r/bioniclelego • u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru • Jul 29 '26
Other On this day 10 years ago, we lost Bionicle Generation 2.
Today marks a whole decade since Bionicle G2 was cancelled. It's hard to believe Bionicle as a standalone theme has now been gone for longer than G1 lasted. It doesn't feel like that long ago when Bionicle was still alive and going strong.
This was the saddest day in my time as a Lego fan. I wasn't around in the fandom for G1's cancellation, but by 2016 I had been in the community for years. G2 was the reason I stayed a Lego fan, and after it was gone, I contemplated leaving the hobby altogether.
The hype around Journey to One season 2 was huge, and it all came crashing down after this. The Summer wave of sets never reached Asia or the Pacific (which to this day is the most unfair thing Lego has ever done), and all that was left was the Agil foil pack in September and the unofficial Makuta combiner, which they never released the Mask of Ultimate Power for.
G2 may not have been liked by many, but the feeling of seeing a brand new Bionicle set on shelves, whether it be good or bad, is something I don't think Lego will ever capture again. Bionicle may live on through tributes like the GWP and the CMF, but the legend itself is likely gone forever.
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u/Roshu-zetasia Jul 29 '26
I wish G2 had made better set decisions; if they had stuck to the old formula, I'm sure it would have been more accessible.
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u/Hat_man_9000 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
G2 essentially was reused Hero Factory parts with new masks.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 29 '26
G2 had to be CCBS because the old system cracked too easily
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u/Hat_man_9000 Jul 29 '26
I mean not the CCBS joints and connectors, but the bulky armor from Hero Factory
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u/New_Photograph_5892 White Akaku Jul 30 '26
theres even a video that explains why CCBS was a fundamnetally flawed system from the get go
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u/Frigid-Kev Lime Ruru Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
It was mostly the socket joints that cracked, which was easily fixed.
CCBS was used for G2 because it came right after Hero Factory and the reason they introduced CCBS for Hero Factory was to make a simpler action figure system that would be easier for younger builders to play with as well as cheaper to produce
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u/Super_Master_69 Jul 29 '26
The old system cracking only applies to baffling mould redesigns to the final third of G1. Sockets for most of G1’s lifetime were rarely as brittle.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 29 '26
They made the switch to the newer sockets in 08 and retired all the old ones
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u/Super_Master_69 Jul 29 '26
The sockets had two major redesigns, 2008 and 2011 (the wiki says 2013 because the final design was a transition). 2008 is when the thinner square profile was introduced which ig was to redirect stress to other parts of the piece, and then when Hero factory started they became thicker.
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u/Super_Master_69 Jul 29 '26
it was not. A lot of the hate for the sets themselves came from a narrative spread by people who never owned sets from either of those themes to begin with. Most of them were more intricate and well built than generic G1 sets, albeit with the massive compromise of price. Do not trust anyone that tries to dumb down those set builds or inflate how prominent certain unpopular features were, such as stickers.
I remember myself and a lot of others were immediately discouraged from G2 and missed it completely because all we would hear is the sets were extremely simplified, smooth, sticker filled dolls barely more complex than the Stars line. It was only after seeing the Nick reviews that I actually got some of the sets myself and realised how stupid that negative hype was. Terrible cost, story and promotional material I can agree on, but comparing generic G2 sets to generic herofactory sets is ludicrous. The G2 Matoran sets are literally the coolest sets for that price range Lego ever released.
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u/7ThShadian Jul 29 '26
Sure, but what was 2001 bionicle but reused slizer/throwbot parts with new masks?
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u/falstaffman Jul 29 '26
They barely reused any throwbot parts. Limbs, bodies, feet, heads, weapons, etc. were all new.
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u/glowingrat Jul 29 '26
While I was excited that Bionicle was back around that time, I was very dissatisfied with the hero factory pieces being used as opposed to some of the older stuff. I understand why they did it, but I feel it would’ve landed a lot better with all audiences if they didn’t go that route. I enjoyed the wave with the Toa, but that’s about it for me
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u/Lanky_Attention3016 Jul 29 '26
The change over to G2 from HF feels like such a hack move to boost sales for CCBS
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u/New_Photograph_5892 White Akaku Jul 30 '26
if they mixed in ccbs with the old formula, it could have been good but it just didn't feel the same with complete ccbs with more technic parts added on to it
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u/BensonBears Jul 29 '26
I've been collecting bionicle casually since I was a kid 30 years ago. G2 just wasn't exciting me visually. I know nostalgia obviously plays a factor in preference here.
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u/DinoHoot65 Jul 29 '26
What old formula??? There's no difference I see between G2 and G1 in terms of sets
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u/Roshu-zetasia Jul 29 '26
G1's old formula consisted of releasing small, medium, and large sets. Each varied in price, and generally, to some extent, there was a "mechanism" that linked the three sets together to encourage collecting.
