R.R. Slugger's LEGO RoboForce Retrospective Series ~ Primer Episode!

[@RRSlugger]

Kept ya waiting, huh?

[@carapar]

The slug who sold the world!

[@arnaudlandry7370]

you could have waited until the 31st

[@enderbro1550]

The phantom slug

[@boxfoxscoot1614]

SNAKE?! SNAAAAKE?!!

[@HenryTheGarrett]

2 weeks 😂

[@DZstudios.]

It’s the Summer of Slug [in the southern hemisphere] It’s the Summer of Slug [in the southern hemisphere] It’s the Summer of Slug [in the southern hemisphere]

[@lbricks7631]

Aussie Aussie Aussie, OI OI OI

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

@@lbricks7631 More recognition of Southern Hemisphere's seasons is greatly appreciated!

[@spamhands6993]

Surely the R.R. in R.R. Slugger means Robot Runner. Never saw this LEGO theme, but interested in learning about it all the same!

[@RRSlugger]

Hahaha, that's great! 😊

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

In all seriousness, it stands for Rock Raiders Slugger, since he's based on the slug from that theme. They are also commonly found on Ogel, according to LEGO Island 2.

[@RRSlugger]

@@Cyberbrickmaster1986 That isn’t quite correct, actually! I just chose two letters to put in front of the name that I just thought sounded good, ala P.T. Barnum. It’s a coincidence that Rock Raiders also has two R’s in its name! 😅

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

@@RRSlugger Oh, I see. That is a real coincidence, indeed!

[@CappnRob]

Honestly even though it’s a bit of a gag I like that you’re doing this. I don’t think Roboforce is ANYONES favorite space theme, and because of that there is a great opening for someone to really do them justice. Personally I like them a lot, not just because I love me some mecha, but also because I do appreciate the unique role they play into LEGO space. We’ve had civilians with Futuron, two incarnations of cops and robbers with Space Police and Blacktron, industrialists with M-Tron and Unitron, espionage with Spyrius, extreme frontiersmen with Ice Planet, archaeologists with Exploriens, and outright hostile war mongers with UFO who would then be complimented by a heroic neighbor supposedly locked in war with them with Insectoids. Roboforce gives us the closest Space has had to any sort of standing heroic army if one assumes the Space Police’s work is limited to more civilian matters. They were marketed as directly opposing the UFO’s aliens, but I can definitely see these guys being sworn enemies of Spyrius from years earlier due to both of their paramilitary vibes… and the fact they both have mecha to beat the hell out of each other with. I actually do hope you’ll compare the Roboforce machines directly against their contemporaries of the same decade when possible. There aren’t many, but there’s a definite shared design language between Roboforce and Spyrius as far as mecha go. And honestly, I rather like the mech designs. Red Team having humanoids and Green Team having beasts is a cool contrast, and I especially love the huge bubble cockpit that the bigger green mech has with all the control panels visible on the inside.

[@RRSlugger]

Absolutely! There's a lot to love here, and all 4 of the sets are solid, in my opinion. 👍

[@CappnRob]

@@RRSlugger I'm looking at pre-Roboforce mechs now on Brickset, and there's a few interesting ones for sure. Blacktron 2's Sub-Orbital Guardian is almost a baby prototype of the Roboforce's Robo Master in a way. Anyway, looking forward to the series!

[@ShallowVA]

Roboforce feels like a weird halfway theme. Like the kind of thing you would build yourself out of parts of Exploriens, Insectoids, and classic Space parts. It came out right in the middle of the period in LEGO history I'm most nostalgic for, and I don't even remember it. Which only makes me more excited for this retrospective!

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

I still remember World City. It was really more of a prototype theme, that led to the far superior LEGO City theme, as it was never that good. But coming after the horrible Jack Stone sets, preceded by that awful 5+ Town theme, it was a welcome change of pace for the time being in my eyes

[@pezzi1481]

Roboforce? I don't even know what that is! And now I'm ready to find out!

[@slothfulcobra]

I like that Life on Mars solar covered wagon you put in there.

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you! Designed it specifically for this video, haha.

[@kaylievinchenstein9987]

4:19 that's unironically a really cute moc

[@Macepanda_]

My favorite part of RoboForce was when John RoboForce showed up and said "It's RoboForce time!" And then he RoboForce'd all over the place. I cried so hard when that happened.

