Summary
LEGO Horizon Adventuresis a surprising upcoming game that gives Aloy, Varl, and the post-apocalyptic America the series presents theLEGOmakeover treatment. It’s something that has been teased with the recentphysical TallneckLEGOset, and now the two brands will collaborate again, this time in the virtual realm.
Announced at the 2024 Summer Game Fest showcase,LEGO Horizon Adventureslooks to be in keeping with the typical formula of previousLEGOgames, which is to say that there’s every probability that it will play far better with a companion. This is uncharted territory forHorizon, and could be the shake-up it needs.
Horizon’s Solo Experiences are a Double-Edged Sword
Horizonhas become one of PlayStation’s premier first-party offeringsby following convention in all the right areas, but also taking substantial risks in others. On one hand, the truly unique and fascinating setting is unlike anything AAA gaming has seen, and the clever use of ranged combat for even close encounters does well to separateHorizonfrom a lot of its contemporaries, likeThe Witcher 3andAssassin’s Creed. However, the open-world format is nothing new as players will spend a lot of Aloy’s adventures looking for collectibles and completing side quests, and the restriction of an exclusively single-player experience elevates the story, but perhaps at the cost of competitive or cooperative enjoyment.
The mainline series being a single-player affair helps temper expectations and lets players know whatHorizonintends to do well. It puts story, character development, and immersion at the forefront, which is one of the reasons each new big-budget title feels so well-crafted. It’s an intriguing development, then, thatHorizonwould see aLEGOadaptation, as the latter series has a history of being the exact opposite.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Should Be LEGO to the Core
Story, character development, and world-building aren’t as important toLEGOas they are to other series. TT Games often makes straight-up adaptations of existing stories using pre-made personalities, but the fun of the franchise lies in the way it injects its comedic timing and cooperative progression into something pre-existing to make it feel fresh again.Horizonas a series can useLEGOto let its hair down and lean intoLEGO’s expertise to either find a whole new audience, or give something new to returning players.
LEGO’s Charm is Better Enjoyed Together
Solo players can easily extract a great deal of fun from anyLEGOgame, be it theadaptation ofThe Lord of the RingsorLEGO 2K Drive, but far more enjoyment is found by sharing the experience with someone else. They require clever teamwork to overcome puzzles, and can each offer a sense of competition to finish a race first, or collect the most pieces. The barrier of entry toLEGOgames is incredibly low, and the potential for immediate enjoyment is sky-high.
One could argue thatLEGO Horizon Adventuresis exactly what the series needs. Not only is it coming to Nintendo Switch, meaning more people than ever can enjoy the series' world-building, but the use of multiplayer would help to give it the sense of fun and cooperation thatHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westoften lacked due to their dedication to telling a serious story. TheLEGOgames are masters at adapting a franchise with accuracy while also bringing more of a comedic and light-hearted feel, and those characteristics will only be elevated with co-op play. This can only be great news forHorizon’s lasting legacy.
