Game Review : The Lego Movie Video Game


I’ve always been a big fan of lego but admittedly more partial towards the physical blocks and not so much the digital blocks. However, that’s been changing for a while (especially after Lego’s great option job with Marvel Super Heroes). The digital blocks are probably just as much fun as you get to really flex your creativity. Lego adds charm to its tried and tested formula with some impressive partnerships with mega-hit franchises like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc. The Lego versions generally put a more humorous spin on matters, which makes the whole experience more unique. This creative freedom is not squandered either; it strikes a good enough balance that allows you to enjoy your favourite heroes (or villains) in new light.

That brings us to Lego’s latest effort: The Lego Movie, featuring a stellar cast including Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt, Will Arnett and Elizabeth Banks. The movie received great reviews so naturally Lego has gone one step further with a movie video game. If you are a gamer, I know what you are thinking: the rule of thumb is that games based on movies generally don’t do so well. However, I’m glad to announce that Lego manages to buck the trend and does so quite well because it is not as constrained by the movie as similar titles.

Plot

The in-game story is the same as the one in the movie. Players step into the shoes of Emmet, the protagonist, who starts off as a rather bland construction worker until his world is turned up-side down (in some scenes) by Wyldstyle, who is unbound by any rules and is convinced that Emmet is a the only thing that can save the world from impending evil. The game uses a lot of footage from the movie. In fact, many of the most important elements that made an appearance in the movie are also featured in the game. The story, in general, flows quite smoothly and makes the entire affair quite memorable. Players also get to see some really iconic Lego characters.  

 

Gameplay

The game is mostly filled with (very) simple puzzles. Action scenes, on the other hand, lack the gory details that accompany most other games. So you are not going to be able blow apart the heads of Lego characters. Instead, they’ll simply break into pieces. The action scenes are also designed to encourage players to explore the environment and work around the more interactive elements of the game. As players advance through the game, they get to collect various bonuses and in-game currency, which in turn activate cheats and allow players access to new areas in the game. Various mini games, on the other hand, allow players to acquire special characters, vehicles and structure.  None of this is entirely new. In fact, there is hardly much of a difference from this game and the previous Lego games (Marvel Heroes for instance). The mini games and the currency system, along with other staple features have not gone through any radical change as such.
 

The learning curve really isn’t a curve at all. The introduction to the game sets the stage quite well. Players become naturally accustomed to all the features and options that are available in the game. The introduction involves following Emmet through a rather mundane day at work, where players get introduced to all the features. Soon after, he finds himself driving a motorcycle along a freeway with traffic in all directions, while the charismatic Wyldstyle is moving from vehicle to vehicle. The cool thing is that these events are completely participatory, which is nice because it embeds a sense of urgency and makes things feel more frantic than the same events that are featured in the movie.

Ultimately, Lego seems to be a joy to watch and fun to play. At-least that much hasn’t changed.


Text by Navam Niles