Revisiting Mars Mission: The First Wave

[@rothgang]

There will never be a Lego like the mid to late 2000s. Exo force, mars mission, aqua raiders, power miners. Such a rich myriad of themes just bursting with personality.

[@CheeseyStudios]

It was quite literally an amazing time to be alive.

[@_nam_nat_]

Amazing take, can’t forget it was also peak Bionicle and Knight kingdom is pretty sweet too

[@user-zx9sy5yi3w]

I miss original themes like these. No hate towards Ninjago, since that’s a huge pillar for Lego, but please, give some more original ideas, that’s how I fell In love with Lego, not Star Wars or marvel. Monster Fighters was what brought me into original themes. Then I got into Galaxy Squad, Ultra Agents, Alien Conquest. Just awesome original themes that I still remember full heartedly.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Couldn't agree more. Their original themes are incredible. There's just so much creativity, color, and fun in their in-house themes were anything they dream up can become a set.

[@quagsire413]

i agree, the only recent original lego themes have been hidden side and nexo knights, neither of which were great

[@Ludwigf3110]

@@quagsire413 you forgot Vidyio🤣

[@clonescope2433]

I have gotten tired of Ninjago myself rarely has a modern Lego theme lasted as long as Ninjago has and the repercussions of Ninjago laughing for so long is it's choked out almost every original theme that it's been released alongside it. It's like that one plant you have at your house it's gorgeous it's great but whenever you put any other plant near it it chokes them out. But it seems like Ninjago is going through some sort of ReBoot and redesigned to try to bring in a younger generation which hopefully means Lego will also look at trying to launch an original theme that can coexist with Ninjago.

[@clonescope2433]

@@quagsire413 nexo Knights for as silly as the concept was had some fairly good builds but it suffered from something that a lot of Lego original theme suffered from in the 2000s and on it's putting its best foot forward in the first wave or two and then pittering out the last wave was very unique but the second wave with the stone creatures really kind of just killed the momentum nexo Knights had.

[@defaltdj1493]

I still remember playing the absolute life out of the game on the Lego site which was my first experience with a Command and Conquer like game. What memories...

[@CheeseyStudios]

I was definitely in that boat. Such a great game!

[@tuomas9024]

I also played it not long ago! Absolutely awesome game!

[@orrinfreeman5672]

The whole video he would pull up another ship and I’d be like, “that was the miner for the aliens!”

[@aaroncarapace8054]

My brother in christ, you just unlocked a core memory that I forgot about.

[@zarnox3071]

Such a classic game.

[@James68W]

I love how organic the alien ships were. That can be hard to do with Lego

[@CheeseyStudios]

The green tentacles were top-notch design work

[@joshuasebsebe3919]

@@CheeseyStudios I wish there were tv shows of lego themes in the 2000s like power miners space police kingdoms and alien conquest and Aqua raiders

[@the_real_Kurt_Yarish]

I remember _Lego Club Magazine_ illustrations of the ships that really emphasized the organic, fleshy tubes snaking between panels.

[@slufffyg503]

I love how fairly priced everything from this first wave was. So much bang for your buck here. I was a kid when it came out, but If I had a job I could see myself owning the whole wave

[@CheeseyStudios]

Definitely sad I missed out on some of the later sets when I was younger as I certainly am paying the price now a decade later lol

[@robertcaie8157]

the mid 2000's had the best sets. they just exploded my imagination. RIP for lego universe for those who remember too

[@CheeseyStudios]

LEGO Universe was my lifeblood 😭 This channel started out as an LU one many many years ago. They're horribly cringe, so I've had to delete them lol...

[@Bob_Bobstien]

I was soooo sad when Lego Universe shutdown. I was always jealous of my brother going Marauder and getting a machine gun chainsaw, while I chose Inventor, which had no special alternate weapon

[@artoozybuilds]

I remember really wanting to have the smallest set as a kid - still probably my favourite from the theme alongside the Mini Robot set from 2008 :) Great video, brings a lot of nostalgia!

[@CheeseyStudios]

They really did great with the small sets of this theme! I wonder if they would bring something like this back as Mars goes back into the spotlight again

[@thecianinator]

I really loved that retro looking ant vehicle from one of the later waves, that's probably one of my top five sets from the whole theme

[@nap0038]

Yeah the online mars mission game really solidified the coolness of that small astrofighter. Absolutely shredded anything in the game ironically

[@jinskyliner]

Glad to see these amazing lego sets again! 'Crystalien Conflict' was the best Lego online game ever. Thanks for your upload :)

[@CheeseyStudios]

Absolutely iconic game. Love it so much. You're making me want to go play again lol

[@Jake-cn1vb]

@@CheeseyStudios Someone recently remade it and is still actively working on it with multiplayer and a map editor. I can send you a discord link if you want it.

