LEGO Rock Raiders was a Lego theme started 1999, and was discontinued in 2000. Rock Raiders was the only theme in the LEGO Underground series. It featured sixteen sets (Four of which were promotional sets), one story book, one puzzle book, four comic books (Three of which were randomly included in sets when the theme first started), two video games and one online game; the online game was taken down along with the official site shortly after the theme was discontinued. Rove Live logo. ... Rove Live logo. ...

The premise of the theme involves the crew of the LMS Explorer. The vessel is damaged after wandering into an asteroid field and it's sucked into a wormhole where it enters an alien galaxy and orbits the Planet U. There the crew (The Rock Raiders), whilst repairing the ship, must venture inside the dangerous caverns of the planet to collect the precious Energy Crystals.

Characters

Sets

Vehicles and Structures

Rock Raider Tools, Equipment and other structures

Story

A Rock Raider wearing a standard uniform, as you can see it is different from Sparks', a common misconception amongst some players.

The crew of the LMS Explorer is returning home after a previous mission. Things are going smoothly until a shower of meteors impacts the LMS Explorer, the small ones do no harm thanks to the LMS Explorer's shield. However, one large meteor impacts the bridge and takes down the shield, thus badly damaging the ship. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

As if things could not get worse, a wormhole opens up behind the ship and slowly drags it closer.

Desperate Jet sets the engines to maximum power in an attempt to get away, however the wormhole proves to be stronger and drags the ship in completely.

When the crew awakens, the LMS Explorer is dark with no power. Sparks activates the emergency generators and turns on the artificial gravity.

Chief orders Axle to do a scan of the local area to see where they are, Axle does so and discovers that the wormhole brought them to a parallel galaxy. Jet does a scan of the nearest planet, it is abundant with Energy Crystals, the purest, strongest form of energy ever discovered.

Chief uses the emergency power to fly towards that planet and sends Jet and Docs down. This is where the PC game starts.

Games

There were three Rock Raiders games, the PC and Playstation games told the majority of the story, and the online game was a side-story.

PC Game

PC Game Cover

The PC game told the majority of the story, though not the entire story. Image File history File links PCRR.JPG‎ Cover of the PC game, Rock Raiders This image is cover art for a computer or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the games publisher or developer. ... Image File history File links PCRR.JPG‎ Cover of the PC game, Rock Raiders This image is cover art for a computer or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the games publisher or developer. ...

The PC game introduces the characters (Though you do not play as them), Rock, Ice and Lava Monsters, Slimy Slugs, Small Spiders and Bats.

At the beginning of the game you have the option to do practice missions.

The premise of the game is similar to Dune II, each mission requires you to collect Energy Crystals and Ore to build and power your base. If any Monsters or Slimy Slugs attack you must turn on Action Stations, this puts your team on Red Alert to defend your base. Some missions require you to find lost Rock Raiders or lost equipment, though the majority of the missions is just collect Energy Crystals. To meet Wikipedias content policies, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

There are twenty-five missions total, each of them is either a stone cavern environment, a frozen cavern environment or a volcanic environment. The better you did on each mission meant a higher score percentage.

You do not have to complete all missions to win the game, just the final one and those leading up to it.

To unlock a mission, you have to successfully complete the one on top. Completing a mission will not always get you another one however.

Online Game

Online Game Screenshot

The online game was basically a movie clip, that starred Bandit. Each 'scene' required you to look for Energy Crystals using the radar, and unbury them with either dynamite, the hand drill or vehicle drill. If a Rock Monster attacked you had to use the Pusher Beam to drive them away. Image File history File links OnlineRR.GIF‎ A screenshot of the online Rock Raiders game. ... Image File history File links OnlineRR.GIF‎ A screenshot of the online Rock Raiders game. ...

Half-way through the game there was a timed slider-puzzle, if you finished in time Bandit got back to Rock Raiders HQ, if you did not Bandit fell down a waterfall and had to go through a Rock Monster lair.

The more Energy Crystals you found the higher your score.

