Developed By: Studio Gobo / Guerilla Games
Published By: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5 / PC / Nintendo Switch
Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
Review Code Provided By: PlayStation Asia
Lego Horizon Adventures was a surprise announcement that felt like a long time coming. Since LEGO released the incredibly beautiful Tallneck set way back when, it felt like only a matter of time if more Horizon themed LEGO sets (where is the Thunderjaw one?!) or a Horizon themed LEGO game would be on its way. Studio Gobo, known for contributing to some major recent releases including Hogwarts Legacy was given the opportunity to prove their mettle by co-developing Lego Horizon Adventures with Guerilla Games bringing another layer to the Horizon universe for fans and newcomers alike.
Thanks to PlayStation Asia, we were granted an early Lego Horizon Adventures review code. The release timing felt a little strange especially with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered releasing just a short while ago, but I daresay Lego Horizon Adventures marries a familiar story with the joy of the LEGO brand in a solid package that should delight young players and entertain the older fanbase.
Lego Horizon Adventures takes the story from Horizon Zero Dawn and put its own whimsical charm in a tight condensed version. Aloy who has questions about her pasts embarks on a journey to thwart Karja cultists led by Helis who wants to bake the world in eternal sunshine so he can get a really nice tan all year round. Aloy is joined by Teersa, Varl and Erend on her adventure as they navigate the jungles, snowy peaks, and mysterious cauldrons battling cultist and machines alike to stop the coming cataclysm while being hilarious along the way.
The main story is quite brisk as there are only four chapters with multiple stages in them and it took me around 10 hours (completionists should see this number rise to 15+). Even though I was well familiar with the story it still was very refreshing to see the fun side of the characters as they interact with each other (and the environment) with hilarious results. There are no side quests to speak of in the traditional sense from the main Horizon games but there are other things like tasks that provide some variations in zooming through each stage.
I enjoyed the story they were trying to tell even though it felt like a super sped up version because it just felt light and entertaining throughout.
In another surprise, Lego Horizon Adventures looks really good. Surprisingly there are two graphical options (Performance at 60fps)/Fidelity at 30fps) which players should be used to by now but interestingly no PS5 Pro enhanced mode. Fidelity looks to be boosting the ray tracing/lighting effects but I found myself much more comfortable with the performance mode as the game still looked really gorgeous. I never noticed any frame drops or bugs for that matter as the game was very polished from beginning to end. The art style palate is very bright and vibrant, accentuating colours similarly from the main Horizon games with a LEGO twist on them and it really feels perfect.
The original voice cast returns as well with the exception of Lance Reddick who sadly passed away. Although his replacement was adequate, I did feel like it was a different version of Sylens even though it was meant to be more light hearted. The rest of the voice cast did an amazing job with their hilarious lines especially since their LEGO characters were animated to pitch perfect movements down to the subtle details. The familiar soundtrack also returns with a twist and although it didn’t feel as fresh as remixed themes from Astro Bot, it was done well enough to be enjoyable during the journey.
However, after the incredible success of Astro Bot and how it showed how Team Asobi were masters of the haptic feedback and the adaptive triggers, it felt like such a huge missed opportunity that it ranged from very light to practically non-existent in Lego Horizon Adventures.
The gameplay systems in Lego Horizon Adventures are uncomplicated and easy to follow especially since its geared much more to the younger crowd which is a big plus point. Players will work through multiple stages in each chapter collecting studs and battling enemies to obtain gold bricks. These gold bricks are customization blockers for the main hub area, Mother’s Heart where players will be able to build structures, decorations as well as dress up in different costumes using the studs collected.
Players will also get access to four playable characters in Aloy, Teersa, Varl and Erend with their own playstyle. Aloy is with her trusted bow and arrow, Teersa is a ranged bomber, Varl has melee and ranged options with his spear, and Erend rounds it up to hammer enemies away. Each character will also gain different weapon elements and gadgets (gravity bombs, tripcasters) from chest drops or a chest vendor at the midpoints of each stage. Playing more of each character to collect XP will unlock more hearts (so you don’t die as fast) and more damage for your weapons. Players will also get access to an unlockable general upgrade tree where you can spend studs to gain XP faster, make health drops appear more or frequently and also for damage to
The game also has co-op in both melee and online options so my wife jumped in to play a secondary character which was also quite a flawless experience. There are five difficulty option for players who want an easy or challenging experience which was quite a welcome option. Enemy variety was quite pleasant as well as it ranged from the aforementioned cultists to Stalkers, Watchers, Shell Walkers, to more fearsome Corruptors and the like.
If there were things that I wished were better from the gameplay offerings it would be that I wished that more LEGO themes were included for customization as at the moment apart from the Horizon theme, there is only Ninjago, City, and Amusement. I mean there is more than enough of customization options readily available once you unlock them but it was just wishful thinking for my part. I also wish that more LEGO sets were also included in the environments as it was quite surprising to me as an avid LEGO modular collector seeing the Jazz Club, Assembly Square, and Police Station sets part of the old world aesthetic but I suppose there was only so much they could include.
What I Liked About Lego Horizon Adventures
- Humour – The main plus point for Lego Horizon Adventures for me is how light and breezy it was is. It’s self-aware and not afraid to just be funny.
- Graphics & Sound Design – It really looks and sounds fantastic. But I do wonder if there would be future plans for a Pro patch to further enhance the experience.
- Depth & Game Length – Uncomplicated and also not draggy. It’s a very brisk enjoyable experience best played with friends.
What I Thought Was A Missed Opportunity
- Haptics, Adaptive Triggers & Controller Speakers – Unfortunately very little application here which felt like a no brainer especially with how well Astro Bot did it.
The Legendary Donut Hoard
Lego Horizon Adventures was a fun and enjoyable experience. Although I would not put it together with the best games played this year for me personally, I appreciated my time with it especially with the inclusion of couch co-cop that enabled me to game with my wife. It’s a very solid and light experience that should do well especially with younger gamers. I suspect that it will sell well and it won’t be long before we see Lego Horizon Adventures 2 that tackles the story from Forbidden West ironically, on the horizon.