[@jinskyliner]

@@Jake-cn1vb As far as I am concerned, We can’t play Crystalien Conflict because Adobe Flash Player is no longer supported. Is there another way to play this game?

[@MrMind.1]

@@jinskyliner got the same question, was my first pc game i ever played :o

[@renepineda1449]

@@Jake-cn1vb Please do.

[@spensirmclife6549]

The 00s themes will always hold a special place in my heart for giving me my childhood

[@CheeseyStudios]

Same. It was a great time to grow up with LEGO

[@Kileoy-wh]

I remember modifying all the small astronauts vehicles to be able to be picked up by the drop ship. Was probably my favorite sci-fi themes from my time

[@CheeseyStudios]

Certainly my favorite childhood space theme as well. Love the idea of modifying all the small vehicles like that!

[@BrownFoxWarrior]

I loved Mars Mission. Especially that Command and Conquer clone they made for it on Lego's site. It's a shame the theme never quite did so well overall.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Absolutely iconic game. I was playing it yesterday and forgot how hard it was without cheat codes lol

[@ocarinastudios4613]

@@CheeseyStudios Would love to play it again myself, with Flash being unsupported, where did you manage to play it?

[@B1er0l14m]

@@ocarinastudios4613 It's possible to play the Flash game through flashpoint or some other emulator. There's also a remake (by me) that includes a level editor and multiplayer.

[@mb01eaglecommandbase]

​@@ocarinastudios4613 search for "crystalien conflict" some people made a playable version online

[@harrison9068]

@@B1er0l14m Where can I find your version?

[@williamcooper8599]

This brought up a lot of nostalgia. The recon drop ship was actually my first ever proper lego set (before that I would just buy bionicles) and I was instantly hooked to this theme. One thing you forgot to mention about the command base was the tubing system could actually link up to all the vehicles in the theme that had those orange cylinder pieces. So the idea was you would have all these vehicles mining crystals and collecting alien samples, dropping them off at the base, then putting them on the rocket and sending them to earth. I thought that was really cool as a kid.

[@thatoneguy049]

Some of my first sets were from this theme and it’ll always have a special place in my heart

[@CheeseyStudios]

This would have been a great way to start your LEGO journey! Such a fun theme

[@Mrcookieonyt]

crystal alien conflict was definitely my first video game addiction. absolutely loved that little rts

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yes! So much fun

[@cvwp2157]

One of my favorite themes they have done. I was 12 when the 1st wave came out. And I was hooked with the sets and the game on the website too.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Crystalien Conflict was so good. I miss it dearly...

[@skyler2762]

These are all so well priced! The builds are HUGE. You really feel like you’re getting some substantial in all of these

[@CheeseyStudios]

Would love another space theme like this. These ships top Star Wars stuff any day in my book!

[@skyler2762]

@@CheeseyStudios agreed! its kind of sad how legos own IP plays second fiddle to star wars. but they gotta make that money! btw, you ought to do this with galaxy squad! another great space theme with awesome vehicles

[@CheeseyStudios]

I actually don't have any Galaxy Squad sets 😭 Hopefully one say I'll pick some up!

[@skyler2762]

@@CheeseyStudios please do, i think youd love them

[@NewSchattenRayquaza]

Big part of my childhood thanks for the nostalgia trip :)

[@CheeseyStudios]

Mars Mission was so great. Glad you enjoyed!

[@kaiserintoast1197]

I remember my first encounter with these themes was actually the lego battles RTS game, which I had a copy on my DS. The mars theme was my favorite one, and the game is the reason why I love RTS games now. Even without actually getting any of the Mars sets, I still have fond memories of the theme.

[@kaiserintoast1197]

It also helps to give a bit more context to what some of the alien vehicles are used for.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's interesting! I wish I had had a chance to play that game as I've been hearing a lot about it in the comments here

[@shreksnow1918]

I remember having these sets as a kid. This, Bionicle, Exoforce, and Aqua Raiders were my favorite sets as a kid. Those were so cool back in the day. Too bad they didn’t last longer. I played that flash rts Mars Mission game a lot. Sure it’s really bare bones, and the two factions are literally just reskins. But, I look back at it fondly because it’s from my childhood, and it got me into rts games. Luckily you have people dedicated to preserving all these old flash games. It’s really weird that Lego hasn’t made more rts games. Sure there was Rock Raiders (before my time. Luckily Baracklava is remaking the game so people who haven’t played the original, or want to experience a newer version with quality of life changes can experience it), and the Lego Battles. But, you’d think there would be more games like that. Great video. This was a fun trip down memory lane.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Glad you had fun with this one! Building the sets is sure a trip too. Exo-Force is another theme I definitely need to do a video on. Loved that theme!

