The tail just being able to reach the seat when connected to the runner's helmet makes me imagine that being used as the way the runner embarks and disembarks. Overall it's a cool looking set as far as mechs of the time are concerned, great video as always Slugger!
@catfish552 Nah bro, runner disconnects from the tail mid-arc, does an epic backflip, and sticks the landing like Simone freaking Biles. The grateful crowd of Futuron astronauts goes wild and the video trends at #1 on SpaceTube.
3:53 I really miss this piece. it's a very simple but very effective way to make simple roofs and other slants. I don't think we have anything comparable today.
I've got 2153 as the European box version, and there was very briefly a copy of 2152 as the European box version for sale from a UK store on Bricklink a few years ago, which was the first one I'd ever seen of it. It's good to see that they were both advertised on the back of this magazine, as that clears up where I was wondering these came from. That is actually interesting in itself, as the European box of 2153 has got two dates on it, whereas the North American version only has one, which is 1997, while the other has 1997, 1999 on it, so that magazine being from 1999 explains that extra date on it.
Dang these look so cool! The two different colors are so weird but I find it charming. Thank you so much for introducing me to these lego sets I never got the chance to see. I have a ton of lego from before I was born(2001) and I love seeing how the pieces were used. 5:07 Dang that animation is so cool!!!
Other people have already pointed it out, but the studded slope is a really great piece. It feels satifying to build with it, because you can achieve angled surfaces in a quick, sturdy and seamless way, while maintaining a retro aesthetic. Also I love the circuit board pattern on the minifigs, that was also prominent in the UFO and Insectoids theme.
Finger hinges are still my favorite! So compact, and also perfect for a 1 plate stud reversal. And that slope with angled studs was great for sturdy plate roofs… kinda surprised it got retired so soon.
The Robo Raptor might be the coolest and most cohesive set of the theme honestly. I’m surprised they didn’t lean more into the reptilian theme considering the logo
the tail connecting to the runner is actually an inspiration for Avatar (2009). James Cameron was has said in interviews that he was “weirdly very into” Roboforce, and that the Robo Raptor became “like a son to me. How is a LEGO set like a son, you ask? Look at him. Look at my boy.”
i found a few pieces of those in my older brother's collection, but the box and instructions were lost. as a kid, i could never figure out what this strange eye piece was. it wasn't neither biological nor technical enough to be categorized. thanks for sheding some light, slugger! a robotic raptor, now it all makes sense ...
The first time I saw this model, the eye prints stood out to me. They kind of looked like hieroglyphs, which actually made me believe that Roboforce was about Egyptian space mechs! That would have certainly made it stand out from all the other space sets out there, and even Lego sets in general!
I don't know if roboforce looks to be my thing, but this one looks awesome. The 90's part selections, relying on slants instead of curves, really helps to sell the vibes.
With all the iconic Lego themes of the 90s, I feel this one got lost in the mix, I think I only really discovered this theme’s existence through these retrospectives.
3:35 There's proof James Cameron was a huge RoboForce fan and a key inspiration for Avatar.😄 I've enjoyed this theme exploration though I can't say I'm running off to get any, as the origins of this journey would attest heh. Some interesting bricks used, I wonder why part 6044 had such isolated usage especially for the era since it seems like it would be good for many tasks like roofs but I guess most are hinged door constructions now. I must say we are spoiled with articulation bricks now, I forgot how much they relied on hinges in the past. Mainly it looks like a fun project applying modern bricks to these build concepts Ie. V2.0.
It's shocking LEGO didn't make more dinosaur-inspired space sets in general (outside of Exploriens, if you count paleontology). Dinosaurs are rad, mechs are rad, they're a perfect fit! Just imagine... if RoboForce ended up being like insectoids but with dinosaurs instead of bugs, we could have Pterodactyl spaceships, Brontosaurus crane rovers, stegosaurus sensor arrays, the possibilities are endless!
Robo Raptor is definitely the highlight of Roboforce. More imposing than the Raider, more articulate than Stalker or Master, it’s got a powerful balance at work. The cockpit being a saddle on its back loans to a visual of riders on mechanical raptors like cowboys of the far future lol. Anyway the highlight color for Stalker I think would also be blue because of all the transparent blue elements it has. I had never even noticed the white before you mentioned it here because it blends in so well with the light old grey. As for that alt build, I love it. Looks like something that gets around with big jumps and flutters it’s wings on descent to glide down, so yeah it’s a perfect spying machine. Gotta keep ahead of those Zotaxians!
