LEGO, the versatile Danish toy, has been converted into dozens of great games. Most recently, we’ve enjoyed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and the Minecraft-inspired LEGO Fortnite. But if we’re being brutally honest, after just shy of 90 minutes of play, LEGO Horizon Adventures is already looking like a standout for the blocky brand – and it’s not even close.
It should be noted that this game is also coming to the PC and Nintendo Switch, and while the contents of this preview pertain specifically to the PS5 code we played, you can expect much of it to also apply to those platforms.
This release rounds out an unusually family friendly year for Sony, which has also marked the critically acclaimed launch of Astro Bot. While we don’t expect this isometric adaptation of Aloy’s inaugural escapade to hit quite the same critical highs as Team ASOBI’s scintillating 3D platformer, there’s clearly something quite special here.
While visuals aren’t the be-all and end-all, it must be stressed just how stunning LEGO Horizon Adventures looks. While past LEGO titles have settled for a combination of bricks and traditional 3D models, everything you see here could be reconstructed in real-life. That includes the ocean, which uses stop-motion to convey the flow of waves and the sparkle of the sunlight on the water.
There are some tremendous effects on display here. For example, when the heroine goes prone in tall grass, her outline will be transformed into weeds constructed out of familiar bricks to show she’s in stealth. Similarly, if you set fire to something, there’s a wonderful animation where small little flame-shaped bricks dance around until everything’s been burned.
It’s not just artistically impressive: it’s technically astounding, too. A lovely depth of field effect gives density to the 3D scenes, which makes it look like a legitimate diorama, while all of the textures have a plastic look to them; on some of Aloy’s outfits, you can actually see the bumps of the printing and the paint. It remains to be seen how well these visuals will scale to the Switch, but we’re anticipating a vibrant experience on the system’s OLED model at least.
The game is outrageously tactile, too, owing to some excellent use of the DualSense controller, which will presumably be mapped to the JoyCons as well. There’s a click in the pad as Aloy grabs onto cliffs, or a twang as she traverses rope bridges. It really does feel fantastic with the controller in hand, with the bow-and-arrow combat also tight and responsive in a way past titles like LEGO Harry Potter haven’t been.
We played much of our demo in co-op, where our partner controlled Rost and latterly Varl, for reasons we won’t elaborate upon for those who haven’t played the original game. It’s interesting how Varl has a slightly different combat system to Aloy, using a spear instead of a bow-and-arrow; the controls remain the same, but the spear can actually penetrate opponents.
Gameplay is largely linear, but there are secret areas you can explore off the beaten path which harbour hidden chests containing a familiar currency, known as stubs. These can then be used to purchase customisations in the hub area, as well as different outfits for Aloy and her partners. In addition to costumes inspired by the game, there are even LEGO City and LEGO Ninjago options.
In the opening chapter, we found ourselves returning to the same general location several times in order to collect golden bricks and progress the story, although our routes changed depending on the quest. We do think this repetition of the same general environments could get fatiguing if the full game doesn’t implement enough variety, but it’s hard to say in a demo that lasted less than two hours.
Combat is inspired by the main games, albeit simplified. When up against giant dinosaur-like machines, you can target weak points in order to do extra damage, with bricks breaking off in satisfying ways. Power-ups can be discovered as you progress, including zany ones like a hot dog vendor, who tosses explosive sausages onto the stage.
The story retells the events of the main game, although it does so in a tongue in cheek manner, picking up on all the plot holes and poking fun at them. The performances are really good, with Aloy’s original voice actor Ashly Burch reprising her role as the character, and giving an effortlessly silly performance which fits the LEGO vibes perfectly.
There are also light RPG elements from the main game, as killing enemies will contribute towards an XP meter, which levels you up as you progress. Each level unlocks a new attribute, like additional health or increased bow damage. There’s also a very simple skill tree you can spend your hard-earned studs on to give you a sense of progression as you work through the campaign.