[@shreksnow1918]

Thanks for making this video. It really made by day stumbling upon it.

[@MintyFox6432]

dudeee my childhood was built on lego battles and mars mission! ! i think i sunk a few hundred hourd into those games on my ds but unfortunelty lost it and the games

[@shreksnow1918]

@Milo Stefferson I sadly lost track of the game as well. I really hope that with Travelers Tales losing their exclusivity license for Lego games we’ll see more variety in the Lego games being released. Hopefully we get another rts. If you want an rts Lego game some guy is remaking Rock Raiders. It’s called Manic Miners, and it definitely looks really cool. Unfortunately haven’t played either version because Rock Raiders was before my time, and Manic Miners is cpu intensive for whatever reason. Hopefully the guy gets everything optimized as things go on.

[@mcsaltychips8590]

I think my all time favorite Mars mission set was the MT101 armored drill. I remember going to Toy r us as a kid and being in absolute awe when I looked at the box art. Then 7 years later I bought it hahaha

[@CheeseyStudios]

Easily one of my favorite sets of all time to. I just built it yesterday actually! I want to get a review of out by July. It's spectacular

[@danielsantoso5489]

Thx for bringing me on nostalgic sets i have

[@CheeseyStudios]

Happy to! I love this sort of stuff so much. Hoping to do Power Miners next.

[@patrick4494]

This was a trip down memory lane!

[@CheeseyStudios]

It sure was for me too! It was fun to build all these sets again.

[@arthurmaia8961]

I was born in 2002. When I was around 6 years old, my teacher noticed that I had some trouble with my motor skills, which made me have trouble learning how to write, and she suggested to my parents that they bought me Legos, since handling the small pieces could help with that. My father had always been fascinated by space, and I sometimes watched some TV shows about astronomy with him and I was really interested in all of it. And so, he bought me my first Lego set ever: the MT-31 Trike. I actually still remember to this day receiving the set as a gift and, although I wasn't really interested in it at first, I fell in love with Legos as soon as I saw what I had built and that I could actually play with it. I then proceeded to ask for my parents for basically all Mars Mission sets, although I could only get new ones as a birthday/christmas gift since they are really expensive in my country hahaha I have some core memories of my childhood where I spent lots and lots of time building and playing with the sets, mainly with my now late grandma, who passed away in 2019 to brain cancer. I remember my grandma walking around with an alien ship on her hands, making "shooting sounds" while I was crouched on the ground, moving my claw tank around and making shooting sounds back at her hahaha One funny story I remember is one time I was playing with my grandmother and I the shooting sounds that I was making were something like "pew pew". My grandma stopped, looked me in the eyes and said "Birds go 'pew pew'. Guns go 'pow pow'" before laughing with one of the most contagious laughs I have ever heard in my life, and going back to playing with me. Unfortunately, when I was around 12 I had the BRILLIANT idea to disassemble most of the sets I had, because one of my friends had a giant chest full of Lego pieces that he used to build random stuff, and I liked the idea, which basically made me lose 75% of my collection, especially when my parents decided to give all my loose pieces to charity... However, I kept that Trike intact. It was my first one afterall. Anyways. The Mars Mission sets have a very special place in my heart. They not only made my childhood what it was, but I'm sure they played a crucial role in my current interests in basically all the STEM field, which eventually led me into currently pursuing my Engineering degree. To this day, I still have that Trike with me, even though I have moved to not only a different city but a whole different state, and every time I look at it I remember my play times with my grandma, the fun it was building and playing with them, and how a simple toy from a danish company brought me to where I am today

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's awesome. I'm glad to see so many people have such a strong connection to this theme too.❤️

[@dalekdozer8209]

I forgot about the recon dropship until today. Man, that thing is glorious. 10/10 am going to recreate somehow. the angled cockpit, the big swivel guns, downswept wings with big gun hardpoints underneath, and rotating engine pods to boot. gotta be the best ship lego ever made.

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's so good! It's dying for a proper remake

[@rotothedragonlord7198]

Mars Mission was my favorite series as a kid

[@CheeseyStudios]

It was a great one for sure!

[@EthanLeitch]

Really cool to see someone cover these sets! I had almost all of these (except the battle tank) when I was 8 or 9 years old. Totally agree on the dropship and the alien mothership, really cool designs. The Mars Mission base was definitely too thin, but as a playset I remember this being extremely fun to play with as a kid.

