LEGO Space 1785 Crater Critters Review: A 1995 Classic

We are going vintage today. Up for review is LEGO Space 1785 Crater Critters (officially titled "Introducing Crater Critters"). This set was released in 1995, and although when completed the set has two robots — one in Unitron colors and one in Spyrius colors — the set wasn't really associated with either lineup. It was a general Classic Space release rather than an official part of either subtheme, which makes it a fun little curiosity for collectors of that era.

What you get in the box

It's a small, cheap set by 1995 standards — it originally retailed for around $10 — and it comes with no minifigures, just the parts to build the two robotic "critters."

• Set number: 1785 ("Introducing Crater Critters")
• Theme: LEGO Space (Classic Space)
• Pieces: 143
• Minifigures: 0
• Released: 1995
• Original price: ~$10 USD

To get this today, you almost have to go to eBay. You can find it on eBay here. Or maybe you'll get lucky at a garage sale!

Unitron vs. Spyrius: the two color schemes

The neat thing about this set is that its two robots wear the colors of two rival 1990s Space factions. One is done up in the blue-and-gray of Unitron — the beloved 1994 subtheme known for its monorail transport and exploration craft, which we'll be covering in depth in upcoming posts. The other wears the black-and-red of Spyrius, right down to the printed "Spyrius Machinery Pattern" tiles.

If you're not familiar, Spyrius was the 1994–1996 "bad guy" faction: a crew of spies who stole technology from other factions using giant robots and saucer-shaped ships, all in red, black, and transparent blue. It even holds a place in LEGO history as the first theme to feature a robot minifigure. Fittingly, Spyrius were often depicted stealing tech from — you guessed it — Unitron. So having both color schemes side by side in one little set is a nice bit of Classic Space lore, even if 1785 never officially flew either faction's flag.

The build

It's an easy, quick build that a kid could handle without much trouble. The one knock is the instructions — they aren't great, which is worth keeping in mind if you're hunting down a used copy that may or may not include them. In hindsight, you may be able to build these by simply looking at pictures. It's kind of a "what you see is what you get" type thing compared to modern builds where pieces are hidden away.

We always include a pros and cons table, but I don't know how pertinent it is to this one. If you're buying this, you're buying it for a reason, and this table doesn't even matter.

Is the LEGO 1785 Crater Critters worth it?

Value here isn't really about pieces-per-dollar — it's about nostalgia and completing a Classic Space collection. If a pair of mid-90s robots in Unitron and Spyrius colors scratches an itch for you, it's an easy, charming little pickup off the secondary market. And if you're just stepping into vintage LEGO Space sets, on the used market these aren't actually very expensive.

Stay tuned for a review of the full Unitron lineup, a classic in LEGO history including the fabled Transport Base.