BIONICLE G2 Discussion Topic

My biggest disappointment is that it ended. That it never had the chance to go where it wanted to go and do what it wanted to do.

You can have whatever gripes you want about its execution, but I remain above all else thankful that it existed at all, and sad that it never got the chance to prove itself.

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Here are my complaints about Bionicle G2:

  1. I was disappointed in the lack of mask compatibility with the G1 or Hero Factory heads.

  2. I feel that the story was really rushed and unsatisfactory, especially toward the end.

  3. This is my biggest complaint: I am extremely disappointed that we never got an official Makuta set, and I have neither the time nor resources to meticulously scour Bricklink for all the required parts, then order a custom 3D-printed mask.

Anyways, what are your own complaints about G2?

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I can’t agree more. The biggest disappointment was that it ended too early… But I too am glad that it existed overall.

My biggest complaint would probably be LEGO’s lack of love and care for the theme.

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Alright, I know this has been said many times before, but this statement I find invalidated.

We all know the faults of G2, that much is plain. But to label those shortcomings as a lack of love of the theme on LEGO’s part? That’s probably a step too far.

Think about it this way: In 2015, LEGO already had its huge hits. Ninjago was still going strong, the LEGO Movie had just been released and the benefits were being reaped. LEGO was probably at its highest point in a long time. Now, bringing back a theme that had uncertain chances of being even moderately popular was a move they definitely didn’t have to make. Financially, they would have been more than okay to not do so, perhaps even better.

But they did anyway. And it’s clear to me the only reason they did was because they know how much Bionicle means to fans and they wanted to give it another shot.

Look at the set designers. Look at their research into G1. Look at their careful attention to detail to adapt old characters. Look at their hints at the Vahi. Look at the contests they ran. Look at the games they had developed. Look at their response to criticism with the 2015 sets into 2016. Look at the stories and comics they had written, look at the massive art book. Look at the Netflix show they had made.

Look at the sincere apology letter they had to write for the second time.

Blame it on whatever you want, the higher-ups, the money, the lack-luster marketing. But from my standpoint, there were people on this project who did everything in their power to make it special for us, and for me it’s unfair to deem their work invalid just because it didn’t go the way we all wanted it to.

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That it ended the year before I got back into Bionicle.

The people who worked on it did their job, I won’t deny that. The set designers did their job. The story writers did their best with the budget they were given. What I define as “lack of love and care”, is that they simply didn’t care enough for the theme. Bionicle was their biggest property, and it still is to this day. Instead of treating like that, they put less effort into it than into Chima and Nexo Knighs, which had a full TV Show, and a satisfying marketing push. G2 had none of that. .
If they really cared, they would have at least gave it what Chima and Nexo Knighs got, which was obviously not the case. Not to mention, they also released the Star Wars buildable figures at the time, which proved to be a pretty big competitor for it. Also, it’s weird how they continued for two more years after G2 was cancelled.
So, again, I would agree that G2 has it’s merits, but my problem is mainly with the higher-ups, which didn’t care as much as the actual people behind it.

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That’s the thing, though, the reason they didn’t is because it never was their biggest theme. Yes, it was once really big, but to those higher-ups that’s all ancient history.

LEGO’s biggest claim to fame at the time of G2’s release was the LEGO Movie. It’s what skyrocketed them into the number one toy company position within a year. The sales from that movie and its merchandise alone was probably more appealing to the suits upstairs than a long-cancelled franchise with no certain chances of success.

But LEGO isn’t made of those suits. Yes, it’s run by them, but to me the heart and soul of the company lies in its employees, the ones spending their every day actually doing the work to make these lines happen. And personally, I think too many people tend to confuse the blame and wind up cursing those passionate people alongside the ones who are just worried about the bottom-line.

I know you aren’t one of those people, but I know they exist, and my messages here are mostly directed to them. But my ultimate message, and my ultimate stance, is now and always will be that I am thankful, and thankful most especially to those people who did put all their passion and love into the project.

So rather than sit and gripe about mask incompatibility or rushed endings, I prefer to remember fondly the moments I spent reliving my childhood, even if it was short-lived.

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I mean, these aren’t really unpopular opinions and a majority of the community I feel, feels similarly with the exception of the mask compatibility, the new system that allows you to flick their masks off is quite cool in my opinion.[quote=“LegoDavid, post:878, topic:23000”]
Bionicle was their biggest property, and it still is to this day.
[/quote]

This is a cherry-picked piece of information, there are numerous sources siting it as Starwars, Bionicle is their biggest original IP but during the time G2 was around, Ninjago was significantly more popular with lego fans seeing as a good Bionicle set had not been around since 2009. A 6 year gap is significant enough for the popularity to ■■■■■ and as Lego is a company it will want to adjust it’s product to suit the trend.

I do actually agree with you here, Bionicle had rich storytelling and world building ready to go, the teams behind it clearly had put a lot of time and effort into it whereas Nexo knights got a show and marketing off the bat. Perhaps Lego simply wanted to market the castle theme more.[quote=“PakariNation99, post:879, topic:23000”]
So rather than sit and gripe about mask incompatibility or rushed endings, I prefer to remember fondly the moments I spent reliving my childhood, even if it was short-lived.
[/quote]

A wise statement.

