LEGO Horizon Adventures was officially announced during the June Summer Game Fest showcase. Developed by Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo with help from The Lego Group, this action-adventure game was designed to retell the Horizon Zero Dawn storyline in a more lighthearted, family-friendly way.
After diving into this game these past two weeks, I’m pleased to say that LEGO Horizon Adventures is exactly what the developers intended to create. It’s a wildly fun, smart, and witty game that reintroduces Aloy and all of the supporting characters in her world in a new imaginative form. Here are more thoughts on the title and what you can expect if you give it a shot.
LEGO Horizon Adventures is an isometric action-adventure video game that combines the world of Horizon Zero Dawn with the renowned Lego look and feel. The story revolves around Aloy, a hunter cast out of the Nora tribe at birth who embarks on a quest for self-discovery. Her goal is to find out who her mother was and learn more about her origins. While on her journey, she develops strong relationships with the residents of Mother’s Heart and saves them from kidnapping cultists and challenging robotic creatures.
One of the most captivating aspects of the storyline is how perfectly tailored it is for younger audiences while remaining faithful to the source material. The lighthearted tone is established based on the conversations Aloy shares with others and any time she is revived after mistakenly falling to her death on any given stage. The theme of an apocalyptic setting has also been altered to one of exploration through world-building as Aloy can collect and build up parts of the world around her.
The decision to approach the game from this angle is spectacular as it plays upon the strengths of every team involved. If you played any of the Lego video games or watched any Lego-themed movies you have a great idea of what to expect and I can promise you won’t be disappointed.
Lego Horizon Adventures looks visually stunning on the PlayStation 5. The entire world including the levels, characters, and iconic machines are all made with Lego bricks. From the moment you look closely at the game, you’ll notice the attention to detail is staggering and the range of colors and material patterns kicks things up another notch.
In addition to the beautiful visuals, the animations are very crisp and fluid. The notorious stop-motion animation style is still present. The addition of the various types of machines gives more personality to how they move and react in combat. The various cutscenes and gameplay sequences look amazing and the style remains consistent from start to finish.
The gameplay loop for LEGO Horizon Adventures consists of various mini-stages where you’re given one main objective to complete. These objectives include things like rescuing captured allies or discovering a new cauldron filled with various robotic creatures. At the start of every mission, you can play solo or cooperatively with a friend locally or online. Once you complete a mission, you are rewarded with a gold brick that can be used to unlock additional facilities at your current home base location. You also unlock more customization options as you continue to play along with an option to play as other characters like Varl or Teersa.
As you navigate through each stage, you can use your focus by pressing down on the L1 button. Doing this is essential because it reveals the vulnerable weak points where you can shoot each robot. In addition to collecting coins down certain paths, there are also other reachable areas that you can get to by jumping or climbing. This is where you’ll find treasure chests that can offer more currency and additional upgrade bonuses for your weapons. This is a game where exploration is rewarded and if you are a completionist at heart, you’ll want to see every nook and crannie in these unique settings.
For combat, it’s important to plan your strategy accordingly instead of firing off several arrows at various enemies at once. This way of thinking and using stealth while hiding in tall grass has carried over perfectly from Horizon Zero Dawn. The enemy encounters get more challenging as you continue to level up your character which is a good reason to think before acting. The excitement of combat and exploration is without a doubt one of the most fun aspects of the game and will keep you coming back for more.
Most of the original cast of Horizon Zero Dawn have returned to voice their characters in LEGO Horizon Adventures. The only exception to this rule is Lance Reddick who passed away last year but is still remembered for his role as Sylens. Having Ashly Burch and others return as their respective characters makes things feel more authentic while allowing them to have more fun with the playful, laid-back script.
LEGO Horizon Adventures should take you around 8 hours to complete. There are plenty of items to collect and several things to unlock just by playing through the storyline. I recommend playing online or local co-op with a friend for a much more enjoyable experience.
Final Verdict
LEGO Horizon Adventures is a clever and witty isometric action-adventure game that perfectly blends the world of Horizon Zero Dawn with Lego. If you’re a fan of one or both of these properties then you’ll be satisfied with this title.
This review was written based on a digital review copy of LEGO Horizon Adventures for PlayStation 5 provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