[@pewpewdragon4483]

One of my favourite themes despite its shortcomings. The overall builds are, dare I say, subpar. I think Lego at the time was just about in the middle of their transition into our more familiar modern levels of complexity and detailing. Looking back at them now, most of these sets are so chunky, relying heavily on large pieces and stickers, and it becomes quite obvious when you try to make custom builds with them. The parts assortment is just not very friendly for creative building. Sadly for me, I wasn't able to purchase the 7692 Recon Dropship at the time which I have to agree is the strongest set in the theme and my favourite for sure. Speaking of stickers, all of my mars mission stickers have cracked over time and are now flaking off (similarly with my ferrari sets). Curious if you have any experience with this and what your take is?

[@CheeseyStudios]

Interesting about the stickers! I've had that issue with some sets before, but not Mars Mission. Other than my terrible childhood placement, they seem to be holding up just fine! I would almost wonder if it would have more to do with the environment, specifically the humidity of your region. LEGO definitely switches adhesives from time to time so that could be the reason too

[@bumponalog5001]

An absolute banger line for Lego.

[@CheeseyStudios]

f a c t s

[@MatthewChenault]

I remember getting the smaller sets. In a way, I hope they revive this series and give it a proper treatment. Having something Science Fiction themed, but not Star Wars or some other IP LEGO has signed up with would be nice.

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's been so long since we had an original space theme. I miss stuff like this a great deal

[@MatthewChenault]

@@CheeseyStudios, it’d be nice for them to give another swing at building a proper base while also giving us updated mini figures. With some of the new options they have, they could quite easily produce much higher quality and inventive sets for roughly the same price.

[@DodgePodge]

I love your videos man, it’s resparked a love for Lego that I haven’t really felt since I was a kid and it makes me feel extreme nostalgia

[@CheeseyStudios]

I love to hear that! Honestly, just making these videos has gotten me even MORE excited about LEGO too lol!

[@TuShan18]

I know this is an older video, but it’s the first I saw from you, and it sparked a lot of childhood memories playing the rts browser game and coveting the sets. Got me out of my Lego dark age, and I’ve been collecting all these sets and the sets from the second wave. I’ve also been special ordering parts to modify the smaller vehicles to have more mining equipment such as using the orange bulldozer blades and digger buckets from power miners to give the astronauts more than just drills. I also added that small alien jet to the back of the mothership as a tail gunner, and the small crystal hawk Astro speeder to the eagle command base to give it more functions to beef it up. I’ve also been trying to get more vehicles to be picked up by the dropship to mixed results. It’s been extremely fun and relaxing to be reunited with this childhood love. So thanks. It’s hard to pick a favorite because everything is so cool, but I think the mothership has the most to offer. So much so I want a second one. The crystal reaper and armored drilling unit is also amazing. Those were the ones I wanted the most as a kid. Maybe I can make a diorama with them with enough orange bricks.

[@CheeseyStudios]

A Mars Mission diorama has definitely been on my to-do list for awhile now too. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! It's always great to see there's people who enjoyed this theme as much as I did.

[@benjamintschirhart1736]

The Astro Fighter was my very first set as a kid! It's definitely why I fell in love with Lego, and it's still probably my favorite set because of that.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's so cool! That would be a great kit to start the hobby out with. It's a lovely little ship!

[@menilly4937]

These retro set review videos are great

[@CheeseyStudios]

Thank you! I've got a few more that I plan on doing. I think Life on Mars might be the natural next step. Making this video really got me interested in that theme again as well.

[@nickporter9967]

Retro haha I feel so old now

[@themanwhowouldbebrick]

I only have the astro fighter, pretty good value. Whoever made the alien minifigs needs a massive raise, they are the greatest thing to come out of billund.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I sure love those goofy aliens too. Some tremendous design work considering they're only two parts!

[@anzac407]

We got so many of these kits as a kid, It was my childhood and my all time favorite theme ever

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's such a good one!

[@richardkolarik4820]

thanks for sharing the set. im so happy i found your sets showcase and thoughts. i cant wait to see what else you have. its like metaplaying. i never had these martian sets but i get to enjoy seeing them

[@CheeseyStudios]

So glad enjoyed this! There'll definitely be more in the future :D

[@Gorslax]

I remember going to toys r us and buying the recon drop ship and the armadillo for one of my birthdays and that was one of my fondest memories of toys r us. I remember getting the trike at a toy shop that used to be at the Gilroy outlets. By the time I hit junior high I had so many of the alien/ crystal tubes and the giant orange wheels. One day I hope to hit up eBay and reclaim some of the memorable sets like the claw tank and the more rare ones like the big drilling rig I forget the name of.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I do hope you can get your hands on all of these on day too! There's certainly a few from the later wave that I'd really like to pick up myself too. I remember seeing these at Toys R Us too - Toys R Us was heaven back then lol...

