[EMS] Ye good olde big updates

 

Ah, the infamous big updates from MapleStory to catch up for what most people consider as lost time.

MapleStory Europe is no stranger to these updates, and some of them have brought us fantastic improvements.

 

It has been a while since my last EMS blogpost, and I think I should give that ye good olde big blogpost to catch up on you guys too.

The Big Bang update back in 2011 in EMS wasn't just simply the update that went by the same name in other versions, it also included a full revamp for Zipangu, adding Pine Forest, Kaede Castle and Neo Tokyo. But wait, there's more! They also expanded Singapore with Ulu City, and added the full Malaysia, including the Theme Park. Some other subtle improvements were done compared to other versions, including the often forgotten fact that we never got that controversial quest reset on any of our characters. Let's not forget the improved Crimsonwood Keep! However, one of the few things that was a let down to most, was the ominous lack of the SP Reset Scroll - but in the end, Nexon Europe decided to add it because the community asked for it. EMS did its own thing, as we have done for a looooong while, y'know?

The Tempest update came out in 2013. No, not that update other versions had that released Grandis together with Luminous and Kaiser. I'm talking about the EMS version of Tempest. The 1,5 GB Wailord of an update, including the full Justice update, the full Champions update and the Tempest update all at the same time. Heck, we even got Kaiser before Global because of that. That is why I have obtained my Kaiser Skill Link before my Luminous', because Luminous was released at the end of the Tempest update. EMS did its own thing again.

The Leap update came out late 2015. It ended near the start of this year. It is a big update that most people seem to remember, because it was one in recent memory. The Leap update was a combination of three major updates once again. Maple Ice & Burn, Creation 12 and the Pink Bean class update.

This summer, we finally got the long awaited Reboot update. Well, to be fair, it wasn't called Reboot, but it wasn't called Acceleration either. EMS just did its own thing again - in fact, we didn't get the Reboot server as most versions avoided its release too, and Destruction King Urus was one notable character to be left out. Actually, we got the Zakum the Newborn update in addition instead, which is a funny trivia for the history of MapleStory, given we got the revamped Korean Folk Town and Zakum the Newborn before Urus, who was the first content to add the skeleton animation in the game's engine.

However, not all of these updates have always been that widely appreciated, and this unnamed update, which simply goes by the version number 118, may be(come) one of them.

[Lego] Black light - #71316 Umarak the Destroyer

It was the 4th of March, 2016. My back-then-four-months-younger-self mashed the refresh button on Netflix to finally watch the first episodes of the Bionicle: Journey to One series with great excitement.

"You have done well."

"They are weak, and I am the Hunter."
"You were. Now you are my servant."
"I serve no one."
"As strong as you think you are, I am stronger. There are events that must transpire,
so that I may be freed. You are Hunter no more. You are my minion. You are Destroyer."

*Episode ends*

 

In quite some history of Bionicle chapters, one thing that was always present in the first generation is that the main villain Makuta Teridax is never as interesting as the supportive villainous characters that aid or serve him.

 

Whenever it's Roodaka who pulled the strings in the Web of Shadows chapter, convincing Toa Vakama to turn his back against his own group, betrayed and left Sidorak to be crushed into pieces by Keetongu, and injured herself nearly to death to free Makuta from a Toa Seal, or a character like Krika who despite being a creature of evil and allied with other villains, was envious of the good in the world and just simply accepted his fate that he was not meant to be like them and his place in the world was with the losing team. The villainous supportive characters in the first generation often had their own depth and where individuals that often where unique and diverse.

 

After it was confirmed that generation 2 would undergo a more simple story, most people were worried Bionicle would lose that storytelling the first generation did so well. While we didn't have much to go with in 2015, we've gotten more of that storytelling we love in 2016. And heck, even if this year's chapter isn't finished yet, Umarak is becoming one of my favorite Bionicle villains because he's yet another one of those with depth.

 

Umarak the Destroyer (left) next to his previous incarnation, Umarak the Hunter (right).

Umarak the Destroyer is a fantastic Bionicle model. Despite it not having a lot of play features, and is like most larger Bionicle/Hero Factory characters limited to just only articulation, it has a striking and unique design, being one of the few Bionicle characters from both generations to be mainly designed out of that good ol' Transparent Neon Green. Which, to be honest, was a surprise.

 

If you put Umarak the Destroyer next to Umarak the Hunter, you can clearly see the influence of his previous incarnation in his new design. A lot key elements of his Hunter looks have been transferred well to this mutation,
most notably his ankle, chest and shoulder designs.

 

 

He might not be like Mata Nui "big", but he is quite a large figure, especially for the price range and piece count. He is significantly larger than any of the 2016 Toa (including Ekimu) and his previous form too. His bulk is probably most notable in the upper part of his body. What a beefcake.

 

Well - like any product, Umarak the Destroyer isn't flawless either... even if he uses a lot of friction reinforcements, some joints still remain hard to keep in a specific poses because of the weight. The set is very durable, but you can imagine that given the limit to the amount of pieces one LEGO® Product Designer is allowed to use and the strict rules they have to follow, what you get is quite good.

 

 

In example of the weight issue, the pose you see above is one that we see in various promotional images. The arms are quite heavy because of its size, and thus even having those friction reinforcements in the shoulders seems to occasionally be not enough...

 

Flaws aside, just look at him. What a show off. Did you know that some of the generation 2 sets are already in the top 50 of non-System-based Bionicle sets with the most pieces? While "50" might not sound a lot, keep in mind that as of the time of this post, Bricklink has registered 432 (!) Bionicle sets in its database.

If you already have Umarak the Hunter and are a fan of the character or his design, I would recommend getting Destroyer as well. While I would admit that the Hunter is a better set as a toy and if you had to choose between you should get the Hunter, but Destroyer is one heck of a second dish if you wanted to have more.

While Journey to One isn't finished yet and thankfully more future Bionicle chapters have been confirmed, I'm looking forward to the season finale and seeing this monstrosity in action.

I'm sure that my within-three-weeks-future-self will mash that refresh button once again with great excitement when those episodes air soon, on July 29th.

That's it for now - I'll see you guys again next post!