Return Home News Reference Discussion Forums
Welcome,
BZPower Guest
.

Login | Register | Retrieve Password



Site Links
    - Forums Reference
    - Become a Member
    - Premier Membership
    - Timeline
    - Set Database
    - Parent's Guide
    - Collectibles
    - Good Guys
    - Bad Guys
    - Mythology
    - Story Sources
    - Official Greg Discussion
    - Product Reviews
    - Tool Kit
    - Wild Kraata Colors
    - BZPowercast
    - Mata Nui Translater
    - History of Bionicle
    - Accessories
    - Games
  • About BZPower
  •     - Staff
        - Site History
        - Contact Us

    Discuss This Story ReviewWednesday, December 28th, 2005 at 7:55pm by Andrew, BZPower News Manager
    [Source: Janus]

    Continuing the revival of set reviews for 2006, we bring you a detailed review of Voya Nui Matoran Velika. We all owe a huge thanks to BZP Forum Leader Janus for finding time to write up this excellent look at one of the new sets for 2006. Now without further delay, I give you the review. Enjoy!

    THE BOX
    The the most superficial part of any LEGO product, but the one that often determines whether or not the set is a success or failure.

    Velika Box 1

    I adore this new box style, to put it quite bluntly, it�s genius.

    The black border up at the top creates a good stark contrast to the primarily white box, and also displays the word �BIONICLE� (plus it has that awesome portrait of Velika himself). The piece count, recommended age, and set number are all displayed in the bottom corner, and the Voya Nui background along with the mud splatters look very, very interesting. Obviously a large picture of Velika himself dominates the foreground (plus the angled black stripes look wicked).

    As mentioned in Kex�s review of Piruk, the side of the box now displays a second portrait of Velika, and the Kanoka club points for this set (as an added note, the boxes are now much deeper in comparison to the Rahaga boxes).

    Velika Box 2

    The back has an interesting display of Voya Nui itself with six different points highlighted (we�re unsure of what they are currently). As another neat point there�s a transparent circle around Velika which sets him aside from the others (I�d imagine it�s the same for each other Matoran).

    Quite a funky new box.

    WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
    So you've bought it and taken it home (or at least made it to the car), punched the perforated tabs and dump out the contents.  What do you get for your money?

    Velika Box 3

    Slim pickins� here, inside of this neat new box we get:

    • The unbagged Toa Whenua weapons
    • The instructions (as well as combiner instructions, a first!)
    • The bagged pieces

    THE BRICKS
    Here's where we start to cut to the heart of the matter.  You didn't buy this box for all the glossy booklets & creative artwork.  You want to know about the LEGO bricks & bits that are included, and what (if any) new & interesting parts you'll find inside.  Here's also where I'll talk about any new and/or interesing pieces that you will encounter.

    Velika Pieces 1

    There is NOTHING new here, nothing whatsoever. However some nice pieces are:

    • FOUR Toa Hordika necks
    • Two Toa Whenua weapons
    • One Great Komau (Found only on Toa Onewa)

    Now a lot of people are complaining about the lack of new pieces, but personally it�s worth it just to be able to get the mask without buying a Toa!

    BUILDING EXPERIENCE
    What can you expect while putting this model together?

    Velika Set 1

    It took me less than three minutes to build this guy, as is expected there�s nothing super complex but when you buy something this size if you�re looking for a complex or fun build, I�d likely call you crazy. It�s quick and simple and then you get your figure.

    Velika Set 2

    One minor note, as can be seen there�s no eyepiece in the Toa Metru head, as it would interfere with the Bohrok foot which composes his body, a disappointment, but oh well.

    PLAYING EXPERIENCE
    So you've got the model together, but is it more like playing with a block of wood or an interactive toy?

    Velika Set 3

    Surprisingly this guy is awesome, no new gimmick, no new pieces, just solid ingenuity. This is the most posable small set ever. Turaga? Nowhere near, Bohrok Va? Nope, 2003 Matoran? �Fraid not. 2004 Matoran? Not today my friend. Rahaga? Gettin� there, but still not quite.

    Velika Set 4

    Velika has NINE points of articulation, almost unheard of for a set so small!

    You can capture some great poses out of this guy, and he looks ready to take on just about anything.

    OVERALL
    Here's where it all boils down to whether the model is worth your money and time or not.

    Velika Set 5

    As much as I hate to say it, I�m leery of recommending these�as they can be built with existing pieces they�re really only for completists and MOCers. Though fun, they can easily be constructed at home, so unless you�re in need of pieces, or you just gotta have that new box (and who can blame you!) I�d stay away from here.

    And now for the fight of the Century! Velika Vs. Toa Whenua, only one can bear the drills!

    Discuss This Story

    « Return to News

    LEGO® and BIONICLE are trademarks of the LEGO Group. BZPower is not authorized or endorsed by TLG. All non-LEGO images & contents are copyright BZPower.com and are not authorized or approved by the LEGO Group. BZPower.com logo & graphic design are copyrights of the owners of this site. ©2001-2024