Apart from the remaster of its first episode, Sony also has another project in mind for its Horizon license: a LEGO video game. Already available in our toy stores, Guerilla Games’ license joins sagas like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter in breaking the LEGO video game barrier. As fans of the genre and the two titles Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, we were naturally interested in this project. However, it has to be said that Sony’s communication around the title was rather limited, and perhaps that wasn’t all that surprising…
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Horizon LEGO Dawn
LEGO Horizon Adventures adopts the main plot of Horizon Zero Dawn in a crude way, without trying to take itself too seriously, just like any good game associated with the Danish brick brand. LEGO’s usual sense of humor is certainly present, and if you’re a customer (like it or not), it should make you laugh, if not smile.
Zany dialogues, constant gags, and comical situations are everywhere, making the title a pleasure to explore throughout the story. As a bonus for Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West players, the voice actors of LEGO Horizon Adventures are the same.
Divided into four chapters, the adventure takes us through four different regions: plains, jungle, snowy mountain, and desert. Right from the start, we’re amazed by the game’s visual quality, which is far more attractive and detailed than in other LEGO games. However, after two or three hours, enjoyment slowly fades into weariness. This is because the environments, apart from their colors and vegetation, are very similar, especially in their construction.
Each level is made up of exploration phases, including a little platforming, and a few combat arenas. Unfortunately, progression is extremely linear, and apart from a few not-so-well-hidden chests full of coins, there’s absolutely nothing to collect. Exploration is limited to jumping and climbing obstacles and using zip lines to move forward. Other LEGO titles had accustomed us to little environmental puzzles to be solved using our characters’ skills, either to progress through the levels (which are more varied in their construction than here) or to collect lots of coins and collectibles (minikits, red bricks, etc.).
We’ll return to the combat later, but although satisfying, it’s not enough to prevent you from getting bored by the time you reach the end of the story. And yet, it’s a fairly short story. Indeed, it took us no more than six hours to see the credits roll, and we were left with mixed feelings of liberation and disappointment. There was room for improvement, and why not integrate elements from Horizon Forbidden West to enrich the content.
Pimp My House
The main hub where we will spend time between levels ( “Mother’s Heart”, in the Nora village) can be customized according to your desires. As you earn more golden bricks, you’ll be able to construct buildings with different customization options, such as roof, terrain, color, and structure. Customization options are unlocked as you progress through the adventure, but must be purchased with in-game coins. These options include elements specific to the Horizon Zero Dawn universe, as well as objects linked to LEGO City, LEGO Ninjago, and more zany amusement park-themed pieces.
It’s also possible to modify Aloy’s outfit using costumes unlocked in the same way and from the same universes as the village’s customization elements. Count on a few extra hours if you want to get everything, as this will cost you a considerable amount of coins. However, this aspect is secondary and, above all, cosmetic. Aloy’s costumes don’t give her any special skills, for example. For that, you’ll have to rely on the weapons and gadgets found in the levels.
We mentioned earlier that the levels also include combat zones. These can be made up of machines, human fanatics or both. While fighting humans is just as uninteresting as in the original games, battles against machines are already a lot more fun. As in Horizon Zero Dawn (and Forbidden West), each machine has its own weak points, which you need to target in order to inflict more damage on them, or even to prevent them from performing certain attacks. Simplified here with very assisted aiming, the overall concept works pretty well. Most of the machines from the Horizon universe are present, each with its own attacks and characteristics for varied, action-packed confrontations.
To help eliminate them, you can use your environment to ignite, freeze, or shock them, but be careful not to get caught. It’s also possible to pick up weapons and gadgets with limited uses to inflict more damage. Faithful to the original material, you can pick up a multi-shot bow or cable launchers for example.
In addition to Aloy, three other characters are playable and offer slightly different gameplay. Varl throws spears that can cut through multiple enemies, Teersa uses bombs and Erend a hammer, and like Aloy each can pick up weapons and gadgets of their own. Overall, the four characters are a pleasure to play, even if we have a preference for Aloy and a reservation about Teersa. Note that each character has a level that can be progressed through experience gained in battle, allowing you to do more damage or have more hearts, for example. Boss battles are also included occasionally, offering rather pleasant battles despite the lack of variety in the number of different attacks.
Finally, note that the game can be played solo, but also in local co-op, so you can share a moment with your children or your loved one.
Conclusion
We were expecting a lot from LEGO Horizon Adventures, but in the end we were rather disappointed. After the first few hours, which were rather pleasing to the eye, the magic finally fades and gives way to a certain repetition. This is due to the fact that the environments are never renewed in their construction, varying only in color, and that the level design never changes. The structure is totally linear and offers no interesting gameplay in its exploration phases. Fortunately, the game does manage to put a smile on our faces, thanks to the sense of humor typical of LEGO games and the pleasant confrontations with the machines. It’s not all bad news, but LEGO Horizon Adventures is clearly a mediocre game.