[@vladkornienko7889]

It’s a winter of slug! It’s a winter of slug! 🎶🎵

[@Specsp421]

The helmets with the hoses and black visors remind of the Zaku IIs from Gundam. The two teams being separated by red and green colors is just like how the normal Zakus were green while Char’s was red too.

[@RRSlugger]

Totally! Very similar visual aesthetic.

[@masahige2344]

As a certifiable autistic enjoyer of Slugger content, I would be fascinated to see a study on the relationship between the broad autistic affiliation with Lego, the tendency of autistic people to take things literally, and the existence of this new series. ;) Also - "It's the Runner, not the Frame that makes the difference" makes me think Slugger needs to write a RoboForce comic or something. Coming 2034?

[@PhobosDDeimos]

Interesting. As a German these are new to me. They do look an awful lot like alt-builds themselves, or prototypes. Kind of like a blend of parts from different existing sets like Exploriens and Spyrius, but color swapped. Very interesting, indeed.

[@catfish552]

I appreciate not only that you're doing this, but doing it just in time to squeeze into the right year! I'm actually genuinely looking forward to the series. I'm aware of RoboForce, but because it's such a small, obscure, region-locked theme, I don't know very much about it.

[@soulclone6]

I was a Lego Nerd in the 90's and never heard of this in France !

[@betamaxblocker]

These sets always looked amazing in the magazines and booklets of the 90s!

[@inthetoyroom4life]

90s kids: Poor predicable Lego, always uses neon green and orange for space Lego: Good ol' neon green and orange! Nothing beats that

[@dangalfthedruid]

I love the slug looking in the mailbox. The angle of the eyes is perfect!

[@alecabrahams4115]

I’ve never even heard of this theme… I kept expecting the reveal that Slugger had made up a theme as an elaborate prank.

[@sgnoogle]

I remember back in 2001 when I was playing Lego Racers 1. There was an NPC character called Roboracer, and he was the coolest NPC with the coolest NPC car! I think he was based on the RoboForce brand!

[@vincentwiddershoven2122]

Cant wait to follow this adventure R.R. *** makes some popcorn and gets his blanket***

[@Fishysalmon02]

4:57 I really like that model design. The trans neon orange inverted slope windscreen shown in the rare parts would fit perfectly in an ice planet build

[@JanGeertsema-h2s]

I love finally having a name for Galidor joints, thanks slugger!

[@Mondo78951]

I'm hoping for a RoboRiders retrospective some day, I loved the Throwbots videos

[@thrillhouse4151]

I have a pair of the transparent neon orange helmet guys from my friend’s collection, and now I have a bunch of the pieces to what I think is a couple of them. He had all his old instruction booklets intact so I was thrilled to see that. Also finally got his Tunnel Transport so I have all the Rock Raiders sets minus Chief and the Kabayas. (Band name). 6:05, can’t wait for all the parts analysis, those are my favorite PARTS.

[@RRSlugger]

Hahaha, Chief & The Kabayas' live album from 2000 is one of my favouties! 😆

[@stoic_hero]

Roboforce was my childhood. The Syprius wheeled mech was my first foray into Lego mechs, but the wheels felt like a cop out. Roboforce, on the other hand, had a great color scheme (despite how over used it might have been/became) and seemed like such an improvement, at the time. I got the two smaller mechs, and I remember having them battle against Alien and Insectoids sets. I do remember there being a small flying craft (with the neo green color) in one of those tiny square boxes sets, but I could be mistaken.

[@Sam_Guertin]

Similar to ThrowBots, you say? Count me in. Loved your editing on those.

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you! There's sure to be some laughs (and Star Trek references) in these upcoming videos, haha. 😊

[@jinxtheunluckypony]

These are neat. I love the clunky aesthetic of classic Lego robots.

[@Alfwin]

I remember when I was a kid, I had an old LEGO catalogue that was from the year I was born - 1997. Mostly I looked at the UFO and Exploriens themes (my dad had one of each, so I'd gotten to play with them firsthand), but I remember finding the single page of RoboForce to be absolutely captivating! I'm excited to see your retrospective of the theme, and whether or not the actual sets live up to the awe they inspired in me when I was a little girl!

[@Dataloss484]

Out of all the retro space themes, this is the only one i feel like I would have never known about if it wasnt for the internet. So thank you for highlighting these curiosities.

[@M0torsagmannen]

i always find it interesting how some themes was region locked like this.

[@RRSlugger]

I wonder why that was? You'd think with all the time, money, and R&D that goes into these toys, they would have wanted to sell them in as many markets as possible!

