic figurine - the only way I can imagine what he looks like, while truly, he'll be much alike you and me. But seeing him as that Bionicle figure makes him special.

But yeah. Toa Pohatu, as I knew him online, was a great guy to hang out with. I'll always remember him as one of my first ever online 'friends' (I use the term lightly here - how friendly can you really get just interacting in a simple game with such an age difference between you?). I have not a clue where I could find him today.

So the Bionicle is one of my favourite childhood toys for many reasons. Other than that you can take three Bionicles and merge them into some ungodly three-headed, two-chested, six-legged monster, naturally.

[MrBadGuy]

When I looked to the price my eyebrows lifted. They charge 22,00€ ._. each!

I still remember how each Toa used to cost 9€! LEGO went expensive with the years, I see.

Well to be fair they have way more pieces this time around

@shroob did he sound like brian blessed?

[Shrooblord]

No, rather Stephen Fry. Or perhaps Hugh Laurie (English voice, obv)

[Jewish Candy]

A false Pohatu!

[Shrooblord]

Naturally. One who disguised himself as a rabbit.

[Haruka]

@MrBadGuy How many pieces are there?