The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game Review

By: Max Cannon

Without question, I've reviewed LEGO games more than any other series of video games. While I've loved some of them and found others to be a little uninspired it's clear that LEGO titles have found a formula and they often stick to it. What made The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game so surprising is that its slight deviation from that formula doesn't alter much of the main LEGO recipe but what does get shook up makes this game feel genuinely fresh.

Not Ninja but Ninjago

The latest game ties into the recently released film, The LEGO Ninjago Movie, and manages to climb out of the typically disappointing heap of weaker film tie-ins. Subtle changes to the visuals bring the new game more in line with the films specifically when looking at how the characters move. The choppy, stop-motion-esque, movement of the LEGO movies is finally translated well into these games. LEGO Dimensions used the feature well for characters from The LEGO Movie, like Wyldstyle, but that's one of the only times we've seen the feature used by a full-on LEGO game.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game: Enter the Dojo Vignette

The story of the game is ripped right from the movie as the Ninjago team fights against Garmadon to save the city of Ninjago. It doesn't just retell the story but it even uses scenes straight from the movie as video in this game. It fits in really well and keeps the story feeling a bit more engaging than other LEGO games. So if you enjoy the story of the movie, which we have a review that you can check out here, then you'll like what you see in this game. Of course, the game takes a few liberties and moves away from the story at certain times but most of what you see is ripped right out of the film.

The game's opening mission features some crazy cool chaos.

Saving the City of Ninjago

While the look of the game is a huge bonus, it's the gameplay of The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game that really impressed me. Much of the gameplay loop in LEGO games consists of punching things and breaking down your world and enemies to get LEGO studs. Fighting as a Ninja means that you'll feel a slight difference to combat in the game. Building up a combat meter and the swift finishing moves give fighting a satisfaction that is woefully missing from other entries. 

Lloyd from the movie is the main character in the game.

There's also a decent variety to Ninjago as apparent from the moment you finish the funny and satisfying tutorial and step into an in-air battle from your Ninja-styled spaceship. Once you land on the ground in the middle of a crazy battlefield you'll use the new fighting style to battle through a handful of enemies, switch between characters to use unique abilities to solve puzzles, and you'll collect lots and lots of studs. If you're familiar with the past LEGO games you'll notice how much of that is identical to what you've done before but there's a change to the movement that has a ripple effect on how the whole game feels.

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie - Trailer 1

Final Thoughts

Though The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game is based on that tried-and-true LEGO game formula there is something special here. The way the characters feel through the control has a solid impact on the game and the new and improved combat makes playing through this game a breeze.

Pros

• Story
• Visuals
• Movement and Combat

Cons

• Similar Structure to Other Games

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game Game Rating:

Available for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game Box Art

Have Your Say!

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