Set review: 8981 - Tarix
This is a set released during the first season of 2009, part of the Glatorian subtheme. Now there are the newest Bionicle sets (Glatorian Legends) that also take the same role in the plot of the year (some of them even appear in the new movie, including Tarix). As a set, Tarix includes 57 pieces, and use the same style of building of the Inika sets (style that was started in 2006).

First of all, to review a Bionicle set, we need first understand what Bionicle sets are (this will clarify the things for who don't understand the theme). They are Buildable action figures, that used to have manual functions (as results of complex Technic construction), most of them through gears. It stopped sometime between 2005 and 2006 (the Visorak do included some functions, though they had no gears, and the Hordika had few functions/gears). Since then, Bionicle stopped to innovate in main pieces/building, to innovate with what it already had (bodies/limbs/head...).

As for now, it got re-used parts (what was already expected - it is something common in every Lego theme), and now it have some pieces designed firstly for one use (weapons/helmets), as they now focus in design, and also because without those pieces, the sets wouldn't take personality (it don't means the pieces have no other uses, it is something that depends very much in MOCing ability). The set I'll review, Tarix, is one of the sets that is included in this category.

Pieces
The pieces are most re-uses, though that, this is one of the three canister sets that have long Dark blue connectors, and the best choice to get them (the other is Gali [8688], a really poor set, compared to this; and Gelu, that is one of the most re-used sets ever, that have pretty much the same body as Tarix). The newest pieces are the hands, the head, and the head connector. The head is completely translucent, unfortunately (and it is really small). The hands are too big for the head alone, though that, it is nice in design. The connector of the head is very useful, and discards any Av-Matoran/Agori Body.

The exclusive pieces here are the Water Blades (Though asymmetrical and dual-colored, they are fantastic!) and his helmets. Both of those pieces feature an elemental feel of water. Again, something that was missing since the first Toa sets (from 2007 to now, the Toa sets looked like more armored soldiers than elemental warriors). It is a very good improvement that the set designers did.

Construction:
As I explained before, it have re-used parts and re-used techniques of building, as it is following the padrons that Lego decided to give for the theme (now every regular theme has it, just look at City - the limit of size is over 6 studs). But anyways, it still has memorable innovations. The color scheme and the body armor (not that great innovation, but a nice add that was lacking for other "Inika-building" sets), for example.

Design:
The silver and golden colors add a royal feel to the set. Without silver, it look like there is something missing, as the mask is attached to a silver tube, that is directly connected to the silver life counter (which only good use here is like as a "bag" or as source for a Metru chest piece, because the action figure game adds nothing).

Different of what some people think, the color scheme is one of the best in the history of the theme, ever. We get Blue again (that was missing since a great time), with a Dark Blue body (which reminds very well a uniform). The hands and feet were the best place for the blue color (it reminds me gloves/shoes, showing a bit more realistic disposition of colors, another point that was missing in some sets before and even after this).

The "royal" colors are also nice additions. The critics against those are really pointless. If it is one of those colors that "frustrates", it is so easy to take it out from the set. As I said before, the silver is mixed very well; though there are few parts with this color (it includes even those "horns" in the armor, which are actually system pieces).

Playability:
As a Buildable action figure, of course it gets an awesome playability. Me and a lot of Bionicle fans would like to have functions once again in the sets, but anyways, it is good as it is (and for what it was made). There are like 13 point of articulation. The only thing that frustrates is the Thornax (the major con of the set). It is only useful as a source of pieces, besides that, it is just bad placed and makes the design of the set worst (it just serves for the action figure game that really don't add much things).

Overall:
Tarix is a great addition to any Bionicle collection. Comparing to the recent sets, he stays in the top, as one of the best choices (I would say Vorox still better, as I am a great fan of brown/tan Bionicle). The 2009 canister sets marks for Lego a reproaching to the first elemental sets (as for exclusive designed parts and for the color schemes), while keeping the same building and re-used parts (what is more common in Glatorian Legends sets, as example, Mata Nui and Gelu). Buying this set alongside with Kiina and Berix is a great choice also. Recommended for Bionicle fans, just like me (2001ites will probably enjoy the colors, so it is recommended for them also!).
5/5!

Introduction

This Castle set is very different in comparison with some current sets (as a main difference, I can say that this is not a castle, but a village, which can expand the subject of Castle and aggregate it to other themes, like Town). It is possibly one of the best sets of the theme, and includes a great number of parts and mini figures, which will be discussed during the review. It was a much awaited launch in 2009, and really is a pity that it's distribution is limited to countries with Shop at Home. I got my exemplar of this set from UK, and I received it in March. Unfortunately this set will not be available in my country. I separated the review in four main parts, to be easier to read. They are Pieces, Construction, Design and Playability.

