Revisiting Mars Mission: The First Wave 

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.

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.

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...

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

This was a trip down memory lane!

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

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.

Thx for bringing me on nostalgic sets i have

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

It always surprises me seeing the prices of sets from a little over 10 years ago

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

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

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

These retro set review videos are great

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

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 😎

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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!

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...

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

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

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

The trike was the first ever LEGO set I got as a 7 year old. I still remember going to Target and my mom said how her coworker's kids love them and I might like it too. So she got it for me. And when I played with it I didn't want to use the instructions so I tried to build based off the box and that didn't work. Then I just build a bunch of random stuff from the pieces and did a little roleplay with the astronaut. I did eventually build the trike itself. Regardless, my first introduction to LEGO was being able to build whatever you want with what you had. That was amazing for a child. I do wish LEGO would try out new inhouse themes again. They did an amazing job back then. Nothing to knock the adult sets or branded sets, but I think the company just relies on them too much.

I was still young when this line came out so I don’t remember seeing them in stores or anything but there were some really nice vehicles here. The only one I got was the command base, loved the rocket but I kept breaking the build. Actually all these years later and I still have the command base’s box bridging the gap between my bed and nightstand!

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.

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.

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

Loved this theme

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!

I loved this theme and enjoyed playing it in the Lego Battles Game on the DS

Great work!

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

My god, 2006/07 were such GOATed years, unbeatable.

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

silly as it may sound given how simple the thing is, I think the astro fighter is still one of my favorite small sets I've ever had. got it in my stocking for christmas the year it came out and remember swooshing it around fondly. especially love the gun and how strange it feels, all chunky on an otherwise sleek ship and featuring a completely different color scheme, almost like it was grafted onto a vehicle that wasn't intended for combat

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

Honestly the Alien Commander figures in these sets were such a peak design. Most of what I loved about them was their appearance in the Lego Battles Game for The Nintendo DS which had a campaign where you could play the Mars Mission portion of the game from the Alien's perspective.

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

You should do a series upgrading, improving, and reimagining all the sets in this theme.

Mars Mission was my favorite series as a kid

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

I remember having the Trike and loving it, but being bewildered by the pieces because I had never realized what the whole alien transport thing was about

My first ever Lego set was the base and rocket from my dad, Something my mum thought was a silly present for a kid my age, little did she know a love that would never be replaced started here!

oh man, back when Boxed Sets could be had for 5$! nowadays that price is reserved for polybags, with small boxed sets being 10$