LEGO Horizon Adventures: The Next Evolution of LEGO Games: Summer Game Fest Hands-On Impressions
LEGO Horizon Adventures was the very first trailer during the Summer Game Fest Showcase. A few days later, I had the opportunity to play the game. Here are my many thoughts.
It’s been a long time since I played a LEGO game. Maybe since the original LEGO Star Wars game launched in 2005 for the PlayStation 2. I also have had the opportunity to play either of the Horizon games. So then why did I have so much fun when I got to sit down with one of the developers of the newly announced LEGO Horizon Adventures this weekend at Summer Game Fest? If I had to give a short answer: it’s simply fun to play. But there’s a lot more to talk about with this fascinating new title.
LEGO Horizon Adventures doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the world of Horizon and it takes the idea of a LEGO game to the next level. Not only do the characters act stiff as if they are made of LEGOs, but the entire game is made of LEGOs. The ground, the buildings, the landscapes, everything. That’s why this game looks so stunning compared to my memories of other LEGO games. What I do know about the original Horizon games is that they are visually amazing to look at. It makes sense to me that since this new version is being made by the same developers, Guerilla Games, they would do their best to make it look just as incredible.
LEGO Horizon Adventures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024
LEGO Horizon Adventures loosely follows the story of Horizon: Zero Dawn, the first game in the series. I originally avoided this game because while the concept of robotic dinosaurs sounded awesome, the rest of the experience felt somewhat lackluster. Fortunately, in this new interpretation, the writers are happy to play on the tropes and stereotypes of the more serious game, even just the announcement trailer seems like they were having more fun with the character. This helped a lot in making the game more approachable for someone like me who was hesitant to pick up the originals. This should in theory also make this a great introduction to the series in general. Especially since this will be the first game in the Horizon series that will branch out to another console, the Nintendo Switch.
Speaking of LEGO Horizon Adventures launching on the Nintendo Switch, it’s still hard to believe that LEGO Horizon Adventures will launch simultaneously on the Nintendo Switch. Of course, this is a LEGO game so it feels right at home on the portable console, but it is still a Horizon game too. It’s being developed by the same studio that made both of the other Horizon games, Guerilla Games, which is a first-party PlayStation studio. Sure, it’s not the same as if the latest Horizon: Forbidden West were to appear on Xbox, but it’s still a fascinating development. I think it’s a great idea, especially because this game will have couch co-op and Nintendo Switch players will be able to play with just one Joy-Con per player, making it easily accessible to a large audience. If this goes well for PlayStation, it could be the start of a major shift.
LEGO Horizon Adventures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024
Speaking of co-op, I was able to try it out. After going through the tutorial and learning the basics, a developer grabbed a controller to join me in the game. They played as the iconic protagonist, Aloy, and I swapped over to play as Varl. These were the only playable options in the demo, but it seemed like there might be room for more unlockable characters further into the game. Each character also had a huge selection of outfits, from Horizon-themed options to iconic LEGO characters and even ridiculous choices like the hot dog suit from the reveal trailer.
This level of customization expands past costumes. Back in the starting village, the player will be able to build on top of existing buildings to fit their aesthetic. Much like the widely varied costumes, players can select building toppers that fit within the Horizon series, but can also choose from other popular LEGO franchises like Ninjago. Something like this can feel out of place, but in a way that feels very honest to the customizability of real-world LEGO.
LEGO Horizon Adventures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024
Cooperative combat ended up being more of a challenge than expected. My developer partner and I were never fully defeated, but we did have to revive each other a few times. I may have needed a few more revives than they did but who’s counting? When a character is defeated, they remain in place but adopt a ghostly form, specifically that LEGO ghost piece that drapes over the whole body, which was an excellent detail. Through exploring the areas and fighting enemies, players can come across equipment upgrades. As Varl, I was able to find a few fire spears, which let my spears deal extra burn damage on a hit. Then I came across boots that let me double jump, blasting a short burst of fire from my feet when activated. Not only did this help me get out of the way of incoming enemies, but it felt like I was dealing damage with the burst of fire. Maybe that was just in my head.
In the demo, we fought off a group of broadheads, mechanical bull-like creatures that will charge straight forward. While it got chaotic, it never felt like I lost track of what was happening. The environment was more than just a flat space to run around in. Patches of thorns could damage the player and enemies, and shooting an arrow through a campfire will deal extra burn damage. Fire will also burn any plants it touches, removing troublesome thorns, but also clearing the helpful grass that the player could otherwise hide in.
LEGO Horizon Adventures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 2024
Attention to the finer details of this game tells me that this is not a lazy spin-off. LEGO Horizon Adventures redefines how a LEGO game can look, it invites a completely fresh interpretation of the original with humor and co-op gameplay and branches out to an entirely new console of players. I will be looking forward to when this game launches sometime during the 2024 holiday season.
What do you think about LEGO Horizon Adventures? Does this take the series in a fresh new direction or somewhere you don’t want to follow? What do you think about a PlayStation studio game arriving on a Nintendo console at launch? Feel free to leave any thoughts in the comments below!
