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This is a canceled action-adventure video game based on the Lego Group's Bionicle line of constructible action figures. It was intended to release on Microsoft Windows computers in late 2001 and the GameCube in early 2002. It was designed as a direct sequel to Saffire's Game Boy Advance game Lego Bionicle: Quest for the Toa, which was released in October 2001. The story was meant to serve as a conclusion to the 2001 Bionicle story arc, focusing on the Toa, heroic elemental warriors destined to defeat the evil Makuta, who is attacking the island of Mata Nui with corrupted Rahi animals. It has a three-dimensional, third-person perspective and a similar gameplay style to The Legend of Zelda games Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, with the player collecting items that enable them to progress further in the game's open environments. Players are tasked with rescuing villagers and defeating Makuta's Rahi and elemental monsters. Each Toa possesses unique abilities based on the element that they control, and additional abilities can be gained by finding the powerful Kanohi masks scattered throughout the island. Development began in early 2000 and lasted until October 2001, when the game was suddenly canceled two months away from its planned December release. According to the game's development team, it was around 90% complete at the time of its cancellation, with most of the unfinished elements being in the game's climax; a planned final battle with Makuta was never developed. The game's cancellation led to the planned story content being revealed through other mediums as well as the gradual demise of Saffire. Heavily promoted by Lego in anticipation of its upcoming release, it became widely sought-after by Bionicle fans in the wake of its cancellation. This action-adventure game where the player takes control of the six Toa, each of whom has their own tools, weapons, and elemental powers. Each of the Toa is controlled in the portion of the island of Mata Nui that represents their unique elemental power (air, earth, fire, ice, stone, and water, respectively). The game has a three-dimensional, third-person perspective and places an emphasis on platforming, with the player progressing through large, open environments. The player is tasked with helping the island's villagers by saving them from hostile Rahi animals, finding and returning items to villagers, and solving puzzles. The player can explore the various parts of the island, including its six villages. Combat consists primarily of launching elemental spheres at Rahi, but the Rahi can also be directly attacked with the Toa's weapons or halted by pointing the cursor at them. The Rahi enemies the player encounters include the Bionicle equivalent of animals like tigers and scorpions. the player finds items that enable them to explore new areas of each level. Additionally, it makes prominent use of a grappling hook, which is a staple item in The Legend of Zelda series. Among the items that can be collected in the game are Kanohi, masks which allow the Toa to access abilities like shielding, levitation, mind control, telekinesis, and water breathing. Kanohi can be switched between on command by the player and are passed on the next Toa upon the completion of the previous one's area, which allows the player to retain all of the abilities they have gained as the game progresses. Each Toa also has unique abilities that the other Toa lack; for example, Tahu, the Toa of fire, can surf on lava, while Lewa, the Toa of air, can swing on vines. After collecting enough Kanohi and completing enough tasks, the player is tasked with defeating an elemental monster. The only portion of the game where the Toa's Kanohi powers are unavailable is during the battles with the elemental monsters, during which they are disabled. In 2018, two developmental builds of the game were leaked online. YouTube community The Beaverhouse went on to found Litestone Studios, an independent video game development studio, with the goal of completing the game with support for modern computers. Version 1.0 of the updated game, Bionicle: The Legend of Mata Nui Rebuilt, was released on August 10, 2019. |
