Lego Bionicle

by GameBoy

Product Features

• Integration with LEGO Bionicle pieces
• 20 levels
• deadly enemies
• cool graphics
• four-player action via link cable

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005N9WQ
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 8, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,315 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

What's a Bionicle? Where is the Tohunga? Practical questions aside, LEGO BIONICLE: Tales of the Tohunga takes the little plastic pieces to new heights in this glorious 32-bit game. Inspired by LEGO's Bionicle series of toys, the story of the title revolves around an ancient tribe of robots who lived on the distant island of Mata Nui. The robot tribe is called the Tohunga, and there's a legend among them that one day a brave member of the group will trek out into the wilderness to recover the six Toa Stones each of which is necessary to summon the mighty Toa and restore peace to the once tranquil island. Step into action and conquer 20 levels of adventure, handling traps, obstacles, and enemies. There are dozens of puzzles to solve, and you can actually create characters for the game from LEGO blocks, uploading your concoctions into the video game (no kidding!). One of the more creative ventures ever attempted on a handheld system, the game lets as many of four players compete via link cables and separate consoles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Save the $40, buy the real Bionicle toys..., November 20, 2001

By 

Rob Swider (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lego Bionicle (Video Game)

I'm a huge gamer, and a big Lego fan as well. When I heard about the concept for Lego's new line of action figures, I was fascinated. When they hit the store shelves, I didn't hesitate to bring them home and spend hours assembling and redesigning the brilliantly designed, yet affordably priced, toys.

The game is dark. Sure, most GBA titles suffer the same fate of having the passively illuminated screen. But this one takes the prize. Don't get me wrong, the graphics are great, but even with my usual halogen lamp behind me (adjusted so I don't get the glare) I'm still unable to make out many of the details.

Controls are clumsy. Your character takes giant, awkward steps that make it hard to navigate in tight areas. There is also an arbitrary arrangement of seemingly useless bits that you have to walk around. That's fine, that's what games are for, and no one wants a straight line, but the objects make no sense in the game. In the first village, there are what look like little oil spills that you just can't walk over. Houses, trees, rocks; fine. Little dark patches on the ground? No sense.

The second village and subsequent missions will only further illustrate my points... Try to navigate the chain of islands by jumping and slingshotting to them and you will feel my pain. I LOVE a challenging game that tests hand-eye coordination and quick action, but this game only serves to frustrate.

Also imagine my surprise when I get to village #2 and my mission is the same as the first one! Get two crystals, a staff, and a stone. Most games have a running theme, or similar missions, but this one is just the same ones with different (barely) bad guys.

I'm afraid Lego has now suffered the same fate as many, many other game developers: the Time Crunch. They rushed it to market without test playing it. Release date is always more important than release quality. They could have really done something with this title, but they failed.

To be fair, I will play this game through to the end and see if it redeems itself. But I don't have high hopes.

The Bionicle toys are first rate and their newer parts with ball/socket design allow for freedom of movement never before seen with Legos. You can buy all 6 Toa (the 'bigger' figures)for less than the cost of this game. I suggest you do that instead.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, November 28, 2001

By 

"goldenkanohi" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lego Bionicle (Video Game)

Man, I thought this game was going to be fun. It is, up to a point. But it's nearly impossible to get the light right, and the storyline is missing. And the point of Bionicle is it's story. It only gives you one bit of story related information. The game is also glitchy. You can easily get stuck, walk on water, or float in midair. Especially if you are hunting for the elusive second disc, or the hidden "life-up" berries.

The reason I give it 3 stars is because it has a bunch of extremly fun minigames. Also, this game may have the best graphics of any GBA game. Almost. Check out the final lava surfing sequence. (Not the minigame). The nice extras are that the discs and "Volo Mapta Launcher" (a hookshot thingy) will adapt to your colors of the Tohunga you choose.

But the game is the same in each level. Save the Turaga. Get the crystals. Get the stone. Go to next village. Repeat six times. Surf on lava. End of game. I beat it in 6 hours.

I hope the gamecube one is much, much better.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Feel the Story, July 30, 2002

By 

TotalEarthGirl "Kilroy" (Millville, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lego Bionicle (Video Game)

My son received the game for his birthday. He already has many
of the "Lego" toys of the Bionicle story. He really loves the
game because he can really get the feel about the story of
the island and then he can take what he played on the game and play with his Bionicles.