LEGO Space: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
update links |
Looney Toons (talk | contribs) trope->work, tropelist, rationalized header levels |
||
Line 1:
{{
In 1989, [[LEGO]] pulled a [[Genre Shift]] on the Space theme from the semi-plausible [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]] motif into full-on [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|soft sci-fi adventure]]. With this shift came the introduction of several [[Color-Coded Armies|factions]], one per release (with the exception of the original two), all tied together into a loose narrative through increasing amounts of fluff text and art found in [[Merchandise-Driven|pack-in catalogs]], [[All There in the Manual|instruction manuals]], and [[Expanded Universe|tie-in comics]].
''
See also: [[LEGO Space Police]], which partially ran concurrently, is counted as such and has sections here, but has its own page; and [[LEGO Alien Conquest]], the most recent science-fiction-related LEGO theme.
{{tropelist}}
* [[Absent Aliens]]: Up until the release of UFO in 1997, at least.
** In the early ‘90s prototype sets were created for an underwater alien faction called Seatron. It never saw the light of day, [[Word of God]] stating it was too early to introduce aliens. This was probably the inspiration for the [[Aquazone]] theme, which includes recolors of several of the new pieces created for Seatron. [http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110102030042/lego/images/f/f4/Seatron.png The prototypes can be seen here.]
Line 28 ⟶ 29:
* [[Standard Sci-Fi Fleet]]: No set builds a craft bigger than a scale corvette or frigate (probably due to the economy of making sets large enough to accommodate larger craft), but everything from there down is represented fairly thoroughly.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: Many concepts for [[Aquazone]] were originally created for use in a Space theme, Seatron, taking place on an aquatic planet. However, when Aquazone was actually released, it was as a separate sci-fi theme with no stated location.
=== Individual factions provide examples of the following ===▼
=== Blacktron I (1987-1990) ===
Both the first criminal faction and the first truly defined faction. Blacktrons carry an air of mystery and intimidation with them, which comes just as much from their [[Alliteration|menacing monochromatic motif]] as from the lack of additional materials to flesh their characters out. They antagonize the Futurons for unclear reasons.
* [[Aerith and Bob]]: Let’s take a look at their sets: Renegade, Invader, Battrax, Alienator, Meteor Mo… ''Battrax?''
* [[Black and White Morality]] / [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]]: Played very straight against Futuron, both in sensibilities and actual colors.
Line 44:
=== Futuron (1987-1990) ===
Their identities half their own and half [[Spiritual Successor|grandfathered in]] from the [[Classic LEGO Space]] line, Futuron is a society of civilian scientists and explorers featuring mechanical designs that somehow skirt the lines of both [[Zeerust|retro]] and ultra-modern. They often find themselves defending against encroachments by Blacktron I and are known to collaborate with M-Tron forces.
* [[Black and White Morality]] / [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]]: Same as Blacktron I entry.
* [[Cool Train]]: The monorail in the [[Space Base|Monorail Transport System]] set.
Line 54:
=== Space Police I (1989-1991) ===
Created as a response to the Blacktron threat, the Space Police line [[Long Runner|stretches past this era and endures almost twenty years in its various iterations]]. Space Police I set the standard for their mechanical designs and the practice of carrying interchangeable cells aboard all but their smallest vessels. Space Police I emerged in the transition from Blacktron I to Blacktron II and dealt with both in their respective periods of activity.
See also: the [[LEGO Space Police]] page.
* [[Instant Militia]]: Not confirmed in canon, but their sudden emergence (not to mention some uniform similarities) makes it seem as though they immediately sprung from the Futuron ranks fully trained and equipped to fight space crime.
* [[Palette Swap]]: Their uniforms share the Futuron design but change to more distinct colors evocative of modern police uniforms and squad cars.
