History Toys / RockRaiders

''LEGO Rock Raiders'' is a 1999 Franchise/{{LEGO}} [[Toys/LEGOThemes theme]] based around [[AsteroidMiners mining on an alien planet]] for {{Power Crystal}}s, sporting fifteen sets featuring mining vehicles, other craft, minifigure packs, and a large base set. What it is best remembered for, though, is its two very different tie-in games, one for the PC and one for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation. Accompanying the games and toys were nine mini-comics, several other comic appearances in LEGO-related magazines, and three young reader books.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The 2009 theme Toys/LEGOPowerMiners is this to Rock Raiders.

* NintendoHard: Certain missions are very much like this. ''Erode Works'' is the first level the player encounters eroding lava. Since the lava constantly erodes, you'll have to keep checking on the areas you've discovered so far. In ''Rock Hard'', the area you start in is very limited [[spoiler:until you drill the walls to make more space]]. Many walls in that mission are made of Hard Rock, so you'll have to use dynamite or large vehicles. In ''Hot Stuff'', you have both Lava Monsters ''and'' erosions to deal with at the same time!
** ''Back to Basics'' is perhaps the hardest level in the game that pushes all the skills you've accumulated to the absolute limit!

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: For an unknown reason, the large, six-legged, fat stone-like creatures were called '''Rockwhales''' in the NTSC version, and '''Rock Whales''' in the PAL version. No explanation has arisen, and nothing else was affected like this.

%%* GreenRocks: Energy Crystals.

* NonLethalKO: Rock Raiders never die; they are safely teleported to the [=L.M.S. Explorer=].

* StupidStatementDanceMix: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlUglQT4H5M A landslide has occurred!]]

* ObviousBeta:
** The game is generally playable, but there are a lot of obvious clues the game was rushed even to an unsuspecting player, most notably the rampant ArtificialStupidity. There is also the fact the game is impossible to achieve OneHundredPercentCompletion on, as well as the extremely unbalanced vehicle and building roster.
** Air Riders level is the only ice level that features lava. Apparently, while the ground next to the lava can erode in this setting, there are no textures for this happening, meaning that you have no idea that a piece of the floor is in a state of undergoing erosion, and how far this process already went.

* SpiritualSuccessor: As revealed in [[http://www.rockraidersunited.org/topic/3942-ddi-looking-for-help-for-block-raiders-rock-raiders-inspired-title/ these]] [[http://www.rockraidersunited.org/topic/5082-new-version-of-rock-raiders-update/ two]] Rock Raiders United threads, Data Design Interactive was impressed by the dedication of the PC game's fanbase and is currently working on a Spiritual Successor titled "Block Raiders", which will be taking quite a bit of inspiration from ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}''. The members of the original Rock Raiders development team are working on this new game.

* HundredPercentCompletion: Getting Gold on all 18 missions. In the PAL version, you then get [[3 bonus levels]].

* ACommanderIsYou: You get to chose which Rock raider tackle a mission each one having a few special abilitis that suits them to certain kinds of missions:

* EnergyWeapon: So now, not only are the handheld laser guns firing (slightly) more realistic "lasers", but now they can blow up ''any'' wall in ''one shot'' (far superior to the PC game lasers).
** There are also some green scorpions that shoot plasma balls out of somewhere on their front. You will grow to hate them, except when their aim deteriorates as it usually does.

* HundredPercentCompletion: Getting Gold on all 18 missions. In the PAL version, you then get [[WhatCouldHaveBeen 3 bonus levels]].

* WalkDontSwim: Bandit, and everyone else (though they die in water). Rockwhales, on the other hand, have SuperDrowningSkills (and make good bridges).

** Rock Raiders aren't the only stupid ones. Many people don't know that Rock Hard has Slimy Slugs, because often they either continually appear from their holes and immediately burrow back into it, or don't emerge at all. Even if your base is right next to them.

*** On the note of removing files, some of the unused sound clips are rather... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0CrgWgvgKg interesting]].

* AsteroidsMonster: Upon their health reaching zero, Rock Monsters crumble into three small Rock Monsters and run away. Ice Monsters crumble into three small Ice Monsters. And then Lava Monsters crumble into three small...[[FridgeLogic Rock Monsters]]?
** [[FridgeBrilliance They lose too much heat with the division.]]

* DummiedOut: Hoo boy. Where to begin? [[http://www.rockraidersunited.org/ A little community dedicated to this game]] found [[WhatCouldHaveBeen massive amounts of unused data]] (and re-activated some), including but not limited to:
** Giant spiders that spit webs, scorpions and snakes (all were able to be re-activated).
** Leftover code for a mobile Teleport Pad and a canteen.
** Various animations for the Rock Raiders (including saxophone playing), and a different face resembling Sparks.
** Different animations for the Rock Monster, such as running in fear, a different eating animation, and... a cross between a Rock Monster and an Ice Monster farting and giggling.
** Icons for various unmade vehicles, buildings and animations, such as a tool store resembling that from the 4910 Hover Scout, buildings resembling those from the 4990 Rock Raiders HQ, a Power Station resembling the Docks, blue Energy Crystals, etc.
** The Tunnel Transport. It appeared as an object in ''Frozen Frenzy'', yes, but code to make it into a proper, fully-functioning playable vehicle was found and reimplemented.
** Unused test levels and an unused wall type.
** Some unused sounds and voices that are rather curious.
** An '''''In-Game Level Editor'''''.
** And too many other things to list.
** Early concepts for mission objectives [[ContinuityNod referred to things from previous levels]].

* DumbBlonde: Axle in ''High Adventure Deep Underground''. Notably when he decided to [[WhatAnIdiot dance on an incomplete bridge over a lava river]]. He is, however, also the first of the crew to clue into just how far the wormhole actually sent them.

%%* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay

* SpaceWestern: Though one combined with the AsteroidMiners trope. The clothing accessories of the Rock Raiders have several clear allusions to the genre (in fact, a lot of them come from previous LEGO Wild West sets), the planet is a desert wasteland full of unexplored and potentially dangerous territory, the rock raiders themselves are the hard-working [[GeniusBruiser genius bruiser]]s of space-themed LEGO sets and the rush for the energy crystals is basically a gold rush [-[[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE !]]-]!