![lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced](https://thegamerhq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/055-2-696x490-3.png)
Looking over the various kits in TLC’s current future-mining line, it’s actually not hard to see the difference between it and Rock Raiders.
Now, of course, I still haven’t proved my point – because even knowning that Rock Raiders isEven though Rock Raiders wasn’t nearly as bad as some of the abominations that would come after it (coughjackstonecough), it unfortunately was filled with designs that were in many cases simplistic compared to what had come before, which may have been one of the reasons why it only lasted one year. Even the smaller vehicles like the Hover Scout and Rapid Rider also were built upon big pre-fabricated bases, and there really wasn’t much substance to their designs.
![lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced](https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/27938-lego-rock-raiders-windows-back-cover.jpg)
Although the kit designs were appealing asthetically, they relied on huge pieces like the infamous one piece vehicle chassis and the giant cockpits. Yes, in reality, Rock Raiders was in fact one of the forerunners in the juniorzation era, taking it to levels that had never been reached before.
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However, what some may not have realized at the time was that they were harboring a complaint that also applied to Rock Raiders! After all, when we first saw clear pictures of Power Miners, one of the first things that came to people’s minds after the initial shock at the color scheme was “bleah, specialized parts!” Giant drills, huge wheel pieces, big plastic sides – it seemed like the theme was heavily focused on playability and had in the process sacrificed the building aspect on a giant altar dedicated to the false gods of Juniorization and POOPs (or, Pieces of Only One Purpose). Just to be edgy, I started off with the reason that may seem the most crazy of them all.
Reason #1: Power Miners is less![lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced lego rock raiders standard vs enhanced](https://oldpcgaming.net/wp-content/gallery/rock-raiders/snap2009.jpg)
But, there are a variety of elements to the line that I do feel are superior to Rock Raiders, and I will go into detail about them in this topic. This complete 180 of my opinion about Power Miners has been a very gradual process, and there are still some things I don’t like. In fact, having bought both Rock Raiders and Power Miners sets, I can conclude that in my opinion, the latter, newer theme is better than the former! Now, I know this will seem like blasphemy to some people, but remember that I was once opposed to the theme as well. I was among those who were upset – as I have been for years, I was cautiously optimistic that the original blurry photo’s did not do true justice to the kits, and I was shocked when the clear photos made the sets look worse instead of better! (the exact opposite of what happened with the Agents theme)īut now, nearly two thirds of a year has passed, and surprisingly, my opinion of the line has turned around completely. People were simply dumbstruck at how wacky the color scheme was, and they were also worried about the seemingly heavy juniorization and other potential problems. When the first clear pictures of Power Miners came out, they were almost unanimously panned (or highly criticized and disliked, if you don’t know what that means). And back during the last few months of 2008, I would have believed the same thing. I know, I know, some of you probably think I'm crazy. LEGO Digital Designer and other digital tools