The LEGO Movie Videogame

Genre: Isometric Action

Players: 1, StreetPass Supported

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Review:

The LEGO Movie Videogame is an isometric Action game released on PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS in 2014, and then ported to mobile devices in 2015, with an entirely different game bearing the same title also coming to PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U in 2014.

Where the console version of the videogame adaptation of The LEGO Movie used the tried-and-true Traveller’s Tales LEGO game formula that was established all the way back in 2005’s LEGO Star Wars, this game reuses the same basic gameplay established in 2013’s poorly-received LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril. Well… that’s not good.

To its credit, this style of Isometric Action works a bit better in The LEGO Movie Videogame, with a greater focus on puzzle-solving, but it’s still plagued by tedious fights and completely lacks even a hint of the impressive presentation of the console games, to say nothing of the open-world elements and multiplayer. This game also adds in a few different new elements to bring variety into the gameplay, such as a similar “choose the right LEGO piece” minigame to what was included in the console games.

Unfortunately, these additions aren’t all winners – one early level has you piloting a massive vehicle that controls poorly, and failing you out of the mission and forcing you to restart when you get into four collisions. Suffice it to say, this makes for a massive difficulty spike in a game that was largely a cakewalk up until this point.

The presentation here combines video clips pulled directly from the film, combined with simple 3D for the gameplay, being arguably even less visually-impressive than Universe in Peril’s already lackluster visuals. This is backed by a version of the film’s song “Everything Is Awesome”, along with some other upbeat tunes that at least fit the game and film’s setting well enough.

In the end, I can see how fans of the film may enjoy parts of The LEGO Movie Videogame on Nintendo 3DS, but it’s a pale shadow of the console game, and even this low assessment of the game is brought lower by some nasty difficulty spikes. If you’re a fan of the film, you’re better off getting one of the console versions of this game, or just re-watching the film. If you’re looking for a LEGO game on Nintendo 3DS, you have plenty of better choices. In either case,don’t bother with this game.

tl;dr – The Nintendo 3DS version of The LEGO Movie Videogame is an Isometric Action game that is a poor substitute for the console versions of the game, with simple and repetitive combat, no open world or multiplayer to speak of, and some nasty difficulty spikes. LEGO fans on Nintendo 3DS have much better options than this.

Grade: D+

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