Sets/2008

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Sets
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Combiners and Alternate Models
Collectibles

2008 was the eighth year of BIONICLE sets.

History

The year 2008 marked a return to the typical release schedule for small sets, with six Matoran corresponding to the six canister sets released for the winter; for the first time, the Matoran packaging used more than cardboard, mixing it with plastic stalagmite/stalactite pieces.

Unlike previous years, the canister sets for the winter wave featured both the heroes and the villains, with three Toa (half of the returning Toa Nuva) facing off against three Makuta, all marketed under the same banner of "Phantoka". A large boxed set also saw wide release, depicting the "Toa" Ignika riding a Skyboard.

Two special-edition large box sets were also released in the winter, both of them villain characters: Icarax, with a geared action-feature arm, and Mutran & Vican, a Makuta with a Matoran that could be connected together like the standard canister and small sets.

In the summer, the canister sets contained the same hero/villain divide, with the other three Toa Nuva returning to face off against three more Makuta, this time known collectively as "Mistika". Like in the winter wave, the Matoran sets were advertised to connect to the canister sets, although with no story significance.

Though playsets did not make a return, the summer box sets featured large battle vehicles, each with a canister-sized figure riding it. Three vehicles - Vultraz, a Matoran figure and his included Skyfighter, Jetrax T6, and Axalara T9 - each included a Midak Skyblaster; another set, Rockoh T3, came with a repurposed Zamor Launcher. The last of the wide-release Titan sets depicted Takanuva in an enlarged form, and came with a Skyblaster and a new Kanohi Avohkii mold.

Two special-edition box sets were additionally released in the summer. The first was a brand-new model depicting the Matoran Mazeka and his turret vehicle, the Swamp Strider, which utilized a Zamor Launcher with multiple clips of ammunition. The second model was a recolor of the Jetrax T6 set, with yellow elements replacing the blue and silver ones.

A small promotional set also was included in the LEGO Magazine's "Brickmaster" initiative, featuring the Rahi klakk.

2008 saw the largest increase of price in sets (the cost of the canister sets rose from $9.99 USD to $12.99 USD coinciding with the release of the Mistika in July[1][2]) in the U.S. since the line began. While the U.S. typically had the lowest prices of LEGO worldwide,[3] rising costs of oil and, subsequently plastic and energy contributed to the cost change. Additionally, due to the line's heavy reliance on new molds, it was also impacted by rising steel prices.[4][5]

Featured Elements

All of the Matoran used larger, prebuilt pieces (resulting in fewer parts overall), and utilized new head pieces for their Kanohi masks. Each Matoran could physically connect to one of the canister sets (both winter and summer) with an included pin piece.

All four winter Toa characters wielded a new projectile launcher, the Midak Skyblaster, while the Makuta were built with ribcages housing Tridax Pods and Shadow Leeches.

The summer Makuta all carried Nynrah Ghost Blasters, whereas the Toa Nuva carried Adaptive Weapons that had slight differences in-story, but set-wise were functionally identical to the Nynrah Ghost Blasters. These launchers had a pump that could be compressed to launch plastic dart ammunition.

List of sets

Small


Medium



Large

Winter Large Set
8697
Toa Ignika


Summer Large Sets
8698
Vultraz
8699
Takanuva


Limited Edition

Winter Limited Edition Large Sets
8952
Mutran & Vican
8953
Makuta Icarax


Summer Limited Edition Large Set
8954
Mazeka


Battle Vehicles


Limited Edition

Limited Edition Battle Vehicle Set
8942 (Limited Edition)
Jetrax T6


Promotional


BrickMaster Promotional Set
20005
Klakk


Collections


References

  1. "Kopaka Nuva." LEGO Shop.(archived 16 December 2007 on the Wayback Machine)
  2. "Toa Kopaka | Phantoka." LEGO Shop.(archived 4 July 2008 on the Wayback Machine)
  3. "Why the US has the lowest LEGO prices." The Brothers Brick, 1 August 2008.
  4. "Price Increase Faq.". GregF's Blog, 2 July 2008. BZPower.
  5. "Official Greg Dialogue", post 308. BZPower Forums. (archived on greg.thegreatarchives.com)

See also