Playstation Game

Playstation Game Cover

The Playstation game continues where the PC game left off. Image File history File links PSRR.JPEG‎ The cover of the Playstation Rock Raiders game. ... Image File history File links PSRR.JPEG‎ The cover of the Playstation Rock Raiders game. ...

The Playstation game is played completely different than the PC game, you played as one of the main characters (Except Chief), teleported down vehicles, collected the remaining Energy Crystals from old bases, and rescued lost Rock Raiders.

This game introduces the red Energy Crystals that are five times more powerful than the green ones.

Many of the elements that were introduced in the PC game were not included here, such as the Recharge Seam, upgrading vehicles, feeding Rock Raiders and oxygen supply. However some other elements are introduced to take their place. Such as being able to fly the Tunnel Transport.

Instead of a percentage, you get either a bronze, silver or gold medal, depending on how well you did.

There are eighteen single-player missions and six multiplayer missions. In the PAL version of the game there are three secret levels. To get to these you need gold medals on all the missions, then on the highlight the final level and press down.

Ending

The two games have the same endings (Though the Playstation game does continue directly after the PC game). There were two possible endings, the incomplete ending, which is accomplished by getting a low percentage (PC), or not completing all objectives (PS1), and the complete ending, which is accomplished by getting 100% on all missions (PC), or completing all objectives (PS1).

• Complete ending -

The LMS Explorer is shown powering down completely.

The scene then changes to Jet and Docs standing in front of a door, the door opens and Sparks walks out carrying many Energy Crystals. The Energy Crystals are blocking Sparks' view, and he falls.

The Rock Raiders collect all the Energy Crystals they found on the planet, and put them in the LMS Explorer's engines, Chief watches through a monitor.

Once they are done, the LMS Explorer heads home, at lightspeed.

• Incomplete ending -

The LMS Explorer is shown powering down completely.

The scene then changes to Jet and Docs standing in front of a door, the door opens and Sparks walks out carrying many Energy Crystals. The Energy Crystals are blocking Sparks' view, and he falls.

The Rock Raiders collect all the Energy Crystals they found on the planet, and put them in the LMS Explorer's engines, Chief watches through a monitor.

Once they are done, the LMS Explorer heads home, at a normal velocity.

Original Plans

On June 20, 2000, A Lugnet.com member discovered plans for the original Rock Raiders story. Many elements are different than the final theme, such as; is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

• A different standard Rock Raiders uniform (Bandit's uniform)
• Hand-held drills
• Twin-drilled Chrome Crusher (Different from upgraded Chrome Crusher in PC game)
• Sleeker-looking Granite Grinder
• Mobile Rock Raiders HQ
• Insectoid-type vehicle
• Tailed Rock Monsters
• Six-wheeled vehicle, with drill, two claws, and three laser-like devices mounted on top
• The Rock Raiders also had enemies, the Insectoids, an older LEGO System theme released in 1998.

The page with this information can be seen here, as well as concept images in the Ultimate LEGO Book, Pages 30-31. Space is a science fiction Lego theme featuring astronauts and spaceships. ...

Books/Comics

Not only did Rock Raiders have three games, they also had a two books and four comics.

Save The Spaceship

Save The Spaceship was a puzzle book released in 1999, it told the Rock Raiders story, with a few minor differences.

Prelimenary Cover Of Save The Spaceship

• Chapter 1;

An asteroid crashes into the LMS Explorer, and is now orbiting Planet U, which can be seen outside the window with a chart. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

• Chapter 2;

Docs volunteers to send his team down to the surface and retrieve Energy Crystals.

• Chapter 3;

Docs selects Axle, Bandit, Jet and Sparks as his team.

• Chapter 4;

The team encounters a Rock Monster, afterwards they split up. Docs and Jet go one way, Axle and Sparks go another, and Bandit goes another.

• Chapter 5;

Bandit travels down a river in the Rapid Rider and encounters an Ice Monster.

