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    Discuss This Story ReviewSaturday, December 26th, 2009 at 7:48pm by Andrew, BZPower News Manager
    [Source: Shannara]

    It's time once again for a 2010 set review. Forum Leader Shannara has reviewed the Rahkshi of Heat Vision to see what it's all about. To find out if this is a set worth picking up, read on!

    Presentation
    From the design of the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set.

    Well we've looked into several of Bionicle's last wave of sets in the last month, let's take a peek at the re-release (in a way) of one of Makuta's sons, the dreaded Rahkshi.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 00

    Right from the get go, this Rahkshi grabs your attention. Gripping his staff tightly, he menacingly looks slightly to his left, preparing to defeat any enemies of Makuta. If the terrifying creature doesn't make you wanna buy it, the prospect of being able to COLLECT THE GOLDEN BIONICLE is sure to persuade you.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 01

    Flipping the canister over further explains the GOLDEN BIONICLE idea, showing Tahu surrounded by the other Stars sets and the golden pieces each one contains. The backside also shows that the Rahkshi can fit inside of his canister, and the lines and lines of legal text and advertising we've all seen before.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 02

    The top of the can, as noted before, highlights the Skrall shield symbol which has become so integral to the story. I'd like to call brief attention to the radiating ridges on either side of the shield, which reminded me slightly of the Coliseum of Metru Nui.

    Building
    Half the fun is had building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy or challenging is it?

    Okay, here we go. Pour out the pieces and what do we have?

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 03

    18 pieces and a booklet.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 04 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 05

    The latter opens onto the picture of Tahu as the GOLDEN BIONICLE, in addition to the classic Bionicle-Epic-Six-Canister-Set-Pose we see pretty much every winter and summer. Now onto the actual building.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 06 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 07 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 08 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 09

    It's really quick. We've got the Av-toran build, plus a little extra to make this Rahkshi all, you know, Rahkshi-like. Nothing too difficult by any means. Really it's not the most fun build I've ever experienced. From here on out I'm also gonna ignore the gold Gahlok-Kal shield that comes with this set, as it really doesn't apply to the set itself.

    Set Design
    Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 10

    Let's survey the pieces we got, shall we? Rahkshi is short on new parts compared to most of his fellow Stars, being given only two recolored parts and one new mold. The recolors come in the form of a new dark grey Solek limb and a pair of Keetorange Shadow Matoran clawed feet. Both are nice, but the gem of the set is the new mold.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 11 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 12

    The new Rahkshi head-spine. This is an unusual new mold to be sure. Basically it's an old Rahkshi head attached to an old Rahkshi spine, with a few tweaked shapes and a built in set of three spikes. The entire piece is soft and rubbery, similar to the squid launchers of 2007, the Piraka spines of 2006, or (dare I say it?) the Kraata of 2003. Frankly, I'm not a fan of this move by TLG. I would've much preferred to have seen the old school pieces recolored as opposed to this large awkward lump.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 13 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 14

    BUT, I'll allow it. When you look at the set as a whole, it is TOTALLY a Rahkshi. It's a little stockier and it's obviously a bit shorter, but the overall appearance is unmistakable.

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 15 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 16

    Unfortunately the head-spine piece rears its ugly head again (pun very much intended. As illustrated above, the range of motion this piece allows for the head is extremely limited. Not a fan.

    Playability
    The other half of the fun is in playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with?

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 17 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 18 TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 19

    Tada! Rahkshi! It's a fun little guy to play with, to be sure. He's a little short on points of articulation, like all small sets. This fact isn't helped by the hands having to be used in tandem, or by the restricted head. However, he's still a lot of fun to play with. It's a Rahkshi, for goodness sake!

    Final Thoughts
    Once it's all said and done, how does the set stack up? Should I get it?

    Pros
    What's to like?

    • It's a brand new Rahkshi!
    • Some nice recolored pieces
    • A chance to COLLECT THE GOLDEN BIONICLE
    • Lots of fun to play with

    Cons
    What's not to like?

    • Not a lot of interesting new pieces
    • Restrictive, bulky head-spine
    • Not a lot of articulation

    Overall, I really have no doubt in my mind whether I think Rahkshi is a worthy set. The answer is a definite yes. The nostalgia factor for me is probably the biggest part of this, and if you've ever owned a Rahkshi then maybe you'll get the same warm happy feeling at opening a brand new set practically right out of the past. And if you joined in on the franchise after 2003 then you get a chance to be a part of the history of an amazing line. I wholeheartedly recommend the Rahkshi for anyone looking to own a fun, simple set that represents one of Bionicle's greatest years. The cons are there, but the pros far outweigh them in my own humble opinion. And besides...

    TN 7138 Rahkshi Review 20

    Who would want to break up this family reunion?

    Another one bites the dust, so to speak. Only two more to review, in due time. Be sure to leave your feedback and thank Shannara in the Talkback thread. And of course, keep checking back for all the latest Bionicle news.

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