LEGO Rock Raiders (video game)

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The original retail box for the English Windows version

LEGO Rock Raiders is a 1999 video game developed by Data Design Interactive in conjunction with Artworld UK and published by LEGO Media International for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. It is based on the LEGO theme of the same name. The Windows release was listed as 5708 LEGO Rock Raiders while the PlayStation release was listed as 5709 LEGO Rock Raiders

Gameplay

Windows version

The Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders is a single-player real-time strategy game using grid-based maps, similar to Dungeon Keeper.[1] The player manages a team of Rock Raiders mining deep underground for energy crystals and LEGO ore to construct a base and expand mining operations. Ore can be obtained by clearing rubble from any mined walls, and is used in construction and to upgrade buildings and vehicles. Energy crystals are much more uncommon and precious, found only in specific walls, and are used to power buildings and vehicles. As the player gathers more resources, more powerful mining equipment can be teleported, allowing them to drill through tougher and more rock much faster. While mining, hidden caverns can often be discovered, some of which may contain missing units, secret energy crystal caches, or unanticipated threats.

Mining near buildings constructed next to water

The primary method of control is the mouse cursor, which can can interact with the interface, move the camera around the map, individually click on units or surfaces, or click and drag to select many units at once. Once selected, units can, depending on their abilities, be directly ordered to perform tasks such as moving to specific locations, picking up materials, drilling walls, or clearing rubble. Many units will automatically carry out tasks on their own without player input. The priorities menu can be used to set what order Rock Raiders should carry out tasks, or disable certain types of tasks entirely.

The game begins with only the first mission unlocked; completing it will unlock the next two missions in the row below it on the level selection menu. Each mission begins with Chief, the leader of the Rock Raiders, presenting an objective for the player to complete. Most of the twenty-five missions require the player to collect a specific amount of energy crystals for completion, starting with a goal of five in the first set of missions and gradually increasing in later ones up to fifty in the final mission. Some missions instead require the player to rescue trapped Rock Raiders, retrieve missing vehicles, or construct a specific building. Many missions have a limited air supply, which requires a Support Station quickly being constructed to begin purifying the air in the caverns. There are also eight training missions to teach players how to control the game and how certain units work. These can be accessed from either the main level select menu or a separate training missions menu.

The mission complete screen

As the game progresses, an increasing number of hazards stand in the player's way. Natural hazards such as landslides, cave-ins, and eroding lava can devastate caverns and destroy any units caught in them. A variety of creatures inhabit the caverns, some of which can be dangerous to Rock Raiders. Rock, ice, and lava monsters eat energy crystals and attempt to destroy buildings to get to the energy crystals inside, while slimy slugs will try to suck power from buildings. Defensive measures like weapons, reinforcement, power paths, or electric fences can be used to defend buildings from creatures.

Once the player has completed all objectives, the mission will end, usually by showing all remaining units teleporting back up to the LMS Explorer. Chief will then score the player percentage-wise based off of quota like the amount of energy crystals and ore collected, the number of walls drilled and hidden caverns discovered, or the amount of oxygen supply remaining. A 100% score is not needed to complete a mission, and is indeed impossible for some missions in the default game. After completing the final level, the outro cutscene plays and the credits roll. The player does not need to complete all twenty-five missions to beat the game, though they can go back afterward and complete skipped missions or replay completed ones. If a 100% score on all twenty-five missions is somehow achieved, the game ends with a special "better" outro cutscene.

PlayStation version

PAL PlayStation cover

The PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders is an action and strategy game, and can be played either single-player or multiplayer. The player controls a single Rock Raider exploring underground caverns to collect energy crystals and LEGO ore and rescue stranded Rock Raiders.

