LEGO Horizon Adventures review: A silly demake

3.0 out of 5 star rating

If you’re deeply immersed in the digital world, similar to the LEGO Horizon Adventures reviewer, you might have come across the idea of a ‘demake’. This term refers to a remake of a game or application that intentionally resembles an older, less advanced version.

Frequently appearing as a meme template or inspiration for YouTube content, ‘demaking’ is essentially the practice of reimagining a contemporary video game as if it were created in the past, often under challenging technical constraints and with less sophisticated visuals.

For example, when Elden Ring was taking the world by storm in 2022, some fans asked a question that may not have occurred to the average player: what if Elden Ring was a PS1 game? The result was a fun thought experiment and an entertaining video.

Upon starting LEGO Horizon Adventures within just a few hours, I found myself immersed in a world that seemed reminiscent of a reimagining. It appeared to be posing the intriguing query: What if Horizon Zero Dawn transformed into a LEGO game?

In a different scenario, if Horizon Zero Dawn were made as a LEGO game, it likely wouldn’t feature the expansive open world that the original game boasts. Also, the gameplay mechanics might not provide the same level of challenging yet rewarding mastery. Instead, it could present a more light-hearted tone with an abundance of humor integrated throughout.

In LEGO Horizon Adventures, unlike other games that offer an expansive open world, you’ll encounter a sequence of linear stages, separated by numerous loading screens. Unlike freely exploring vast landscapes, your journey primarily follows a straight path from left to right, with minimal deviations permitted off the beaten track.

Rather than having the freedom to switch among numerous types of weapons whenever desired, you are limited to carrying a few unique abilities or strategies at one time.

In terms of narrative, LEGO Horizon Adventures follows the main themes of Horizon Zero Dawn, as the character you control, who is similar to Aloy, embarks on a journey to uncover the mystery behind their own heritage.

In contrast to the emotional scenes you may have encountered earlier, this time around, you’ll be treated to a dose of slapstick humor and unusual portrayals of main characters. For instance, Varl appears as a buffoon, Sylens aspires to be a DJ, and Erend has a fondness for doughnuts.

As the lively journey unfolds, you’ll lead Aloy and her companions to unravel the tale from the initial Horizon game. Along the way, puzzles will be slowly untangled as you vanquish a growing horde of robotic wildlife.

Soon enough, you too will have the ability to switch between characters using Varl’s spear, Teersa’s bombs, and Erend’s axe, enhancing your battle strategies quite effectively.

The unexpected nature of this demake project is striking due to how cohesively it comes together. At the helm of the voice cast, Ashly Burch, who reprises her role as Aloy, seems to be having a blast. Her energy is contagious and the script is quite amusing, often causing me to chuckle alone.

Devoted followers of the original works might take offense at the playful mockery of their cherished characters and plot points. However, if it’s acceptable for franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and Harry Potter to receive the LEGO parody treatment, why shouldn’t Horizon be given the same comedic twist as well?

The visuals are impressively well-done, particularly the seamless blend of different realms. The robot adversaries appear fantastic when rendered in LEGO style, and numerous settings are visually appealing as well.

You too can enjoy personalizing both your character and village using LEGO items out of time (like dressing Aloy in a penguin costume).

The music is also delightful, with catchy melodies and recurring hooks that will get stuck in your head long after you’ve switched off the console. There’s also a corker of an original song that plays over the end credits.

It seems that although many aspects of the game in LEGO Horizon Adventures cohere nicely, you might find that the review score isn’t impressively high. This could be due to my personal feelings about the gameplay, which I found quite underwhelming.

The layout of the game levels appears quite limited and predictable, often resembling the structure of mobile games due to their brief length and restricted player freedom. While the game targets a younger audience, it might still seem somewhat monotonous and repetitive, even for young players.

In many stages, the gameplay often adheres to a pattern: First, you select a character, followed by navigating from left to right for a while. Then, a loading screen appears. After that, you engage in combat with several opponents. Once more, a loading screen surfaces. Throughout these load times, you acquire various skills or abilities. Lastly, you encounter a larger band of enemies and find a golden brick.

Occasionally, there’s an opportunity to deviate from the usual right turn. This alternate route might offer some additional golden studs and a small trinket for construction. However, it frequently leads you back to the primary path.

In many stages of this LEGO game, there isn’t much opportunity for building as one might expect from a LEGO title. Although creativity is key in LEGO play, the game doesn’t offer ample chances for players to showcase their creativity. This lack of creative freedom can at times lead to frustration, which is certainly not the desired experience in an enjoyable, family-friendly game!

It’s clear that Gobo Studio, who developed this game, didn’t collaborate with Traveller’s Tales (the creators of the popular LEGO movie tie-in games). While the game visually and auditorily impresses, there were instances where the gameplay felt lackluster, causing me to momentarily lose focus.

As a player, I must confess that the combat in this game significantly outshines the more casual platforming elements, and it becomes even more enjoyable as you progress deeper into the game and acquire an array of intriguing gadgets to experiment with (the incorporation of Tripcaster towards the end is especially impactful). However, a large portion of the game consists primarily of walking from left to right, which, as a core experience, feels somewhat simplistic.

In terms of demakes, this one certainly offered an intriguing twist, yet it falls quite short compared to the gripping nature of Horizon Zero Dawn or Horizon Forbidden West. However, if the intention was to make Horizon more appealing for younger gamers, then perhaps it succeeded and might draw new players towards the main series. Whether the mission is accomplished? That’s debatable, but potentially yes.

LEGO Horizon Adventures launches Thursday 14th November for PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

2024-11-13 15:36

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