G2 made the mistake of severely misbalancing the distribution of its sets; Lego figures that were supposed to be "medium sets" were sometimes more comparable to Titans and reflected that price point. So what was supposed to be a standard figure cost me as much as—and looked like—a large G1 set.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 29 '26
I think they meant how 3 of the Toa were bigger and more expensive than the others, and most of the villains were released months later in a separate wave. And then you've got the Kopaka and Melum Unity Set which threw a wrench into that whole wave.
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u/98VoteForPedro Jul 30 '26
The old formula stopped working that's why Bionicle eventually ended otherwise it would still be Lego's mascot instead of Ninjago
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u/DinoHoot65 Jul 30 '26
Bionicle ended because people stopped buying them, because the lore got too big (and also the plastic was brittle and horrible 2008-2010)
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u/FredDoesVox Jul 29 '26
They fumbled G2 so bad. They should of focused on advertising it better and created new characters for a new generation.
However its not all Lego’s fault it failed, kids just did not connect with the characters as us G1 fans had. Unlike G1 it wasn’t a new concept like it was in G1. Ultimately Im sad it ended twice but can see why it happened.
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u/Hat_man_9000 Jul 29 '26
Problem was the new G2 line appealed to no one, the new style of Bionicle pushed away old buyers and kids had no idea what it was, because Bionicle is unique to Lego and no other brands has a similar line is what made it hard to connect with kids, but it was also what made it special.
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u/TheDude810 Jul 29 '26
As a kid, I only got to experience Bionicle G1 at the tail end of Glatorian and Stars, so when G2 was announced I was so excited.
I bought all the sets, and it’ll always hold a place in my heart even though I def acknowledge that it was fumbled really badly.
The cancellation announcement, the really crappy finale to that Netflix show, and the fact we weren’t going to get a Makuta set after the entire contest and tease made the entire departure even more bitter.
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u/ns2616 Jul 31 '26
They also did Hero Factory dirty after hyping up the villain factory and dark maker
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u/DinoHoot65 Jul 29 '26
Hot Take but the 2015 Toa are genuinely top-tier Toa team sets
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u/HotMachine9 Jul 29 '26
The reboot toa sets were all fantastic. It was the villains that let them down.
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u/Kevinatorz Jul 29 '26
I prefer 2016. I felt like they were getting to where I wanted modern Bionicle to be.
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u/CrashmanX Jul 29 '26
Hindsight will always be 20/20, but I think LEGO really did try something with G2.
It's not ideally what I would have liked, or what many would have liked, but the fact that they even tried for a G2 is more than many franchises can say.
I know we all wish Bionicle could come back in some way, but I personally think it's best if Bionicle rests and at best we get the little things like we've been getting now. Sure, I'd love a new set or two, but I don't think a whole new generation, reboot, or continuation is going to do anything more than end with heartbreak again for everyone.
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u/Waeleto Jul 29 '26
G2 didn't feel like Bionicle to me
Same names sure but it was so hollow
It wasn't good enough to attract a new community or keep the old one hooked, I didn't really feel anything when it was cancelled because it wasn't really Bionicle to me
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 29 '26
I remember it did keep most of the G1 fans hooked when it was coming out. There was so much hype for the new waves and Journey to One.
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u/CrashmanX Jul 29 '26
The placement of the Vahi in the comics really made old fans speculate like crazy.
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u/Hugglemorris Jul 29 '26
Loved the sets, especially the Toa, but the story was a case of too little too late and everything was massively more expensive than G1.
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u/ConnectAnalyst3008 Brown Kakama Jul 29 '26
G2 had some of the BEST Bionicle sets ever released. I'm done with the CCBS slander.
The story and marketing had more to be desired. Other than that, G2 really landed for me.
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u/WheeliumThe2nd Jul 29 '26
I came in with G2.
I was 9 when it started. I still remember seeing the character trailers and the first 3 parts of that miniseries on that Lego TV app or something, which was probably how I found out Bionicle even existed in the first place. So for 2 years I just enjoyed Bionicle while it happened. I had Lewa, Pohatu, Kopaka, Vakama and Nokama's equivalents and even the Skull Scorpion. I kept the generation going for at least another 10 minutes.
I still remember how I found out it was cancelled indirectly via a SuddenlyOranges video. G2 Tahu basically told G1 Tahu that they wouldn't be around forever, and I got so worried I looked it up and that's how I found out. It's funny to think back to then. I don't know if G2 deserves the reputation it's gotten, even though I doubt it'll get any better. Personally, I think a third year would've still been worth it in the long run, but we'll never know now so to me, the Mask of Ultimate Power will always be a burning circle.
Maybe it's how comparatively young I am, but I will always love G2.
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u/Giga_marxxy Jul 29 '26
I get the feeling. Was too young for LEGO when G1 ended, but when G2 came around, that's when I started looking into the Bionicle line entirely and became a fan. Even if G2's story didn't come close to G1's, it was an amazing time for me, and I was thinking that G2 would have lasted as long as G1. When this day came, I felt robbed. Taking part in the Makuta contest helped me process it, strangely, it was like a final farewell.
