The home console version of Bionicle Heroes is a single-player third-person shooter. The game is split up into six different elementally-themed worlds as well as a central hub world where the player can purchase upgrades and bonus content.[1] After defeating a Piraka at the end of a world, they move to the Piraka Playground in the hub world. The player can use their collected Lego pieces to purchase comical cutscenes of the villains engaging in "tomfoolery".[2] Three bonus levels are also unlockable, functioning as score challenges where the goal is to defeat as many enemies as possible.[2] The game features 100 collectibles to collect, and each level also contains silver and gold canisters that unlock new items in the hub world's trophy cave.[3] Completed levels can be revisited in a free play mode, where the player can find additional items and collectibles.[3]
On most versions of the game, the player controls the playable Toa character using a controller. On the Nintendo Wii version of the game, control of the camera is instead accomplished through the Wii Remote's IR sensor.[4] The player begins each level with a single mask, with additional ones scattered throughout the level. These masks provide the player with a variety of weapons and abilities, ranging from sniper rifles to shotguns. The active mask can be togged between by the player at any point.[1] If a player's health is reduced to zero, they lose the mask they were wearing.[3] The player can interact with the environment, performing actions similar to how the Force operates in the Lego Star Wars games.[2]
Defeating enemies scatters them into Lego pieces, which can be collected and used in the hub world. Additionally, collecting them adds to the in-game Hero Mode gauge, which activates when completely filled. While in Hero Mode, the player becomes invincible to any damage.[2] This lasts until the player reaches a set point in the level that requires the player use up their Hero Mode charge to activate objects used to progress throughout the level.[4] Hero Mode is also used in boss battles, with the player targeting smaller enemies to build up the gauge to activate a powerful attack against the boss.[4] The game uses an auto-targeting feature that automatically locks on to enemies. This feature only works at certain distances, and will not activate if the player is too close or too far away from an enemy.[1]
