BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui (found build of cancelled LEGO action-adventure game; 2001-2002): Difference between revisions

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{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAa_YDCxJpY|320x240|right|Complete playthrough of the playable portion of the game.|frame}}
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAa_YDCxJpY|320x240|right|Complete playthrough of the playable portion of the game.|frame}}
''BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui'' is a video game developed by the game company Saffire and based on the 2001 storyline of the LEGO BIONICLE franchise. It was originally planned to be released in fall 2001, though was later delayed into 2002. Windows, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 versions were planned. In the game, the player would control the six Toa (later named the Toa Mata): Tahu, Pohatu, Onua, Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka. The Toa traveled across the island of Mata Nui looking for the Great Kanohi Masks of Power, hoping to use them to defeat the evil Makuta (later named Teridax) and awaken the Great Spirit Mata Nui after which the island was named. The storyline was meant to pick up where the Game Boy Advance game ''BIONICLE: Tales of the Tohunga''/''Quest for the Toa'' left off, be a sister game to the ''Mata Nui Online Game'', and lead into the 2002 BIONICLE storyline. Toa could use their Elemental Powers, explore eight-game environments, and collect five masks each. A physical plastic mask compatible with the toys, the Vahi, Mask of Time, was meant to be packaged with the game. The game would also include building instructions for several models that could be printed out.
''BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui'' is a video game developed by the game company Saffire and based on the 2001 storyline of the LEGO BIONICLE franchise. It was originally planned to be released in fall 2001, though was later delayed into 2002. Windows, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 versions were planned. In the game, the player would control the six Toa (later named the Toa Mata): Tahu, Pohatu, Onua, Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka. The Toa travelled across the island of Mata Nui looking for the Great Kanohi Masks of Power, hoping to use them to defeat the evil Makuta (later named Teridax) and awaken the Great Spirit Mata Nui after which the island was named. The storyline was meant to pick up where the Game Boy Advance game ''BIONICLE: Tales of the Tohunga''/''Quest for the Toa'' left off, be a sister game to the ''Mata Nui Online Game'', and lead into the 2002 BIONICLE storyline. Toa could use their Elemental Powers, explore eight-game environments, and collect five masks each. A physical plastic mask compatible with the toys, the Vahi, Mask of Time, was meant to be packaged with the game. The game would also include building instructions for several models that could be printed out.


Various screenshots and promotional videos showed gameplay for Gali and especially Onua. However, the developers ran into a problem in Onua's stage: there was a section where Onua had to jump down several platforms, and one of them was too low, causing Onua to automatically die upon landing. Since Onua's stage is the first level in the game, it's impossible to progress any further. The developers have since stated that this was a very simple bug and have been fixed within a week, but that the funding wasn't there, and so the game was canceled. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, while not the cause of the cancellation, didn't help matters. The Vahi ended up being distributed as part of other promotions, and it is speculated the printable instructions were worked into the Master Builder Set, released as a LEGO Shop at Home exclusive in 2002.
Various screenshots and promotional videos showed gameplay for Gali and especially Onua. However, the developers ran into a problem in Onua's stage: there was a section where Onua had to jump down several platforms, and one of them was too low, causing Onua to automatically die upon landing. Since Onua's stage is the first level in the game, it's impossible to progress any further. The developers have since stated that this was a very simple bug and have been fixed within a week, but that the funding wasn't there, and so the game was cancelled. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, while not the cause of the cancellation, didn't help matters. The Vahi ended up being distributed as part of other promotions, and it is speculated the printable instructions were worked into the Master Builder Set, released as a LEGO Shop at Home exclusive in 2002.