Characters

  • Axle – The driver; he is able to drive all land vehicles faster and gradually repair any vehicle he is currently driving.
  • Bandit – The sailor; he can navigate the Rapid Rider faster and does not take shield damage from water, at the cost of moving slower.
  • Docs – The geologist; he can gradually recharge his shield over time and – in the European version – see further on the radar.
  • Jet – The pilot; she can fly the Tunnel Scout and Tunnel Transport faster, jump further than the other Rock Raiders, and – in the European version – recharge her jetpack faster.
  • Sparks – The engineer; he can get double the amount of use out of most pickups.

Regional Differences

Because the North American release was reworked and released months after the European release, a number of differences exist between the two versions:

  • The European and North American versions have completely different missions. The European version also has three bonus missions, each of which can only be unlocked by getting a gold medal in all six missions in each of the three sets of missions. In the North American release, the bonus missions have been removed.
  • The European version's two-player mode has six original missions and twelve reworked one-player missions, while the North American version has only six original missions.
  • In the North American version, nearly all missions follow the same formula: The player must collect green energy crystals and end the mission at the Teleport Pad; to get a silver medal, all red energy crystals must be collected, and additionally completing the mission under a certain time will reward the player with a gold medal. Missions in the European version have a far greater variety, with some missions having a strict time limit for any completion, some missions ending as soon as certain collectibles have been obtained, WRITE ABOUT THAT VARIETY LATER I FORGET FOR NOW.
  • In the North American version, the player goes through a teleportation animation at the beginning and end of missions; this effect is absent in the European version.
  • Many sound effects are present in the North American version that are absent or different in the European version.
  • Jetpacks in the European version need time to recharge after each use; in the North American version, they recharge instantly.
  • Lava monsters appear in some missions in the European version, while in the North American version they do not appear.
  • Large vehicles can roll over and squash scorpions and spiders in the North American version, while in the European version they will get caught on them like small vehicles.
  • Pickups do not respawn in the European version.
  • Dynamite in the European version.
  • Radar booster items can be picked up in the PAL version.

Development

Data Design Interactive, Artworld, etc.

PlayStation. In March 1999, six months before the PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders was due to be submitted to Sony[2]

Release

LEGO Rock Raiders was initially announced in February 1999, along with LEGOLAND, LEGO Friends, and LEGO Racers. At the time, it was scheduled to be released in September for both Windows and PlayStation, and was to have a retail price of US$40–$45.[3] The September release date was still publicized as late as August of that year.[4] In May 1999, all four games were demonstrated at E3 1999 in Los Angeles, California, at LEGO Media booth #1524.[5]

Windows version

The Microsoft Windows version was released on 15 November 1999 in North America,[6] 30 November 1999 in Europe,[citation needed] in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Portuguese. In Italy, the game was distributed by Leader and priced at 100 lire/ITL.[7][8]

The Russian version was translated by Logrus (Логрус) and released in Russia by Noviy Disk (Новый Диск) on 25 September 2000, with a retail price of 27 Y.E. (USD).[9][10] From 28 October to 12 November 2000, demonstrations were held for LEGO Rock Raiders, along with LEGO Chess, LEGO Loco, LEGO Friends, and LEGO Racers, in the foyer of Moscow theater Kodak Cinema World (Кодак Киномир Kodak Kinomir).[11]

The Japanese version was translated and released by Eidos Interactive (アイドス) in Japan on 8 December 2000 with an open price; it initially sold for around ¥6000.[12][13]

The Polish version was released in Poland by Cenega S.A. (cs, pl) on 26 July 2001, with a retail price of 99 złoty/PLN.[14][15] Cenega also released the Czech version in Czechia in 2001.[16]

Cover art in Taiwan

The Hebrew translation was released in Israel by Hed Arzi (הד ארצי‎‎) in 2000.[citation needed] The engine was modified for this release to display text right-to-left. This version's title was translated into Hebrew, and changed to LEGO Space Mission (לגו משימה בחלל Lego Template:Tt Template:Tt).

In South Korea, the game was published by SsangYong (쌍용)[17] and distributes by Joypark with a retail price of 32000 KRW. All text was translated to Korean, but the dialogue used the original English audio instead of new Korean recordings.

