As a child, the Life on Mars sets were quick to win my young heart over and so the Aero Tube Hanger quickly became one of the biggest sets I owned at the time. I even bought it at a discount because the fine folk at Intertoys recognised the damaged state the box was in! And now, as an adult with a rekindled love for Lego I have completed the series, all sets currently neatly tucked away in that same damaged box, waiting for shelf space to be displayed in all their glory.
I got the big base set for Christmas 2001 and I think my dad enjoyed it as much as I did. It blew everyone’s mind with the hoses and the pump. I adored this series as a kid, thanks for reviewing it
Thanks for letting me participate! I love seeing these guys get the limelight. Your rankings are, as usual, pretty darn close to my own preferences. Hit me up whenever you need another Biodium fix!
Your videos are really swesome dude, I've been getting back into lego and these have been an absolute treat to go through! Small note on the gloveless hands if anyone's curious, it was shown in one of the comics about the theme that the humans were surprised to find a breathable atmosphere when they arrived- So the full complement of space gear didn't have to be worn. I forget if the breathable atmosphere was created by the LoMs or not, but yeah that's what up with the conspicuously unprotected astronauts.
Thanks so much! I love how Lego lore is so expansive, yet so obscure at times. This channel has helped me learn so many little pockets of cool Lego lore that I didn’t previously know about. Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely adore the Solar Explorer. The modularity and more sci-fi aspects of the other sets are fantastic, but I never had the rest of the sets growing up, while I did have the Solar Explorer. I think I really like that it feels fairly grounded and has more realistic space elements than the others, while still keeping the modularity and play features. What a great wave of sets.
Fun fact, the “Biodium Depot” is actually meant to attach to the unused third end of the Aero Tube Hanger. Yes, that one tube exit that doesn’t seem to have anything attached to it? That’s where it goes. Rockatoa, Brickticks out!
happy to see your channel getting some recognition! maybe you could cut these longer form videos and do shorts with toplists on the themes aswell? Would be great!
I never had sets from this theme but I remember a promotional event I went to where Lego showed off the sets in an 18 wheeler semi truck, inside the back was a diorama of Mars with the sets. I forgot all about that until I saw this video! Thank you!
I think it was the Rover, the Double Hover, and the Red Planet Cruiser that were being sold packed in with each other in a value pack. I got it from my local Ames department store in Connecticut in 2001. I had so many of the small sets in this line but none of the big ones, so I never knew about the insane modularity! Super cool.
@@keltondavisLEGO worse than that, I had 4 brothers, and only 2 of us liked oatmeal. So the two of us each ate 3 packets a day for several months to make sure all of us could get a copy. 🤮
I've never heard about that theme (like most of the others you're covering) simply because I wasn't born there. But even though I didn't experience these sets as a kid I still feel something like nostalgia for that time. Thank you for showing this stuff and turning the spotlight on it!
LOVE hearing this! I make these for 2 main reasons: to rekindle the nostalgia for people who had these as kids, and to introduce these themes to a new generation.
“Floor scrubber vibes” 😂 you are pumping out top quality videos at an alarming rate! I’ve got all the big Martian sets but none of the human sets. T3 trike looks awesome! Old Rubber bands are a bit of a pain though.
I got the big Set for Christmas. Good old days. I Love the Aliens and their constructions. I expanded the world. Gave them houses to live in :) Damn i want these days back ^^ Thank you for refreshing!
Hi - found your channel a few weeks ago and have been loving all the content! The Solar Explorer is one of my all time favorite lego sets - yes the modularity is key as I agree it is a little flimsy when fully put together, but there is one simple modification which I guarantee will change everything for you. Reverse the wings on the rear component so that the flat surface is anterior with the slanted surface angling back. When you combine the front and rear pieces after this change - totally new ship! Keep up the great work!
Great vid as always. Cool line I hadn’t seen much of before. Was past my Lego prime by this time but I think I remember those tubes from a Lego magazine.