Using the Trans neon plastic helmets is one of those decisions where I'm not sure how they were meant to be envisioned as a real object, but absolutely made my imagination play with the image.
Ah man! I used to have this set! Funny how we (family) went to Disneyworld and one of the gifts I got my parent to buy me (was a kid back then) so this set cos it was never got release in the UK! Also in hindsight it was rude of me to open up and build it at my US relative house but I was so excited to build it! Also no, I didn't loose any of the pieces on the travel back home!
Wow, I'm finally caught up with the channel! It's been a long road... 🖖 A lot of my childhood LEGO came secondhand from yard sales and this is one of the sets that I had loose pieces for that I never knew the origin of! Those printed elements are so distinctive!
Remember when Slugger said that his Roboforce series would be a "lighthearted romp"? I think he may have discovered that he had more to say about these sets than he realized 😉
It's pretty weird that Lego stopped using that slope with studs when Mega has been using it to this day and even introduced shorter and wider versions.
Isn't there an old myth that dinosaurs have an extra brain in their tail? Connecting the tail to the runner's helmet could be some form of neural link, classic mech trope
This mech and the theme logo was more than probably dino themed solely because of the dino craze of the 90's after the release of Jurassic Park. I feel the same about Rock Raiders, what a strange name when you think about it, until you realize it was intended to also be a videogame and one of the bestsellers at the time was Tomb Raider so.. yeah.
I bought this goofy guy not two weeks after the Robo Raider video came out and it hasn't been out of arm's reach since then, always on my desk or on a nearby table, endlessly fuss-with-able set, and I wouldn't have thought about it at all if it hadn't been for these videos. I'm getting concerned that almost all of my LEGO-related purchasing decisions have been based on slug opinion, but I haven't been unsatisfied yet!
5:38 While it would have been neat if you swapped the drivers too I can understand not wanting to disturb those lever pieces after having finally positioned them just right
I am still confused that RoboForce is actually a late 90s theme. Doesn't really fit as a contempory to Exploriens, Insectoids or UFO. Also I feal like those fingers would be breaking from looking wrong at them.
Maybe it’s not a tail so much as it is a power cord. Maybe the RoboForce mechs are the REAL main characters and they’re using their “drivers” as living batteries…
Great video! I had plans for a own version of this set. But I wasn't happy with the results. It looked like a chicken and not a Raptor. So, that has to wait before I have another idea how to approach this mech. I think Chip Nebula is a really cool minifigure. The prints in this theme is great. Just curious, R. R. Slugger. Do you have Robo Force prints on different (textured) slopes? I do have them and was curious if this was the period that the texture of the slopes was altered by TLG.
All of my printed slopes are textured, yes. To my knowledge, 2002 was closer to the time that certain slope pieces lost their texture, only to regain it in future batches.
@@RRSlugger I didn't know that. I have a few printed slopes with rougher texture and a few with less rough texture. The prints on the slopes with rougher texture are worse in quality.
You can't go wrong a dinosaur mech. Maybe the color theming is like, "green squadron" and "red squadron" (think of it like star wars x-wings). That alt mech is a cool one, like a scout, maybe that is the benefit of a raptor frame: speed.
The more I look at it the less I think the explorien helmet mold is a logical choice for trans neon recolors. But then again, robo force's strength is that it plays by the rule of cool, and gaudy and impractical is the name of the game
At long last that footage that's existed for years finally gets its proper use
the dinosaur shape seems like such a natural conclusion of what could be done with those parts. It just looks so good
The tail just being able to reach the seat when connected to the runner's helmet makes me imagine that being used as the way the runner embarks and disembarks. Overall it's a cool looking set as far as mechs of the time are concerned, great video as always Slugger!
Okay, that mental image of disembarking via helmet-to-tail connection made me laugh out loud, it's hilarious and I love it.
That's what I thought too!
But the connection also needs to rotate, otherwise the runner ends up on the ground in a handstand 😄
@catfish552 Nah bro, runner disconnects from the tail mid-arc, does an epic backflip, and sticks the landing like Simone freaking Biles. The grateful crowd of Futuron astronauts goes wild and the video trends at #1 on SpaceTube.
3:38 James Cameron "Write that down! Write that down!"
3:53 I really miss this piece. it's a very simple but very effective way to make simple roofs and other slants. I don't think we have anything comparable today.
