LEGO Horizon Adventures [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

When LEGO Horizon Adventures was first announced, it seemed like quite an unlikely crossover, with the merging of the PlayStation-exclusive, action-heavy, futuristic world of Horizon Zero Dawn with the blocky, family-friendly aesthetic of LEGO a bit of a wild idea. But you know what? It actually works really well, with the game trading some of the complex, darker tones of its storytelling for humour, endearing charm, and simplicity, in turn making for an experience that’s perfect for both older and younger players.

Check out some screenshots down below:

In LEGO Horizon Adventures, the story is a loose and humorous retelling of Horizon Zero Dawn, following Aloy as she grows from being an outcast that was shunned by the Nora tribe into an unlikely hero who must face down colossal robotic creatures and dangerous zealots in a bid to save her people. Whilst the original Horizon games are known for their detailed lore and intense action, this LEGO rendition keeps things relatively simple and light-hearted, making it easy to enjoy whether you’re young, old, familiar with the franchise, or a complete newbie. And for those who’ve played Horizon Zero Dawn before? The narrative is woven with comical nods to the title that’ll certainly bring a smile to your face, with the game NEVER missing an opportunity to poke fun at the original story.

LEGO Horizon Adventures is structured as a level-based game with a central hub, Mother’s Heart, acting as the player’s base of operation where they’ll get access to upgrades, outfits, and customization options as they progress. Players are able to place buildings and structures around it to add their own personal touch to the land, all whilst earning some bonus studs for doing so. It adds a creative little twist to the core gameplay loop, and whilst I’ll admit it wasn’t something I got too stuck into, I’m sure younger players will certainly enjoy it.

Instead of exploring a massive open world, players venture into a variety of levels based around events from Horizon Zero Dawn that branch out from this hub. It helps keep things streamlined and more approachable for younger players who aren’t interested in an open world, whilst it also really helps differentiate LEGO Horizon Adventures from the previous releases in the series. As a streamlined re-telling of Aloy’s original journey that’s meant to be a little less intense, it works really well.

“LEGO Horizon Adventures successfully brings the action-packed world of Horizon into a lighter, more accessible form without losing the essence of what makes it so special.”

Each level introduces new environments, all crafted out of LEGO bricks with impressive attention to detail. Players can explore, solve simple platforming puzzles, and collect rewards, with chests tucked into various nooks and crannies containing studs or the occasional special weapon if you do venture off the beaten path. The level design emphasizes accessibility and ease, allowing players to quickly jump from one level to the next with a seamless flow that never slows the action down. And whilst this approach may feel linear to some, the focus on action and exploration ensures that Horizon Lego Adventures never stops being exciting to play.

That being said, it could be guilty of playing it a little bit TOO safe at times. It was rare that I ever felt challenged when exploring levels, with it always obvious where I needed to go and what I needed to do. A bit more freedom to explore or challenge in the environmental puzzling wouldn’t have gone amiss, especially since they are staples of the series. Whilst It’s clear that LEGO Horizon Adventures is trying to make the experience more accessible for players, it can be guilty of streamlining the action a little too much.

LEGO Horizon Adventures does introduce a slightly more tactical approach to combat than many other LEGO games though, adapting the core mechanics of Horizon in a way that’s suitable for younger players. The heart of the action lies in battling the iconic robotic creatures from the original game, with each encounter requiring players to think strategically about their approach by targeting the weak spots on enemies. The game also provides a good range of weaponry and gadgets that stay true to the Horizon series, with the likes of the fire and ice arrows allow players to exploit enemies’ weaknesses, the Tripcaster able to set traps to electrify foes, a Brick Separator – something Aloy OBVIOUSLY hasn’t been able to play with before – dealing good damage up close, and a… uh… Hot Dog Cart proving surprisingly effective at dealing with foes. Yeah, it can get a little weird at times, but it all adds to the quirky charm of the game and helps establish combat as one of the highlights of the experience. It’s a ton of fun.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Players don’t only control Aloy in the game, but also other fan-favourite characters: Varl, Teersa, and Eren, each of whom comes with a unique fighting style. It’s a much more limited cast than in similar LEGO games though, which is a bit of a shame, but makes sense when you consider that Horizon doesn’t have quite as many iconic characters as other properties that have had the LEGO treatment. Whilst you do get to customise their appearance with all sorts of cool outfits, it would’ve been nice to have been able to see more characters in the mix, even if it was just when playing outside of story-based levels.

One of LEGO Horizon Adventures’ standout achievements lies in its visuals. The game is beautifully crafted with real-life LEGO aesthetics in mind, with plenty of attention to detail made to ensure it blends the best of both the world of Horizon and the brick-building elements of LEGO in perfect cohesion. The iconic robotic creatures from Horizon are impressively reimagined in LEGO form, and fans will recognize everything from the gigantic Tallnecks, the rampant Sawtooths, the perilous Stormbird, and, of course, the terrifying Thunderjaws. The level of detail is heightened by stunning lighting effects and a stop-motion animation style that brings each scene to life in a charming fashion. It looks gorgeous throughout and really proves that you can build ANYTHING with the right LEGO bricks.

Developer: Guerilla, Studio Gobo
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/lego-horizon-adventures/