[@DerfLrak]

I had a few of these sets as a kid and absolutely loved them! No idea where they are now, have found all of my childhood sets except for these..

[@CheeseyStudios]

Aw.... I hope you stumble across them at some point. Such good sets.

[@NexeL_NKC]

This is pure unadulterated nostalgia for me. I still own all my Mars Mission sets today. I own these sets from the first wave: -MX-11 Astro Fighter -ETX Alien Strike -MX-71 Recon Dropship I also own the Crystal Reaper and MX-81 Hypersonic Dropship from I believe the third wave. I never got to own all the sets, or even see all the sets at once, but this theme is so underrated. It deserves to be revisited with modern techniques and pieces. Just imagine: Lego Mars Mission 2, all the original sets getting revamps and cooler pieces and play features. Alien minifigs are more detailed, their ships have printed pieces, and the Astronauts getting the same treatment. Insane detailing put into all the vehicles and a proper forward base. All in that glorious color theme. Orange, blue, white and black is such a color combo that screams MARS to me, I still think of it when I look at actual NASA footage of the various rovers trundling around there. And red, green, gray and black for the aliens is so intimidating yet perfect for the stereotypical little green men we all associate "aliens" with. And Crystalien Conflict was my CHILDHOOD. I played the ever-loving CRAP out of that game.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I would love love love a reboot too! The theme and colors are just so perfect. I can only imagine what it would look like with today's parts!

[@wither5673]

the giant 6 wheeled rover that has a jet and a bike was a highlight along with the awesome ''strike'' alien fighter craft thing, loved those sets so much as a kid.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah! This one! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoKwYqpug7alr8U Easily one of my all-time favorite sets too

[@lishaizion]

you unlocked a memory I had I remember getting the biggest set with my brother after convincing my mom for days to get for us.. obviously my older brother was in charge but still good times

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's awesome! Even with its flaws, it's still a fun set!

[@gonkdroid8279]

Mars Mission was an amazing theme with a great web game (and levels in Lego Battles)!

[@CheeseyStudios]

I wish I had gotten to play Battles! A lot of people have been talking about it

[@gonkdroid8279]

@@CheeseyStudios Battles is easy to set up in a DS emulator as a heads up!

[@johnnyboy5354]

The only set I had in my childhood was the Astro Fighter. One of my favorite themes of all time even if I might be blinded by nostalgia :)

[@CheeseyStudios]

As someone who is also probably blinded by nostalgia, I can certainly sympathize, ha!

[@barendbonda3010]

Lego Battles Nostalgia Edit: there are so many more vehicles in that small game and I always thought they were in these sets as wel. Such as the Alien King and Queen and (spider)Droids and the Human Mech and weaponry. (Also the extra space Criminal and Police units)

[@CheeseyStudios]

I wish I had had a chance to play LEGO Battles! I've been seeing a lot of people bring it up in the comments

[@josh_has_no_idea5886]

Love this video! Thank you so much for reminding me about part of my childhood!

[@CheeseyStudios]

So glad you enjoyed! Putting all these kits together again was certainly a nostalgia trip for me, too!

[@nap0038]

Absolutely loved this line! My favorite original from LEGO by far. The Crystal Reaper was my favorite

[@CheeseyStudios]

Crystal Reaper was one of two sets I didn't get! I sure hope I can find it for a good price one day. I'd love to pick it up.

[@ferio82]

Great vid, thank you! Loved the Mars theme, got most of them a couple of years back. The combo of technic and system bricks was so much fun when the sets came out. I was completely sold on the aero tube system.

[@nicholasmagliacano4903]

By far my favorite sets as a kid, I used to build addition styled ships for the humans and aliens there was a lot to do with it, I remember it very fondly

[@CheeseyStudios]

It was a great time to be a LEGO fan!

[@souvenircollector]

Glad to see someone still covering OG themes like this :) I'm currently trying to acquire every set with their boxes to have a complete collection of my favourite theme

[@CheeseyStudios]

That sounds awesome! Best of luck

[@baazam]

Favorite and first series from Lego. The first set was my first set ever and I continued to play with it for years.