A couple weeks ago, I was digging around in a big storage tub with 20 gallons of Lego I had gotten about a decade prior. I knew I had some set from Life on Mars in there because I had one of the Martian minifigs, and was very happy to find I had both of the big mechs, but I haven't finished tracking down the pieces yet. This theme was one that I wanted to get as a kid, along with the Xalax racers because of their inclusion in Lego Racers 2 and me being fascinated with space themed stuff at the time, but the sets were already out of print by the time I became aware of them.
Thank you for the video! I'm a huge fan of Life of Mars and now have all Martian sets except for some small ones and all named Martians. It was a great pleasure to see the series again, and I mostly agree with your ranking. Aero Tube Hangar is the best of all, and Excavation Searcher loses to Recon Mech RP only in colors.
I remember saving up those Quaker oatmeal packets to get the Alien Encounter set. I still have the set too! After Exploriens this might be my favorite space theme.
Gosh, child me loved the later Mars sets that were a bit more combat focused, but current me gets all teary eyed at even the hint of a mention of the focus on exploration and cooperation between planets in a child’s toyset. Gosh I’ve gotten old XD
What?!? THAT'S where that green alien thing I have is from?!? I finally have an answer! It's Number 10! Probably got that from Intertoys in *The Netherlands*
2005 Haruki Murakami black LV Speedy 30, near mint, from a pawn shop in the bay authenticated (but girl, I knew it from the pictures). I snagged it for $1000 while all the others were gone!! I hope it’s not haunted!! Haha!! Love your channel!! …Um, I bought a Dooney Florentine Nano Satchel and a medium Amelia Florentine from luxrul …but wait, Kurt Geiger Kensington, Chanel 19 denim…and a Hermes Officier Birkin 30, gold togo with double, yellow swift stripe/left front and yellow interior/palladium. Look at this, so chic!!!
probably my favorite series of the 00's I had the trike, blue mech, scorpion mech, and the shuttle, lots of fun pieces and colors the trike always bothered me because the hatch didn't line up with the front very well and left gaps
@@keltondavisLEGO the Game came out in 2001 like these Sets. In the Mars world there a many Sets to See Like the spaceship or the blue Robot as the bosscar. The Boss is a alien called Riegel. In Minigames you can meet the Doc also. 😎
I have yet to start collecting Life on Mars, so I'm really exited for this video. I reckon I might want to bulk up on the Worker robot at 1:44 just because it has one extra of the Dark Turquoise Arms, and the robot looks better with star wars droid arms (tan) anyway But I'm not collecting the series, so I might be entirely off the mark Edit: that is to say: because I've been told that the arms break easily so I figured it might be wise to stock up on spares
@@keltondavisLEGO I think this ambiguity is actually a good thing. I'm not a big fan of distinguishing male and female LEGO characters by highlighting lashes and make-up. Vega's face print seems to be the Martian equivalent to the good old smiley face that allowed classic space astronauts and castle knights to be male or female, depending on the preference and imagination of the kids playing with them! :)
Without nostalgia this series falls a little flat in my opinion, but Lego has yet to release such creative yet good looking modular vehicles since Life on Mars. Someone mentioned Dreamz but they also tried with Chima and all the vehicles look awful as a result. I do think it's an important part of Lego history
@@keltondavisLEGO Well, you showcased Life on Mars' near limetless reconfiguration of the sets (and them having a lower piece counts, less tiny parts) they invite kids to more creative play and constructio. Lego dreams whole concept is imagiton, yet they kinda fail to come close to life on mars (older lego in general). Even with build option a and b the sets present, youre essentially still stuck with a fixed set and you'd have to take a lot pieces apart to get to the other option. hope this made sense lol
@@Huttrager Oh that makes a ton of sense. Sounds like Dreamz is a bit more like Creator 3 in 1, where you have to do a lot of deconstruction to make something new. Whereas these sets were just a quick snap away from a whole new mech or vehicle.