[@Maniac4Bricks]

Ive been with the channel long enough to understand the fulfillment of this running gag, but i am genuinely excited to learn more about Roboforce! Always seemed like an obscure or less celebrated theme of LEGO space even among the factions of the 90s. And im also enjoying that this will be a shorter retrospective with 4 sets. The lore already has me intrigued, and though I've only owned the Robo Raptor, the other sets always intrigued me even when I read them in the catalogs.

[@yumahummus5033]

ITS FINALLY HERE

[@nkende]

I knew this was supposed to be coming but somehow I didn't fully expect it to actually happen 😅 Looking forward to the series Slugger!

[@TheAtoll]

If this is anything like the throwbots look-back series, we are in for a good time! those throwbot videos are some of your finest Slugger!

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you kindly! I hope I can live up to the quality of them. 😆

[@lbricks7631]

That's one cool looking logo for this series.

[@MTronForever]

Here for it! I enjoy RoboForce very much- even if it isn't perfect as you say.

[@colinroberts2060]

RoboForce was released the same year I was born, and it is another theme I've rarely seen covered by most creators. But it isn't the smallest theme of the '90s overall, edged out by the "Wolfpack" (1992-94) and "Dark Forest" (1996) factions of Castle which had only three sets each. Along with the "Insectoids" and "UFO" themes from 1998, RoboForce was one of the last Space-oriented themes to be introduced before the introduction of the Star Wars theme. One of the signature colors of RoboForce is transparent fluorescent green-which is often referred to more simply as "neon green", though neither it or Unitron (1994-95) were the first theme to feature this color. That honor goes to the Space faction of "M-Tron" introduced a few years before in 1990, which is set to celebrate its amethyst (35) anniversary next month. If you have any experience with either of these themes?

[@RRSlugger]

Very cool! I have all the M-Tron sets too, and I love 'em! Happy early 35th, M-Tron! ❤

[@colinroberts2060]

@@RRSlugger Okay, but what about Unitron?

[@RRSlugger]

@@colinroberts2060 Have 'em and love 'em too! 90s Space is where it's at. 😊

[@RufioTheThird]

Started watching your content after the Solar Sands video came up in my recommended. Content like yours is what this site was made for. Keep sluggin' on, you are so talented

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@joesausauge5709]

i must have waited all my life for this moment

[@RRSlugger]

If that's a YES reference, you win the day, my friend! ❤️

[@justinsemple7454]

Personality, I'm more interested in deep dives into Lego's ugly ducklings over their classic sets and themes. I'd watch a Znap retrospective in a heartbeat.

[@j1t176]

the bionicle dissing gets me every time lmao. I never expect it because I usually hear the opposite. I'm not mad I just think it's really funny

[@mr.wassell7885]

That robot space dinosaur mech is pretty wizard

[@roseconleey103]

i have, unironically, been waiting for slugforce. it’s the most bizarrely niche christmas miracle ever!

[@the-NITRON]

i don't why i didn't see this in my subscription feed, two days ago. "my slug emperor! I have failed you!" but even though this was originally a bit, I'm surprised you decided to deliver us the promise! XD now for this space theme. I fully remember seeing these in those LEGO catalog booklets back in the 90s, but i never got a chance to own them, nor do i recall ever seeing them on the shelves (i lived in the US, so they had to have been there) i guess it's because going to Toys R us was SUPER rare for me during my childhood DX. however, i do recall, trying to replicate them with my existing lego pieces.... i think...

[@brycevo]

I love that dinosaur model

[@asphaltmemories4597]

So glad you’re reviewing this theme, I know this was a blip on the radar of space themed Lego sets next to Spirius and M-tron but I have such nostalgia for these wacky robodinos from all the catalogs I had from the UFO sets I had from back in the day.

[@nappopsOG]

Had a few of these growing up. Now i love battletech. Go figure.

[@farukon986]

I know nothing about roboforce, I'm all in for whatever this theme has to offer!

[@handlessthunderclap5878]

I adore this theme, I was a 2000s kid. I never had robo force as a kid, I am a bit younger than that era. However, 2 years ago I bought a lot on Facebook that had 2 sets in it, and I love it. They stay at the front of my displays.

[@TheHylianBatman]

I LOVE that you're following through on the bit! I can't wait to learn about this LEGO theme, about which I know nothing!

