More often than not, the long-running children’s series of Lego video games has focused on instantly recognizable characters: Batman, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker.
The star of Sony’s science fiction Horizon game franchise does not have such an expansive fan base. Yet the single-minded, redheaded Aloy is a wise choice for one of these lighthearted branded games, which exude so many happy, humorous vibes.
In this Lego world, Aloy’s battle is against formerly peaceful animal-robots like the Sawtooth, a riff on pouncing saber-toothed tigers. They shoot swirling circles of fire. The Buried Shadow, the darkest, scariest creature in the Horizon series, is a cute but devilish balloon blob here, something well-suited for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You can hide from most of the machines in patches of tall grass, which Aloy calls “so itchy.”
Aloy also needs to discover her own origins, often via a holographic character named Elisabet. The eager warrior’s base of operations is called Mother’s Heart, inhabited by nature lovers who are hunter-gatherers. As you progress, the almost-unpopulated town grows as you build customizable structures, totems and environments. Fifteen hours in and you’ll find it teeming with clucking chickens and plastic minifigures who fish, eat, converse, dance and generally enjoy life. Just look at their animated drawn-on faces.
The stripped-down plot eschews the game franchise’s serious, sometimes perplexing epic tale that features Aloy as kind of a religious savior. Here, the objectives are simpler, clearer — and unapologetically goofy.
Other heroes from Horizon Zero Dawn make appearances as playable protagonists in a postapocalyptic world where there’s no “social media or cat videos.” The reinvention of the clumsy Varl, an ardent warrior, includes a passion for comic book collecting. He puts on gloves before touching a rare graphic novel.
The crumbs in this game’s trail are shiny Lego studs, which also can be used to buy outfits and upgrade Mother’s Heart. Sometimes, you find treasure chests full of them.
In the store, you can also add items from Ninjago, another Lego-branded game, and modern buildings. This mash-up doesn’t dovetail with the carefully created Horizon milieu where Sony’s lush, lurid environments are so meticulously reinvented through Lego blocks and pieces. No one is yearning to see a bright white police station in a land where lumber is the primary building material.
Each robotic machine is introduced in a comical but terrorizing cut scene, its name boldly and brightly emblazoned onscreen. The level design is generally repetitive. Walk over arched bridges and attractive waterfalls. Stock up on studs. Open a vendor’s treasure chest to discover a power-up, like fiery boots Aloy can wear to jump over an enemy and burn them. Fight a number of machines in a circular environment reminiscent of a corral. Receive a gold brick reward and begin the next chapter.
In previous Lego games, a single player could switch between two heroes. Here, I could only explore and fight as one at a time, with Aloy the choice for most of my trek through blocky mountains and humid jungle lands. There were other frustrations like the inability to select power-ups. One of Aloy’s lines — “the wilds reward the curious” — went from a mildly sage observation to an irritating maxim.
Lego Horizon Adventures, however, is generally very pleasant and entertaining. When I changed my character to Teersa, an elder who has “survived 13 grandchildren,” I was able to toss exploding carrots or land sharks. The mustachioed Erend, with his eternal love for doughnuts, wielded a giant hammer that recalled Thor’s Mjolnir. With a flame upgrade, Erend was more powerful than Aloy against the mechanized beasts.
The wackiness never stops. Dropping a hot dog cart damages enemies considerably more than the tossable bombs found scattered along the battle arena. While the gameplay is similar from area to area, the fighting stages become bigger and more complex as you proceed. A small, inviting pond may freeze you briefly. Sharp briar patches will sting you, eating away at your health.
For adults, who can join in the play by adding an extra controller, the treats include some nostalgic pop culture riffs. Seeing a level titled “Desperately Seeking Sawtooths” evoked a smile. As a fun romp for all ages, Lego Horizon Adventures will probably be one of the season’s most requested holiday games.
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