Man, as a kid, i remember buying these fake bootleg lego sets from flea markets as a kid, and i just thought the aliens in the set were just bad star wars droids and a fake head. Never bothered to see if they were based on actual lego stuff
@keltondavisLEGO the real one, i bet they where? These fake bootleg one? God awful. Horrible plastic, everything super loose, was just awful. Downside to being a broke kid
Love this nostalgic 90's lego videos.
Love making them!
As a child, the Life on Mars sets were quick to win my young heart over and so the Aero Tube Hanger quickly became one of the biggest sets I owned at the time. I even bought it at a discount because the fine folk at Intertoys recognised the damaged state the box was in! And now, as an adult with a rekindled love for Lego I have completed the series, all sets currently neatly tucked away in that same damaged box, waiting for shelf space to be displayed in all their glory.
And this series needs a LOT of shelf space 😆. Love hearing your experience!
Lego❤️
Lego used the pneumatic pump for Mars Mission in 2007
Totally forgot about that! Especially because I consider this theme to be far superior to Mars Mission. Good spot 👍
I got the big base set for Christmas 2001 and I think my dad enjoyed it as much as I did. It blew everyone’s mind with the hoses and the pump. I adored this series as a kid, thanks for reviewing it
Hours of fun in one play feature. What a great set!
Thanks for letting me participate! I love seeing these guys get the limelight.
Your rankings are, as usual, pretty darn close to my own preferences.
Hit me up whenever you need another Biodium fix!
Thanks again for your invaluable contributions! I’m curious what your ranking would be. Let us know!
I think I'd just trade the Double Hover and Jet Scooter honestly. Something about how spread out it is feels good.
The rest is pretty spot on!
Your videos are really swesome dude, I've been getting back into lego and these have been an absolute treat to go through!
Small note on the gloveless hands if anyone's curious, it was shown in one of the comics about the theme that the humans were surprised to find a breathable atmosphere when they arrived- So the full complement of space gear didn't have to be worn. I forget if the breathable atmosphere was created by the LoMs or not, but yeah that's what up with the conspicuously unprotected astronauts.
Thanks so much! I love how Lego lore is so expansive, yet so obscure at times. This channel has helped me learn so many little pockets of cool Lego lore that I didn’t previously know about. Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely adore the Solar Explorer. The modularity and more sci-fi aspects of the other sets are fantastic, but I never had the rest of the sets growing up, while I did have the Solar Explorer. I think I really like that it feels fairly grounded and has more realistic space elements than the others, while still keeping the modularity and play features. What a great wave of sets.
It feels like an extension of the great Space Port sets from 1999 (because it is).
Fun fact, the “Biodium Depot” is actually meant to attach to the unused third end of the Aero Tube Hanger. Yes, that one tube exit that doesn’t seem to have anything attached to it? That’s where it goes.
Rockatoa, Brickticks out!
Yes! In fact, I swore I got footage of us attaching it, but couldn’t find it, so it didn’t make the cut. 🙃
It was a bold choice to make a theme off of a David Bowie song but the result looks like it paid off ;)
LOL. You win!
The T3 Trike is one of my favorite vehicle designs. Using Technic pieces and rubber bands for suspension was brilliant.
And SO much fun to zoom around! That one nailed the feel.
14:11 Arcturus looks like he loves blazing the sweet leaf, sitting on the Couch and getting the munchies 😏
He’s the Martian manifestation of chill.
As always, production value is top notch. Just amazing. Please keep them going.
Will do! Love making these.
happy to see your channel getting some recognition!
maybe you could cut these longer form videos and do shorts with toplists on the themes aswell?
Would be great!
I’ve been resisting shorts since I’m a total noob with them 😂 But I might have to dabble in them.
So cool, Like it's 2001 again
Simpler times! (for us, anyway 😆)
I never had sets from this theme but I remember a promotional event I went to where Lego showed off the sets in an 18 wheeler semi truck, inside the back was a diorama of Mars with the sets. I forgot all about that until I saw this video! Thank you!
