The Lego Video Games of the 90's | Looking Back

Join me as we take a trip back into the 90's and discover the origin of Lego Video Games. Before licensed franchise Lego games took up store shelves, and back to when your games came packed with a mingfig and studded CD rom cases. From Lego Island to Lego Rock Raiders, we learn about the strange history of each game.
Game footage.
Lego Island - Humongous Fan Soundtracks
Lego Chess - 0m3gatron - Safety Clink

[@TranscendentalAirwaves]

The thing about Lego island is that it encapsulates the attitude of the time. It's really a product of that manic over the top early 90's / late 80's sense of humor that was in other media.

[@wantsomecoffe]

The cinematic opening of Lego Racers was such a blast to watch. Never skipped watching it on our family pc with W2000nt os😂

[@nopens]

Same, and Lego RR as well. That intro was amazing and definitely shaped my taste in media.

[@Flandrew]

Great video! Top notch editing!

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks Flandrew! :) I had too much fun with this one 😅

[@Aieieo]

Did someone say collaboration between Under the moon & Flandrew about the Lego Harry Potter games?

[@SECONDQUEST]

Thanks for the suggestion. I like this video

[@TruckchannelNord]

Using a song from 009 Sound System with the Movie Maker outro at 17:55 shows how much attention to detail you have. Just brilliant!

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

The bad ending was actually shortened and less obnoxious in the final game. Still managed to be traumatizing though, and what the Infomaniac said to the player afterwards never made up for it. I always quit out of the game with the escape key and try again later, whenever I was about to lose.

[@ItalianGuy2357]

This video is criminally underviewed, the production value alone is amazing and I love the amount of info being delivered. I only ever had Lego Island so learning about all these other Lego games is really cool. Keep up the great work!

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thank you so much! What a lovely comment. I’m glad I was able to give you a deep dive and intro into the other Lego games of that era :) Please do share the video around as much as you can! I feel like that’s the only way it will spread at this point 😅

[@abyssalspecter93]

Lego Island 1 was the first Lego game? That's absolutely wild to think about.

[@UnderTheMoons]

There was a SEGA Pico Lego game in 1995 that was fairly basic and it’s own little thing, but I was more wanting to focus on the actual movement inside of Lego to fully pursue video games, with that era starting with Lego Island :)

[@abyssalspecter93]

@@UnderTheMoons I guess I'm mostly surprised that it's so old in their catalogue more than the fact that it was the first or not but thanks for the history and additional information about it all. It's a pretty interesting genre and concept to start with as one of your first games.

[@pokemonduck]

I'm surprised that Lego Island failure cutscene didn't traumatise an entire generation lmao

[@Che1ito]

It terrified me as a kid

[@lotusbandicoot]

They cut it way down for the final version of the game and it still traumatized 4 year old me

[@christianlenik5307]

6:40 Tbh. that Bad Ending fitted the Brickster perfecty: He was Chaos and Doom!

[@Tadakatsu]

This deserves so much more viewership. An incredible analysis of a bygone era of Lego that so many of us fondly remember, even if some of it has aged a little bit rough. Rock Raiders and Lego Racers were always my favorites, though Lego Island had its charm too, as a zany adventure that leaned hard into an utterly massive amount of audio for a game of its era.

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

The in-game engine introduction of the N64 LEGO Racers was copied from the demo release of the PC version, which also used in-game renders instead of FMVs. That's probably why it was the only LEGO game on Nintendo 64, as LEGO games at the time relied heavily on FMVs, and LEGO Racers was the only one that could take the easy way out in that regard.

[@UnderTheMoons]

Nice bit if additional info!

[@Allstarknight]

I found myself pausing and rewinding at so many instances throughout this video, just to appreciate the 3D animations and special effects! SO GOOD! Even from the very beginning with the recreated Lego logo animation I knew this was gonna be a great video. Admirable and entertaining throughout, mister moons!

