If Xbox’s approach to releasing games on other consoles is confusing, then Sony’s is even more so. On the face of it, there seems no need for first party PlayStation games to be released on formats other than the PC and yet a Sony exec’s speech from February – that they’ve never referenced again since – clearly suggested that multiformat titles are planned for the future. And now, here we have the first Horizon game to be released on Nintendo Switch.
Since Sony still hasn’t explained what’s going on it’s impossible to tell whether this is a one-off or not but there’s every chance it is, since Lego Horizon Adventures is not being released on Xbox and only on Nintendo Switch – and even then Sony couldn’t bring themselves to publish it themselves and used a intermediary instead.
No doubt the thinking is that Lego games sell best on Nintendo formats, but to be honest the whole idea of making a Lego version of Horizon Zero Dawn is bizarre, given the original is a 16-rated action adventure whose dour storytelling must seem very unappealing to younger children. We never liked it much either, even though the game itself is good, but the setting and characters are so much more fun in Lego form.
To add to the strangeness of Lego Horizon Adventures’ existence there’s only ever been one Lego set based on the game – a really cool looking Tallneck, aimed solely at adult collectors – but that’s so long ago now it’s already been retired. So this game has nothing to do with selling more Lego, beyond a general vibe that Lego is cool, and a small selection of generic Lego minifigure costumes (zombies, spacemen, a Ninjago tie-in, etc.) you can dress your characters up with.
Clearly, this is a very strange concept for a game, especially as it’s a pretty straightforward retelling of the story from the original Horizon Zero Dawn, which received a remaster just a couple of weeks ago. Creating a new story for the game would’ve seemed the obvious way to go, but no. Instead, you get to explore exactly the same plot, except now instead of Aloy being an overly serious killjoy she’s now an excitable and charming protagonist that adds to the game rather than taking away from it.
Aloy is still voiced by Ashly Burch, with many of the original cast also returning (the late lamented Lance Reddick is replaced by a new actor). A lot of the secondary characters still feel very forgettable but father figure Rost is definitely an improvement and his fourth wall-breaking narration is a constant highlight. The script in general is the funniest since Lego City Undercover, even if the occasional exposition dumps drag it away from the comedy for a bit too long.
Lego Horizon Adventures is not by usual Lego game developer Traveller’s Tales, but it is by a different British developer (Studio Gobo – who seemed to be staffed by a lot of people that worked on the underappreciated Split/Second: Velocity), which explains the similar sense of humour. The general premise is the same as games like Lego Star Wars, in that you’re running around bashing Lego creations to collect studs, to use as currency, and engaging in simple but entertaining combat.
A co-op mode is also key to the game’s appeal, as it means you can play almost the entire game with another person, but the specifics of the gameplay are surprisingly similar to the actual Horizon Zero Dawn. As such, you still have to hide in long grass, to get a bead on enemies, especially the robot animals that are the game’s signature selling point.
It’s all very simplified though and rather than manually aiming at weak points you identify them with your Focus (basically detective vision) and then you can shoot them automatically. It’s not overly easy, since you can die relatively quickly, but just running around, avoiding attacks, means robots can do a lot of damage to themselves and others just by running into walls and anyone in their path.
Aloy starts off with just a bow, but things do become a little more complicated as you begin to use elemental attacks where needed. There’s also a range of other gadgets, like jet boots, and more powerful weapons you can pick up but these are limited use and obtained essentially as random loot, which can be a bit frustrating when you need a specific one.
What’s more annoying is that there’s very little in the way of proper puzzles. You can do things like set arrows on fire by shooting them through a campfire, to burn down an obstacle, but the more complex puzzles of previous Lego games are almost entirely absent. And while there are secrets to discover they’re not particularly well hidden and the levels as a whole feel a lot less interactive than the other games – which was one of their main appeals.
The game does not have anything like the same open world environment as the original. In fact, it’s the complete opposite, with levels separated out into different sections with a noticeable loading pause even on the PlayStation 5 – no doubt a design element required in order to have the game work on the Switch.
On PlayStation 5 though the game is absolutely stunning. This is easily the best looking Lego game ever, with a more than generational leap in graphical quality. Unlike most of the previous games everything in the environment is made out of virtual Lego bricks and it all looks perfect, although disappointingly little is destructible, which seems to miss the point.
Perhaps the most important technical feature though is that the game is blissfully bug free. We barely had any problems the entire game, which given the problem previous Lego games have had is a blessed relief.
We said in our review of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered that we’ve always felt the franchise needed a more fun tone than it’s been lumbered with, given how inherently silly the setting is, and we feel Lego Horizon Adventures proves our point. It’s still limited by the established characters and lore of the series, but this is a lot more entertaining than we expected and missing only a few pieces that would’ve made it one of the best Lego game ever.
Lego Horizon Adventures review summary
Pros: A great script and fun voice-acting, with amazing graphics that finally do the Lego concept justice. Surprisingly involved gameplay, that mirrors all the elements of the original. Great co-op.
Cons: It’s still not doing anything very different to previous Lego games and the combat is inherently simplistic even in the original. Less destructible scenery than you’d think and very few real puzzles. Horizon Zero Dawn’s plot was never very engaging.
Score: 6/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, and PC
Price: £59.99
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo
Release Date: 14th November 2024
Age Rating: 7
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