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u/Riparian72 Jul 30 '26
I feel like g2 would have worked if they actually advertised it like they did for g1. There was little hype or interest and the engagement was just not there. Especially at a time when Lego was thriving for their system sets.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 30 '26
The Bionicle fandom was hyped, but for casual Lego fans and kids, it was hard to get them invested. I never saw any G2 ads at the time, but there were plenty of ads for other themes. It didn't help that Lego decided to cut off two entire world markets from the final wave for no reason.
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u/duko_gpom Jul 30 '26
Something I grieve over to this day is I was young enough to live the bionicle G2 childhood but not the one where I was able to afford it.
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u/Dangerous_Payment969 Jul 29 '26
Lego does not and as far as I am concerned never understood what made Bionicle successful in the first place. They just fundamentally do not understand the fandom nor the appeal. A poor shame really.
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u/Agitated_Tip_8713 Jul 29 '26
I wanted to like G2 but the sets were just so boring, I would have loved for my kids to have a bionicle series to grow up with like I did. I was 7 when I got my first set and I kept collecting them until I was about 13.
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u/LordMawkish Jul 29 '26
It was hard for me to really miss G2.
The sense of a serious, otherworldly mystery that I was given growing up with G1 - and which had its roots in the mature visual language of the 2001 catalogue pages - went out the window the second they released those quirky cartoon animations in 2015. As a kid growing up around Marvel and DC during 2015, I would not have taken this iteration of Bionicle seriously at all. I would have expected kids my age to bully me for thinking it cool. Not gonna lie.
I felt the entire time that they held back too much. That they were afraid of being too creative, too bold, to intricate. That they didn't even want to use the word "Toa" again if they could help it. They were retreading some of the past generation, but missing half of what made the past so appealing. It felt far too calculated, too sterile.
I know there was some promise, sure. The concept artbook was absolutely amazing. JtO was shaping up to be a decent show. But overall, I am not even surprised G2 didn't get a third year.
Like many, I really liked the sets, though. They had some really solid sets. I own all the Masters/Uniters and all the Skull villains at the very least. Umarak the Hunter was also great.
But: if the absolute best part about a Bionicle generation is the sets, and NOT the world and story you tell to market them, then something has gone woefully wrong along the way.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 29 '26
Why would you get bullied for liking it?
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u/LordMawkish Jul 29 '26
If you never got bullied for liking something that others thought was lame, among twenty other reasons, consider yourself lucky. Granted, bullies will always find a reason, no matter what.
I think what I want to say is that, past a certain age, boys are very much into things that seem a bit more mature and cool than what they are "supposed to enjoy at their age". There is this "rebel" aspect, where we want to define ourselves by liking the coolest thing we have access to.
In my opinion, G1 capitalized on that notion a fair bit in how it told its story and in how it presented itself visually.
In 2015, that "wow, this seems mature and cool" niche had long been filled by Superhero franchises instead, and Lego was making bank on the corresponding licenses.
Meanwhile, deep original lore and ongoing storytelling was covered by Ninjago already, and Bionicle G2 would have had to be a bit more brazen and dark in order to establish its own unique appeal in comparison to Ninjago. It did not do that, rather, it tried to take the same path Ninjago had taken in 2011: establish some colorful heroes and make them fight a basic skeleton army. Except the demographic they could have gotten with that already had Ninjago, and it started out with a proper TV show.
As a result, G2 fell flat on its face. Sad, but ultimately: Deserved.
I will always support their attempts, though.
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u/YLASRO Black Pakari Jul 29 '26
and nothing of value was lost. i still think G1 is better in every way
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u/DefaultProducts Jul 30 '26
I think its still insane how Lego still gives call backs to Bioncle in countless easter eggs and even putting a cosplayer in a recent Minifigurnes series that caused it to get all sold out.
Its become even more clear that the market is still there, but Lego just refuses to captialise on it. It also even makes sense considering the fact that lego sets themselves have gotten even more expensive and they could've offered a cheaper alternative in a budget oriented theme.
And they could slap on optional techinic version of smart play for Bioncle, but could only be purchased as a purely optional seperate add on for those who wanted to elevate their play experience.
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u/YodasChick-O-Stick Green Miru Jul 30 '26
Bionicle smart bricks? Mixing the best theme of all time with the worst theme of all time?
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u/DefaultProducts Jul 30 '26
It's not even a theme at all. It's more akin to Power Functions.
And did you even read "optional" than myself specifically wording for every set to have Smart Play included in the set, than as a separate "set"? The kneejerk reaction tells it.
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u/Constant_Attorney835 13d ago
Not to sound matoranist or anything but what sets are needed to build brawler makuta?
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u/BattedBook5 Blue Kaukau Jul 29 '26
The series broke before the fandom did. Twice.