For the reason that mid-90s, LEGO has launched many video video games throughout varied platforms. Nonetheless, most video games have tie-ins throughout their portfolio to different franchises, creating LEGO worlds as crossovers. On the finish of 2022, the model modified this dynamic with the discharge of LEGO Bricktales, which lets the participant construct their manner via the story in a extra inventive method. As such, the creativity continues with their newest sport instalment, LEGO 2K Drive.
RELATED: LEGO 2K Drive: Is This The New Mario Kart?
Whereas it might be a collaboration with 2K, it isn’t an enlargement of every other present title, making LEGO 2K Drive an unique IP. Because the identify suggests, it is a racing sport. Extra particularly, that is an arcade racer developed by Visible Ideas. In recent times, the developer has centered solely on sports activities video games (NBA 2K, WWE 2K and beforehand NHL 2K) however have had some expertise growing racing video games, albeit some 20+ years again. Extra lately, nevertheless, the staff developed the LEGO DLC for Forza Horizon 4 in 2019. So, there was some degree of expertise there earlier than taking up the duty of growing LEGO 2K Drive.
LEGO 2K Drive
Following the success of Bricktales and its tackle limitless creativity, LEGO 2K Drive goals to realize the identical as an arcade racer. Nonetheless, there’s extra concentrate on the underlying arcade racer than on making important variations via any inventive constructing.
At its core, the sport aligns extra with all of the kart racers which have come and gone earlier than it. Suppose alongside the traces of Mario Kart and Sonic Racing and others. There’s not numerous distinction relating to the gaming mannequin, with comparable styled races, loads of power-ups and aiming to destroy opponents as you race to first throughout the end line.
Whereas gamers might not count on a lot distinction within the sport’s dynamics, it’s nonetheless a decently polished tackle the kart racer. The controls really feel correct, nearly like a LEGO racer would in the actual world. Parts equivalent to drifting, sharp turns and extra additionally really feel managed. Gamers can select the very best traces of method, hit apexes as with sim racers, and plan out every lap on the best way to victory.
That, nevertheless, is less complicated mentioned than carried out. With the dynamics of power-ups and weapons, being within the lead just a few metres from the end line isn’t assured you’ll win the race. A lot to my frustration, I discovered this out the laborious manner – far too many occasions to need to reminisce about. However, though irritating, it’s additionally the enjoyment with many kart racers, the place you possibly can exert the precise revenge on opponents simply earlier than crossing the road.
On a narrative degree, it’s very primary. You’re a brand new racer on the scene on this planet of BrickLandia. The world is cut up into three areas on the time of evaluate, the place the goal is to beat rivals in every. As you construct up your racing pedigree with victories and gathering flags, when you achieve a ample variety of flags, you’ll get to compete within the Sky Cup, the top of BrickLandia.
RELATED: LEGO Bricktales Evaluation – Enjoyable Digital Brick-Constructing for Nearly Everybody
The primary few races are entertaining, coupled with zany commentary akin to the LEGO franchise. Testing your drifting expertise and nitro boosts as you energy your manner via to victory brings leisure. Nonetheless, after the 5th race, you’ll rapidly discover a sample. By the tenth race, it turns into more and more monotonous as you will need to grind via races to realize the required flags to qualify for the Sky Cup.
Though every race makes an attempt to differentiate itself from each other, every with a distinct rival driver, the dynamic doesn’t differ a lot. One facet that aggravated me probably the most in regards to the grind is the ever-present catch-up logic. I seen this just a few races in, whether or not I used to be trailing the chief or racing manner up entrance. Irrespective of the scenario, it nearly all the time ends in an in depth battle, usually inside one second of one another on the high. In just a few races, I picked optimum traces, acquired the very best power-ups and rapidly bolted to a quarter-lap lead. I believed this was ample to seal the victory, frequently utilizing nitro and the like, solely to be caught again up inexplicably within the final lap. Watching all of it unfold on the world map, it’s painfully annoying.
Then there’s the creativity facet of LEGO 2K Drive. Gamers have the chance to craft their builds from the bottom up. The builds have just a few minimal necessities, equivalent to wheels and engines, which you’ll be able to then take to the monitor. You’ll be able to let your creativeness run wild as you craft customized vehicles to your coronary heart’s content material. The dynamic is comparatively straightforward to get used to as you spin the digital camera, invert bricks and join them to kind your racer. Nonetheless, being a child’s sport, I can’t see this as straightforward for these underneath 10, who will probably need to race.
Then there’s the in-game foreign money and collectables. Though I continued gathering Brickbux (BrickLandia’s foreign money), I by no means bothered a lot with it as I performed via the story mode. You earn rewards by finishing races and facet quests or performing a particular talent.
The Continued Ache of Micro-Transactions
What I didn’t like about this was when it got here time to spend your hard-earned Brickbux. Though, sure, it was straightforward to pick and buy some add-ons, equivalent to new vehicles, bonus LEGO bricks and decals, you’ll simply as rapidly use them up. It takes fairly some time to gather simply 10,000 Brickbux, usually the minimal to buy any automotive. And that is the place the micro-transactions kick in – the bane of virtually each gamer.
I gained’t go into the element of why micro-transactions are annoying, to start with, however in video games like LEGO 2K Drive, it makes nearly no sense. Whilst you can customise and select loads of upgrades and extra in your racer, it doesn’t imply a lot within the grand scheme.
The elements, equivalent to new engines which can be unlocked and specialised automobiles, don’t add a lot to raised racing performances, improved pace or dealing with to have some degree of development along with your automotive upgrades. Sure, there are just a few dynamics to every constructed automotive, equivalent to pace, dealing with and well being, but it surely doesn’t imply a lot in the event you can’t construct upon this over time for higher outcomes. So, spending real-world cash for a glorified aesthetic improve is sort of a disadvantage.
RELATED: Better of Each Worlds: LEGO Pac-Man Arcade Coming Quickly
A Enjoyable Sport in Chunk-Sized Chunks
Couple this with the catch-up logic and grinding races, and also you don’t get a way of the sport’s development as a complete. As a substitute, it’s a enjoyable informal racer you possibly can choose up and revel in for a couple of minutes as you compete in races, do just a few facet quests or try to enhance in private bests on some challenges. Moreover, there isn’t a lot to put in writing house about, and never one price investing further cash into both.
The Evaluation
LEGO 2K Drive
PROS
- Intuitive racing fashion
- Constructing your personal racer
- Nice Replay worth in small chunks
CONS
- No true sport development
- Micro-transactions
- Is usually a grind at occasions