As a longtime fan of both Lego games and the Horizon series, I must admit that my initial impressions of Lego Horizon Adventures were somewhat underwhelming. However, upon further reflection and consideration of my conversation with Herrera and Varrault, I find myself hopeful for this unique crossover.
After spending around an hour on Lego Horizon Adventures, it seems like a game brimming with intriguing concepts, yet somehow confined by the IP it’s built upon. I’m captivated by the universe of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, but the initial stages of Lego Horizon sometimes give off a vibe of mismatch between its setting and characters and the humor and gameplay mechanics that Lego games are renowned for. The early stages of Lego Horizon appear to be a promising kickoff to what could be an excellent game–at least, it’s on track to become my favorite Lego game in terms of graphics–but there are instances where I can see the family-friendly tone of Lego games potentially clashing with the more mature narratives of Horizon.
Lego Horizon loosely reenacts Aloy’s initial journey, where the bow-carrying heroine employs various hunting devices and advanced technology to battle mechanical dinosaurs, creatures, and avians in a realm that seems both a forgotten past and an unpredictable future of our own. Abandoned and outcast at birth from a mountain, Aloy yearns to demonstrate her worthiness to rejoin the tribe that exiled her and unveil the secrets surrounding her origin, ultimately returning to the mountain.
Initially, during our talks with Guerrilla Games, they made it clear to us at Studio Gobo, their animation director Luismi Herrera explained, “Their aim was to share the Horizon series with a larger audience. They believed that retelling the narrative of the initial game, Horizon Zero Dawn, would be the most effective approach. However, we decided to adapt it into a more playful, less mature tale, while still preserving the original’s core values. Essentially, our question was: ‘How can we reinterpret this story, maintaining all its essence, within the Lego universe?’ Our objective has been to achieve that.” Notably, the main story remains unchanged; it’s simply been given a more lighthearted interpretation.
Horizon Zero Dawn has a compelling narrative, but it may not lend itself easily to the format typically used in Lego games. Lego games are constructed around key elements like iconic characters, distinct settings, and unforgettable moments that enthusiasts of the original properties have discussed, debated, and joked about for decades. Unfortunately, Horizon Zero Dawn lacks these elements, as I can’t recall many characters beyond Aloy, can’t identify any remarkable locations within the game, and while some late-game reveals are intriguing, there aren’t many story moments that carry the same cultural weight as those found in franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, or DC Comics.
In summary, the humor in Lego Horizons doesn’t match my expectations based on other Lego games, and the initial storyline lacked the self-referential humor that has been a hallmark of the Lego series since 2005’s Lego Star Wars: The Video Game. I only played an hour of Lego Horizon, which covered the beginning of Horizon Zero Dawn, a part of the game considered less engaging. However, it’s possible that Lego Horizon improves as more mechanics are introduced, like past games do after their opening levels. There were moments in the first hour that made me smile, but I was hoping for hearty laughter. Despite this, I am concerned about the emotional impact of Lego Horizon’s ending since it will be based on the intense emotional scenes in the final hours of Horizon Zero Dawn, a game not known for its humor.
“It’s been very challenging [to include those emotional moments] for sure,” Herrera said. “But I would say, without giving any spoilers, there are some cinema narrative points that you can ‘break’ a bit, right? I think it’s in a very light-hearted way–I think the core values [are still there] but it’s about this journey for Aloy and to discover what she is and I think that’s really relatable. It doesn’t matter if you’re six years old or 60 years old. So the whole story is there, but when things get very serious, we try to make it fun. It’s not heavy, but we are trying not to lose any of the core message.”
In contrast to other Lego games, the initial hour of Lego Horizon stands out for its visual appeal. Unlike previous Lego games which mainly made their characters into Lego figures, certain aspects like environment details (such as bushes or doors) and weapon effects were sometimes also constructed from Lego bricks. However, the ground your character walks on and building walls typically weren’t – they represented the IP’s worlds filled with Lego creations. This is not the case for Lego Horizon. The entire in-game world is crafted from Lego pieces, giving it a realistic feel as if a Lego set has come to life. It’s breathtaking and visually impressive, setting a new standard that I hope future Lego games will strive to match.
According to Herrera, the concept originated during our meeting with Guerrilla. They had been discussing their ideas with Lego previously and had a clear vision for the project. Given Guerrilla’s reputation for excellence in all their endeavors, the team was determined to create the best Lego game possible. One of the proposals was to design the gameplay experience to mimic that of playing with a real Lego set.
Herrera explained: “To achieve this, we needed to construct our entire game world using LEGO bricks. Interestingly, we have a team of Master Builders who specialize in LEGO construction, and they aren’t involved in the video games. These experts help us create every element within the game, ensuring that anything you see could be built with actual LEGO pieces. They paid close attention to details, such as identifying and replacing any bricks that wouldn’t comply with LEGO’s rules. We invested a significant amount of time to make it as authentic as possible. For instance, the color selection mirrors real-life LEGO colors, ensuring that each piece can be built physically. From the start, we designed everything with the intention of making you feel like you’re playing with a genuine LEGO set.
