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.