When 2K signed a take care of Lego for Lego 2K Drive, it positively piqued my curiosity. Forza Horizon 4’s Lego enlargement was enjoyable sufficient, and there may be a lot potential with Lego usually. As a multi-platform title, I used to be involved about how it might maintain up on the Change. Now there’s been a while to drive round Bricklandia; it’s given me loads to carry you for this evaluation.
You’re a rookie racer in Bricklandia, a bizarre mish-mash of some Lego buildings and surroundings, outsized real-world objects and numerous non-Lego world. Racing professional, Clutch Racington takes you underneath his wing to organize you for the distinguished Sky Cup. There may be additionally the notably evil racer, Shadow Z, who needs to win at any value, so long as he doesn’t should do an excessive amount of work to do it.
From the start, the sport intends to invoke the fashion of The Lego Film and the overall vibe. Between the stop-animation look of the minifigs, whereas additionally trying to seize that ‘every thing is superior’ allure and goofy humour. The profession mode cutscenes with Shadow Z are the closest factor the sport has to laughs or at the very least chuckles.
Lego 2K Drive is a considerably open-world racer, with 4 places throughout Bricklandia to go wild in. One in every of them is Turbo Acres, the beginning space the place you get a really feel for dealing with the three completely different car modes. Initially, I believed the world opened up extra as you progress, however they’re separate areas. With Turbo Acres being a smallish beginning space (nonetheless stuffed with actions), there are 3 full areas to discover. Huge Butte County and Prospecto Valley are completely different sufficient from one another. One is out within the rocky and dusty desert, and the opposite is roofed with grass. In comparison with the final space Hauntsborough, which is darkish and spooky, the opposite two giant areas mix collectively and really feel considerably interchangeable.
In Lego 2K, you’ll not solely be racing in your automobile but additionally have an off-road car and a ship for when the race goes right down to the river. Your car will swap between the three settings relying in your floor; nonetheless, in case you get sick of speedy transformations between street and off-road on the slightest change, you may also set off the swap with a button.
One of many massive options of Lego 2K Drive is that you would be able to construct your individual automobiles, similar to you’d construct them with precise Lego, and you can also make them as goofy as you want. Be conscious that you just received’t have entry to each Lego piece, you’ll want the sport’s foreign money, Brickbux, to unlock some, and others might be earned. I didn’t spend a lot time within the storage constructing; the pre-made automobiles have been sufficient. It didn’t really feel like there was a lot level going all out on a design which may wind up underpowered and left behind. Don’t get me flawed, there can be extra prepared gamers who will love constructing their very own Lego automobiles.
The driving right here might be divisive; it actually manages two extremes. On the one hand, it feels floaty usually, with drifting feeling significantly weightless. Then once you hit the handbrake, your car can out of the blue activate a dime in a manner that enables for tremendous sharp turns. As your vehicles are made out of Lego, any harm they take will knock items off, lose sufficient, and it’ll explode. Nonetheless, smash by means of Lego objects, and you’ll regain some items and maintain going. Don’t rely on there all the time being numerous Lego to smash into.
This brings me to one thing that bugged me the entire sport, there’s nowhere close to sufficient Lego for a Lego sport. I get it, it’s not like all the different Lego video games are purely made out of Lego items, however these video games by no means felt prefer it was incidental that there’s Lego concerned. One good contact is that throughout the areas are giant real-world objects like there’s a bigger actual world on the market, ala The Lego Film. Finally it wouldn’t be the identical sport with out the Lego, particularly the car constructing, however they simply don’t push the fashion sufficient.
The sport’s completely different areas are full of issues to do, whether or not it’s actions or races. To progress and unlock extra races, you’ll wish to be taking up each exercise you come throughout. There are a number of factors the place the story can solely progress when you get your degree up. At this stage, all you are able to do is re-race and do each exercise you come throughout. There are enjoyable bonus actions, like seeing how far you possibly can leap off a ramp and tower defence. The extra the sport asks you to do this isn’t racing, the extra tedious the actions get. I used to be frightened I used to be being a celebration pooper about this, however I can’t think about any viewers who would get pleasure from among the challenges right here.
Essentially the most direct comparability to a different racer could be Forza Horizon, and the Drive 2K takes loads of inspiration from that sport. Identical to with Horizon, there may be numerous easy pleasure in smashing by means of the surroundings; in actual fact, it’s inspired to assist regain car well being and enhance. Whereas there are numerous actions to participate in and collectibles to search out, it by no means fairly scratches the identical Forza Horizon itch. On the finish of the day, it’s not a Forza sport, and the target market is probably going somewhat completely different too.