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It’s cool in a way, but that also makes them way to easy to fall off: I almost lost the Mask of Control because of that.

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I for one love the mask system. G2’s may have been my favorite. Each mask felt really cool just to hold in your hand or squash over your finger. Switching them out felt super satisfying with how quick and simple it was, even if they easily fell off.

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It should’ve never been made! The theme sold horrifically, kids were never exposed to it and fans were never given a reason to get it, it doesn’t feel like Bionicle and that’s not just because of the designs, they weren’t given the proper story treatment

They could’ve changed up the masks and called them Hero Factory and even used the same story! No one would’ve noticed a difference

At least ut gave us lots of good pieces: it’s bad, but just think how many things wouldn’t have existed without it!

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I don’t believe this is true. What would have kept it alive for four waves if it sold “horrifically?”

I didn’t even like Bionicle when it came back and I knew about it. Sure, I probably wasn’t the target audience, but I wasn’t much older than that.

There were plenty of reasons. The sets were fantastic, and it’s Bionicle! Besides, people buy things for different reasons. Maybe what you were looking for wasn’t given, but that shouldn’t be forced over the “fans.”

What exactly did Bionicle feel like then? Are you referring to the design, which changed and evolved in G1 dramatically across every year, or the story, which changed in both mood and tone crazily from start to finish? Everything Bionicle is has changed, even in the age of G1. Saying something doesn’t fit but not pointing out 2008 for doing the same thing is not exactly fair. Then again, this is a topic about unpopular opinions.

As a HeroFactory fan, I guarentee you I would have noticed. “Since when has the helmets been an important story? Why are they gold? Who are these weird villager guys? Who on Quatros is this brown guy? Nex? Where’s Rocka, or Evo? Why is Surge turquoise and why does he look like a girl? What happened to Breez’s lime? Is this actually HeroFactory?”

^Just a few of the many questions I would have asked.

I, for one, loved G2. The story wasn’t very good, but the sets I adore. Minus a few. I’m very happy it existed.

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Four waves, supposed to last for six, I saw the sets for ages afterwards

G1 was well exposed but tell me about all the tv G2 adverts

You can slap the name Bionicle on but it doesn’t mean it’s the same thing

Where’s the lore? Where’s the stories? Where are the interesting characters?

You have a point

What I meant was that it’s only similarities to Bionicle were character names, and powers

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Actually, the masks all have some design feature taken from some of the G1 masks.
At least, the Masters. The Uniters were a bit more unique.

There are loads of interesting characters, all developed in books and comics. I actually read one last night.
The protectors were developed fairly well, as well as a few individual characters.
If it wasn’t for the short life of the setline, it probably would have gone into more detail.

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Here’s the thing

The set line life wasn’t short because ‘lego hated it’ it was short because it clearly didn’t sell!

Still, if it sold as poorly as you make it sound, I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did. Plus, LEGO would have blatantly lied in a way that would have helped them gain no more sales.

The[quote=“TheOnlyGuyWhoLikesMistika, post:886, topic:23000”]
G1 was well exposed but tell me about all the tv G2 adverts
[/quote]

I can’t; I didn’t have cable. However, I do know that they existed.

I’d hope so, there’s gotta be something about copyright on that

Yes, but G2 still has a lot of similarities to G1, more than you’re giving it. However, a reboot needs to break free from its predecessor, hence the differences in design.

They’re there. You may not like them, they may not be as good as you remember G1’s being, but that doesn’t make it not Bionicle.

Plus the importance of masks, setting, mood, collectability, and language. Everything else that changed should be expected in a reboot.

I think you should add “well” behind “sell.”

You make it sound like no one wanted Bionicle back. You make it sound like no one liked the sets. I can assure you that this isn’t true.

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It’s not that I didn’t like the sets but 2 years instead of the planned 3? That’s not just selling poorly, that’s selling terribly! It couldn’t even last 3 years!

It sold worse than Nexo Knights!

Okay, it lasted as long as Chima and Nexo Knights.

You’re assuming far too much. There is more than one reason to cancel something.

From what I hear on a separate topic, LEGO announced that it sold average, but they wanted to cancel it to keep from saturating the theme. That isn’t a lack of care; that’s an abundance of it. They care so deeply for the them that they are keeping it from themselves until they are ready to have it back.

This is just a theory I read that I absolutely love. At heart, I am an optimist, which may be why I appreciate G2 so deeply. What I’m getting it is that you can’t judge how well something sells by how long it lasts, or Solo’s turnout would have killed IX.

Really? I recall four waves for them, too.

Years with sets produced

Nexo knights
2015-2018

Chima
2013-2015

G2
2015-2016

That’s a theory with little to no evidence and if I was working at Lego I’d never bring it back, it had it’s time [quote=“ToaNoah_Wafflemeister, post:891, topic:23000”]
This is just a theory I read that I absolutely love. At heart, I am an optimist, which may be why I appreciate G2 so deeply. What I’m getting it is that you can’t judge how well something sells by how long it lasts, or Solo’s turnout would have killed IX.
[/quote]

IX isn’t doing too well after Solo’s failure but even still, it’s saying ‘Solo’s failure won’t cause the failure of Solo 2’