Lego Horizon Adventures Review - A Playful Take on Horizon Zero Dawn

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Lego Horizon Adventures Review: A Playful Reimagining

A Fresh Take on a Fan-Favorite Adventure

If you're a fan of Horizon Zero Dawn, the premise of Lego Horizon Adventures may feel familiar yet whimsical. It's like watching the movie version of a book you love—recognizable, streamlined, and slightly simplified, with characters and events often reinterpreted for a new, more playful context. In this Lego-styled retelling, familiar faces and places return with a twist, though certain depths of the story are simplified for the younger or more casual audience. As with many cinematic adaptations, Lego Horizon Adventures covers the essential points but never quite reaches the same emotional peaks as the original.

After 21 hours exploring every corner and achieving 100% completion, I walked away from Lego Horizon Adventures with mixed feelings. The game's world is crafted with loving detail, blending Horizon's rugged landscapes with Lego's colorful charm. It allows a decent amount of customization, letting players alter both characters and environments to suit their style. However, the journey left me craving more—its limited scope, predictably linear level designs, and a lack of side activities prevented the game from feeling like the expansive adventure fans might expect.

In Lego Horizon Adventures, Aloy's campaign spans around 12 hours and takes players across familiar settings like the lush forests of the Sacred Lands, the chilly Snowchant Mountains, and the blazing Sunfall Desert. Each location offers a mixture of action, exploration, and charming Lego interactions. You'll fight through hordes of machines and cultists, break and build Lego structures, collect Studs (the game’s Lego currency), and enjoy fun character moments that make the journey worthwhile. Some of these moments are brief, but they are often filled with humor that keeps the experience lively from start to finish.

An Eclectic Cast of Familiar Allies

Throughout the adventure, Aloy is joined by several familiar characters from Horizon Zero Dawn, each one adding a unique, playful flavor to the team. Rost, her wise and fatherly mentor, serves as a comforting figure and mentor, guiding her through challenges. Varl, a young Nora warrior eager to prove himself, brings youthful energy and a sense of loyalty to the team. Teersa, the quirky village elder, is full of amusing quips and an endearing oddness that fits right into the Lego universe. And then there's Erend, a loveable brute with a big hammer and an even bigger appetite for donuts—a humorous addition that adds levity to even the most intense moments.

In a nice touch, the original voice actors from Horizon Zero Dawn, including Ashly Burch as Aloy and John Hopkins as Erend, return to voice their Lego counterparts. They embrace the game's playful tone, delivering lines with a mix of familiarity and fun that breathes life into each character. This lighthearted rendition may simplify the story, but it allows the cast to explore new dynamics in ways that feel refreshing for both newcomers and seasoned players.

Sylens: A Mixed Take on an Iconic Character

Not every character translation is seamless, however. Sylens, a complex and calculating figure in the original game, returns with a more whimsical touch that doesn’t always hit the mark. Following the unfortunate passing of Lance Reddick, Tim Russ steps into Sylens' role, and while he brings a solid performance, it occasionally feels out of sync with the high-energy vibe of the other characters. In a curious and lighthearted twist, Sylens has taken up DJing, offering remote assistance to Aloy and her friends. The concept is undeniably creative, injecting a bit of fun into a typically stern character, yet at times his dialogue falls flat against the backdrop of the other dynamic voices.

Playful Retelling of a Beloved Story

Lego Horizon Adventures does a fantastic job of translating the world of Horizon Zero Dawn into a lighter, more playful format. While the original game's story involves themes of survival and resilience, this Lego version presents the narrative in a way that’s accessible to younger audiences without completely diluting the core message. The overall plot still revolves around Aloy’s journey as a hunter and warrior in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by robotic creatures. It’s simplified and charmingly reimagined but still resonates, especially for those familiar with the source material.

Aloy’s tale is rich with the same key moments but portrayed with a Lego twist. While the usual hardships and struggles are present, they’re given a humorous spin that takes the edge off while still delivering an engaging narrative. Whether it’s Aloy discovering her purpose or fighting through overwhelming odds, these moments remain touching, yet lighthearted, allowing a broader range of players to enjoy the journey without missing out on the essence of Horizon’s story.

