Umarak the Destroyer

I love the villain kits for Bionicle and this is one of the best looking ones in years. I haven't enjoyed putting one together this much since Maxilos and Spinax (8924) way back in '07. The legs are really cool looking with their digitigrade style and the arms and claws are awesome. The whole kit with it's size and angles really looks like a "final boss". As has been said by others, the opening and closing of the claws is very nice. It works as a neat feature and helps ease the "sagging" of joints I usually get in kits this large after a while. If I had to give any negative feedback, it would be that I wish the horns were a little better designed (firstly they should be gold like the mask), and the "neck" of the kit being rigid is a little disappointing. Overall it's the biggest and best baddie I've seen out of Bionicle in a while, a must have! more less

Umarak is a good looking set. He's an interesting build, and has a decent amount of parts for your money, with an alright selection of new and recolored pieces. His functions aren't anything too exciting and the lack of friction in the hands is a shame. I'm not particularly fond of how the 'horns" or the new MoCo looks- but how do I feel about him when compared to the Hunter? In my opinion, the Hunter remains to be my favorite set of the year. While Umarak looks cool, I feel he's been devolved not only into a crazed monster, but also into a "standard villain" syndrome. While the Hunter was a really cool Wendigo inspired being, the Destroyer is just a juiced up beast, and I would have liked to have seen something that retained more of that Wendigo look. But that's all personal preference and a comparison, as a set the Destroyer is a decent set and a worthy purchase in my opinion. more less

Umarak the Destroyer is a huge set worthy of his price point. He is menacing, monstrous, and can do everything better than his first iteration can. For $25, a little enticement needs to be made to settle on the purchase, but between his complex build and great assortment of parts, especially the trans-neon green pieces, there is no difficulty in the matter. Umarak the Destroyer should make another nice addition to your Bionicle display and then, probably later, parts collection. more less

Umarak is definitely a win for the line; the design is so intrinsically "BIONICLE" that it's a solid appeal to both old and new fans. A well laid out color scheme plus a keen attention to detail in reflecting elements of his older design result in a well thought out and ultimately fun to play with set, and he's the largest single figure the line has seen to date. He's definitely not without his flaws; the most severe of which is a lack of articulation. It's hard to see how the hands could have necessarily been designed to have more flexibility, but the locked joints on the heels, as well as the stiff neck, are things that seem like they could have been rectified even on the budget. But at a lower price point than Mask Maker vs Skull Grinder from last year, Umarak has got a lot of value, and it's definitely worth picking up. more less

While the gaps and the other faults do bother me and would have preferred to have them filled out with a few extra panels and shells, most are relatively easy fixes with a little modifying, or they are faults shared with most of the other sets in the wave . Whether you are looking for a big, hulking villain to fight your Toa, a centrepiece for your BIONICLE G2 collection or just want a large CCBS figure, I do recommend this set, especially along with 71312 Ekimu the Mask Maker for Umarak the Destroyer to fight with. more less

Umarak the Destroyer shares some obvious design cues with Umarak the Hunter, such as his Technic-based lower leg construction, Shadow Trap shoulder armor, and skeletal torso shell. However, where Umarak the Hunter had a limber physique, upright posture, and humanoid proportions, Umarak the Destroyer is a hulking brute, standing 33 modules/10¼ inches/26.4 centimeters tall and armed with huge, animalistic-looking claws. Just as last year's Skull Spiders and Skull Warriors were reminiscent of the Skulltulas and Stalfos of The Legend of Zelda, so is Umarak's transformation from scheming Hunter to colossal Destroyer reminiscent of the wicked Ganondorf's transformation into the monstrous Ganon. The power of the Mask of Control has corrupted Umarak, or perhaps transformed him into a better reflection of the darkness in his heart. more less