Between the separated and not-so-expansive areas and the race necessities, the world feels extra restrictive than the sport lets on. That’s to not say there’s not loads of enjoyable cruising round these completely different themed areas; it would come right down to how a lot you wish to participate in physics challenges, checkpoint racing or tower defence fashion challenges. For individuals who need essentially the most worth out of their video games and measure that with playtime and the variety of collectables and aspect missions, you’ll be more than pleased with how a lot Lego 2K Drive has, with alerts popping up in all places to the close by challenges. When you’re targeted on some open street exploring and races, there may be nonetheless sufficient of that, however if you wish to get to all of the races and end the story aspect of the sport, then you definately’ll want to interact with some extra annoying aspect missions alongside the way in which or replay a few of these races.
I’ve struggled with Lego 2K Drive, as the sport is equally fulfilling and irritating. Whereas the driving can really feel effectively achieved, what does it matter when the CPU racers are rubberbanding, and irrespective of how effectively you do, they’re overtaking the second you’re not boosting. When you’re into racing video games, there are a bunch of distinct tracks, however the actions and XP required to boost your racing degree can carry the sport to a grinding halt. It may not be as a lot of a difficulty in case you’re making an attempt to tackle each problem that comes your manner, however even after doing numerous them, it received’t be sufficient XP to progress. There’s one specific stretch later within the story the place I used to be caught having to search out any exercise to eke some extra XP from. After I hit this level, if I wasn’t reviewing the sport, I seemingly would’ve deserted it there after which.
If you’d like a break from racing solo, there are some multiplayer choices. You may race Cup Collection races or the opposite tracks in ‘Races’ on-line or domestically. There’s additionally split-screen multiplayer in case you don’t have one other Change round. I had little luck getting an internet sport, the Change model lacks cross-play with the opposite consoles, nor are you able to drive round Bricklandia with your folks.
The Change model of Lego 2K Drive received’t be a shock that it doesn’t look or run in addition to its current-gen brethren. The visuals are smudgy, with the world wanting naked with heavy pop-in. The framerate is appropriate sufficient, relying on how you are feeling about 30 FPS. Nonetheless, as soon as once more, in case you’re getting this model anticipating the efficiency from the newest consoles on the standard Change {hardware}, you’ll be upset. There are moments when it appears to be like fairly first rate, though they’re rapidly changed with low-resolution cutscenes to carry you again to earth. Finally the sport is playable on the Change, most youngsters can be much less fussed concerning the visible high quality, however for the extra discerning, you’ll have loads to discern.
As with too many video games, Lego 2K Drive has a Drive Move with 4 seasons deliberate between 2023 and 2024. You should purchase them individually or in a Yr Drive Move, which provides you with some additional cash that can be utilized to purchase Brickbux and a further car. The primary season began in late June; the free model has a few quarter of the rewards the paid move has. Just like the paid move, there is no such thing as a time restrict, so you possibly can take your time. If you’re prepared to pay for the premium, there’s a first rate quantity of real-world automobiles and different objects that will in any other case contain IAP. It may not be as enjoyable in case you hopped into the sport earlier than the move launched, as all of your progress wouldn’t have helped elevate the passes ranges too. The move is unquestionably extra palatable than the precise IAP retailer.
Nobody can be shocked to listen to that Lego 2K Drive has a retailer encouraging buying in-game foreign money to unlock extra automobiles, racers and even Lego items. You employ the sport’s foreign money of Brickbux, which can be distributed for finishing races, challenges or assembly new rivals. After beating the ultimate races and profitable the Sky Cup, I had sufficient bux to buy possibly a racer and one car with tremendous excessive racing stats and a few change leftover. Everybody’s expertise can be completely different however don’t count on to go wild with the purchases until you get some additional real-world bucks. It already feels gross that for a sport the place you possibly can construct your individual car, you possibly can’t even make primary customisation to your individual minifig to allow them to cost you for them. On prime of that, it feels somewhat additional gross having it in a sport that’s focused for youthful audiences. Whilst you can simply full the story and challenges with out spending a cent, it doesn’t imply they received’t attempt.
Lego 2K Drive is okay for a semi-open-world racing sport. It’s a sport with a good few faults, so all of it actually comes right down to how a lot you desire a racer like this in your Change. The opposite model will look and run higher, however if you need a Lego-themed racer on the Change, it will do.
Score: 3/5