Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Games
Reviewed on: Playstation 5
Also available on: Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, PC
Release Date: 16th of May 2023
Rating: G
Price: $79
Lego 2K Drive is a surprising and refreshing entry in the Lego game lineup.
Developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, it offers a unique take on the racing genre by blending modern racing conventions with classic arcade mechanics. While WB Games and TT Games have dominated the Lego game scene in the past, it's great to see a new team take the wheel and deliver a solid racing experience.
Visually, Lego 2K Drive stays true to the Lego brand. The world of Bricklandia is a delightful mish-mash of real-world terrain and Lego pieces. From pot-filled succulents to Lego brick-built buildings, the attention to detail in the plastic brick representation is commendable. The Lego minifigs are animated in a stop-motion style or move smoothly and quickly, adding to the game's charm.
Sound-wise, the game falls a bit short. While the voice acting performances are solid, the audio feels muffled and sometimes fuzzy. The music is eclectic, with various original songs playing throughout the game. However, the quality and use of the music can be inconsistent. Fortunately, you can always have your own Spotify playlist blasting in the background to enhance the experience (well I did on my PS5 copy)
In terms of performance, Lego 2K Drive runs smoothly on the PS5, maintaining a steady 60 fps with no noticeable frame drops. Loading times are also fast, keeping you in the action without delay.
Lego 2K Drive offers a variety of vehicles to drive, including street cars, off-road cars, and boats. The game's main mode, the Story Mode, allows you to become the protege of Clutch Racington and compete in the Sky Grand Prix. Additionally, there are individual races and championships reminiscent of classic arcade racers, providing plenty of options for different play styles. Whether you're a fan of open-world campaigns or kart racing modes, Lego 2K Drive has something for everyone.
The vehicle physics lean towards the arcade side, making the driving experience easy, predictable, and, most importantly, fun. Drifting plays a significant role in the game, with wide drift angles and hold-to-drift mechanics. While it may take some practice to master, once you do, it's immensely satisfying to perform monster drifts. The game also features a quick turn mechanic for precise maneuvering, adding a layer of strategy to certain quests and mini-games.
The gameplay in Lego 2K Drive is chaotic fun. Races are filled with intense moments, from long drifts and corner boosts to jumping for power-ups and seamlessly transitioning between different terrains. The AI rubberbands keep the competition close, resulting in thrilling finishes and adding to the excitement of each race. The tracks are well-designed, offering a mix of tight loops and wide corners that allow creative corner-cutting strategies. The lenient checkpoint placement also encourages intrepid racers to find advantageous shortcuts.
Lego 2K Drive features an open world divided into four different areas. Each area offers its unique characteristics and opportunities for exploration. Notably, the water features are well-implemented, providing ample opportunities for boat driving, which is often underutilized in open-world racing games.
On The Go Challenges add another layer of enjoyment to cruising the world. These challenges range from traditional checkpoint races to creative quests and mini-games. The ability to restart or abandon challenges instantly is a fantastic quality-of-life feature, avoiding the frustration of lengthy resets.
Smashing objects and wreaking havoc in the open world is a delight. Lego 2K Drive allows you to indulge in destructive behaviour, with traffic cars crumbling upon impact and Lego structures shattering under your chosen steed. The amount of destruction you can cause is tremendous, offering a cathartic experience reminiscent of classic Lego games.
Lego 2K Drive is a fantastic entry in the ongoing series of Lego games by offering something different from the previous titles that feel stagnant. The large range of vehicles and non-licensed content helps this feel fresh and organic and the ability to switch between modes from car to boat to dune buggy is seamless and among the highlights of this game. It does perform well (I reviewed on the PS5) and the graphics were glossy and blocky to suit the current-gen consoles, While the open world has plenty to do in it, it is not always easy to find and ploughing through the targets can be difficult to reset. The strong performance and graphics help elevate Lego 2K Drive to be enjoyable for all ages and promise a long road ahead with more content to come.
Commentaires