[@UnderTheMoons]

Aww bless you :) thank you very much. Make sure to check out the breakdown of the effects. I had too much fun making them all. Always do! Feel free to share the video anywhere you think an audience will be :)

[@Allstarknight]

@@UnderTheMoons I actually stumbled upon that one shortly after I watched this, and it went right onto my Watch Later queue! The fun you had shines through, for sure.

[@sethfulton7011]

omg the lego island 2 super stationmaster scene makes so much more sense after seeing lego loco. i always thought that was so random - even as a 7 year old

[@redslate]

Loved _Lego_ _Racers_ . Such a great game. Wish they'd refined the concept; the second game didn't do it justice.

[@natashalennox3399]

😛q

[@natashalennox3399]

Ppp

[@ElizabethsFantasy]

YES. one year later and still YES.

[@cd4574]

5:22 This is uncut version and was only in BETA versions, in Final versions it was cut to some seconds to not traumatize and scare children Final version Bad Ending: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3bQaJiQYrCLbrM

[@enegizedadam]

Glad someone pointed this out

[@chadpik1]

That intro unlocked a feeling I haven't felt I years

[@tylervxxx9256]

Dude I loved Lego island

[@spartaninvirginia]

Lego Island remains a favorite of mine.

[@UnderTheMoons]

hope your memory is more cherished than my experience of LEGO Island

[@spartaninvirginia]

@@UnderTheMoons I still fire it up from time to time. It's aged, but I still get a smile out of playing it.

[@shreksnow1918]

Warp to now and Manic Miners just got it’s 1.0 release that includes multiple campaigns and all the core features. The only thing missing is mod support that’s coming sometime down the road. Hopefully the guy also adds cut content to better flesh out the game and allow map makers to create cool levels. Great video. It was definitely interesting.

[@rodney_brick]

Did you know that in 1991 developer FarLight created a Lego Game and that Lego never used it? From 1991 to 1992, developer FairLight worked on a Commodore 64 platformer titled Linking Leroy Visits LEGOLAND, expecting the LEGO Group to approve it. If published, it would have been the first LEGO video game. Nonetheless, the LEGO Group never in any way endorsed the game or approved of the usage of the name and logo, and the project was ultimately cancelled

[@UnderTheMoons]

I did not! Never came across that in my research! But that’s amazing. Wonder if they just read the title and started having doubts 😂. Cool fact tho! Thanks for letting me know!

[@roberttreacy8271]

I remember playing these Lego games in my youth. Good times.

[@ShinySwalot]

So many fond memories of games like Lego Island 2, Lego Loco, Lego Rock Raiders, Lego Racers 1 and 2, Lego Chess, the Legoland game I think it's a product of its age + me being a simple child with endless time But it was fenomenal, finding all cutscenes in Chess, doing as many tricks as possible in Lego Island 2, being haunted by its fishing mini game in my nightmares, racing my friends in Lego Racers... all in our favourite Lego theme I hope some day games like these can come back... but I doubt it haha

[@Che1ito]

Pepper is the same kid as Andy in Toy Story. I was floored when I found that out.

[@dastm0]

Also, the same actor has been voicing Andy in each of his appearances throughout Pixar movies. EDIT: There is a 24-year difference between the first and last appearance of Andy.

[@tiotom9217]

Why do people repeat what's in the video in the comments?

[@paulj6974]

Ahhhh fuck that intro is awesome, brings back lots of memories

[@jackbarnes5589]

This games were my childhood. I grew up with so many of them. What a great video and naustalga trip.

[@biofall38]

The Lego island ending is a fever dream

[@twobeceltic]

I’d love to see one of these videos for the other original Lego titles before they started their licensing model.

[@UnderTheMoons]

I would like to do a follow up which covers the next batch of Lego games, but it probably won’t be for a while.

[@kytkeyboardsyoureterrific439]

9:21 so cool, love secrets like these

[@catherinelastname]

I’d love to see a follow-up to this video including some of the 2000s games, like Legoland and Drome Racers This was such a fun look at the old games, and left me wanting more!