• Chapter 6;

Docs examines the near-by area with his GeoScanner, and looks for a good spot to build Rock Raiders HQ.

• Chapter 7;

Axle and Sparks encounter four Rock Monsters that corner Sparks, however Axle remembers something that can save Sparks.

• Chapter 8;

Jet and Docs encounter an Ice Monster and a Lava Monster battling. Some of the lava heads towards Jet's and Docs' Hoverboard.

• Chapter 9;

The Rock Raiders find an Energy Crystal cache with the GeoScanner.

• Chapter 10;

The Chrome Crusher must stop drilling when Docs discovers that there is explosive gases between them and the Energy Crystals.

• Chapter 11;

Jet's Tunnel Transport crashes and she is in the middle of a lake of lava.

• Chapter 12;

The granite proves to be too thick for the Chrome Crusher's laser to drill through.

• Chapter 13;

A Rock Monster and Lava Monster attack Rock Raiders HQ, forcing Docs to build a Teleport Pad.

• Chapter 14;

Everyone made it safely aboard the LMS Explorer and they can finally return home, however Chief notices there is a Rock Monster on board.

Docs then feeds the Rock Monster some of their Energy Crystals.

High Adventure, Deep Underground

High Adventure, Deep Underground was a CGI comic book released in 2000, it told the Rock Raiders story, but with many major differences.

Cover of High Adventure, Deep Underground

• Chapter 1, Planet Of The Monsters;

The LMS Explorer gets caught in an asteroid belt and gets sucked into a wormhole. Chief sets the ship to orbit Planet U. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Axle, Bandit, Docs, and Jet go down to Planet U to set up an outpost, they also find ruins of an ancient city, statues of Rock Monsters are everywhere.

• Chapter 2, Fire And Ice;

Axle, Docs and Jet encounter a Rock Monster, while Bandit encounters an Ice Monster. After the team rescues (And defrosts) Bandit, he and Axle head out to collect more Energy Crystals, there they find more Slimy Slugs and a Rockwhale. Just seconds before a lava flow almost consumes them.

• Chapter 3, What's Up Docs?;

Docs is missing in action, the team must return to the surface and rescue him, Sparks once again tries to fix the teleporter. Bandit and Jet take Granite Grinders out to search for him, Bandit's is destroyed, and Jet's energy is depleted.

• Chapter 4, Hungry Monsters;

The team is repairing Rock Raiders HQ, when Rock, Ice and Lava Monsters attack. As the Monsters advance, Chief teleports down and rescues them with his plasma arm.

In the back it includes some inspiration models, for those that do not have actual Rock Raiders models.

This book is considered by many to be overly-cheesy, with too much non-canon material.

Race For Survival

Unlike the other two books, Race For Survival takes place after the main Rock Raiders story. At the side of each page, is a small article on Geology. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Cover Of Race For Survival

• Prologue;

The prologue is a recap of what happened in the games, afterwards it tells us that the Rock Raiders have returned to Planet U. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 396 × 600 pixels Full resolution (502 × 760 pixel, file size: 850 KB, MIME type: image/png) Cover of the book, Race For Survival This image is of a book cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned either by... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 396 × 600 pixels Full resolution (502 × 760 pixel, file size: 850 KB, MIME type: image/png) Cover of the book, Race For Survival This image is of a book cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned either by...

• Chapter 1, Trapped!;

Axle is in the Chrome Crusher, drilling away at some stone, complaining about it being too hot. Axle checks the conditions in the newly-found cavern. All seems normal until a tremor hits and flips the Chrome Crusher upside-down.

• Chapter 2, To The Rescue;

Axle radios Sparks, who is aboard the LMS Explorer, asking for immediate help, the radio dies just seconds after Axle contacts him. Chief organizes Bandit, Docs, Jet and Sparks for a meeting. He has found Axle's approximate location.

• Chapter 3, Quandrant 14;

Docs sends Sparks and Jet down the cavern where Axle should be, with a Granite Grinder and Hover Scout. Bandit goes down a river in the Rapid Rider, and Docs takes a Hover Scout to investigate the tremor.