[@CheeseyStudios]

What a great theme to start out with honestly

[@MilsimwannabeSCK17]

I’m so happy I’m collecting these sets again

[@CheeseyStudios]

It really is such a cool theme. What sets have you got so far?

[@MilsimwannabeSCK17]

@@CheeseyStudios so far all of first wave and I’m halfway done with the 2nd wave.

[@irongeneral7861]

I had the dropship set as a kid and I LOVED it! Best set of the wave indeed!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Such an awesome set! I'd love to do a redux of that one day

[@battedbook5811]

I think you forgot to mention or just didn't know, but the torso piece on the aliens glows in the dark.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I decided not to mention it as I had no good way of showcasing it since most of mine don't work at all anymore xD

[@battedbook5811]

Fair enough. The glow on those was never that bright anyway, it's probably the least glowing glowy piece Lego has.

[@neptunemacaw3354]

its cool to see how quickly your videos evolved within just a year.

[@CheeseyStudios]

A lot has changed, that's for sure! Makes me wonder if should redo these at some point

[@B1-997]

I got about 2/3 of these sets as a kid, my favourite being the dropship and alien mothership. It wasn’t until watching the video that I found out the mothership was actually 6 ships in one, I only knew the front part can detach XD.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Ha! Time to put it back together and make up for all the fun you missed out on without having all six ships xD

[@B1-997]

@@CheeseyStudios man I wish, I disassembled all my sets as a kid, would have to buy a new set at this point since pretty much all the pieces are gone rip.

[@CheeseyStudios]

@@B1-997 😭😭😭

[@B1-997]

@@CheeseyStudios maybe one day I can take that nostalgia trip.

[@imheretolurkandstealmemes4669]

I remember getting one of these Mars Mission sets as among one of my first lego sets. I think it wasnt one of these first ones, since I dont recognize any of them. out of all the legos from that era, these hold a special place in my mind. the orange and white colors and translucent green aliens really made it pop out next to my fire station and police car. I really liked the alien pod pieces and thought those were super cool. really wished I had more of the series. that mothership set actually looks kinda neat. I know you ragged on the airpump quite a bit but I actually kinda like that part. looks like some big power generator or something fueling the cannon. I think I would be happy with it as a child.

[@CheeseyStudios]

This will always be a stand out theme to me too. Absolutely loved it as a kid - probably second only to Power Miners in my book!

[@drkiwififtyfive1566]

This was MY theme growing up. I have every single set, along with just about 2-3 of every set that didn't go over $100.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's epic! Sounds like quite the collection

[@SunLightW]

I played with the tank a lot as a kid. Those memories are still with me today.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's a super fun set for sure. Love those orange treads!

[@Brixxter]

One of my big childhood themes as well. There were many good affordable sets, perfect for kids

[@CheeseyStudios]

Totally. Maybe still perfect for some adults too 😂

[@mrpoool1015]

I can't wait for the galaxy squad revisit, these videos are amazing

[@CheeseyStudios]

Hopefully I'll get there one day! I've got a few space videos planned :)

[@xhearthfirex6571]

I liked mars mission quite a lot as a kid. I got both the small 3$ sets and the 5$ one. I also had the Dropship and it was my favorite ship design from LEGO

[@CheeseyStudios]

The Dropship is a work of art! I love the designer's creativity showing through in this theme

[@logancrawford5379]

Hits right in the nostalgia. Never had the sets as I didn’t have much money but I did have lego battles. Pretty solid memories!

[@CheeseyStudios]

I hear a lot of good things about that game!

[@EDMLyfe]

Mars mission is one of the highlights from my childhood. Going back now and buying the sets I didn’t get as a kid. Only need the mx-71 now

[@CheeseyStudios]

Best of luck! That one's a beauty :D

[@RedmilesShark]

The memories. I have the whole set complete, in a large box all still complete and 90% build up. My only set that's actually not broken down.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Very nice!

[@Agrimir]

This series had a really great color palette for both factions.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Indeed! So striking. The color schemes are always the best part of LEGO's original themes!

[@joshogrady5548]

Great vid. I wish I had these sets in my collection.

[@CheeseyStudios]

These were really special, even if not perfect. Super fun to have as a kid.

[@michelveilleux2075]

God it's been years since I've seen Mars mission. Honestly? Would like to see a revisit of these kinds of sets. With more to them mind you, but what I would give. Better aliens would be cool too.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I do hope we get an original space theme again some day.

[@garrettnoakes9832]

A fantastic theme that I can't help but get mad at myself for losing these sets to "The Bin" when I was younger.

[@Chris-iq5pr]

I have tons of amazing sets lost to the bin..

