Lego Horizon Adventures Review

Lego Horizon Adventures merges the expansive world of Horizon Zero Dawn with the playful charm of Lego, creating an adventure that’s equal parts thrilling and lighthearted. This unique reimagining faithfully captures the essence of Aloy’s journey, presenting it through a vibrant, blocky lens brimming with humor and creativity. As players step into the world of machines and mysteries, they’ll discover a game packed with intense combat, inventive mechanics, and a surprisingly immersive Lego-built environment. While not without its quirks, Lego Horizon Adventures promises an unforgettable experience for fans of the original series and Lego enthusiasts alike. Here’s a closer look at what makes this game a standout addition to the Lego universe.

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AT A GLANCE
Genre: Action, Adventure
Developer: Guerrilla Games, Studio Gobo
Publisher: PlayStation Publishing LLC
Franchise: PlayStation Studios, Horizon
Release Date: 14 Nov, 2024

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A Faithful and Playful Adaptation of Aloy’s Journey

Lego Horizon Adventures retells the iconic story of Horizon Zero Dawn with the unmistakable flair of Lego humor and charm. At its core, the game follows Aloy, a young outcast raised by the hunter Rost in a post-apocalyptic world reclaimed by nature and dominated by machine-like creatures. Driven by her curiosity about her origins and the mysteries of the Old Ones, Aloy embarks on a journey of discovery, danger, and destiny.

The game masterfully captures the narrative beats of the original, distilling its rich lore into a more accessible and family-friendly format. The story is peppered with quirky humor, delightful twists, and playful Lego moments that lighten the serious undertones of the original tale. Whether it’s Aloy’s witty one-liners or the exaggerated antics of supporting characters like Varl and Erend, the game never shies away from its comedic roots.

However, Lego Horizon Adventures doesn’t sacrifice depth for humor. The game retains the emotional weight of Aloy’s personal struggles and her confrontation with a looming threat to humanity. The tension between ancient mysteries and modern-day challenges remains intact, ensuring the narrative resonates with both newcomers and long-time fans of the Horizon series.

While the main storyline unfolds seamlessly, Lego Horizon Adventures also introduces a co-op mode, allowing players to team up with a diverse cast of characters. This adds an extra layer of fun and camaraderie to the experience without detracting from Aloy’s central role.

In all, the story of Lego Horizon Adventures strikes an impressive balance between honoring its source material and delivering a playful, blocky reinterpretation that feels fresh and engaging. Whether you’re new to the Horizon universe or revisiting it through Lego’s lens, Aloy’s journey is as captivating as ever.

Gameplay

Lego Horizon Adventures combines the signature mechanics of Lego games with the thrilling elements of Horizon Zero Dawn, creating a gameplay experience that is both accessible and engaging. Played from a third-person perspective, the game offers a seamless blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, all wrapped in the whimsical charm of a Lego universe.

The world of Lego Horizon Adventures is divided into standalone levels, each brimming with colorful landscapes, hidden treasures, and interactive environments. Players can climb, zipline, and parkour their way through these levels, uncovering secrets and raiding chests for Lego Studs, the game’s currency. While the exploration is fun at first, the repetition of similar tasks—like scaling cliffs or collecting scattered items—can make it feel formulaic over time.

The combat is where Lego Horizon Adventures truly shines. Facing off against Lego-fied versions of Horizon’s iconic machines, players must utilize Aloy’s arsenal of bows, traps, and tools to outwit their mechanical foes. The game cleverly integrates the Focus ability, allowing players to highlight enemy weak points, encouraging tactical precision in battle.

The machines range from small grazers to towering Thunderjaws, each with unique attack patterns and vulnerabilities. Stealth also plays a key role, with players sneaking through bushes and planning ambushes for an edge in combat. For those who prefer chaos, advanced weapons like flaming arrows, shock traps, and even whimsical additions like a Lego brick separator offer plenty of options for creative destruction.

Progression is tied to Aloy’s leveling system, which unlocks upgrades through the All-Mother tree. Players can enhance damage, improve starting gear, and unlock abilities that add depth to the gameplay. Additionally, the game’s currency, Studs, is earned through exploration and defeating enemies, providing further opportunities to improve weapons and characters.

The game’s coop mode allows players to join forces with a variety of characters, each bringing their own unique abilities to the table. Beyond combat, players can rebuild Aloy’s home village, customizing structures and unlocking new facilities as the story progresses. While this doesn’t directly impact the narrative, it adds a personal touch to the game’s progression.

A Blocky Masterpiece

Lego Horizon Adventures brilliantly recreates the vibrant and diverse world of Horizon Zero Dawn using Lego bricks. Every detail, from lush forests and towering mountains to the mechanical creatures themselves, is rendered with meticulous care and authenticity. The Lego aesthetic brings a unique charm, transforming the world into a playful yet immersive landscape.

The machines, once menacing in the original game, are now whimsically intimidating in their Lego form, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and novelty. Players will find themselves marveling at the creative use of Lego pieces to construct everything from enemy robots to environmental elements like trees and rivers.

The game also includes two graphical modes for PS5 players: Fidelity Mode, which prioritizes higher resolution at lower frame rates, and Performance Mode, which delivers smoother gameplay with slightly reduced visual fidelity. Both modes provide a stable and visually impressive experience, with Performance Mode being the preferred choice for those who value fluidity.

The sound design in Lego Horizon Adventures is a standout feature, blending epic orchestral scores with playful Lego-inspired sound effects. The familiar Horizon soundtrack, reimagined for the Lego universe, sets the tone for exploration and battle alike, maintaining the series’ epic feel while adding a touch of whimsy.

Voice acting is another highlight, with Ashley Burch reprising her role as Aloy, delivering a performance that seamlessly blends heartfelt moments with comedic timing. The rest of the cast, including JB Blanc as Rost and a host of quirky NPCs, contributes to the game’s lighthearted atmosphere. The classic Lego humor shines through in dialogue and sound effects, from exaggerated grunts during combat to the satisfying clink of collecting Lego Studs.