Jet and Sparks arrive at the location and all they see is a landslide. Upon closer inspection, they hear a faint tapping sound, they realize Axle is talking to them via Morse Code. 1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting telegraphic information, using standardized sequences of short and long elements to represent the letters, numerals, punctuation and special characters of a message. ...

After awhile digging with a metal beam, a Rock Monster sneaks up on them, holding a huge boulder.

• Chapter 4, Trouble!;

The Rock Monster dropped the boulder and headed for the landslide, he starts digging at it completely ignoring Jet and Sparks. Eventually the Rock Monster unburies it completely, however Axle is nowhere to be seen.

• Chapter 5, Docs In Danger;

Docs was exploring Quadrant 15, when a lava flow erupts from the ground, Docs speeds away on his Hover Scout, up through a tunnel.

• Chapter 6, The Ice Monster;

Bandit was exploring a river in an ice cavern. His Rapid Rider alerts him that an alien lifeform is nearby. An Ice Monster rises out of the water and smashes the Rapid Rider. Thankfully bandit isn;t hurt badly.

• Chapter 7, Warning Sign;

Jet, Sparks and now Docs (Who found them earlier) follow the cavern the Rock Monster unburied, it was full of Energy Crystals. They soon spot Axle, right next to a sleeping Rock Monster.

A giant Slimy Slug enters the cavern, awakening the Rock Monsters. The Rock Monsters start pelting the Slimy Slug with boulders, eventually it drives it away.

• Chapter 8, Race Against Time;

Docs checks the GeoScanner and sees that pressure is rising in the caverns, Docs realizes there is going to be a volcanic eruption very soon. Docs says they need to leave now, but Axle and Jet want to help the Rock Monsters.

Sparks has a plan to block off the lava flow, so it does not hurt the Rock Monsters, destroy the Chrome Crusher.

Sparks gets in his Granite Grinder and drills a way out.

• Chapter 9, The Volcano Blows;

By the time the Rock Raiders escaped, the cavern was full of magma, the dam made from the Chrome Crusher held, thus saving the Rock Monsters.

Moments afterwards, Bandit snowboards down to the rest of the Rock Raiders, using a ski from the Rapid Rider.

Mini-Comics

Three mini-comics were made of the Rock Raiders, one was randomly included in each Rock Raiders set, when the theme was new. They had no dialog, but you could see the Rock Raiders talking to each other, or laughing.

• Comic One

Comic one shows the Rock Raiders drilling with the Chrome Crusher, Bandit sneezes and causes a cave-in, burying the Chrome Crusher and himself. Eventually the Rock Raiders rescue him and rebuild the Chrome Crusher. Right when they leave Bandit sneezes again.

• Comic Two

Comic two shows Axle, Jet and Sparks, each in a Loader Dozer, Granite Grinder and Hover Scout, respectively, ready to race. Docs waves a flag and the three take off, before any of them reach the finish-line, their vehicles are wrecked.

Bandit comes in and yells at them for wrecking the vehicles, they all rebuild their vehicles and race again.

• Comic Three

Comic three shows Jet with a bunch of Rock Raiders drilling, she goes off on her own and finds an Energy Crystal cache, guarded by Rock Monsters.

The three comics can be seen here.

Comic One

Comic Two

Comic Three

Inconsistencies

Some people consider the books to be non-canon, due to the fact that there are many storyline inconsistencies.

• Save The Spaceship inconsistencies
  • The LMS Explorer did not arrive at Planet U through a wormhole.
  • Planet U is more of an egg-shape, than round as shown in the games.
  • Planet U's surface is almost Earth-like, this is not true as shown in the games.
  • Only Axle, Bandit, Docs, Jet and Sparks are sent to the planet.
  • The Tunnel Transport goes ridiculously faster than it does in the games.
  • The Rapid Rider is called the Cat.
  • There is only one Rock Raiders HQ, once again, false as shown in the PC game.
  • A Rock Monster stows away onboard the LMS Explorer.

