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    Discuss This Story ReviewSaturday, June 4th, 2016 at 12:28am by Benjamin, BZPower Reporter

    Sometimes a bad guy just can't keep doing bad guy things without a little help. But he still wants to run solo, so the only thing to do is help himself...to a Mask of Control! Today we review Umarak the Destroyer, formerly known as Umarak the Hunter who hunted down a mask, put it on, and transformed into something beastly. Or at least, that's what the box art tells me. Read on, and watch, to see just what to expect in the latest iteration of our favorite Gen 2 Toa's unrelenting foe.

    A big thank you goes out to The LEGO Group for sending BZPower this wave of Bionicle sets so we can share our opinions on them to you loyal fans. Umarak is the biggest of this wave, so I'm pretty excited to see how he stacks up to his first set, which was my favorite of January's releases. He costs $25 USD and comes with 191 pieces.

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

    Box Front Box back

    The box is large, like Kopaka and Melum's box. We see the essential logos and numbers, though we probably first notice Umarak working to destroy everything in his way. Behind him Ekimu seems to be bowing in defeat, which is hopefully just a misdirect to what his true fate is (winning a battle?). The back shows us that all four bad guy sets can be combined to create a truly towering monster. The little comic below that shows us how Umarak became the Destroyer due to the Mask of Control. Truly diabolical!

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

    Torso Legs Right arm Left arm Menacing

    Umarak the Destroyer employes some familiar Bionicle Gen 2 Technic structure while also shaping out the set as a whole. His shoulders are wider and there are more ball bearings for pieces to be attached. The legs are almost all custom. The arms just keep getting things added on before finishing with some Technic bits. And the head and mask almost molds into one final product. In the end you've spent maybe 30 minutes or more assembling Umarak the Destroyer.

    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.

    New parts

    There are not too many new pieces in Umarak the Destroyer. He has a bunch of great pieces, just few of them being new or fairly new. But we get plenty in trans-neon green! A new crystalize armor attaches like shell armor, and we get a ribcage in that color too. Some claws appear in that color along with a head, which looks awesome! The mask is a combination gold and trans-neon green, and has an interesting shape which forms the head to finalize the build. There is a new jaw piece in gunmetal, which is kind of weird but thus pretty exciting. And there is a horn/hook piece in gold.

    Front Left Back Right Compare

    Everything about Umarak the Destroyer is a step up from Umarak the Hunter. His torso is huge. His legs are gigantic. His arms and hands are behemoths compared to the puny Hunter. Even the mask has grown. He's a head taller, not counting the Hunter's horns. I'm disappointed that he does not have a weapon aside from his claws, but I suppose that is all he needs.

    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.

    Bear trap

    Umarak has a main feature of his thumb and fingers being geared together, so he can unclench his fist when swiping (his waist swivels like they all do). But he also has the evil bear trap on his shoulders again which can, TECHNICally, form a trap, though it is lacking a few other necessities like the eye.

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

    Pros
    What's to like?

    • New mask
    • Cool trans-neon green pieces
    • HUGE
    • Multiple gear functions

    Cons
    What's not to like?

    • Barely taller than Umarak the Hunter
    • No weapon

    Umarak the Destroyer is a huge set worthy of his price point. He is menacing, monstrous, and can do everything better than his first iteration can. For $25, a little enticement needs to be made to settle on the purchase, but between his complex build and great assortment of parts, especially the trans-neon green pieces, there is no difficulty in the matter. Umarak the Destroyer should make another nice addition to your Bionicle display and then, probably later, parts collection.

    Kevin trapped
    Om non nomming on Kevin!

    Discuss This Story

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