[@williammonk1756]

Watching this and thinking back, Lego clearly had a bad habit of releasing games with broken or missing features, sometimes still advertised in the booklet or opening video. I am bothered to this day by the 5 new locations they said would appear on the map in Lego Island when I captured the Brickster.

[@Paul_Blackhall]

God this brought back a lot of memories, now thinking about it Lego Island must of been the first PC game I ever played, had all the other ones but Racer, favourite had to be Rock Raiders (PS1) man I loved that game

[@UnderTheMoons]

I keep forgetting to mention that Rock Raiders has a wildly different PS1 version! But glad the video took you down memory lane :)

[@WackoMcGoose]

That perfectly-recreated intro is worth a sub by itself. Also mechanically, Lego Racers is actually more of Diddy Kong Racing rather than Mario Kart specifically, since both games have upgradeable powerups (with DKR you have to run into multiple balloons of the same color, rather than "upgrade balloons")...

[@tombuckery]

Man. This is so underrated! You should have more subs mate!

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks :)

[@portalpiggy]

this was super cool! id love to see a sequel video about the games from the 2000's, pre TT!

[@Toebex]

Youre like a modern day jason bradbury, I love this and I am so glad you spoke about Racers

[@UnderTheMoons]

The guy from The Gadget Show?! 😂 I’ll take it. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@davetech1269]

Man that’s all my childhood. I’d be like 4 or 5 playing Loco and Creator

[@rodney_brick]

This video is amazing and it was worth the time you have spent to it! I really like it and watch it over and over when I wanna find out some details of the Lego games!

[@TheIain531]

Not to be a stickler, but the bad ending video you showed for Lego island was actually cut from the final game and changed for a much shorter, lighter in tone ending that’s more wacky than depressing, cause they were worried about upsetting kids

[@JAlonge017]

Are you sure? Cause I remember that cutscene

[@TheIain531]

@@JAlonge017 I am sure, they are *very* similar to be fair, the biggest difference is the music

[@alexanderrahl7034]

Holy shit that intro... You unlocked memories. Lol

[@daltonmaes5674]

I'm midway theough and already love what youve put into this. Amazing work!

[@UnderTheMoons]

aww thank you :) ❤

[@puzzlemaster2180]

I played Racers, Rock Raiders, and Drome compulsively. I loved those games. I pulled so many crazy stunts in lego racers... I don't think they should have been possible. 😂

[@rainxsupreme]

Lego Racers was my childhood! I would kill to see a remake of it

[@michaelsoto8490]

I spent so much time playing Lego Island when I was little. Love this video!

[@johnbash-on-ger]

10:06 but the biggest mystery forget the Footbridge the biggest mystery is why did the train in the intro continue to 10:11 run down the too Minifigs on the hand car hang on a second enhance that frame it's the dude with the food Pepper Damn, he used to be such a good kid!

[@hhgreg2969]

The crazy thing about Lego Friends is that it seems to have absolutely ZERO to do with Lego at all. Like, aside from the title, there's no legos in the game. And it predates the Lego Friends sets by more than a decade. Very strange.

[@e2011ugdia]

7:10 my stepdad actually had huge nostalgia for this game because its the first game he ever played at the ripe age of 8 in second grade and because of this games genre hes huge into strategy games like age of empires which is also a nostalgia crown jewel of his

[@Kelpwoud]

Great video, you were able to translate my thoughts on these games really well!

[@Mr_Boss_Smile]

I dont understand why lego doesn't remake these games

[@kytkeyboardsyoureterrific439]

10:11 my god, the dude with the food

[@fish43547]

This was a awsome trip down memory lane and a awsome video

[@oldoldmeme]

The editing and presentation in this video is absolutely impeccable, cannot wait to see the algorithm finally give you the attention you deserve man, it may take a long time but it does eventually reward consistency from what I can gauge. Keep it up bro, absolutely stellar work 👍

[@UnderTheMoons]

Aww bless you! 🥲

[@Nick-zp3ub]

I wish they remade Lego Island, but with the ability to build anything rather than the default models. Imagine the one-of-a-kind buildings you could construct. Or wacky Mad Max style vehicles