Pieces

The pieces are very important factors to the set's final rate. There are 1601 pieces in total, a very good range, allowing to build castles, houses, and so on. The price for it isn’t very cheap, but worth, it can even be considered "few" for the contents the set includes. The price per piece is very tempting to buy the set. It also has some very interesting colors such as Dark Brown, Pearl Gold, Medium Blue, and others like Tan and Dark Red, more common with the modular houses or exclusives sets.

As a Castle set, it is important to always have accessories for the knights and to the inhabitants of the village. For the knights, there are a regular number of weapons: three spears, an axe, a lance, and two helmets, one for each knight.

Other accessories that come in good quantity in the set are baskets, barrels, cups / chalices and the new pieces of fire, (which are curved flames). Other examples of interesting objects are: a brush, a plate, a carrot and two knives. This set also has cool parts such as apples, fish, a chest (with coins), a rat, and turkey (which is rare to see complete, as in this set). There is also a great quantity of parts of plants (14 of them!) to make the tree. But I think they could also be used as vegetation in another way, besides the tree that will be reviewed later.

There will be used many common pieces for the structures of the houses, like bricks, plates, round bricks and round plates. As mentioned before it have interesting colors, but the most useful with this set are gray and dark gray (technically speaking, Light Bluish Gray and Dark Bluish Gray), included in many different types of pieces. There have a good quantity of bricks, some like the part listed as 30137 in Bricklink and it's derivatives, that are modified bricks which influence the design very well. The brown pieces (Reddish Brown) are included in large numbers. I believe that if those parts are applied to normal and lower houses, they may acquire a Western Sets' style.

For the roof, many black slope pieces are used. And to keep them, there are many arches. As an essential part as well, there are many columns. There is the presence of a ladder and a door, and more than one type of windows, which is a nice addition. The set includes even "vehicle mudguards”, that are plates / bricks with small arches commonly used in today’s cars and truck sets. Though included in a small number, they’re very useful and have interesting and great uses for the design (although they were already used with some modular houses, so don’t being that new in building of houses).

The water wheel has a new piece (64566), which I believe can have many uses. Other news are the cows. They have a brown a little different than the bricks that are placed in their back, but nothing that affects a lot. The pieces of horn are very interesting. The only thing that comes to interfere a bit is the fact that they are smaller than the horse (also included in this set).

But beyond these common and rare pieces, there is what to say about the mini figures. Two knights, a blacksmith, a merchant, two women and two young (one of them have smaller legs, just like as in mini figures of dwarves). Three have the same body, and the knight have the costumes / armor of the knights from the Fantasy Era (sometimes known as Crown Knights). But all have distinct characteristics, from hair to faces (eg, the same hair of Agent Trace is included in this set). And all represent well the medieval theme. Details on each of the minifigs are well balanced, which makes them useful for other themes as well, like in the City theme. One point I don’t like is the head with two faces. Such kind of head has become used many times and more commonly in various themes. Are indeed interesting, but it removes the possibility of use of other accessories than long hair and helmets. It isn’t good to put any hat in mini figures with it, or you may find a mouth "screaming" behind the head of it.

So, this set is a great source of parts. Rare and common parts, new parts, mini figures in a good number (it is a regular number if compared with some previous sets), useful accessories, and everything that will provide an excellent construction and excellent design. What could be better was the organization of the pieces, they don’t come in numbered bags, and the parts of minifigs comes mixed, which means that almost all bags must be opened, making you spend a large part of the time looking for parts instead of building. Therefore, I suggest building with your family. But it takes time, even more than a set with the same number of pieces. But I do not blame the pieces for this, they are all interesting, useful and well detailed.

Construction

Following the construction by the book of instructions, the first things to be built are the mini figures and parts from outside the house. Just like the market, the table on the outside and the tree, they are all very easy to build. I believe that there is no right way to put the flowers in the tree, because the instructions do not detail all the positions. So it’s the choice of who owns the set. The tree looks great, but the result of the building isn’t as positive. This isn’t due the design, but I think it is very fragile. It is normal that those plants seem small (or too "flat" to form a tree), but I think the biggest problem is the weakness of the plant and the trunk of the tree.