All in all, it’s a quite simple game – but that’s by design. This is a Horizon title that will be playable by pretty much anyone, and we really do think it’s going to introduce an all-new audience to Guerrilla’s world. The gameplay is tight, and the visuals are outstanding; while we are concerned it may lack a little variety, we’re already fairly confident this is going to be the best LEGO game to date.
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Is the excellent LEGO Horizon Adventures on your radar? Are you looking forward to this family friendly take on Guerrilla’s acclaimed open world franchise? Sharpen your arrows in the comments section below.
Comments 40
Any questions about the game at all, let me know! I had so much fun playing this!
Yeah sorry but nothing is coming close to the OG LEGO Games or LEGO Lord of The Rings.
@DonJorginho Come back when you've played this one. 👍
I’ve tried playing several Lego games and cannot get into it whatsoever. I even tried cooperatively with my daughter when the recent Star Wars came out. With that said, this game does look fun—they all do, to me—so I’ll probably give it a shot no matter what. I hope this one clicks!
@Kraven I've been much the same with the LEGO games. Love them conceptually, but never had much fun actually playing them.
This one was fun for me.
Sounds great. Really looking forward to playing this.
Nice read, Sammy.
Sounds like a solid diversion from the stuff I usually play. I'll give it a go. I've never played a lego game before either, so this will be a new experience for me.
Wow! This game is going to be surprisingly spooky and spectacular! Can't wait to give it a whirl
That’s a low bar to jump, but good to know. I’m contemplating whether or not I should get this one for my son since Astro Bot has him interested in Horizon now.
@get2sammyb For full price no chance, once it inevitably goes on Plus though!
@Kraven Recent Star Wars game wasn't up the standards of the PS2/3 and PSP/Vita games.
Looked slick but just somehow wasn't fun..?
You mean
„Preview: LEGO Horizon Adventures Is Looking Like the Best Horizon Game Yet“
don’t you?
Lego Star Wars 2: Original Trilogy on the PSP remains my favourite Lego game.
You've actually got me intrigued which I would have thought impossible.
I'm looking forward to this. I'm hoping the game shows abit more restraint compared to recent games where they have tried to over complicate things a little too much. For instance trying to find a particular character to play as is a nightmare when there is simply such a large cast to pick from in the star wars and Marvel series.
Looking forward to the inevitable levels where you get to play as the machines
@Max_the_German Nope, I don't mean that!
@get2sammyb Is this the same as all the previous Lego games? Are there 150 characters to unlock? Do you need different characters with different abilities to complete different objectives and challenges? Will there be Red Bricks to find to give you secret unlocks? That was the best part of the Lego games, going through the same level a few times to unlock everything in the game but you needed to beat the game first so you could unlock the character who had the specific ability to get access to a location you couldn't previously get to. Hopefully they included all of that in this game.
@NarutosBiggestFan It looks like there's different characters to unlock, yes.
I didn't find any collectibles, which surprised me as I was expecting that to be a big thing based on the previous games.
It doesn't seem like there are unique abilities, but again, we only got to play about 90 minutes from the start of the game.
To me, it seems a little different to other LEGO games; much more focused on gameplay than collectibles and unlockable areas.
I don't like that Sony is pushing the Horizon IP so hard. I like the Horizon games, but they're falling into the trap of too much, too soon. Give it time to breath and I think most will be more excited about the brand.
But... it does look charming and fun, I think ill probably enjoy this with my kids someday. From a technical point of view, that's a very pretty looking video game, the dev team have done a great job it seems.
Feels a little like it’s coming from somebody that doesn’t particularly enjoy Lego games.
The Horizon level in Astro bot made me realize how well this could work! Gonna keep an eye on it
@Afroducc There's been three Horizon games in seven years, one of which is a VR spin-off. This is also a spin-off really.
@get2sammyb Thanks Sammy. I've been interested in this since they first announced it and it sounds like it wont dissapoint me.