[@chicken4k]

Very great video. Nice overview of the old lego games I will play later

[@Regulus985]

LEGO Racers was badass. I still want a Rocket Racer model

[@silentdeath7847]

Loved lego island 2 and lego rock raiders, so manny hours of fun. Remember playing g-mod on a TTT server with a lego island 2 map. The pizzeria had a button you could press to play the lego island2 song. Everyone was just chilling around there not fighting. Anyone that tried to turn it off got killed 😂

[@miauw8762]

Lego racers and Lego Loco were so much fun. Got them with christmas

[@emanate109]

Holy shit, amazing video man, you deserve more viewers. Thank you for creating this. :)

[@erikreino5628]

Lego needs to do proper remakes of all these games so gamers from this era can experience these gems.

[@LuiDeca]

both my kid brain and my current less kiddy brain thinks older lego games were more charming/interesting/creative before the licensed era of games (lego star wars, lego harry potter, etc). they all just became the same game!

[@sniffleblox2354]

Great video, the editing and humour are great! This video has nowhere near as many views as it deserves. This is such an interesting period of LEGO for me because of the range of different things they tried, throwing everything at the wall to not be bankrupt and stay relevant. I wish we could return to this era of such a variety of games, instead of the TT usual.

[@GallaktikusYT]

Amazing video. That video games were my childhood 🙂

[@bobicus7765]

Great production, I'm glad I stumbled upon this video. Lots of nostalgia

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks Bob! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@ZFFertig97]

Amazing editing in this video!

[@Feltyr]

Lego Island was one of the three first games I got for PC back in 1997. Over the following years I got Loco and Rock Raiders, those three were the Holy Trinity that I would go back to play again and again. Rock Raiders has to be my favorite and I couldn't beat the 2 second to last missions until I turned 16 and decided that I had to beat it, so I looked it up and realized that you had to kinda exploit some feature to be able to pass.

[@sethfulton7011]

also the loco office talking sound effect sounds just like the talking sound effect from the tonka game where you could build a road through a desert & build a skyscraper & something in the snow or mountains or something

[@CharmandaS2]

Great Video. I still play Lego Racers 1 this time😅 Idk but i love it.

[@JeynickRuns]

As a seasoned LEGO Racers speedrunner I approve of this video 👍 Brilliantly edited! P.S. LEGO Chess is awesome ~

[@rayphoenix7296]

I played a lot of these classic Lego games as a kid. They were popular among my group of friends. An irl friend thought it was odd that Pepper Roni was not in Lego Star Wars II.

[@NickAndWolf]

Great production and I loved your sense of humor. Good job, my man.

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thank you very much! :)

[@aquakun3869]

Lego island shows that it can be good meme material

[@MellowGaming]

Yay! It has been done and finished. Glad you gave Lego Friends the time it needed to shine!

[@UnderTheMoons]

I haven’t actually checked when I originally wrote the scripts and frankly I’m scared to look.

[@legosk8er92]

Wow Lego Chess just unlocked long lost memories for me!

[@MarceCloud39]

25:25 this is really funny to me because I AM 23 and I’ve played both Lego Island 1 (also 2) and Lego Chess, but never Lego Racer. I’m pretty sure both were borrowed from a family friend with a kid 5-6 years older than me though. I they also straight up gave me my copy of Zoo Tycoon 2. Having a brother 6-7 years older than myself gives me some rather unusual nostalgic games for someone my age. The basement had the Windows 98 and I played the games my parents had already bought for my brother when he was small. 🤷‍♀️

[@UnderTheMoons]

Ahhh so I got the age right but flipped the games 😂

[@-Gunnarsson-]

I had lego island 2. And racer. The island was kinda good. But mechanics felt budget.

[@erlendvageskar3356]

3:56 great!

[@sethfulton7011]

omfg i forgot about lego loco. i had all the other lego games from creator to island to racers, but we could never find loci anywhere & this was before we even had internet - and even if we did, we didn’t know of any websites where we could order the game online

[@Grandtank1999]

This video is way too good for only 11k views.

