Early Installment Weirdness/Toys


 * Bionicle:
 * With regards to the sets: originally sold under the LEGO Technic title as opposed to having its own, the sets were built around certain action-based gimmicks and put a lot of emphasis on the importance of collectible items, like masks. Their gear structures were at times complicated to build, and the figures suffered from limited articulation and very blocky aesthetics. A stark contrast to the modern, highly articulated, streamlined and skinny (and at times organic-looking) action figures that come with projectile weapons instead of collectibles, and are easy as heck to build.
 * Storyline-wise: imaginative setting but a painfully basic, linear plot, focusing mostly on the monster of the year and collecting the current items of importance. No secretive organisations or scheming murderers, barely any sci-fi but a lot of talk about mystical prophecies and legends, and the character personalities are little more than stereotypes. Almost the exact opposite of what it has turned into since the beginning -- numerous, decidedly non-straightforward and non-generic plotlines, but in exchange it is very hard to get a sense of atmosphere due to all the differently-toned stories and the constant shifting between settings.
 * According to a quote from the story writer, this initial weirdness was one of the key reasons why the line didn't receive a movie at its debut. The first year's story was apparently stuck in an indecisive middle-point between the early and bizarre "Doo Heads" concepts and what it eventually settled on.