In simpler terms, “Lego Horizon offers an average gaming experience when compared to other Lego games. The game blends the stealth elements of Horizon Zero Dawn with the action-packed style of traditional Lego games, but the execution leaves something to be desired. You can hide in tall grass and target weak points on mechanical creatures, dismantling them piece by piece until they collapse. However, there’s not much strategy involved, even on the highest difficulty setting, making each battle feel repetitive. It appears that Lego Horizon is intended for a younger audience, as it lacks the complexity found in Horizon Zero Dawn. This raises the question of who this game is actually meant for. It might be too simple for adults seeking a more challenging Horizon Zero Dawn experience, but it could be an appealing choice for parents wanting to introduce their children to that world.
Guerrilla Games design director Stephane Varrault shared with me that they aim to extend the Horizon franchise to a wider range of viewers. He mentioned that [Lego Horizon Adventures] could be an ideal platform to bring [Horizon Zero Dawn] to more individuals, but it’s not exclusive to children. To cater to various age groups, they’ve incorporated elements in the storyline for younger audiences while maintaining a more mature level of humor.
In simpler terms, the Lego Horizon game seems to blend unusual concepts, which makes it challenging to imagine children using it as an introduction to the Horizon franchise due to its adult themes. Conversely, the traditional Lego gameplay style might not appeal to fans of the Horizon series. However, there’s potential for the game to excel in the final version, but after playing for an hour, I find it hard to envision that success.
Despite my initial impressions, I eagerly anticipate that the later stages of Lego Horizons offer a more diverse assortment of adversaries to enhance combat encounters. Additionally, I hope for a more dynamic game structure that deviates from what was presented in the first hour, where I frequently found myself returning to a village serving as a central hub without many engaging activities between missions. The missions themselves seemed repetitive, with visually similar levels and a limited range of enemies and puzzles, merely rearranged slightly each time. While it’s challenging to assess a game’s variety based solely on its opening hour, if Lego Horizon fails to evolve beyond this point, there’s a risk that the gameplay may become repetitive or monotonous quickly.
Varrault elaborated, “There are numerous aspects to explore within this game!” He continued, “A significant feature involves rebuilding the town, both story-wise and in terms of customization. You can personalize every detail, from decorations to buildings, even adjusting the color scheme for each item. You can construct individual structures, modify the attire of every non-player character, and change the outfits of your main characters – these outfits remain consistent during cutscenes, allowing for humorous incongruities with the unfolding events. The village also offers chances for growth. However, I’d rather not reveal too much as part of the excitement lies in exploration. I believe that surprise is also an integral part of the pleasure derived from discovery.
Varrault added: “In terms of activities, there was a large emphasis on traversing various ecosystems, or biomes. Each biome has its unique collection of machines for you to explore. Therefore, our hope is that players will be curious, will experiment, and strive to discover as much as possible. We’ve paid close attention to every detail and hidden surprise.
As a Lego gamer, I’ve noticed that unlike other Lego games bursting with numerous playable characters from famous franchises, Lego Horizon Zero Dawn is relatively sparse in this department. However, the few characters you can control are chock-full of customizable outfits to keep things fresh. What’s unique about Lego Horizon is that each character has a distinct set of abilities and attack styles, unlike other games in the series. For instance, Aloy excels with a long-range bow, while Varl wields a spear for close combat. I’m curious to see if these characters will develop uniquely throughout the game or if there are significant differences between their progression paths. There’s definitely room for more strategic depth in that area.
According to Varrault, the initial plan for creating characters in the Horizon universe was to have them each present unique ways to explore the game world as players progressed. To achieve this, they designed distinct weapons and power-ups for each character, with individual progression tracks. For example, Aloy can enhance her life, damage, or shot preparation abilities, while other characters have their own specialized upgrades. This means that if you choose to stick with one character, you’ll have opportunities to advance and expand, but you’re also free to experiment with different characters if you prefer. Essentially, the game is designed to accommodate both play styles.
From my discussion with Herrera and Varrault, it appears that there’s much more to the Lego Horizon Adventures game than what I experienced during the initial hour. Fingers crossed that my initial impression of the game improves when I get to play the full version. As a long-time fan of the Lego games since the mid-2000s, and someone who adores Aloy and the Horizon series, I’m eagerly anticipating Lego Horizon Adventures. However, I’m cautious because the essence of Horizon Zero Dawn might not smoothly transition into the gameplay style typically used in Lego games. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo can find a way to seamlessly blend everything together post the rocky opening hour. A less complex property like Insomniac’s Spider-Man or Ratchet and Clank, or Team Asobi’s Astro Bot might have made for a better Lego game, but if Lego Horizon Adventures delivers, it could be a strategy PlayStation uses to make its more mature franchises more appealing to younger audiences.
Lego Horizon Adventures is scheduled to launch for PS5, PC, and Switch on November 14.
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2024-10-21 16:41