I think it is cool the presence of a stand of arms, though small (perhaps as small as an impulse set?), it adds more content to the set. Something really cool are three animals that can be done in a simple and fast building, with few pieces (would it be a chicken, a duck and a rooster?). This is great because it reminds a bit of set 375, where the horses were made entirely of pieces.

Both houses are made from 2 plates (or combination of plates) for each side / part of them. The first to be built (a tan house, it isn’t that yellow as the description of S@H describes it), have a blacksmith’s shop in it’s ground floor. On the outside there is a water wheel, which have a building that was very well thought. As it moves, with a piece of propeller, a hammer can be moved well to a sword (as if shaping it after being forged in the furnace side).

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bottom, there is not much content as this would be a stable for horses. So far, the construction of the ground floor is in most parts of arches, for internal playability. The connection between the two parts are connected by connector bricks, and above, by connector plates. In the other floor, the construction involves the most common parts, the windows and a fireplace connected directly outside the building for a chimney. And finally, after some details (such as mudguards), begins the construction of the roof, supported by internal arches. It may seem very simple the construction of this part, but you must note the smallest details for the use of correct parts. It would be somewhat easier if the parts were adequately separated in numbered bags. After that, just add the rest of the chimney and the building of that house is finished. Then, just have to include the final details (flares, a table and a chair inside the house).

The house which predominant color is medium blue have the building’s first steps very similar. But the bottom of the house is more closed, and has a door and some windows (two are fragile, as they are connected by only 2 studs). From above also has a fireplace connected to the main building, and as differences with comparison with the another house, this has different positions of the main windows, and there is only one kind of window on this floor. Instead of a space for a water wheel, there is a space for a staircase. There is no door to this floor, something that could be really good. But anyways, the stair railing and the top of the stairs next to the entrance are very good at design. The roof again requires much attention. In this case, the arches didn’t connect themselves, but support the roof. It sometimes dismantles while it is being built, due a lack of firmness on the roof. Part of the roof becomes stronger after the plates are placed above. As in another house, it has a chimney, but when the house is open, it is in the middle of the structure. The interior is also very detailed, has a small table, a cupboard, a chair (which has no stud, and isn’t fixed on the floor) and a bed (though interesting, it has no studs, losing a bit of compatibility with the minifigs). On the ground floor there are details inside, like the barrels. This ground look like very well a tavern.

The building has some repetitions that are not true problems. The factor of open / close the houses are simple in construction, with only two connections in each home. The building certain times did not appear very strong (like the roof of the blue house) but is quite fun. I recommend that the building is done with family, due the problem of separation of parts, or else the building will continue for a long time to find the necessary parts.

The Design

the design of the houses (and of the objects and contents as well) is pretty cool. It's all in the European style of medieval times (I just don’t know about the pearl gold color... those houses might be from people of nobility.) So, I guess that it combine well with the old Castle sets (and even some new) and with a layout of Town (maybe like in an old town). The only "problems" in the design would be some objects out of scale, such as the size of the turkey (which is almost the size of the children mini figure) and of the cows, which are smaller than the horse. But anyway, I guess that is common to many LEGO sets (for example, search for images of books for mini figures and see what I'm talking about), but in some ways it’s good, because being bigger, the details will become clearer.

Playability

The Playability is fantastic! Has much to do in each of the houses! I think the playability couldn’t be better (with 8 minifigs, there is much to do!), and the set after it is built is strong enough (with the exception of the lower windows of the medium blue house and of the tree). It’s fun to play inside the house and even outside (eg. the detail of the water wheel). The tree is fragile, depending on how you hold part of it may fall. But nothing too bad, it is also good for the set. The houses are very resistant both as closed or opened.

Conclusion

It’s a fantastic set. The playability, construction, parts and design are great. Though it have few cons (like the fragility of the tree and the separation of pieces, which is a major con), it is certainly one of the best sets of the Castle theme ever made. In my opinion is the best of today’s castle sets. Even without the same modular system of the other Modular Houses, this set is one that will be very good to be near a medieval city or layout. 5/5 is the rate I give to this set. Highly recommended for fans of LEGO Castle but also for fans of any themes of LEGO!
Here are some links:

http://lugbrasil.com/forum/index.php?topic=1517.0 – For a complete review with pictures I made (it is written in Portuguese).

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=364806&n=0 – A Brickshelf Gallery with some pictures I took from the set.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

I don't rate collectibles (like spinners and disks) as 5/5 many times, but this, for now, is the best collectible (for Bionicle and even for other themes). It is very useful in many ways including Lego sets/creations. The spheres included in this pack include metallic colors, differently of the Piraka/Inika's spheres, that are commonly found in green, blue and yellow, and hardly found with red and dark green colours.

