LEGO Horizon Adventures’ Melting Pot Approach is a Lesson for LEGO Games

LEGO Horizon Adventures' Melting Pot Approach is a Lesson for LEGO Games

As someone who grew up playing with LEGO bricks and LEGO games, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to the latest announcement of LEGO Horizon Adventures. It seems like the perfect blend of old and new, a true melting pot of ideas that have made the LEGO franchise so beloved by fans like myself.


Since the debut of LEGO Island in 1997, LEGO games have made significant strides. Initially known for their simple sandbox gameplay and park construction elements, as well as resembling Mario Kart, these games have grown into a highly popular action-platformer franchise catering to families. With numerous movie tie-in games holding a special place in the memories of those who grew up with them, LEGO Horizon Adventures is now stepping forward as the next phase in LEGO’s development.

Unlike the usual scenario where video game IP like Overwatch, Minecraft, Super Mario, and Sonic the Hedgehog are used for LEGO sets but not vice versa, LEGO Horizon Adventures appears to be breaking new ground. Instead of being merely an adaptation of the initial Horizon game, LEGO Horizon Adventures boasts a variety of features that echo some of LEGO’s most celebrated games, suggesting a potential shift in the way these collaborations are approached.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Is a Melting Pot of Past Ideas

LEGO Horizon Adventures Adapts a Well-Known Story

To put it simply, for the past two decades, LEGO has primarily focused on creating video games based on popular movies from franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park. Following this trend, the latest release, LEGO Horizon Adventures, is inspired by the storyline of Horizon Zero Dawn, which marks the beginning of the PlayStation first-party franchise.

Most of the time you’ll spend with LEGO Horizon Adventures is likely to be engaged in progressing through the game’s sequential stages, tackling easy environmental conundrums, and battling swarms of both humanoid and mechanical adversaries. The playstyle here seems reminiscent of LEGO’s adaptation of licensed properties. Additionally, this game includes a two-player co-op mode, offering a delightful dose of traditional split-screen entertainment.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Borrows LEGO Fortnite/Worlds’ Customizable Hub

Although LEGO Worlds didn’t quite match up as a competitor to Minecraft, its standout feature was the ability to customize biomes. Now, this customization is carried over into LEGO Fortnite, where players can construct an extensive range of structures using various LEGO bricks. LEGO Horizon Adventures aims to embody this customization and the freedom it offers, enabling players to personalize their hub area with new buildings.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Brings Back Character Customization

For the first time in several years, the game LEGO Horizon Adventures will allow players to personalize their character’s appearance. Although a comprehensive character creator may not be included in the game, LEGO Horizon will enable users to modify the looks of characters such as Aloy and Varl, providing them with outfits inspired by classic LEGO themes like Space, and costumes inspired by other PlayStation series like LittleBigPlanet.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Embraces a Familiarly Whimsical Tone

“Most LEGO games share a humorous style, which was originally conveyed through visual jokes and facial expressions in older titles where characters didn’t talk. In newer LEGO games, humor can sometimes appear as witty, often self-referential comments. It appears that LEGO Horizon Adventures continues this distinctive comedic approach.

Future LEGO Games Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Borrow From The Past

In an ideal world, LEGO games should consistently develop and progress, introducing fresh elements with each new release. However, this perfect scenario is compromised when the game sheds many aspects cherished by fans in the process. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga serves as a prime illustration of this issue.

In the game titled “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga“, there was significant progress made in terms of adapting movies for LEGO. However, with its expanded scale and scope, some cherished elements from the franchise were unfortunately omitted during production. Features like character customization, linear levels, and cooperative play in boss fights were absent. Instead, the game focused on offering more characters to play, additional side missions, and open-world hub areas. Although “The Skywalker Saga” represents a strong development, future LEGO games should remember to maintain a balance between progress and preserving the past.

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2024-11-08 23:03