As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, the absence of traditional Lego games has left a gaping void in my gaming library that I never knew I needed filled. The recent foray into the world of Fortnite and Horizon Adventures by Epic and Guerrilla respectively is a step in the right direction, but it’s not quite the same as the delightful reimagining of pop culture through a kid-friendly lens that Traveler’s Tales used to provide.
The way traditional Lego games have seemingly vanished has come as a surprise to me. We recently saw the launch of Lego Fortnite from Epic, and Lego Horizon Adventures is on the way this fall from Guerrilla, but Traveler’s Tales made more than 30 Lego games between 2005 and 2022. However, it’s been more than two years since the studio released a Lego game, and with no announcement of what’s next, there’s no guarantee it’ll be another Lego project. This follows reports that making the most recent game in the franchise, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, demanded “extensive crunch.”
It’s concerning for the studio’s team, but on the bright side, it leaves an opportunity for other games to step in and cater to fans who appreciate Lego games’ unique approach of remaking popular culture in a kid-friendly manner. Funko Fusion seems well-suited to take over this role when it launches later this year.
Lately, I’ve spent numerous hours enjoying Funko Fusion, covering levels inspired by both Jurassic World and Hot Fuzz. These diverse levels showcase the range of intellectual properties featured in this game exceptionally well. If you haven’t been following the latest films, it’s worth mentioning that Jurassic World is a massive production, making the inclusion of Hot Fuzz feel refreshingly unpredictable. As a cult classic rather than a blockbuster, Hot Fuzz brings something unique to Funko Fusion – something that the Lego games, with their focus on top-tier franchises, couldn’t offer.
In terms of gameplay, Funko Fusion is reminiscent of Traveler’s Tales’ extensive library of games, particularly The Skywalker Saga. It’s primarily played from a third-person view, over-the-shoulder perspective. Each stage offers a humorous rendition of the IP, such as the Jurassic World levels where you explore the park, assuming roles like Chris Pratt’s Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire, battling hostile dinosaurs or rescuing friendly ones. The Hot Fuzz levels transport you to the fictional town of Sandford, allowing you to patrol the streets as a character with an enlarged head, similar to Simon Pegg’s character, Nicholas Angel.
In the game Funko Fusion, multiple characters from each intellectual property (IP) can be played. While I don’t personally have a fondness for those kitschy vinyl figurines in my daily life, I must admit that as a video game, they appear cheerful and entertaining. The game’s exaggerated dimensions contribute to its humorous nature, such as when Claire’s oversized Funko Pop head gets stuck in a doorway while fleeing from a group of dilophosaurus. Additionally, when enemies are defeated, they shatter into pieces, much like a real-life figurine would if it were dropped from a great height.
The gameplay is swift and vibrant, featuring rapid-fire melee battles that even beginners can pick up easily. In comparison to many Lego games, Funko Fusion has more shooting sequences. To accommodate less experienced players, there’s an adjustable aim assist feature. However, I wasn’t fond of the way bullets appear as small red dots, resembling vinyl bits, which could inadvertently seem like blood. This element made me a bit uneasy about a game I was eager to enjoy with my kids. If these projectiles were multi-colored, it would make them more palatable.
In the game, when players aren’t battling opponents, they have the liberty to roam each hub world, break parts of the environment to gather gemstones similar to Lego studs, and solve relatively simple challenges. The creators of Lego often referred to these as “nuzzles,” which means “not puzzles,” due to their simplicity. Funko Fusion usually follows this pattern, but I came across some that were more challenging than anticipated. For example, there was a set of water valves scattered throughout a jungle level that needed to be returned to their pipes. These appeared to all connect to a maintenance room I discovered, but since I didn’t find the final valve, I don’t know what secret the puzzle would have uncovered for me, though I suspect it might have been a crown.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the tiny, humorous hats Freddy Funko, the brand’s mascot, always dons are more than just a fashion statement – they serve as the game’s main collectibles and a tool for progression. It seems there are hundreds of these hats scattered throughout the entire game, according to an in-game counter. You can uncover a hat by completing a level, but if you take your time to explore the optional side activities within each level, you’ll find even more, with approximately six per level in my gaming experience.
Although I’m not overly eager to constantly mention it, the similarities here are undeniable, reminiscent of a well-known brand in the gaming industry. However, let me clarify that this isn’t a problem for me. Funko Fusion is following in the footsteps of a prominent figure in the family gaming world. What excites me the most is the potential for unique and new video game adaptations of popular intellectual properties, such as Universal Monsters, Shaun of the Dead, and Jordan Peele’s Nope.
The games announced thus far seem to have a strong focus on horror, which piques my curiosity, albeit not causing much worry about how the game’s structure will manage it. It appears that even iconic pop culture symbols like Jaws, The Thing, and Child’s Play are getting a cleaner, more family-friendly treatment. As an advocate for gradual exposure to horror, I find this concept quite appealing.
Despite not having enough time to try the cooperative mode during my initial playthrough, it appears the final version of the game offers four-player online co-op, but sadly, no local multiplayer option is available. This could be disappointing because families might have to play in different rooms or individually, especially since many households only own one console or PC. One puzzle I observed seemed challenging even for a single player, hinting that having multiple friends join you during gameplay would make it easier and more enjoyable.
I’m on board with the idea that cooperative play enhances many games, and Funko Fusion seems to fit this mold. With its extensive list of unlockable stages and characters, it appears we might be enjoying this game together for quite some time.
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2024-08-16 18:11