• High Adventure, Deep Underground inconsistencies
  • Sparks is addicted to coffee.
  • Chief pilots the LMS Explorer, this is false, Jet and Bandit pilot it, Chief simply commands it.
  • Only Axle, Bandit, Docs, and Jet are sent to the planet.
  • GeoScanners are called GeoLocaters.
  • Sparks hardly leaves the LMS Explorer, like Chief, untrue as shown in the Playstation game.
  • Slimy Slugs are a neon-green colour, as opposed to the dark green colour of the games.
  • The Rapid Riders can travel on land.
  • Axle tells many lame jokes.
  • The Rockwhales are much smaller and have facial features such as lips and pupils.
  • The vehicles have auto-pilot systems

• Race For Survival inconsistencies
  • Planet U is at the edge of the Milky Way, rather than another galaxy.
  • Slimy Slugs are giant.
  • Slimy Slugs eat Energy Crystals, rather than drain them.

Revelations

However, the books also reveal many things, though whether these are canonical or not is different matter.

• Save The Spaceship revelations
  • Energy Crystals can energize ore.
  • Lava Monsters and Ice Monsters are rivals.
  • Lava Monsters and Rock Monsters are partners.

• High Adventure, Deep Underground revelations
  • Axle was three times the LEGO World Racing Champion, meaning he is better than Rocket Racer.
  • Wormholes open in completely random locations.
  • There are ruins of an ancient Monster city, meaning that the Monsters were once civilized.
  • Chief has not left the LMS Explorer in over twenty years.
  • Chief lost his real left arm years ago, while rescuing thirty-seven miners from a cave-in on Pluto.
  • The Granite Grinders have turbo boosts and can jump.

• Race For Survival revelations
  • The planet is named Planet U.
  • Six months after the events in the games, they return to Planet U.
  • The Rock Raiders set up quandrants around Planet U's caverns.
  • Rock Monsters are actually peaceful, but if their Energy Crystals are in danger, they are very aggressive.
  • There is a large volcano in the unexplored Quadrants 14 and 15.
  • Rock Monsters have secret caches of Energy Crystals. (There are a few of these in the PC game)

Planet U

Planet U

Planet U is the planet that the LMS Explorer is orbiting, the entire story takes place on this planet. Image File history File links PtU.PNG Licensing This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely held by the company that developed the game. ... Image File history File links PtU.PNG Licensing This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely held by the company that developed the game. ...

The outer surface is various elements such as basalt and granite, the crust is mostly granite and LEGO Ore. The mantle is almost entirely Energy Crystals. The inner core is made of entirely of LEGO Ore.

Many mysterious creatures inhabit this planet, some similar to animals on Earth, and some completely alien.

One of the most mysterious things about this planet is the environment, some of the caverns are made entirely of ice and have huge lakes of lava.

Creatures

Rock Types and Minerals

References/Similarities to other LEGO themes

Other LEGO series make small references/have similarities to Rock Raiders, here is a list of said references/similarities.

A number of games set in the Bionicle fictional universe are available for handheld systems. ... Lego Island 2: The Bricksters Revenge is an adventure computer game, it is the sequel to Lego Island. ... Lego Racers 2 is the sequel to the first Lego racing game, released for the PC, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance in 2001. ... LEGOLAND is a Legoland-themed game for LEGO. // Professor Voltage J.P. the Mechanic Bob the Gardener Rosie the Chef Johnny Thunder Patrick the Penis Volga the Vagina As you play, there are 4 different themes for your park. ... Amber pendants. ... The cover of Bionicle Legends #6: City of the Lost. ...

Links

• Amazon.com - LEGO Rock Raiders - PC Version
• Amazon.com - LEGO Rock Raiders - PS1 Version
• Brickset - Rock Raiders
• LEGO.com - Rock Raiders PC
• LEGO.com - Rock Raiders PS1
• LEGOfigs - Rock Raiders
• Peeron.com - Rock Raiders