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Lego Horizon Adventures review

Aloy-vely brick-tastic!

₹ 3,999

Were we eagerly waiting for a Lego Horizon game? No. Should you play it? Depends how old you are. Lego games have always added a fun and easy-to-digest spin on the existing stories of popular franchises for young gamers to hook their grubby hands into. This time it’s Guerrilla Games and Lego that have teamed up to Lego-fy the first game from the Horizon series. Is this brick-based adventure that's more fun than flying a Sunwing? We’ll find out.

First things first, let's talk about the visuals. This ain't your grandma's Lego game, folks. The graphics are so crisp you could cut yourself on them. We're talking lush, vibrant landscapes that look like they were plucked straight from the PS5 version of Horizon Forbidden West.  Volumetric smoke and particle effects add another layer of polish, making those brick-shaped robot dinosaur explosions extra satisfying. And the Lego bricks themselves?  They've got this almost believable texture like you could reach out and touch them. It's proper witchcraft, I tell ya!

But it's not just a pretty face. Lego Horizon Adventures combat is simple but enjoyable. Get ready to explore brick-built versions of iconic Horizon locations, from the sun-drenched plains of the Embrace to the snow-capped peaks of the Cut. Each area is packed with small secrets to discover and combat sections to complete. Of course, there are plenty of those pesky machines to battle. Boss fights are a particular highlight, with giant, screen-filling Lego dinosaurs that will test your skills and your reflexes.

After a few hours, the game’s level design starts to lose its sheen. The gameplay remains the same even though you can play as Varl, Rost, Teersa and Erend, all of which have different weapons. The linear progression feels a bit underwhelming after a few hours. It doesn’t have enough platforming sections or variety in my opinion but you still get to climb a Tallneck, and now you'll be doing it with a cheeky grin and a healthy dose of slapstick humour. Everything has a playful Lego twist to it.

Speaking of humour, the voice acting is top-notch. They've brought back the original cast, including the incomparable Ashly Burch as Aloy. Burch absolutely nails it, bringing a child-like levity to the role that's just delightful. There's this one line where she tells an evil cultist, "You should have joined the knitting cult," that had me spitting out my tea in laughter.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "But Horizon is all doom and gloom! How can they make it funny?" And you'd be right. The original games have a serious "the world is going to end" vibe.  But that's what makes Lego Horizon Adventures so brilliant. The stark contrast in mood is genuinely surprising and hilarious. Expect plenty of American-style teenage slang and simplified dialogue that's perfect for younger players (and us older kids who are young at heart).

You can even grab a mate and dive into the co-op mode for some brick-smashing fun. Team up to take down those robo-beasties, solve puzzles together, and compete for the highest score. It's the perfect way to share the joy of Lego Horizon Adventures with a friend.

Let’s address the elephant (or should I say Tremortusk) in the room. This game is just to sell you more Lego bricks, isn’t it? Lego has already released the first Horizon Lego set and while that’s great, the game doesn’t feel like a must-have for Lego or Horizon fans.

Lego Horizon Adventures is a visually stunning, surprisingly funny, and family-friendly adventure that aims to welcome newcomers. While the gameplay can get a bit repetitive after a while and the game is quite short, the sheer charm and humour of this brick-tastic world sometimes make up for it.

Stuff Says

Not a must-play for fans of the Horizon series and Lego games, but if you have a little one who wants to get into gaming and loves Legos, this is a good start
Good stuff
Bad stuff
  1. Visually stunning

  1. Surprisingly funny

  1. Family-friendly fun

  1. Repetitive gameplay

  1. Lack of variety