Different of what some people think, there are many ways to use it. Firstly, as an ammo for Bionicle figures (obviously), they are compatible with Thornax launchers, Midak Skyblasters, and the Zamor sphere launchers. But there are also other uses.

In a Castle set, as examples 7029 and 7041, it might be very good as ammo for catapults (though they look like way more cannonballs). And they are even used in Mars Mission sets (both them and their launchers). The Zamor Sphere Launchers might look very huge for normal vehicles, but as some of the MM's (and also Exo-Force) vehicles/machines are big, they become applicable.

And plus, they can be used as cargo for some City sets (trucks, trains and more), as they are not that heavy to dismantle them. And it still not confirmed, but the next version of Mindstorm sets (Nxt 2.0) might include some of those ammos. I'm not a specialist with Mindstorms, but there are ways to make a mindstorms NXT shoot Zamor Spheres (you might search for videos in youtube). They are used even for some GBC (Great Ball Contraption) Modules, and they do great results with it!

Knowing the many ways they can be used, there isn't how rate it less than five. It is the best of the Bionicle Collectibles, and would be very useful get sets like this one.

Today I got this set, that was still sealed in the polybag. It is very hard to find sets from ten years ago in the stores, actually, it can't be found at toy stores now, just in stores where are sold old toys. It costed like what an impulse set costs in the place where I live. I thought it would not worth very well, but actually it is like an impulse, but from the Adventurers theme, something very classic. And it have 18 pieces, very few, but it have even more pieces than some current impulses!

With this simple set, we can get some useful contents. A snake, one of the best minifigures from the theme (his name is Max Villano), a crystal, a bag, a pickaxe, a dynamite (in plate form, in the way it fits perfectly with minifig schale), a map, a hat and more.

So, most of the parts of the sets are itens for minifigures. The building isn't good with this, because the building is not the idea of the set. For playability it is good as well, the itens in this set can't be used by just one minifigure.

Now, with the Pirates theme again, I think TLG could take the idea of the raft (something simple to build) to make more impulses, something like this set. For what this set is, it is a 5/5. In my opinion, it is worth getting sets like this!

Malum is one of the most recent Bionicle sets, from the subtheme Glatorian. Although in the S@H description was said that he is an ally of Raanu, story wise it is wrong, as he was exiled from his village (Vulcanus) and now he wanders in the wastelands, and his only allies are the Vorox. Storyline apart, Raanu was designed with Malum, what makes him looks like more with Malum than Ackar, the next red canister set from the subtheme Glatorian Legends (that will be released summer 09).

As a canister set, this have an average number of pieces (but he is the Glatorian set with more pieces), 59. I'll not complain about this because I usually get sets with the prices up to three times the US' price, thereare just few cases when I get some sets from UK. But I honestly think it worth way more than Mistika sets like Krika, who have a bad piece count (40, close to a rip-off). Building is not good due to the few number of pieces, not for the pieces themselves, but the true objective of canister sets is playability instead of building.

The building is simple, the limbs are the same, the body is in the same design as 2006, and the armors are re-used. It have two useful pieces that connects the Thornax launcher and the head. For more details about the Thornax, check the reviews of other Glatorians that I made previously. As different and interesting things, there stands his shoulder armors (that actually are feet). And also his flame claws, with Visorak paw pieces connected at the top of the claws, which makes a good design, at least better than the flame claw pieces alone.

The Playability of the set is great too. Although he has the building of an Inika set, he is a bit smaller than a Toa Metru, not a perfect size, but a very good size to an action figure, at least as avariation to the repetitive figures. His armors are not the best, but are very good with the arms (what makes he look like strong, something that isn't common with the red characters), and move just a bit worst than Vorox's armors as shoulder armors, but not something very bad that makes it a con, also because it is the objective of the armors.

So, comparing with the other Glatorian sets, Malum doesn't have a good color scheme, the gray is very repeated (what make it useful, though), and it doesn't even combine well with the red and yellow (and also with the orange details). The building is simple, but he has a good playability for his size. The design, just like all the sets of this subtheme, is awesome. The helmet fits perfectly with his head, though it can't fit with any mask.

In overall, Malum is awesome. His playability is very good, his design is fantastic and the building is what we can expect for a regular sized set. So, Malum is unique. Also in the storyline, his characteristics and acts in the are something that we never had before in the Bionicle story. I don't think he is the best Glatorian set, but is a very good option, and the Glatorian with the best price per piece!