I've got 2153 as the European box version, and there was very briefly a copy of 2152 as the European box version for sale from a UK store on Bricklink a few years ago, which was the first one I'd ever seen of it. It's good to see that they were both advertised on the back of this magazine, as that clears up where I was wondering these came from. That is actually interesting in itself, as the European box of 2153 has got two dates on it, whereas the North American version only has one, which is 1997, while the other has 1997, 1999 on it, so that magazine being from 1999 explains that extra date on it.
That's some really cool insight - thanks for sharing!
Slugger, I know many have said it before, but DANG your animations add SO much to your videos. This one especially stands out :)
Thank you! 😊
Must say, that ending clip was quite delightful. I presume that is what you do to unsuspecting audience members when you are hungry.
Dang these look so cool! The two different colors are so weird but I find it charming.
Thank you so much for introducing me to these lego sets I never got the chance to see. I have a ton of lego from before I was born(2001) and I love seeing how the pieces were used.
5:07 Dang that animation is so cool!!!
Thanks! I was really pleased with how it turned out!
Other people have already pointed it out, but the studded slope is a really great piece. It feels satifying to build with it, because you can achieve angled surfaces in a quick, sturdy and seamless way, while maintaining a retro aesthetic.
Also I love the circuit board pattern on the minifigs, that was also prominent in the UFO and Insectoids theme.
It's always good to see a shuffle walker.
It sure is! ❤️
Finger hinges are still my favorite! So compact, and also perfect for a 1 plate stud reversal. And that slope with angled studs was great for sturdy plate roofs… kinda surprised it got retired so soon.
I have never seen a non-bootleg 2639, that's crazy
It does look really good. And the 90s parts give it such distinct greebling
5:00 THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE EVERYBODY!!!!
MGSV footage in a slugger video was certainly not on my list of predictions for 2025
The Robo Raptor might be the coolest and most cohesive set of the theme honestly. I’m surprised they didn’t lean more into the reptilian theme considering the logo
That's essentially how I feel about it as well - the odd one out, and yet the most emblematic of the logo for the series? It's strange, haha. 😆
I think that's part of why this feels like such an odd duck of a Space theme, there's great stuff here but the line doesn't really feel cohesive
@rennythespaceguy7285i wonder if Roboforce is designed by a different team.
really appreciate this general style of content as always. don't change RRslugger!
I think this was the last set I got as a child before I stopped getting Lego. I did love it a lot.
the tail connecting to the runner is actually an inspiration for Avatar (2009). James Cameron was has said in interviews that he was “weirdly very into” Roboforce, and that the Robo Raptor became “like a son to me. How is a LEGO set like a son, you ask? Look at him. Look at my boy.”
100% facts. 😂
i found a few pieces of those in my older brother's collection, but the box and instructions were lost. as a kid, i could never figure out what this strange eye piece was. it wasn't neither biological nor technical enough to be categorized. thanks for sheding some light, slugger! a robotic raptor, now it all makes sense ...
This is a delightful set! I wish they'd make modern walkers like that.
The first time I saw this model, the eye prints stood out to me. They kind of looked like hieroglyphs, which actually made me believe that Roboforce was about Egyptian space mechs! That would have certainly made it stand out from all the other space sets out there, and even Lego sets in general!
That could have been cool!
I used to connect the tail to the back of the helmet too! Gosh, that brought back memories.
No way!! That's awesome! 😮
When I used to look at old LEGO catalogs as a kid, the Robo Raptor was always one that caught my eye! It's definitely on my list of sets to get!
The slopes for the neck manage to make the perfect shape.
My all time favourite of this bunch, need to get it one day! Thanks for another great video Slugger!
I was obssessed with Dinosaurs as a kid, and this was my favorite lego set by far. Still looks awesome to this day
This one always caught my eye in the Lego magazines and catalogs!
I have nostalgia for roboforce. It was during my childhood, so... yeah. And those neon accents--how could anyone not like that?
I don't know if roboforce looks to be my thing, but this one looks awesome. The 90's part selections, relying on slants instead of curves, really helps to sell the vibes.
With all the iconic Lego themes of the 90s, I feel this one got lost in the mix, I think I only really discovered this theme’s existence through these retrospectives.
3:35 There's proof James Cameron was a huge RoboForce fan and a key inspiration for Avatar.😄
I've enjoyed this theme exploration though I can't say I'm running off to get any, as the origins of this journey would attest heh. Some interesting bricks used, I wonder why part 6044 had such isolated usage especially for the era since it seems like it would be good for many tasks like roofs but I guess most are hinged door constructions now.
I must say we are spoiled with articulation bricks now, I forgot how much they relied on hinges in the past. Mainly it looks like a fun project applying modern bricks to these build concepts Ie. V2.0.