[@spoingninelebob]

dude this channel is so underrated you put so much effort into your videos and you’re really entertaining i enjoyed watching this as my first video in your channel keep it up!! :D

[@piglet311]

I adored Lego Island

[@Vixen1525]

You forgot the best one, which is Lego Legoland as a building game.

[@UnderTheMoons]

If only it was a 90’s game! ;)

[@normtrooper4392]

Fantastic video. You are a real American wizard with the funny editing

[@stephanrichardson1003]

This channel deserves more subs.

[@Snoupity]

This video is brilliant, man.

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks man :)

[@YCCCm7]

Damn, that intro just nailed me with nostalgia. Well played.

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks :)

[@ryanscheffer2302]

Of these six Lego games from the 90s, I recall I played the following ones: Lego Island, Lego Chess, Lego Creator, and Lego Rock Raiders.

[@johnquigleyiii7685]

All six of these need to be put on GOG.

[@Squid751]

this is an amazing video

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks :) really appreciate it

[@hypocritehaterofficial3283]

This is really well done, but I wish you talked about LEGO friends lol

[@UnderTheMoons]

I talked about Lego friends for as long as I wanted too 😂

[@Madagasci]

This is an amazing video! Randomly came upon it in my feed and to my surprise it only had 200~ views. Bloody brilliant! You got yourself a new sub!

[@ThyLegohood]

How did you create your intro? That was really awesome! 🎉

[@ggdk2865]

24:38 You can powerslide for parts like these (And the game is called Lego Racers btw)

[@Greatdictator]

Commenting to say that the editing, paceing , mood and i love seeing people use Blender to add to the production value in simple ways that you dont see everywhere. Hope you keep making video and hope they wont be as criminally underwatched as this one is. Also sorry to be that guy and im not sure if you count it but i think you missed the Legoland theme park game. Cheers

[@UnderTheMoons]

Aww bless you! Thank you so much :) I’ve come to terms with low views Vs time I put into my video. But I appreciate the sentiment :) And Legoland was 2000, this was just focusing on 90’s Lego games. I would like to make a follow up vid covering Legoland, Stunt Rally, Alpha Team and the cancelled first bionicle game. But that will come some time in the future :)

[@StudframeAnimations]

Awesome video! Love the animations in between the sections. Great design at 21:55 using the hats for champions. Also at 25:53, where did you learn that? I'm curious. 😋

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks! :) Gonna have to dive into the deets for that. But I think it was info in the description of the video on KZbin? The account was sourcing a bunch of old video stuff related to Lego games of the 90’s

[@Zeephon]

Oof! That intro is S tier!

[@UnderTheMoons]

Thanks :) it was a bit of a brain puzzler when I started

[@davetech1269]

@@UnderTheMoonsNonetheless it’s expertly crafted my friend:)

[@OfficialTygo]

The bad ending of lego island would have made me cry and shit myself cause even as an adult that shit was fucking scary to watch

[@3liteCasual]

@7:30 I appreciate the Thomas the tank engine theme being played here. In retrospect, I definitely see why I have a healthy dose of train specific autism.

[@genderlessgoon_9292]

just so you know, lego racers 1 actually is playable with a controller, but youd still have to use the keyboard and mouse for very few important things but the mouse definitley was better for doing stuff,

[@UnderTheMoons]

Nice!

[@Ensign_games]

7:58 I gut laughed at this so hard that you don't even know

[@TufteMotorsport]

If you remember the kart racing games from the era of Lego racers.. Lego racers was just better. The powerup system, atmosphere, music, and the FANTASTIC worlds! I kid you not, my facination with immersion came from LRs worlds. They took the sets and expanded upon them. Mariokart 64 has only battlemode over Lego racers. The cars would even handle different depending on how many bricks you had and where to place them. (The original print of the game, not the 2001 rerelease.)

[@TheHillDragon]

i'm gonna share this so hard.

[@UnderTheMoons]

Please do!!! I would appreciate it so much :)