Struggling to find much info other than a picture of the truck from the outside, not the inside. I assume the truck toured the US and maybe Canada.
I love when a new level of long-forgotten nostalgia is reawakened. RR Slugger’s channel did that for me, and here we are!
Let us know if you find more info on the truck. It sounds amazing!
I think it was the Rover, the Double Hover, and the Red Planet Cruiser that were being sold packed in with each other in a value pack. I got it from my local Ames department store in Connecticut in 2001. I had so many of the small sets in this line but none of the big ones, so I never knew about the insane modularity! Super cool.
The small sets in this theme were strong, but the modularity really showed up in the medium to large ones. Really cool stuff!
3:47 gosh I ate SOOOO MUCH OATMEAL to get that promo.
Haha! I was hoping to find someone who earned that with Oatmeal 😂
Love this! I remember my brother doing the same thing. There was a fun Studios pirate set that had a similar giveaway. Good times!
@@keltondavisLEGO worse than that, I had 4 brothers, and only 2 of us liked oatmeal. So the two of us each ate 3 packets a day for several months to make sure all of us could get a copy. 🤮
@@BrotherhoodWorkshop Kid-targeted marketing at its finest! Oh boy 😂
Fantastic video! The recon mech was a childhood favorite for me.
Those Life on Mars mechs hit just right. 👌
I've never heard about that theme (like most of the others you're covering) simply because I wasn't born there. But even though I didn't experience these sets as a kid I still feel something like nostalgia for that time.
Thank you for showing this stuff and turning the spotlight on it!
LOVE hearing this! I make these for 2 main reasons: to rekindle the nostalgia for people who had these as kids, and to introduce these themes to a new generation.
I miss these little alien bastards so much! Lego needs to bring them back!
just finished the video. fantastic work!
They’re the best! And I wasn’t even aware of their illegitimate parentage 😜 😉
“Floor scrubber vibes” 😂 you are pumping out top quality videos at an alarming rate! I’ve got all the big Martian sets but none of the human sets. T3 trike looks awesome! Old Rubber bands are a bit of a pain though.
The Martian sets were the real highlight here, but that Trike is super awesome!
I got the big Set for Christmas. Good old days. I Love the Aliens and their constructions. I expanded the world. Gave them houses to live in :)
Damn i want these days back ^^
Thank you for refreshing!
If there’s a Space theme that invites further world building, it’s this one! It’s built into its DNA 🧬
Hi - found your channel a few weeks ago and have been loving all the content! The Solar Explorer is one of my all time favorite lego sets - yes the modularity is key as I agree it is a little flimsy when fully put together, but there is one simple modification which I guarantee will change everything for you. Reverse the wings on the rear component so that the flat surface is anterior with the slanted surface angling back. When you combine the front and rear pieces after this change - totally new ship! Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the tip! I suppose that just further illustrates the strength of this theme. Don’t like how the ship looks? Just change it with ease!
I love these classic Lego sets
That’s the whole reason this series exists!
My mom found an Excavation Searcher at a garage sale for 10 bucks. I had so much fun with that set!
Steal of a deal! That one’s a winner 👍
Man i love these Vintage lego Videos. I never got any of the Life on Mars Set because it was after my lego time. For me it was the Ufo series.
Stay tuned! UFO is on the docket for the very near future!
That is awesome. I cant wait to See the Video :)@@keltondavisLEGO
Great vid as always. Cool line I hadn’t seen much of before. Was past my Lego prime by this time but I think I remember those tubes from a Lego magazine.
I only had a couple of these myself, but oh how I wanted them. Great to revisit them as an adult!
Cant wait for the alpha team ranked list ngl :D great videos btw. Enjoying them very much!
LOVE Alpha Team!
