Unveiling the Mysteries of Bionicle's Powerful Masks: A Complete Guide

Highlights

LEGO's licensed themes, like Star Wars and Harry Potter, have been very successful, but the company has also found success with its own original themes, such as Bionicle.

Bionicle, a non-licensed line by LEGO, achieved remarkable success, creating an expansive universe that encompassed TV shows, movies, and video games.

Bionicle: Masks of Power is an action-RPG, created by fans, that takes place in the Bionicle universe. Its objective is to faithfully capture the essence and aesthetics of the original Bionicle series, drawing inspiration from games such as Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter for its gameplay.

LEGO, known for its patented interlocking toy bricks, has seen countless evolutions in its 74-year history. One significant development occurred in 1999 when LEGO ventured into licensed themes, starting with Star Wars. Since then, the company has achieved immense success with themes based on popular franchises such as Harry Potter, DC, Marvel, and Disney. However, LEGO has also found success with its original themes, including the highly-anticipated Bionicle: Masks of Power.

Originally launched in 2001, the Bionicle theme became one of LEGO's most successful non-licensed lines and played a crucial role in rescuing the company from financial crisis in the 1990s. Unlike other non-licensed themes, Bionicle had an entire universe built around it, spanning across various forms of entertainment such as TV shows, movies, and video games. Although the original Bionicle line concluded in 2010, the fan-made game Bionicle: Masks of Power continues to capture the nostalgia and love that many fans still hold for the series.

What Is Bionicle: Masks of Power?

First announced in 2021, Bionicle: Masks of Power is an action-RPG created by fans set in the Bionicle universe. Team Kanohi, the developer, transitioned from their initial project, Masks of Power: Legacy, to create a fully-realized Bionicle game that captures the essence of the original shows and movies. The developers drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including high-action games like Devil May Cry and expansive open-world titles such as Monster Hunter and Horizon Zero Dawn.

Bionicle: Masks of Power is an ambitious project in every aspect. The first gameplay trailer, released in August 2022, amazed the gaming industry with its impressive visuals and gameplay. The game flawlessly combines realistic environments with accurate representations of the toy characters and enemies, resulting in a uniquely stylized game.

Bionicle: Masks of Power draws clear inspiration from its gameplay. From the released footage, it appears that players will navigate the expansive and diverse world of Mata Nui, engaging in platforming, puzzle-solving, and melee combat against a variety of enemies. The game will adhere to the main timeline of the Bionicle universe, where players assume the role of the Toa in their quest for the powerful Kanohi masks, each granting unique abilities.

Recently, Bionicle: Masks of Power unveiled a gameplay trailer, complemented by an energetic theme song composed by Danish rock band Cryoshell and Essenger. The trailer also announced the upcoming release of a demo in early 2024. Notably, the game will be offered completely free, a decision made possible by fair use and copyright law. With no intention of profiting, it is evident that Bionicle: Masks of Power is a labor of love for Team Kanohi and a project oozing with potential for enthusiastic fans.

Bionicle: Masks of Power is in development for PC.