It looks visually stunning for a lego game, which doesn't hurt either!
Are you aware of any PS5 pro modes?
@Titntin No word on PS5 Pro but I'd be surprised if they didn't support it in some way. Watch this space!
I own 8 Lego games, I will have no problem buying another one on disc.
@get2sammyb Maybe I'm being a grumpy Gus... It's just a remake is soon to be here, this Lego game, the rumoured MMO and tv show that was in the works (which appears to be on hold now?).
Like i say, maybe I'm being grumpy. I liked Forbidden West alot and it's exciting for these things to go dormant and appear years later.
Cant wait to play this with my kids during the holidays.
@Afroducc You are being a grumpy Gus. We got seven Uncharted games and a remaster collection in ten years. No one complained then.
Still can't get my head around why this isn't releasing for PS4 with such a massive installed userbase and considering the type of game it is too.
Can't be technical reasons with it coming out on Switch too. Baffling.
Im interested in seeing more. My kids and I are enjoying Astro bot very much. I like this investment in more quality family games.
@get2sammyb I really liked the Lego Harry Potter Remaster and completed it 100% in coop recently. How was camera control in this new one? We couldn't get into the latest star wars one partly because it demanded constant use of the right stick for camera control and for aiming when shooting.
Was the performance around 60 fps in coop?
@get2sammyb Its not 3 games in 7 years since we also getting this Horizon Lego game and Horizon ZD Remastered, which makes it 5 games since 2017. Not counting the PC ports and the 2 big DLCs Frozen Wilds and Burning Shores. Not complaining, but i can see that it feels like a lot of Horizon to some.
And on top of that there is the cancelled tv show, the rumored online game and ofc Horizon 3 still to come.
@get2sammyb To me, it seems a little different to other LEGO games; much more focused on gameplay than collectibles and unlockable areas.
This is all I needed to know to get me buy this, I've tried lego games before but all the collecting and re doing levels to unlock certain areas got tiresome and I ending giving up. This sounds like it will be the first ever lego game I complete.
@WizzNL @Afroducc
what people need to get is that this lego game and the the mmo are going to push the Horizon world because it fits best.
-If the lego game works they can sell toys of the machines.
-A post apocalyptic world with cool enemies to kill is ideal for an MMORPG.
-The machines are the best looking enemy to kill on VR
-We can't talk about the multiplayer because he haven't seen anything.
All those moves have a purpose way different than "here's more Aloy, enjoy", every game has a different purpose, a different design and a different gameplay so that can't be counted as too much. Of course the ideal scenariofor Sony is for people to play all of them but that is unrealistic. There are players who believe family games can't be enjoyed by adults (stupid I know), not everyone likes multiplayers, not everyone has the vr and even better if the rumors are true and the korean company is making the mmo and they change the art direction to fit more with their expertise then you have two games (included this lego game) that are going to be played by people who may never be interested in the main titles.
So yes there are many Horizon games but no, not every game is directed to the same group of people and only someone who actually loves the world will play them all but if they love the world then there shouldn't be any problem because the games outside the main tittles are going to be different.
I like Lego and I like horizon so this I will be playing this
Nice. I like the aesthetics of Lego games, but the gameplay was always where they let me down. Sounds like this one might actually be a good time.
I'm sure PC/PS5 will be the best experiences technically, but I'm so tempted to nab this on Switch, if only for the novelty.
If it sells a significant percentage on Nintendo's system, I could see them expanding out with other select titles in the future. Imagine a Gravity Rush Collection on PS5/Switch 2/PC!
@Bomberman64 It has a fixed camera perspective.
@sanderson72 yeah agreed. Just felt off.
This isn't made by Travelers tales though
whoa whoa whoa... like couch co-op?
Edit : actually duh all the lego games have had that. anyway, the review sounds promising.
I think I spent the most time with LEGO City Undercover on WiiU.
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