Random set of the day: Mini Heroes Collection: Rock Raiders #2
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 3348 Mini Heroes Collection: Rock Raiders #2, released during 2000. It's one of 3 Rock Raiders sets produced that year. It contains 21 pieces and 3 minifigs.
It's owned by 181 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $84.80, or eBay.
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47 comments on this article
Power miner's predecessor theme!
These mini heroes collection sets were basically display stands like 40300 and blister packs bought together.
"Strike a pose, there's nothing to it."
teleport rock raider to planet!!!!
We're making it out of Planet U with this one!!
I always found it fascinating that they brought a Fabuland-style shovel into this pack, yet at the same time I wouldn't mind seeing more of them in Rock Raiders either.
I got all 3 of them, this one had the cool Fabuland shovel and Sparks (who was the rarest of the original team). Also kinda rare seeing Docs without his bandana/scarf.
The 3 packs were a little umm... what's the point? Since all figures where relatively common throughout the regular sets, despite minor alterations you could easily customize even today.
The display stands were cool though. Although the Star Wars one had unique backgrounds for each character and a way more recognizable logo imprint on the base. Sure, the Star Wars logo is far simpler than the Rock Raiders one, but couldn't they at least have tried to put the drill on those plates?
A big missed opportunity to include the printed legs seen in the video game cinematics or the "generic Rock Raider" who was your basic worker with a ridiculous AI, often getting itself killed...
Getting Chief was cool though...
If I recall correctly, this is the only Rock Raiders set to use the backpack accessory as well, which to me adds a level of humanity to the bleak, sci-fi affair. Fun to imagine they have little travel bags just to keep provisions while exploring dark, mysterious caverns and terrifying, otherworldly monsters.
The guy in red has one of my favorite minifigure heads of all time. That beard, pronounced cheekbones, and stern look make for such a combo that really gives any figure so much more character.
Rock Raiders was cool, but Power Miners was a total glow-up
an energy crystal has been found!
@maniac4bricks said:
"If I recall correctly, this is the only Rock Raiders set to use the backpack accessory as well, which to me adds a level of humanity to the bleak, sci-fi affair. Fun to imagine they have little travel bags just to keep provisions while exploring dark, mysterious caverns and terrifying, otherworldly monsters."
He (Bandit) made a return for a 2002 Drome Racers set (one of the tiny figures with a 2x2 base)]
an energy crystal has been found!
@Billbuilds said:
"an energy crystal has been found!"
You were so excited about finding an energy crystal, you commented twice!
@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Billbuilds said:
"an energy crystal has been found!"
You were so excited about finding an energy crystal, you commented twice!"
You can't be more excited about an energy crystal than these two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F494BHgTTw
QUICK LORE!
Space miners!
Got sucked through wormhole onto alien planet!
Mined power crystals to fix their ship and get back home!
QUICK LORE!
@Atuin said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Billbuilds said:
"an energy crystal has been found!"
You were so excited about finding an energy crystal, you commented twice!"
You can't be more excited about an energy crystal than these two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F494BHgTTw"
The humans not speaking reminds me of the humans from Shaun the sheep!
@maniac4bricks said:
"If I recall correctly, this is the only Rock Raiders set to use the backpack accessory as well, which to me adds a level of humanity to the bleak, sci-fi affair. Fun to imagine they have little travel bags just to keep provisions while exploring dark, mysterious caverns and terrifying, otherworldly monsters."
Docs is also wielding a shovel with Fabuland emblazoned on it! Everything is awesome in the underground of Planet U!
an energy crystal has been found!
@GSR_MataNui said:
"QUICK LORE!
Space miners!
Got sucked through wormhole onto alien planet!
Mined power crystals to fix their ship and get back home!
QUICK LORE!"
Can I just say, I really like that there's always lore. It makes me happy.
@maniac4bricks said:
"If I recall correctly, this is the only Rock Raiders set to use the backpack accessory as well, which to me adds a level of humanity to the bleak, sci-fi affair. Fun to imagine they have little travel bags just to keep provisions while exploring dark, mysterious caverns and terrifying, otherworldly monsters."
I liked that detail actually.
It gets way weirder if you realize that Rock Raiders was originally planned to be a Space theme, following the same continuity that Exploriens/UFO/Insectoids did, which were said way far deeper into future than what Rock Raiders probably is set in.
According to the Time Cruisers audio drama, Exploriens was already set in at least 4000 A.D., the retail version of Rock Raiders probably is set in like 2100-2200?
Heck. Yes.
Rock Raiders was such a cool and tragically short-lived theme. I know full-well that nostalgia-bias is in effect, but Power Miners just lacks... something. Maybe it's because Power Miners is a more overtly action-oriented theme at its core (pun not intended, but embraced). Plus, I just like the color scheme of Rock Raiders. Somewhat drab, yet conveys a lot more character to me than Power Miners.
Also Rock Raiders had a woman among its main crew, and she looked rad. Always a plus in my book.
@Atuin:
Well, the Ninja one did have unique minifigs that never appeared in other sets.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Atuin :
Well, the Ninja one did have unique minifigs that never appeared in other sets."