Runner Runner Slugger at it again!
It's shocking LEGO didn't make more dinosaur-inspired space sets in general (outside of Exploriens, if you count paleontology). Dinosaurs are rad, mechs are rad, they're a perfect fit! Just imagine... if RoboForce ended up being like insectoids but with dinosaurs instead of bugs, we could have Pterodactyl spaceships, Brontosaurus crane rovers, stegosaurus sensor arrays, the possibilities are endless!
It would also explain the reptilian eye in the logo
The Slizer mug in the catalogue image goes hard, I want that!
This subtheme is just so cool
Robo Raptor is definitely the highlight of Roboforce. More imposing than the Raider, more articulate than Stalker or Master, it’s got a powerful balance at work. The cockpit being a saddle on its back loans to a visual of riders on mechanical raptors like cowboys of the far future lol.
Anyway the highlight color for Stalker I think would also be blue because of all the transparent blue elements it has. I had never even noticed the white before you mentioned it here because it blends in so well with the light old grey.
As for that alt build, I love it. Looks like something that gets around with big jumps and flutters it’s wings on descent to glide down, so yeah it’s a perfect spying machine. Gotta keep ahead of those Zotaxians!
I always liked this design! I remember trying to build one from my pieces~!
Using the Trans neon plastic helmets is one of those decisions where I'm not sure how they were meant to be envisioned as a real object, but absolutely made my imagination play with the image.
The Saga of Slugger's Love of Spyrius Alt Builds continues!
Honestly this theme felt like they where trying to figure out what they wanted to be
Ooooh I gotta find my copy again!
I love how you swapped legs with the Granite Grinder too!
I appreciate the dinosaur aesthetic for this set. What dinosaurs would you reimagine the other sets of this them into?
Triceratops would be a solid pick!
Speaking of the Granite Grinder, recent Creator set 31139 has a micro version of it.
I like the reference to another theme. An excellent microbuild. Granite Grinder is my favorite shufflewalker
More Slugger!!! Yay!!! 😍
It is interesting that all of the lego mech themes have a force suffix.
These builds feel like mocs than official sets.
Maybe different designers or design-philosophy
5:45 Exo-Force my beloved 😍
MY FAVORITE SET OMG
Ah man! I used to have this set! Funny how we (family) went to Disneyworld and one of the gifts I got my parent to buy me (was a kid back then) so this set cos it was never got release in the UK! Also in hindsight it was rude of me to open up and build it at my US relative house but I was so excited to build it! Also no, I didn't loose any of the pieces on the travel back home!
“Clever girl…”
One of favs forever
This made my day! Thanks Slugger!
These "older" Lego themes realy show the years there are from. This one just screams Dinoriders, Zoids, Dinobots and even JP. 😂
Wow, I'm finally caught up with the channel! It's been a long road... 🖖 A lot of my childhood LEGO came secondhand from yard sales and this is one of the sets that I had loose pieces for that I never knew the origin of! Those printed elements are so distinctive!
Haha, thanks! I hope you enjoyed the binge! 😊
Remember when Slugger said that his Roboforce series would be a "lighthearted romp"? I think he may have discovered that he had more to say about these sets than he realized 😉
2:40 That could lend itself well to crawler-based mechs.
6:13 I can immediately see that becoming a slug-based mech with a bit of work.
Babe wake up! New RoboForce Retrospecive Dropped!
It's pretty weird that Lego stopped using that slope with studs when Mega has been using it to this day and even introduced shorter and wider versions.
I didn't know that! Cool!
I didnt even know it existed and now it's gone... i like this brick. Feels like a more straightforward way to build diagonal.
Who can say no to a mechanical dinosaur?
That's my boy.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! 8DDDDDDD!!!!!
It is my dream to get this amazing set, but it is rare in Europe. :(
Great video slug, One of the theme's a always had a soft spot for. Did kind of feel you were a little less into this one tho haha.
Isn't there an old myth that dinosaurs have an extra brain in their tail? Connecting the tail to the runner's helmet could be some form of neural link, classic mech trope
Haha, I like this theory!
I heard such story about brachiosaur. Maybe it needed an extra brain because it's so long from head to tail.
This mech and the theme logo was more than probably dino themed solely because of the dino craze of the 90's after the release of Jurassic Park.
I feel the same about Rock Raiders, what a strange name when you think about it, until you realize it was intended to also be a videogame and one of the bestsellers at the time was Tomb Raider so.. yeah.
