These images give me nearly everything I asked for. New
colors, new armor molds, good quality masks, well executed builds. Just give me
mask packs now and it will be complete.
In general, it appears that the small Masters still carry
the silver tang of the Mistika, while the large Masters bear the Golden Armor.
Which is interesting, given that they all have golden masks.
I’ll start by looking at Pohatu. He has a rather simple CCBS
build, but at least five trans yellow bones and at least four brown armor
plates make him worth it for parts collectors. The Kakama doesn’t look as good
as the classic, but it’s still a well-designed mask. The boomerangs look pretty
cool, and it’s nice to see he can hold them in his hands. The spinners in them
are interesting – can they propel themselves through the air? Like all the Toa
he has a new armor add-on, very well detailed and slightly reminiscent of the
piston elements, but more attuned to the new BIONICLE “feel”. In his case he
has two of them. I also see an exposed balljoint in the side of his torso – it’s
speculated that these Toa have functional arms built in the manner of Bruizer
and Scarox. This might lead to some problems with poseability, but both his arm
appears to be fully built with limb elements, so at least it can still pose.
Gali does not look feminine at all, but it’s difficult to
accurately show femininity in an official set, so I’ll give them a pass. Her
mask is very different, pretty nasty looking, but I’d prefer that over another
case of Rau syndrome. She has the long awaited azure armors, four of them in
size four, some trans blue bones and armor, and another silver armor add-on.
She has an axe-spear combo with some yellow Technic elements, and the Super
Heroes add-on chest, which is a downer, as I was hoping for something more
feminine. Like Pohatu, she looks to be better as a parts pack than as an actual
set.
Lewa is interesting – I’m all for forest green armors (of
which there are four not counting the torso piece), but it looks weird with the
gold (or keetorange) on his legs. He also has both silver and gunmetal parts,
and a mask that is slightly reminiscent of the old Miru, but very lacking. The
armor pieces he have (including what may be gunmetal add-ons) are rather small
and don’t cover up the bones very much (as such his Friction ball-joints can be
seen. His axes are made of the same pieces as the blades on Gali’s axe,
combined with two Brain Attack swords. Overall, he seems to be the weakest of
all the Toa sets, without the bonus trans elements of his fellow small Masters
for parts or the design aesthetics of the larger Masters.
Speaking of the larger Masters, Tahu looks AMAZING. His
lavaboard, which originally looked very gappy, is actually very well designed,
with two Brain Attack fire pieces in the lavaboard. He has six of the new
add-ons in gold, three 2.0 torso armors in red, and a very solid looking
backside with what could be another 2.0 torso armor. Mask looks pretty good,
very similar to the original Hau. The box art has his Golden Hau on a platform
similar to the one that the old mask on the display, but dripping lava. The
Skull spider in color might be in a different bright green as well.
Kopaka is literally cooler than ever in his bulky armor. He
has more trans blue bones, which can be seen connected to balljoint beams for
armor on BOTH HIS FRONT AND BACK (at the expense of the sides. He also has white
versions of the new add-on, brain attack torso, and larger size armor, plus a
shield which is composed of the same pieces as the lavaboard (but with trans
blue blade elements) and a spear.
Onua is a beast. He has the large Beast Feet, purple armor,
more golden add-ons, and a huge custom torso which could very well contain a
gear function (possibly indicated by some handles on his back.) He also has
some unique silver armor pieces, two of which combine to form his hammer. All
three large sets look to be very well suited for display, although we can’t yet
judge play.
Skull Kraata/LOSS is rather meh. The face looks pretty
cheesy. But, he looks like a gold mine for Glatorian necks and what might be
trans orange liftarms, plus the gold Skull-mask.
Earth protector has purple limbs. PURPLE LIMBS. If they are
trans purple that would be awesome. Like most Protectors he has a composite
torso, and his has the new stud launcher ingrained into it. He has a purple
version of the Protector Mask, and he has a trans purple mace, stone knife, and
grey versions of Bruizer’s add-ons.
Fire Protector has pretty short limbs, and trans orange
armors aren’t exactly knew. The trans hands are a plus, but for MOCers who use
custom limbs not really worth it. Custom torso (or Frost Beast torso) which
clearly visible Glatorian necks, silver/grey add-on, and partially molded
defender mask. Also, he seems to have a solid head underneath the mask.
Ice protector has two trans blue limbs, but so do some of
the Masters. Other pieces of interest include more white add-ons, white feet, a
trans blue saw, white mask, and blue Brain Attack element blade, but Kopaka
already has many of these.
Jungle protector shares Lewa’s weird coloration. Trans neon
green armors and the silver add-on have been seen before, but Keetorange limbs
and green blades might be worth it to some people.
Stone protector has more brown armors, trans yellow arms,
and silver add-ons. The brown mask and trans yellow Brain Attack blades set him
apart.
Lastly, the Water Protector. I might see a pair of dark blue
armors on her leg – which is a first. Also has azure Defender mask, translucent
turbine blades, and more trans bones, but the smaller kind seen on Splitter
beast.