A couple weeks ago, I was digging around in a big storage tub with 20 gallons of Lego I had gotten about a decade prior. I knew I had some set from Life on Mars in there because I had one of the Martian minifigs, and was very happy to find I had both of the big mechs, but I haven't finished tracking down the pieces yet. This theme was one that I wanted to get as a kid, along with the Xalax racers because of their inclusion in Lego Racers 2 and me being fascinated with space themed stuff at the time, but the sets were already out of print by the time I became aware of them.
Nothing like uncovering treasures right under your nose. Love it!
I love your videos keep the great job
Thank you so much!
@@keltondavisLEGO No problem!
Thank you for the video! I'm a huge fan of Life of Mars and now have all Martian sets except for some small ones and all named Martians. It was a great pleasure to see the series again, and I mostly agree with your ranking. Aero Tube Hangar is the best of all, and Excavation Searcher loses to Recon Mech RP only in colors.
This was such a pleasure to revisit! Love this theme.
I love how they made the wheels on the rover, haha. Anyway, great video and keep up the good work!!
The little squeak it makes as you push it along will always live in my memory. LOL.
I remember saving up those Quaker oatmeal packets to get the Alien Encounter set. I still have the set too! After Exploriens this might be my favorite space theme.
The stories of kids pounding oatmeal to get that set are just so wholesome 😂
Gosh, child me loved the later Mars sets that were a bit more combat focused, but current me gets all teary eyed at even the hint of a mention of the focus on exploration and cooperation between planets in a child’s toyset. Gosh I’ve gotten old XD
We get sappy in our old age 😆 I feel the same!
What?!? THAT'S where that green alien thing I have is from?!? I finally have an answer! It's Number 10! Probably got that from Intertoys in *The Netherlands*
Glad I could enlighten you! I love uncovering LEGO mysteries from the past.
The blue one is my favorite, its still in my shelf.
Excellent choice! The top 4 are all soooo close for me.
I had the double hover and mannnn that was such a fun little set!
Even the little ones here were great! What a consistently quality theme.
I recall of the Life on Mars sets I had Rover, Double Hover and Red Planet Cruiser all in a three pack.
Yep! There was a promo pack that had all three bundled together.
Such a cool theme 👌
It certainly was! And severely underrated in my opinion.
I love kislux that on the butterfly bag it says auguri / tanti auguri which means happy birthday
Not sure what you mean, but thanks for the comment! 😆
All dat kislux bags sssssoooooooo gorgeous
🤩 🤩 🤩 🤩 🤩
2005 Haruki Murakami black LV Speedy 30, near mint, from a pawn shop in the bay authenticated (but girl, I knew it from the pictures). I snagged it for $1000 while all the others were gone!! I hope it’s not haunted!! Haha!! Love your channel!! …Um, I bought a Dooney Florentine Nano Satchel and a medium Amelia Florentine from luxrul …but wait, Kurt Geiger Kensington, Chanel 19 denim…and a Hermes Officier Birkin 30, gold togo with double, yellow swift stripe/left front and yellow interior/palladium. Look at this, so chic!!!
Not sure I follow, but thanks for the comment! 😂
Love these retro videos. Could you do a UFO one to go with Exploriens as they are part of that story
I actually just got my hands on the UFO sets. Video on the way!!
probably my favorite series of the 00's
I had the trike, blue mech, scorpion mech, and the shuttle, lots of fun pieces and colors
the trike always bothered me because the hatch didn't line up with the front very well and left gaps
It’s a winner! And yes, those things about the Trike are the biggest weaknesses, but I love it all the same!
What kills me about this series is how flimsy the arms from the martians (and similar figures) are. And it's hard to replace them now!
A tad brittle. Also makes me wonder if that’s why some of those colors were discontinued.
@@keltondavisLEGO Yeah, so many pigments were just as brittle. It's a shame.
There's a very expensive super battle droid with the same issue
Just one name. LEGO RACERS 2.❤
Never played that one, but if the comments are indication, I need to change that!