[@Adam-pu6jg]

Definitely North American only, but Lego magazines in the UK and Europe offered loyalty points which could be used to access the region restricted sets and buy them (if you saved up enough points, and of course the cash!).

[@RRSlugger]

Thanks for the insight! That's interesting to hear about. 😮

[@Tauverde]

@@RRSlugger Also the Lego collector's guide (second ediction) states that these 4 sets were realesed in North America and Europe, and the set 2153 were realesed also in Asia

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

I only ever had the Robo Raider set from the RoboForce theme growing up, as it was this LEGO Space subtheme's only "budget model." I like how the Robo Master functions not only as the main robot, but also a mobile base, similar to M:Tron's Mega Core Magnetizer...

[@PhoenixClank]

“You _have_ been waiting for this, right?” - As an Exo-Force fan: YES! I’ve been waiting for this for my whole life, I just didn’t know that until right now!

[@SanderKoenen-lq7bk]

Yes! I'm actually curious what you have to say about the sets. I've all the sets. They're fun!

[@RubyGalaxyYT]

Love the ZOE Refference at the end!

[@RRSlugger]

Ayyy glad you caught it! One of my favourite video games ever - ZOE2! I replayed it in preparation for this retrospective series, believe it or not. 😆

[@offscreen4250]

4:59 oh brother you are just FLEXING with those colors huh

[@AyCe]

You and your channel are absolute gems, Mr. Slugger!

[@ToxicAtom]

A thing that might explain the regional exclusivity is that in most cases, such exclusivity isn't a hard-and-fast rule. Sure, they won't show up in mass market retail outside of their respective region, nor any official Lego marketplace, but smaller retailers and liquidators will often find themselves with these regional oddities on shelves. How they do it, I don't know, I never got that high on the retail corporate ladder (Whether that's unfortunate or lucky I leave to your own opinion), but suffice to say region exclusivity is less of a blockade and more a lack of open ports, so to say.

[@itsgab5745]

Honestly. I like the idea of Robo force being a small faction within Lego Space. Despite the size of every faction within Lego Space, sometimes you have to rely on a Merc or Mech Pilot for hire.

[@josephmeluso2377]

Excellent primer episode! I'm excited for this as a series more than the followup to a joke visual. Who else but Slugger to cover an obscure, overlooked subtheme of LEGO space? And who else better to analyze it top to bottom?

[@WarpigA23]

I have all four RoboForce sets, plus an extra yellow minifig I found a few years ago. Robo Master is my favorite. Transparent helmets with opaque visors? I'm in! Edit: I almost forgot to "like" this video! 😮

[@jajproductionsfruitcakefil8489]

I would say 'A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one,' but that would imply I'm a Star Wars fan, so I won't. What a fun idea. I've been trying to do more things lately for the sole purpose of 'why not?'; I think it can be a bizarrely overlooked motive for creative endeavours. I look forward to whatever's coming!

[@jajproductionsfruitcakefil8489]

I also realised that I know next to nothing about Roboforce, so one person at least is gonna be learning somthing!

[@TheDucksEye]

Roboforce was my first Space theme (: when getting back into LEGO I realized the parts for the Robo Stalker was in my collection, and parted him out.

[@AClassicBrick]

I for one HAVE been waiting for this!

[@charleschamp9826]

I remember these from when I was a kid, did not know they had any lore or names even. "Robo Runners" Oh, neat, like Zone of the Enders. *Gets to the end* YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@RRSlugger]

SLUG YEAH! Someone gets the reference!! 💪 ZOE2 is one of my favourite games ever - I replayed it recently specifically to prepare for this review series. 😊

[@charleschamp9826]

@@RRSlugger "Obtained Reference." *Clicks L3* "GOOD!"

[@RRSlugger]

@@charleschamp9826 😂❤

[@dangalfthedruid]

I always appreciate the primer, but even though I have no nostalgia for this either, I’m here for the series because you’re the one making it! Looking forward it (and the return of Orient expedition next year!)

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you so much for your support! Hopefully this will be a fun series!

[@kikolokopo_toys]

YES!!!!! I like this sub theme because there are only 4 sets

[@RRSlugger]

Classic 90's theme right there, haha! 😊

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

"Why am I doing this?" Never change, slug, never change :D

[@BKRandyful]

Can't wait to see more!

[@HenryTheGarrett]

It was barely in the nick of time (did slugger actually like my comment?! That’s awesome!)

