A game based on a movie based on a toy product. It feels a little rushed, but it aint bad. Check out Kidzworlds review of TT Games latest offering, The LEGO Movie Videogame.
Escaping dangers in the Wild WestCourtesy of TT Games
The LEGO Movie Videogame is the latest LEGO themed action-adventure from Warner Bros. and TT Games. But unlike the machine-like game developers previous effort, LEGO: Marvel Superheroes, The LEGO Movie Videogame never quite gels as a cohesive experience. That said, there is plenty to enjoy for you LEGO fans out there.
I have yet to see The LEGO Movie myself as awesome as it's supposed to be - read our movie review - but the story of the videogame seems to follow the movie closely. While you will play as an assortment of characters, including Wyldstyle, Batman and Vitruvias, the main thread follows charming Emmet and his quest to become a master builder and save the world.
Run, Emmet!Courtesy of TT Games
The LEGO games usually feature original cut scenes created in-engine, a more time consuming process but one that amounts to a more immersive and original experience. It also truly allows TT Games as a developer to use creative-license to tweak movie moments as to suit the game medium better. But for The LEGO Movie Videogame, TT Games has decided to use actual movie clips (which are brilliantly made) from the feature length film as cut scenes.
Find the plan to build the needed PorchCourtesy of TT Games
What this ends up doing is it gives us two very different and distinct visual styles for the cut-scenes and the gameplay -- The cut-scenes (and movie) are classic stop-motion, while the gameplay visuals look similar to every other LEGO game. It genuinely feels as if chunks of gameplay have been shoe-horned between movie moments. At times transitions between gameplay and cut-scenes being far from seamless.
The positive from this is that the cut-scenes are quite awesome. Every time the cut-scenes played I was attentive and really entertained. They made me want to see the movie proper. But the moment to moment gaming left a little to be desire.
The LEGO Movie Videogame Trailer
While not as impressive as some past LEGO games, there are a few visually dazzling and exciting moments to be found, including a high speed, multidirectional free-fall and Cloud Cuckoo Land that could be described as a sugar rush for your eyes. There is also a fun little mini-game where you're tasked with building certain objects from a manual, using quick reflexes to match the correct on-screen pieces.
Unkitty and Vitruvius stand in Cloud Cuckoo LandCourtesy of TT Games
Everything else you'd expect to see in a LEGO videogame is here. A hub world between levels, collectibles to find and dozens of characters to unlock, who then allow access to new areas. There's a lot of time to be sunk if you wish to hit 100% completion. The audio is okay but poorly mixed at times, with dialoge being lost to music and sound effects. The visuals are decent - I played on Xbox One but they won't blow your mind nor are they much a jump over the "current" gen consoles. Overall though, The LEGO Movie Videogame's in-game graphics are appealing on the eyes.
Final Thoughts
TT Games has crafted a solid game in what seems to be a short amount of time. I have issues with the shifts in visual style and the fact that for the first time in a while, it feels a bit like gameplay missions were thought out in haste... Okay I'll say it. For the first time one of TT Games LEGO efforts feels a little - maybe just a tad - on the cash-in side of things. It's missing a little bit of the TT magic.
Fans of the LEGO videogames will still want to check this out as there is some good fun to be had. But warning, don't play this game before seeing the movie...Spoilers galore.
The LEGO Movie Videogame, available nowCourtesy of TT Games
The LEGO Movie Videogame is available now on Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 4, Playstation 3, WiiU, 3DS and PC
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