Just the thing to cool down after a workou!
I bought this goofy guy not two weeks after the Robo Raider video came out and it hasn't been out of arm's reach since then, always on my desk or on a nearby table, endlessly fuss-with-able set, and I wouldn't have thought about it at all if it hadn't been for these videos.
I'm getting concerned that almost all of my LEGO-related purchasing decisions have been based on slug opinion, but I haven't been unsatisfied yet!
Hahaha, glad to hear that I haven’t steered you wrong yet! 😅
Hell yeah!!:D
😃SLUUUUGERRRR!
The tail thing connecting to the helmet could be the pilot controling the mech with his brain
Rocket Punch! On this mechanical beast!?!? Dr hell finally has been able to equal Mazinger z :0
I used to have this set. My kid brain never saw the eyes. I always saw it as upside down faces, which I probably repurposed them as.
My fav Lego slug
This is clearly a companion piece to the Folding Ideas video which also released today...
We both live in Calgary, so it's entirely possible! 😆
Woah, I think I have this one!
It would have been cool to see the line try to capture more biomimicry in its designs
Grand Titan spotted!
-Jesse
Now you gotta have a Robo Raptor show up in Battle Peak! 😉
Cool
0:23 What's that?! their own version of the Rock Raider's Teleporter?
Sure is! 😆
5:38 While it would have been neat if you swapped the drivers too I can understand not wanting to disturb those lever pieces after having finally positioned them just right
So true!
Grand Titan would NEVER lose to roboraptor!!!
I am still confused that RoboForce is actually a late 90s theme. Doesn't really fit as a contempory to Exploriens, Insectoids or UFO.
Also I feal like those fingers would be breaking from looking wrong at them.
7:19 *Was* working on Rock Raiders?!?
Haha, fair point!
Maybe it’s not a tail so much as it is a power cord. Maybe the RoboForce mechs are the REAL main characters and they’re using their “drivers” as living batteries…
That's... horrifying to think about! 😆
That's some crazy matrix theory! Love it!
Great video!
I had plans for a own version of this set.
But I wasn't happy with the results. It looked like a chicken and not a Raptor.
So, that has to wait before I have another idea how to approach this mech.
I think Chip Nebula is a really cool minifigure.
The prints in this theme is great.
Just curious, R. R. Slugger.
Do you have Robo Force prints on different (textured) slopes?
I do have them and was curious if this was the period that the texture of the slopes was altered by TLG.
All of my printed slopes are textured, yes. To my knowledge, 2002 was closer to the time that certain slope pieces lost their texture, only to regain it in future batches.
@@RRSlugger I didn't know that. I have a few printed slopes with rougher texture and a few with less rough texture. The prints on the slopes with rougher texture are worse in quality.
2:58 what is that minifig its very cute
He's from an old series called "Fabuland"! 😊
The Robo Spy almost has a Macross Gerwalk like look to it with the wings and nosecone shaped front
You can't go wrong a dinosaur mech. Maybe the color theming is like, "green squadron" and "red squadron" (think of it like star wars x-wings). That alt mech is a cool one, like a scout, maybe that is the benefit of a raptor frame: speed.
My lord, these are so bad. No wonder Lego nearly went bust during that time :D Thanks for the vid!
How can a guy say no to a robot dinosaur mech?
3:39 Maybe it's some way to control it with your mind, like a Pacific Rim type deal?
It's probably just a happy accident to be honest
i can't believe you looked at a literal space nessie and said no to that. absolutely unbelievable, smh.
Hahaha, fair. Maybe I was really just chickening out - the images on the box are pretty small, after all. 😅
@@RRSlugger fair. that back-of-the-box-builds site might have instructions, but if we have to wing it, then it is what it is.
that rocket punch clip is so fun!
where is it from?
That's from MGSV: The Phantom Pain. 🙂
@@RRSlugger that is what i thought, it looked like, but i never got around to play it so couldn't tell for sure
😎❤👍
Robot Tauntaun
I honestly have zero recollection of RoboForce sets, hell don't recall them in the 97 cataloge either which is weird.
I want thos flexible joints to come back. The ratched joined doesn't do it for me, especially not the joints for windscreen and car-rooves
Bring back neon green and orange Lego please. I need it again.
The more I look at it the less I think the explorien helmet mold is a logical choice for trans neon recolors. But then again, robo force's strength is that it plays by the rule of cool, and gaudy and impractical is the name of the game
new R.R. slugger video I am sure glad I subbed to TrikBrix. Consider my day made 😄