[@pipiferry]

Due to his joke and a popular demand of the viewers Slugger had no choice but make this retrospective. Thank you Slugger!

[@MontyMole64]

4:56 Huh?! Between this, Roboforce AND Orient Expedition, 2025 is looking to be a GREAT year for Slugger! (assuming that this mystery project will be revealed then. Can’t wait!)

[@sebastianlawless8707]

My lord! My lord! The prophecy has come to pass!

[@jixxen]

I respect commitment to the bit.

[@Thinginator]

I have one Roboforce set, and always thought it looked cool, but alas, some of the pieces broke and the minifigure's helmet vanished so I can't put it back together sadly. I have used the special printed pieces in an Aquasharks mech tank though to pay homage to it. Combining the old themes can be really fun too when you've got limited parts from each :)

[@MattRoszak]

These look awesome, but they seem to be really rare in the UK, maybe they were never released here.

[@jalisco-kallisto6216]

Finally 🙏, been waiting for this one!

[@Ringtail]

My guess as to the "region exclusive" claims are that they were only advertised for direct catalogue order in NA, but you could still find them in local stores elsewhere maybe? I guess that's still kinda weird. The renaming in different regions was one thing but it's odd that some themes back then just did not appear in any non-NA magazines or catalogues as far as I've seen. Just from these comments it sounds like this one was even rarer than Aquaraiders though. I think it's at least interesting the Granite Grider's legs were probably copied from these after the technic version was dropped, kind of like how the Loader-Dozer is basically a land-based remake of the Aqua Dozer or whatever it was called

[@RRSlugger]

I agree - very interesting indeed! And you've peered into the future with your comment on the Granite Grinder legs, as that exact observation will come up in the next video. 😊

[@Grilled-Cat]

Roboforce is the epitome of “its fine.”

[@RRSlugger]

This ^^

[@Smallgoth]

I am extremely excited!

[@sockraiders]

This is what the year has been leading too

[@thecelestialtoygazer7816]

There's so many themes like this that are a total mystery to me, so I look forward to discovering what Roboforce has to offer!

[@ARTooNooREF]

These sets were probably really exclusive, because this is the first time I’ve seen them.

[@jackbackln4432]

Heh, I have been looking forward to this. I didn't realise it was a joke initially :p the subtheme looks cool though!

[@RhoadsLivesOn]

Roboforce got a callout in a Spyrius video as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHSagIqjacygrKssi=366-SXyWQn7OgPou&t=596 Others have said that Roboforce is no one's favourite theme, but that's what I love about this channel. There's so much focus on LEGO's "deep cuts".

[@muffin3959]

Finally, I can watch the video

[@Goddill]

Hey slogger. Great video. My favorite sets are Jack Stone

[@RRSlugger]

I hope to one day cover some of those sets too!

[@Goddill]

@ excited to see

[@kopakaskoolkompanion]

Grew up with the Robo Raider and always wanted a complete collection. I may have to do so before these videos cause the price to bump by... eh, probably $2. Excited to hear other opinions on these sets that I so loved despite their limits!

[@vaimantobe3034]

I own the Robo Stalker. I found a second-hand copy on sale here in the Netherlands about 7 years ago (no box unfortunately). And although it's not the best, I treasure it for its rarity. Because of this I'm really looking forward to this!

[@RRSlugger]

I really like that set! I look forward to talking about it because one of the alt builds is really great!

[@docnecrotic]

Hello, Runners... LEGO SHADOWRUN CONFIRMED! Also, TrikBrix is back!

[@lorrylemming]

"it's the Runner, not the Frame that makes the difference". R.R. Slugger manufacturing puns everywhere.

[@nappopsOG]

I've been waiting.

[@nakenmil]

Finally! It took time and effort to round up all my victims, but the sacrifices were not in vain!

[@sebastianthomsen2225]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! IT'S HERE!!! :D

[@mikestich9173]

I never owned one of these as a kid back in the late 90’s…but I have a picture of me wearing a 1997 lego world tour t-shirt and one of the Roboforce mechs is on the back.

[@leftygurl]

“why am i doing this you may ask? well you see unfortunately i must commit to the bit at all times”

[@Eisenwald64]

3:09 MOC-ery? I'd like to see how you'd redesign some of those Roboforce sets. I did also see you said you're planning a LEGO Scala review?

[@martinlefebvre792]

More Slugg!!!

[@BrentStarling]

Oh okay, so this must be where Exo Force comes from! From mech pilots to the name Robo Force itself.