Here’s the group shot. I’ve seen some of the other pictures before, but these are the first I’ve seen that depict each character in action, and demonstrating the dual use of their tools. Despite the overused and tiring hero factory parts, The LEGO® Company has tried to make the toa reminiscent in some way to their original versions. Some, Pohatu and Gali in particular, weren’t quite as well done. I find it interesting that a few of the Toa have a sub-tool, something to fight with while their main tool is in it’s alternate function.

I’m calling them Toa Facto until something else sticks, for Toa And Hero Factory. Each generation eventually gets designated by the fans with a surname of sorts, it always amazed me that the original Toa were designated the Toa Olda (For old; as in the oldest I assume?), and not simply the “Toa”, but I guess Toa is too generic.

There are rumors that the Toa Facto are just a transitional stage, and that a revamped body style may be on the way. The first Hero Factory models were a transitional phase into the bone system they use now, trying to get the attention of BIONICLE fans at the time, so it may be the same is going on here. It makes sense they would have a new system too, considering Hero Factory is a theme about robotic characters too, so imagine the confusion of the two themes running simultaneously. But then again, the mech suit idea with minifigure pilots was a clever way to reresh the series, so maybe they will continue on as a minifigure theme, or have a distinctly different change every generation to set it apart from BIONICLE?

Something else hinting at a potential new system, or a return to mostly technic parts, is the gear box that is slapped onto each of the Toa. Each of the toa have a mechanism plugged into their backs to swing one or more of their arms around, Hero Factory has done something of the sort on a few models, but the ones I owned that had the function were mediocre. If you look carefully at the pictures, you can see glimpses of the mechanisms, even gears, that appear to be powered by yellow knobs on the back. The arm appears to sit on a normal ball joint, retaining full articulation, though I cant see if the mechanism locks in place or is free swinging. I’m guessing it locks the arm somehow so you can pose it, considering the Toa Olda could be locked if you plugged another gear onto an axel in the back.

All things considered, I like the new Toa very much, it may be comprised mostly of the Hero Factory parts I’m tired of, but each one is interesting and the asymmetry of the line has allowed them to change up the characters differently so they all aren’t rehashes of the same thing.

Kopaka, the Batman of the BIONICLE universe.

Of all the Toa Facto, Gali has almost nothing to remind you of her original version, even her mask bears no real resemblance to the original, while the other characters have at least some traces in theirs.

At least the gold looks good on Tahu. Each toa has varying amounts of gold because they also come with a gold version of their mask and it would look like an eyesore without something to blend it into the colorscheme. Beside the mask, each Toa comes with a spider thing that I’m guessing latches over the mask, if not the face under the mask, to take control much like a krana.

I was a little concerned about Onua’s redesign until Zeranui sent me these pictures, which showed he did in fact get a representation of his classic digging claws. I’m also glad to see the use of more purple parts, theres too little of it available.

Brown is back! Well a little bit anyway, but between the silver and yellow, its not bad looking, though I’m curious about his asymmetrical arms.

The Axes are a nice throwback, though his mask only has the slightest resemblance to the original, and that’s the gap in his cheeks. I think they still could have pronounced the eyes a bit, I wonder if its supposed to look like the plated parts retract like Iron Man’s mask? I’m not sure whats going on with his alternate tools, I guess the turbine in them spins to help steer or something?