[@jamesxnickie99]

I felt that comment, these sets and the Lego Indiana Jones sets have been dismembered into the bin by my dumb younger self

[@fake_butters]

The first set was the only one I ever had, but I LOVED it. It’s funny seeing it now, I felt like it was a tad larger back in ‘07 x) The alien minifigs could also be charged with light from a flashlight at other light source and would glow in the dark!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Astro Fighter's a great one! I would have mentioned the aliens glowing but mine definitely don't work anymore 😂

[@felixpena3738]

I had that first set. This vid brought back memories thanks bros!!!

[@CheeseyStudios]

It sure was a trip back for me too! Glad you enjoyed

[@loltwest9423]

Man, I loved the ever-living shit out of this one. Everything about this was just cool. Shame we couldn't get more of it. Also, the RTS was fun AF.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I know we'll never get a reboot either but we can dream 😭

[@SpartanChief17C]

Lego Battles was one of my favorite DS games of all time, and it was amazing getting to see the Mars Mission vehicles in action in that game. I actually have the emulator ROM file for that game in my google drive if you’re interested

[@B1er0l14m]

@@CheeseyStudios There's a remake.

[@jamesmc4080]

this series was so underrated to me. i loved this series especially with the flash games on lego's website. i had the smallest set and i went crazzzy

[@CheeseyStudios]

I was just playing the game - it's so nostalgic and so much fun!

[@DredgeX97]

I always preferred the Life on Mars Martians, I enjoyed their articulation as apposed to the 07 updates. But man, I remember when these came out, how excited my brother and I were to seeing more Mars sets.... And being disappointed with the Martians... Thank you for this video, sir!

[@CheeseyStudios]

The LoM Martians are great. So mich personality and great colors!

[@NageIfar]

I remember not being gifted the dropship as a child (sad times for wee little me) so i went and rebuilt it in red and grey from my own parts, though significantly more chunky with larger wings and a different cockpit. But the shape was the same and seeing it now i can relate to my younger self; it's truly magnificent. I wonder if i disassembled it at some point or if it's still in a box in my parent's attic...

[@CheeseyStudios]

That would be so cool if it's still intact. Update me if you find it!

[@thepartydontstoptilliwalkin]

I feel mostly the same way. Interesting and unique vehicle designs. Lackluster aliens. The Command Base is barebones to put it mildly. Despite all that though, it has a special place in whatever passes as my heart. I myself, a child of the 60s still own the majority of the "main" sets, some not featured here like the later four- legged Drill Walker and the big six-wheeled Armored Drilling Unit. It was, to me, the spiritual successor to "Life On Mars", one of my favorite themes and, despite its shortcomings, I will always appreciate it for that.

[@CheeseyStudios]

It wasn't perfect, but lots of fun. Great theme to grow up with, and I love how it repurposed Life on Mars' tube system too.

[@riccardogemme]

Loved this theme

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's one of the greats in my opinion!

[@redtsar]

I loved this set I remember playing the RTS game all the time on LEGOs website

[@CheeseyStudios]

Still my favorite LEGO website game of all time. Great stuff

[@redtsar]

Haha, mine too Low key want them to relaunch that game

[@CheeseyStudios]

I believe there's a fan remake online somewhere if you do a quick Google search!

[@zelren_]

more mars misson! PLEASE

[@danomic5141]

I had almost every single set, it was such a large part of my childhood

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's awesome! Such a great theme

[@addieraddie]

I still have that rocket from the main base set on my shelf, although it's HEAVILY modified. I think some of the only parts left of the original are some wing parts and the bottom fuselage. But the essence of it is still there as well as the color scheme. Used it for years as a personal ship and could never bring myself to put it in the attic, so now it's on my shelf with the minifig I always used.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's super fun. Love things like that!

[@thecheezburger891]

I havent seen this since the lego battles ds sapce game, the humans were my favorite just due to the orange coloring and the star cruiser was my favorite ship design by far

[@CheeseyStudios]

The color schemes for this theme were on point imo

[@lanckston]

i always wanted these as a kid, never got any and was sad when it left as a theme

[@CheeseyStudios]

I hope they give us another sci-fi Mars theme. Such great stuff and I feel a lot of people would love to see a remake of this.

[@andrewlaeddis7292]

Damn this just bought back memories

[@CheeseyStudios]

Did you have some of the sets? I know building all these was quite the nostalgia trip for me too

[@andrewlaeddis7292]

@@CheeseyStudios yes I did as a kid I remember my mom buying them for me the alien really gave me some nostalgia thanks man

[@maniacalcoast2742]

I loved these so much as a kid that I ended up buy these sets. What a pretty penny. Worth it

[@CheeseyStudios]

Definitely worth it! Overall such a great theme. Did you get the second wave of sets too?