Line 66:
=== M-Tron (1990-1991) ===
The M-Tron (presumably short for Magnet-Tron) faction introduced magnets to LEGO Space, utilized in sets as a means to grasp various cargo containers easily. M-Trons are a civilian group of nomadic miners and techs who maintain at least one [[Base on Wheels|mobile base of operations]] and harvest precious materials from remote locations, most visibly in the form of transparent yellow 1x1 round pieces. They’ve been seen [http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090826143855/lego/images/c/c9/M-Tron-Futuron-1990.jpg collaborating with Futuron] and ably defend themselves from attacks by Blacktron II.
* [[Asteroid Miners]]: M-Tron’s hat (besides magnets, that is). While not specifically mentioned as asteroids, the cratered surfaces and open starfield skylines present in all depictions certainly suggest this.
* [[Base on Wheels]]: The Mega/Multi-Core Magnetizer, a massive 6-wheeled crane/tank. This takes the place of the stationary [[Space Base]] of most other factions.
Line 81:
=== Blacktron II (1991-1992) ===
[[Epileptic Trees|Possibly the same group with a new tech base and new uniforms, possibly a copycat group, possibly descendants of the original Blacktron]]. The only thing truly known about the nature or motivation of Blacktron II is that they share the antagonistic nature of their namesake. They oppose M-Tron and the scientists in Ice Planet 2002 for reasons known only to them.
* [[Aerith and Bob]]: Giving wheeled land vehicles crazy names seems to be a Blacktron tradition; Just ask the Grid Trekkor [sic] and Tri-Wheeled Tyrax. Ships and mechs are still named with actual words.
** This doesn’t extend to the Spectral Starguider for some reason.
Line 96:
=== Space Police II (1992-1993) ===
Markedly more regimented than in their previous appearance, Space Police II features a police force that finally has its own, distinct uniform and new-yet-familiar updates of older vessel designs in a new color scheme. They’ve only been seen in opposition to their fellow second-generation faction Blacktron II, but it’s possible they also sought out Spyrius agents late in their cycle.
Again, see also: the [[LEGO Space Police]] trope page.
* [[Blew The Budget On The Pilot|Blew the Budget on Ships]]: While all craft types from the previous generation have an upgraded model there’s no upgraded [[Space Base|isolation base]], leading one to believe their precincts are still operating on a dated technology base. I guess space tax dollars can only stretch so far.
** Alternately, the Space Police infrastructure underwent a major overhaul in the intervening years and they no longer operate centrally through a base, but in separate-but-associated [[Incredibly Lame Pun|cells]].
Line 113:
=== Ice Planet 2002 (1993-1994) ===
The next good/civilian role in the cycle; Ice Planet 2002’s sets focus on a group of scientists stationed on the remote [[Single Biome Planet|ice planet]] Krysto who research new rocket and satellite technologies while carving out a livable colony from the harsh environment. They fend off incursions by Blacktron II and Spyrius (who show special interest in their satellite tech for espionage) and [http://images.wikia.com/lego/images/4/4d/Ice-SpacePoliceII-1995.jpg maintain at least a working relationship with Space Police II].
* [[Alliterative Name]] / [[Awesome McCoolname]] / [[Badass Grandpa]]: Commander Cold, the aging [[Leader]] of the faction, who has no problem doing his share of the grunt work or leading his men in the defense of their colony.
* [[Chainsaw Good]]: The tool of choice on Krysto for pushing back the ice is the now-infamous orange transparent chainsaw.
Line 132:
=== Spyrius (1994-1996) ===
Thieves and spies, plain and simple. Spyrius grabs information and technology from other factions to further their own (somewhat ill-defined) ends. They show a particular affinity for rocket/missile tech, likely to facilitate a [[Spy Satellite|covert intelligence network]], and as such show great interest in the research happening on Krysto. Unitron opposes Spyrius openly, [http://media.peeron.com/catalogs/id/46/5/ having suffered at least one direct attack by them].
* [[Flying Saucer]]: Spyrius favors generally saucer-shaped designs for their spacecraft, notably [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|the Saucer Scout and Saucer Centurion]].
** Possible [[Fridge Brilliance]] given a few years’ consideration; They may have reverse-engineered their ships from stolen UFO technology.