I wasn't talking about them :D
Though... Looking closely, Ninja also got slightly lazy by just putting the same prints (maybe a necessesary color change included) on a new base color - then mix and match. Not the same as the entirely unique prints on Chief.
EDIT:
I think the red re-print of the shogun's torso was shown in the DS game LEGO Battles...
Yay, Star Wars got short as well, since the only unique ones were Palpatine (re-released in retail 2001), Han Solo with Brown legs (2003) and Battle Droid Commander/OOM-9? (2002).
City was even worse, with only recycled ones. So the box claim of "includes exclusive mini figure" is a bit thin...
Let's hope that LEGO will bring back Rock Raiders sooner or later...
I love this era of minifigs. They have just the right amount of detail. Not too detailed and not too bland. Though I agree that leg prints that were in the game would have been a cherry on top.
an energy crystal has been found
a slimy slug is invading your base
a slimy slug is invading your base
I got a question has anyone notice Lego shrinkflation?
Example Cherry Blossom 40725 was 438 pieces now 430
an energy crystal has been found
R R Slugger would be very happy to see this one.
I like Rock Raiders, but the sets have mostly become too pricey for me to get into the theme any more than I am already.
Best theme ever.
FWIW, only a few hours left to pre-order three of the Series 2 BL sets - Logging Railway, Ocean House and Ominous Isle still available.
No - I am not on commission but had an e-mail through and thought I'd let everyone know just in case anyone wants to buy one of these sets.
Appreciate most people on here will also get the e-mails but just in case there's anyone who might miss out.
Sincere apologies for the digression.
BTW, I also love the quick lore bits so thanks for all of those.
Aw yeah that’s some classic nostalgia right there
@Billbuilds said:
"a slimy slug is invading your base"
All your base are belong to slug.
a slimy slug is invading your base!
an energy crystal has been found
A Hedgehog has eaten all the slugs.......
A SLIMY SLUG IS INVADING YOUR BANK ACCOUNT!!!!!!
@Billbuilds said:
"A SLIMY SLUG IS INVADING YOUR BANK ACCOUNT!!!!!!"
That's fine. My account is empty. I spent it all on LEGO....
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Billbuilds said:
"a slimy slug is invading your base"
All your base are belong to slug."
Somebody set up us the slug.
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Rock Raiders was cool, but Power Miners was a total glow-up"
Yes and no. On one hand, even a Rock Raiders fanboy such as myself can admit that when it comes to the builds themselves, Rock Raiders is an unfortunate victim of LEGO's late-1990s philosophy that favored sets that were quick and easy to assemble, whereas Power Miners features far more intricate and satisfying builds. As LEGO is a building toy, that's pretty important.
But on the other hand... where Rock Raiders lacked in build, it made up for in aesthetic. Even 15 years later, I still thing Power Miners' emphasis on lime green and bright orange makes for a garish combination, whereas Rock Raiders has this down-to-earth (pun intended) color palette of dirty greys and browns, industrial black and yellow, and the occasional highlight of teal that made for a gritty "used future" look.
And in this set's case, there is no build. Just characters. And that is something Rock Raiders absolutely beats Power Miners on. Each Rock Raider has a distinct look, personality, and skillset. Here, we have Docs the wise geologist, Bandit the gruff sailor, and Sparks the clumsy engineer. Outside this set, we have Axle the carefree driver, Jet the daring pilot, and Chief the "guy who tells you A LANDSLIDE HAS OCCURRED and A SLIMY SLUG IS INVADING YOUR BASE!" I can immediately recall who they are and what they were doing in various comics and video game cutscenes. They are iconic and memorable.
By contrast, I know the names of the Power Miners characters, but I feel like I know nothing about them. Brains is the smart guy who later shows up in Atlantis, and... that's about all I can remember. Who's Duke, Doc, and Rex? And what about that generic Engineer and Miner who didn't even get profiles? Why should I care about them? They all look and act the same in the comics and mini-movies.
@SJPlego - I have absolutely nothing to add here, I just wanted to say that I absolutely agree with everything you've said. Rock Raiders is my favourite traditional Lego theme by a mile; and that's all down to the aesthetic and the characters, because I never even owned any of the big sets as a kid (only 4930, 4920 and 3347) but had the PC game and some of the books and just felt completely immersed in that world. Thank-you for putting it all into words!
@SJPlego said:
"By contrast, I know the names of the Power Miners characters, but I feel like I know nothing about them. Brains is the smart guy who later shows up in Atlantis, and... that's about all I can remember. Who's Duke, Doc, and Rex? And what about that generic Engineer and Miner who didn't even get profiles? Why should I care about them? They all look and act the same in the comics and mini-movies."
Rex did have a Scottish accent, so there's that.
@SJPlego Thank you. You encapsulated just about everything I was thinking but couldn't convey when I made my own comment.
@Spritetoggle said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Billbuilds said:
"a slimy slug is invading your base"
All your base are belong to slug."
Somebody set up us the slug."
What you say?
I would have thought that space miners would have had their own pilots and crew so they could focus on the mining…