@@keltondavisLEGO the Game came out in 2001 like these Sets. In the Mars world there a many Sets to See Like the spaceship or the blue Robot as the bosscar. The Boss is a alien called Riegel. In Minigames you can meet the Doc also. 😎
Perhaps not a surprising request, but you simply must do a list (and ranking) of all the Rock Raiders sets!
100% planning on it!
I have yet to start collecting Life on Mars, so I'm really exited for this video.
I reckon I might want to bulk up on the Worker robot at 1:44 just because it has one extra of the Dark Turquoise Arms, and the robot looks better with star wars droid arms (tan) anyway
But I'm not collecting the series, so I might be entirely off the mark
Edit: that is to say: because I've been told that the arms break easily so I figured it might be wise to stock up on spares
You’re on to something, for sure. You probably noticed that Arcturus’s arm was a bit broken.
If Lego life on Mars is retro I must be really old 😂
Generally if it's over 20 years old, it's considered retro.
A horrifying fact, so be sure. LOL.
I can’t believe I got rid of set 7317 just to free up some storage space, but I have no regrets.
It definitely DOES take up a LOT of space. LEGO collecting is often about prioritizing the limited space we have. Glad you don’t regret it at least!
Wow you should narrate a ride at Disney world 😮
"Keep your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the T3 Trike at all times." LOL
I love Life on Mars so much
Good point! Perhaps “explicitly” female would have been a better way to put it. In my little-boy mind, Vega was always a dude.
@@keltondavisLEGO I think this ambiguity is actually a good thing. I'm not a big fan of distinguishing male and female LEGO characters by highlighting lashes and make-up.
Vega's face print seems to be the Martian equivalent to the good old smiley face that allowed classic space astronauts and castle knights to be male or female, depending on the preference and imagination of the kids playing with them! :)
@@judekw6034 agreed! 👍
Great video as always. Did you create the mouth animations for the lego man or did you find that asset somewhere online, and if so where?
It was a pack of assets on Etsy. I’ll actually be going into detail on my while production process in next week’s video!
Awesome! I will greatly appreciate seeing your production process!
any chance of looking at the Divers series from the 90s?
That was one of my absolute favorites.
My lofty goal is to eventually cover all of LEGO’s history, so that would naturally get covered!
Without nostalgia this series falls a little flat in my opinion, but Lego has yet to release such creative yet good looking modular vehicles since Life on Mars. Someone mentioned Dreamz but they also tried with Chima and all the vehicles look awful as a result. I do think it's an important part of Lego history
Though I don’t agree it falls flat, I do agree that they’ve never quite nailed the modular vehicles like they did in this theme. 👍
The Life on Mars sets are what Lego Dreams failed to be
I don’t know much about Lego Dreamz, but I’m inclined to believe you’re right 😂
@@keltondavisLEGO Well, you showcased Life on Mars' near limetless reconfiguration of the sets (and them having a lower piece counts, less tiny parts) they invite kids to more creative play and constructio. Lego dreams whole concept is imagiton, yet they kinda fail to come close to life on mars (older lego in general). Even with build option a and b the sets present, youre essentially still stuck with a fixed set and you'd have to take a lot pieces apart to get to the other option. hope this made sense lol
@@Huttrager Oh that makes a ton of sense. Sounds like Dreamz is a bit more like Creator 3 in 1, where you have to do a lot of deconstruction to make something new. Whereas these sets were just a quick snap away from a whole new mech or vehicle.
Man, as a kid, i remember buying these fake bootleg lego sets from flea markets as a kid, and i just thought the aliens in the set were just bad star wars droids and a fake head. Never bothered to see if they were based on actual lego stuff
These guys were great!
@keltondavisLEGO the real one, i bet they where? These fake bootleg one? God awful. Horrible plastic, everything super loose, was just awful. Downside to being a broke kid
The Skies on Mars are Blue
Indeed they are, though the color scheme for the background was chosen more for feel than accuracy. 👍
@@keltondavisLEGO I just really like bring that fact up