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Bionicle: Masks of Power

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Bionicle: Masks of Power
Developer(s)Team Kanohi
EngineUnreal Engine
Platform(s)Windows
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Bionicle: Masks of Power is an upcoming fan-made action role-playing video game created by Team Kanohi. Based on The Lego Group's Bionicle line of constructible action figures, the game will follow the Toa's quest for the Kanohi masks. Trailers for the game have been received positively, with critics praising its visuals and comparing its combat to Devil May Cry and Nier: Automata. A demo for the game is scheduled for release on Steam in 2024.

Gameplay

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The visual style of Bionicle: Masks of Power combines set-accurate character and Rahi designs with realistic environments and scenery.[1] Gray Fore of Screen Rant noted the game's visual similarities to the Mata Nui Online Game.[2] Masks of Power is a open world game and includes platform elements and puzzles, with overworld movements affected by the powers of the Kanohi masks the Toa collect.[3] According to project director ASCII, the primary inspirations for Masks of Power are Nier: Automata and Monster Hunter, which influenced the combat and enemy design, respectively.[4] Project creator Jordan Willis also cited Horizon: Zero Dawn as an inspiration, calling it "basically Bionicle without the trademark".[3] The game is made using Unreal Engine.[5]

The premise of the game centers around the six mighty Toa arriving in the island of Mata Nui, where they're tasked to find and collect powerful Kanohi masks in order to stop the evil force known as the Makuta, who has taken control of the Rahi animals to attack the Matoran villagers in all six elemental regions of the island.[6] It will include elements taken from the original Bionicle canon, with revisions for parts that "won't make a good game" and filling in "gaps" in the story.[3]

Development

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As of October 2021, the game's development team consisted of around 38 volunteers.[4] The development team is international, with team members residing across multiple time zones.[3] Team Kanohi previously released Masks of Power: Legacy, which project director ASCII described as "mostly a prototype" of Masks of Power.[4] Masks of Power is not officially sanctioned by Lego. According to ASCII, Lego provided Team Kanohi with a list of "rules and guidelines" for presenting the game; as long as these guidelines are followed, Lego takes a "laid-back" approach to fan games.[3]

Team Kanohi released a gameplay trailer in August 2022, showcasing the game's enemy behavior, different weapons in combat, and Kanohi mask powers. Michael Cripe of The Escapist felt the trailer was "so impressive that it might as well be an officially licensed Lego product".[7] Otto Kratky of Digital Trends dubbed it "fantastic", noting the variety of environments and creatures "faithful" to original Bionicle set builds.[1]

On August 10, 2023, a new trailer for the game was released featuring a Bionicle-themed song, "As Above So Below", by artists Essenger and Danish rock band Cryoshell. The trailer showcased some of the game's combat; according to Harvey Randall of PC Gamer, it showed "DMC-style flips, fancy evasion tech, air-juggling, and distinct move-sets between the two Toa shown", although Randall noted "performance issues" as well. The trailer stated a demo for the game was scheduled for release on Steam in early 2024.[8] The team made a post on April 4th stating the demo would instead be released in late 2024.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kratky, Otto (August 11, 2021). "Bionicle Fan Game Debuts Gorgeous Environmental Trailer". Digital Trends. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Fore, Gray (August 11, 2021). "Bionicle: Masks Of Power Fan Game's World Looks Gorgeous". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Epps, DeAngelo (September 6, 2021). "Bionicle: Masks of Power Is a Game by Fans for the Fans". Digital Trends. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Cripe, Michael (October 29, 2021). "Bionicle: Masks of Power Interview: Fan-Made Open-World Adventure". The Escapist. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Cripe, Michael (September 2, 2021). "Why the Heck Is Lego Not Publishing This Open-World Bionicle Game?". The Escapist. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Cripe, Michael (August 10, 2022). "Bionicle: Masks of Power Gameplay Video Has Nier-Inspired Combat". The Escapist. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Randall, Harvey (August 11, 2023). "Bionicle is so back, baby—this fan made game released a new trailer with its own banging soundtrack, and it's a complete nostalgia blast". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "BIONICLE: Masks of Power - FREE THE BAND Demo Update - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
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