[@maniacalcoast2742]

@@CheeseyStudios im still trying to collect these myself rn, i have the drill and then the collectors edition massive truck one and then the transport ship. the small fighter sets and thats it. but im looking to get more in the future

[@maniacalcoast2742]

@@CheeseyStudios do you know where i might be able to get these aside from ebay? id loved to get never before opened ones of the rest of the sets. and also cheaper too LOL im just a measely college studenytt

[@witchii]

Still one of my all time favorite lego themes! The claw tank was always my favorite vehicle along with the armored drilling unit but I never got neither as a set unfortunately. I remember playing the little flash game a lot as a kid and started to like RTS games bc of it :D

[@eg6490]

I honestly want to see you go over the second wave. I think they used less of the tubes as it went, and gave the astronauts some cool toys.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah, I wish I had more of the later sets! Would be a really fun video to do

[@jacemonster5]

I really wish Lego still made sets like these space ones, seeing these pieces used in cool builds and stuff makes me want some more modern versions of this kind of space-age style

[@CheeseyStudios]

That would be awesome. I miss LEGO's original themes.

[@VoidCraftGaming]

When I was a kid I got the set with the claw tank 5:42 (it was a present from my much older cousin) I was obsessed with it for a while also there something about older lego sets and older lego toy lines that lego doesn't do, not as much fun and stuff put into them even tho most of em have more gimmicks idk or perhaps its just me.

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's not just you! I totally feel there's so much more charm to LEGO's in-house themes over the licensed ones. So much creativity and love are poured into these original sets.

[@TheMarionick]

Such a great LEGO theme

[@CheeseyStudios]

Indeed. I miss stuff like this from LEGO!

[@pde2619]

This wave was classic. I remember I negotiated my parents into giving me an advance on my Christmas present that year so that I could get the Eagle command base two months early.

[@physical_insanity]

I've seen this theme get a lot of flak for not having as interesting a story as older space or Mars themes, which I kind of understood, but still. The story is more or less the same you'd get with video games, it's there mostly to excuse the existence of the thing. Mars Mission was very creative and inventive even as I witnessed it's progress, and the sheer design differences between the two factions was unreal. I genuinely wish I'd had more of these sets, because this was honestly one of my favourite themes given my love for space as a child, especially given it's inclusion in Lego Battles.

[@Dat_Ruski]

I miss these sets so much, I have all the pieces laying around but I foolishly threw away the instructions to all my sets when I was younger. I remember the dropship being one of my favorites in the theme. And the game on the Lego site was the best.

[@CheeseyStudios]

The game was so good...

[@keithallen5670]

I always wanted one of these sets when I was younger

[@CheeseyStudios]

The striking color scheme really made them stand out on shelves. I do think it was one of LEGO's best 2000's themes

[@thomasbagola4314]

Great video. Appreciate the background as I didn't have any of those sets. But recently had one in a bulk set and never knew about the tubes and saw them.i. another bulk listing and honestly thought they were pushing non lego

[@BigEvy]

The drill rover dropship was my favourite LEGO set of my childhood. I actually got two of the set , made it double wide and I’m pretty sure I still have it. There was a forklift technic set I liked too , but it didn’t fit mini figures.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's epic! I'm glad so many people love that particular kit too. It's just peak LEGO design

[@shinyrayquaza9]

I really want to get some at some point because of lego battles The mothership middle part with all ships detached is the transport unit for the aliens in battles, it is funny that the alien strike ship is one of the most op units in the game

[@CheeseyStudios]

I wish I had been able to try LEGO Battles - a lot of people have been talking about it!

[@Atchfam77]

I don’t own many of these, but it’s my goal once I get enough space, to pour out all my loose legos and part out these old sets. I want to figure out which ones I had as a kid and reexperience that magic of Mars Mission, Aqua Raiders, Space Police, and Power Miners. Eventually I’ll complete the waves too, but that’s a future goal 😎

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's awesome! I wish you the the best of luck. It's been really fun as an adult going back now and getting some of the sets I missed too.

[@XtremeTrainz]

Loved this theme - wish I could collect them all!

[@CheeseyStudios]

It was one of the best! I know I missed out on a lot of later sets too 😪 Aftermarket prices are crazy

[@nickporter9967]

The drop ship by far the coolest. It was the best when I was 11

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'm glad other people agree. It just looks so good and plays so well!

[@robertespinoza5958]

Mars mission was one of my favorite

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's a classic!