In Taiwan, the game was released by King's International Multimedia (協和國際多媒體股份有限公司) on 15 July 2000. In mainland China, the game was published by Ogilvy & Mather Electronics/Aomeisoft (奥美电子).[citation needed]

PlayStation version

The PlayStation version was released on 17 August 2000 in North America.[18]

The European release came with English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, Danish, and Finnish languages.

The game was released in Russia by Noviy Disk on the same day as the Windows version was; however, it was not translated into Russian, instead being just the standard ten-language European version.

Reception

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Chinese 中文
Zhōngwén
20px China 乐高:地心探险组
Lègāo: Dìxīn Tànxiǎn Zǔ
Roughly "LEGO: Geocentric Adventure Team"
  • 乐高 Lègāo is a transliteration of LEGO
  • 地心 dìxīn meaning "geocentric" in reference to the center of the earth
  • 探险 tànxiǎn meaning "adventure"
  • meaning "team"
20px Taiwan 樂高地心歷險
Lègāo Dìxīn Lìxiǎn
樂高 Lègāo is a transliteration of LEGO
地心 dìxīn meaning "geocentric" in reference to the center of the earth
歷險 lìxiǎn meaning "to experience adventure"
Hebrew עִבְרִית
Ivrit
לגו משימה בחלל
Lego Mesima Bakhalal
Lego Space Mission
Japanese 日本語
Nihongo
レゴ・ロックレイダース
Rego Rokkureidāsu
Lego Rock Raiders
Korean 한국어
Hangugeo
레고 락 레이더스
Lego Lag Leideoseu
Lego Rock Raiders

References

  1. Lopez, Vincent (12 January 2000). "LEGO Rock Raiders". The Next Level. 2000. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  2. Upchurch, David (September 2012). "LEGO Rock Raiders (PS1)". Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  3. Fudge, James (10 February 1999). "LEGO Announces 4 New Titles". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  4. Fudge, James (20 August 1999). "LEGO Racers Shipping August 23". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  5. Fudge, James (10 February 1999). "Lego Media at E3". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  6. Lopez, Vincent (12 January 2000). "LEGO Rock Raiders". IGN. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  7. Tagliabue, Cristina (January 2000). "Gita nel sottosuolo con gli amichetti a forma di Lego". PC Open. No. 47. Editrice Agape. p. 48. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  8. Staff (April 2000). "Le schede di PC Open Cd rom e giochi". PC Open. No.50. Editrice Agape. p. 119. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. Новый Диск - LEGO Rock Raiders. Archived from the original on 6 January 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. Новый Диск. Date gathered from the twelfth announcement in the list, "25.09.2000 - Представляем новую стратегическую игру компании LEGO Media International - LEGO Rock Raiders!" (Introducing the new strategy game of the company LEGO Media International - LEGO Rock Raiders!). Archived from the original on 6 December 2000. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  11. Показ компьютерных игр LEGO в кинотеатре "Кодак Киномир". Noivy Disk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2001.
  12. Funatsu, Minoru (船津稔) (26 October 2000). "レゴブロックで組み立てたマシンでレーサー気分PCゲーム「レゴ・レーサー」". PC Watch (ja). Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
  13. hamaken (21 December 2000). "レゴ・ロックレイダース日本語版" 4Gamer.net (ja). Archived from the original on 7 February 2018.
  14. Bobrowski, Michał (26 July 2001). "Kolejna „gra z klocków”...". Gry-Online (pl). Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  15. Lego Rock Raiders (PC). Miasto Giar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  16. Zach, Ondřej (9 August 2001). "Lego Rock Raiders - drsná stavebnice". BonusWeb. iDNES.cz (cs). Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  17. "레고 락 레이더스". Game Chosun. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. Cleveland, Adam (16 August 2000). "Lego Rock Raiders". IGN. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.

External Links