Line 146:
=== Unitron (1994-1995) ===
An interstellar paramilitary group and the designated successors to Space Police II as the good faction. A disorganized release schedule, short set list and shortage of fluff left this faction woefully underdeveloped despite recalling elements of old fan favorite sets and creating one of their own. Unitron is primarily seen combating Spyrius on their home turf.
* [[Cool Shades]]: [[Leader|Unitron Chief’s]] got some nifty space-mirrorshades.
* [[Cool Train]]: The Monorail Transport Base features a space monorail, evocative of Futuron’s Monorail Transport System.
Line 157:
=== Exploriens (1996) ===
Civilian scientists (with a specific bend towards xenoarchaeology this time) and [[Spiritual Successor]]s to Futuron in both design and cycle role. Exploriens sets made use of colored transparent pieces in a new way for LEGO: Multicolored pieces (alien fossils in the setting) were prevalent in this faction’s sets, and when viewed by the naked eye or under red or blue filters they would reveal one of three different images. UFO seems to visit the landscape the Exploriens are seen working on later, though short of one mention of [[Alien Abduction]] in fluff there’s no indication of them interacting directly.
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]: The Explorien’s flagship, Explorien Starship.
* [[Family-Friendly Firearms]]: Shop at Home catalogs of the time persistently tried to pass off the larger sets' prominent cannons as "telescopic lasers" similar in purpose to ordinary telescopes.
Line 172:
=== Roboforce (1997) ===
A bit of a [[Sequence Breaking|Sequence Breaker]], skipping the usual villainous faction in favor of another heroic one. Roboforce was unique in their sets’ focus on terrestrial vehicles, specifically [[Humongous Mecha|giant robots]]. Not explicitly listed as military or civilian, Roboforce fills an almost municipal role on the interstellar stage, with separate teams acting as a search-and-rescue force and a sort of space [[Home Guard]]. Likely at least a partial inspiration for the [[Exo-Force]] theme.
* [[The Ace]]: Implied of Green Class, given their role in more military situations, not to mention their [[Cool Shades|sunglasses]].
* [[Animal Mecha]]: Both Green Class [http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=2152-1 unit] [http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=2154-1 types] have animal-inspired designs.
Line 186:
=== UFO (1997-1999) ===
The first aliens to actually see release in LEGO Space. The aliens of UFO are painted as an aggressive, militant society through their mechanical designs and vessel names, but short of one account of [[Alien Abduction]] and their spot in the cycle as the villainous faction there isn’t much to corroborate this. They’re shown visiting the planet the Exploriens are studying (or at least a similar planet to it), possibly drawn to an ancestral home or lost colony, but when comparing the fossils to them the only real argument for their being the same species is that [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul|their cybernetic augmentations altered them beyond recognition]].
* [[Alien Abduction]]: Confirmed with Andy Droid; Other instances possible but never explicitly mentioned.
* [[Amazing Technicolor Population]]: Skin colors include transparent orange and green; Whether this is due to [[Bizarre Alien Biology]] or cybernetic enhancements is never made clear.
Line 202:
=== Insectoids (1998-1999) ===
The last set in the traditional LEGO Space theme. Insectoids features a race of alien nomads, the Zotaxians, displaced from their home planet after losing a [[Civil War]] against their unjust ruler. They escape to [[Hollow World|Holox]], a planet full of hostile [[Big Creepy-Crawlies|giant]] [[Insectoid Aliens|insects]] called Bilgen Bugs and adapt their technology to [[Animal Mecha|camouflage]] themselves with their new environment and to assist in the process of digging to the “inner sun” of the planet to tap its energy.
* [[Alien Animals]] / [[Big Creepy-Crawlies]]: The Bilgen Bugs; They’re never seen, but given the size of some of the Zotoxians’ converted ships and tanks they’ve got to be massive.
* [[All There in the Manual]]: Don’t expect to glean much of the fluff from the sets themselves.
| |||