XXL’s Game Corner: The Lego Movie Videogame Review

Publisher: WB Games
Developer: TT Games and TT Fusion
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC, 3DS, and PS Vita
Release date: Out Now

In the last nine years of Lego games, we've come to associate the iconic plastic building bricks with puzzle-solving, exploration, and some silly, lighthearted humor mixed in. The LEGO Movie Videogame carries on tradition as it attempts to bring the film's joyful and entertaining story into the same gaming format.

Unlike most film to game spin-offs The LEGO Movie Videogame mirrors the film’s plot very closely. If you had plans to see the movie, I’d recommend you hold off on playing the game until you saw the movie first as it pulls more than a dozen lengthy narrative cut scenes straight from the big screen. As Lego man Emmett you will be involved in the fight against an evil dictator, who wants to end all creativity in the Lego universe. To combat him Emmett will team up with a group of "Master Builders" special Lego figures known for their unbridled creativity as they try to save the day. Although Emmett is the game’s protagonist, in true Lego fashion you will be able to switch between the characters that join him in the fight against the dictator as they each offer unique abilities and characteristics that allow them to negotiate certain obstacles and solve puzzles.

Graphically this is billed as being the first of the games where everything, including the environments, is made out of Lego and from an art design perspective it looks pretty legit. Every building looks like it could have come straight out of a Lego set and peripherals like lamp posts, couches, vehicles – all are constructed with authentic Lego elements. Where in previous Lego games you had been able to explore an entire fictional city, this time you’re able to switch between five different hubs. You start in the big city Bricksburg but move quickly on to a dusty western town, a pink rainbow paradise, and a few other areas that are worth experiencing for yourself. Having more freedom to explore gives the game a bit more openness when compared to some Lego games of the past. In addition to the level design the very colorful palette is another thing that stands out about the game in fact it’s probably one of the more colorful Lego games you’ll ever play.

Puzzle-solving and exploration is pushed to the fore, although typically the puzzles are less complicated than many of the more recent games as TT Games’ intent seemed to reach a younger audience. Level design is a bit shorter than fans of the series will be used to but they are more dynamic and set in some fantastic locales. There are also some new LEGO activities introduced – master builder characters like Wyldstyle can pull bricks from the surrounding environment and build things like clown cars or catapults – which allows gamers to construct objects straight from their imagination. Emmett himself requires the sort of instructions that come with Lego sets, and a big part of the game revolves around finding these pages and using them to create the necessary objects you will need to progress through the level. All are welcome additions to the game.

XXL Endgame

While TT Games is appealing to a younger audience that doesn’t mean older folks won’t have just as much fun playing The LEGO Movie Videogame. One of the better direct movie adaptations of recent years, features a great script, and plenty of variety in characters while managing to stay married to the time-honored Lego gameplay. Like the title track says, everything is awesome.—written by DJRhude (@DJRhude)

XXL Rating: L

The LEGO Movie Videogame was reviewed for the PS3 on a retail copy provided by WB Games.