In 2001, there was to be a beta test of the game that people could sign up for, but it is doubted by many that the test ever actually took place. There is also rumored to be 10 beta discs of the game floating around in the hands of collectors and former Saffire employees, but this number is also doubted by fans. There is only one confirmed development disc in existence, the owner of which uses the pseudonym DeepBrick. DeepBrick was at one time in contact with Mask of Destiny user RedQuark, who was trying to locate the game. DeepBrick gave several of the game files to RedQuark, who leaked some of them to the public. Several pieces of music, all the cutscenes, and a complete gameplay video of what is playable have been uploaded to YouTube, as well as some 3D models being released, as a result of this leak.
In 2001, there was to be a beta test of the game that people could sign up for, but it is doubted by many that the test ever actually took place. There is also rumoured to be 10 beta discs of the game floating around in the hands of collectors and former Saffire employees, but this number is also doubted by fans. There is only one confirmed development disc in existence, the owner of which uses the pseudonym DeepBrick. DeepBrick was at one time in contact with Mask of Destiny user RedQuark, who was trying to locate the game. DeepBrick gave several of the game files to RedQuark, who leaked some of them to the public. Several pieces of music, all the cutscenes, and a complete gameplay video of what is playable have been uploaded to YouTube, as well as some 3D models being released, as a result of this leak.


The full game has still never seen the light of day, and fans on fansites like BZPower have continually tried to organize projects to see the game released.
The full game has still never seen the light of day, and fans on fansites like BZPower have continually tried to organise projects to see the game released.


[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Needing work]]
[[Category:Needing work]]

Revision as of 16:24, 26 November 2016

Lmwtan cleanup.png This article has been tagged as Needing work due to its lack of organization and clarity.
BIONICLE - The Legend of Mata Nui.png

The game's box art (tentative).

Status: Lost


Complete playthrough of the playable portion of the game.

BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui is a video game developed by the game company Saffire and based on the 2001 storyline of the LEGO BIONICLE franchise. It was originally planned to be released in fall 2001, though was later delayed into 2002. Windows, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 versions were planned. In the game, the player would control the six Toa (later named the Toa Mata): Tahu, Pohatu, Onua, Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka. The Toa travelled across the island of Mata Nui looking for the Great Kanohi Masks of Power, hoping to use them to defeat the evil Makuta (later named Teridax) and awaken the Great Spirit Mata Nui after which the island was named. The storyline was meant to pick up where the Game Boy Advance game BIONICLE: Tales of the Tohunga/Quest for the Toa left off, be a sister game to the Mata Nui Online Game, and lead into the 2002 BIONICLE storyline. Toa could use their Elemental Powers, explore eight-game environments, and collect five masks each. A physical plastic mask compatible with the toys, the Vahi, Mask of Time, was meant to be packaged with the game. The game would also include building instructions for several models that could be printed out.

Various screenshots and promotional videos showed gameplay for Gali and especially Onua. However, the developers ran into a problem in Onua's stage: there was a section where Onua had to jump down several platforms, and one of them was too low, causing Onua to automatically die upon landing. Since Onua's stage is the first level in the game, it's impossible to progress any further. The developers have since stated that this was a very simple bug and have been fixed within a week, but that the funding wasn't there, and so the game was cancelled. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, while not the cause of the cancellation, didn't help matters. The Vahi ended up being distributed as part of other promotions, and it is speculated the printable instructions were worked into the Master Builder Set, released as a LEGO Shop at Home exclusive in 2002.

In 2001, there was to be a beta test of the game that people could sign up for, but it is doubted by many that the test ever actually took place. There is also rumoured to be 10 beta discs of the game floating around in the hands of collectors and former Saffire employees, but this number is also doubted by fans. There is only one confirmed development disc in existence, the owner of which uses the pseudonym DeepBrick. DeepBrick was at one time in contact with Mask of Destiny user RedQuark, who was trying to locate the game. DeepBrick gave several of the game files to RedQuark, who leaked some of them to the public. Several pieces of music, all the cutscenes, and a complete gameplay video of what is playable have been uploaded to YouTube, as well as some 3D models being released, as a result of this leak.

The full game has still never seen the light of day, and fans on fansites like BZPower have continually tried to organise projects to see the game released.