The dialogue also does a wonderful job of capturing the personalities of the characters, often with tongue-in-cheek humor and witty banter. Aloy’s interactions with her allies—Rost, Varl, and Erend, to name a few—are refreshingly comedic and embrace the goofy style characteristic of Lego games. Ashly Burch’s return as Aloy, along with the rest of the original voice cast, is a testament to the commitment to authenticity, even in a game that’s clearly not aiming for the same gravity as its predecessor.

Familiar Faces, Fresh Quirks

The characters in Lego Horizon Adventures are one of the game’s greatest strengths. Besides Aloy, her allies have unique quirks that add layers of charm and personality to the storyline. Rost is still the steadfast father figure, albeit with a slight comedic twist; Varl has an almost excessive pride in his comic book collection, which he totes around as a badge of honor; Erend, with his goofy obsession with donuts, provides lighthearted moments that keep the story from ever feeling too tense. These quirks aren’t mere distractions; they blend seamlessly into the story, allowing each character to retain a distinct identity that stays true to their original forms while being entertainingly amplified.

One particularly noteworthy addition is Sylens, the enigmatic, morally ambiguous character who aids Aloy. In Lego Horizon Adventures, he’s reimagined as a DJ, mixing music to amp up the team’s spirit as they progress through missions. While this version of Sylens may feel more relaxed than his original portrayal, the choice is inspired and adds a fun, surprising element that aligns perfectly with the whimsical nature of Lego adaptations. Tim Russ voices this version, stepping into the role with a laid-back delivery that, although not as biting as Lance Reddick’s, fits the new interpretation of the character. The music and sound effects accompanying his scenes bring energy and humor, helping Sylens feel like a unique but true-to-spirit rendition.

An Immersive Lego World

Lego Horizon Adventures brings the post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Zero Dawn into the Lego universe with vibrant and colorful designs. Each region feels alive with recognizable areas from the original game, including the lush forests of the Sacred Lands, the icy Snowchant Mountains, and the vast Sunfall Desert. The attention to detail is commendable, with iconic landmarks recreated in Lego style and familiar machine creatures transformed into blocky, endearing versions of themselves. This imaginative take breathes new life into the environments while maintaining the spirit of Horizon’s world.

Some of the environments are creatively blended with classic Lego elements—dilapidated buildings sit alongside traditional Lego police stations, and ruined landscapes are dotted with Lego bridges and towers. These additions lend an almost dreamlike feel to the game, making it clear that this is a playful reinterpretation rather than a direct adaptation. These settings are especially effective at making the game world feel lively and visually varied, providing a different yet familiar landscape for longtime fans of Horizon.

The soundtrack in Lego Horizon Adventures is another standout feature. With tracks inspired by Horizon Zero Dawn’s original score, mixed with pop and EDM influences, it offers a modern, upbeat feel that complements the game’s lively pace. Songs like “Post-Apocalyptic Dance Party” capture the spirit of Lego’s fun, high-energy approach. The blend of iconic tunes from Horizon Zero Dawn with original Lego-style tracks is well-balanced and enhances the experience without overshadowing the action.

Level Design: Fun but Predictable

While the world of Lego Horizon Adventures is visually impressive, the level design itself doesn’t always live up to that promise. The missions and stages follow a pattern that becomes predictable after a few hours of play. Players are taken through a mix of exploration, combat, and light platforming, with certain sections occasionally interspersed with more intense machine encounters. This structure feels familiar but also restrictive—each level offers essentially the same cycle of activities, without much variety or additional gameplay elements to spice things up.

The predictable nature of the levels isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but it does mean that some players may find the gameplay repetitive, especially when compared to other Lego games that tend to introduce puzzles or unique mechanics more frequently. Here, puzzles are almost non-existent, and there aren’t many hidden secrets or collectibles beyond the occasional chest filled with Studs or a rare gadget. The Cauldron levels attempt to bring more complexity, introducing platforming challenges that require careful timing or specific tools, but even these sections lack the depth that fans of the Horizon series might expect.

Despite the straightforward design, the missions are well-paced and enjoyable in smaller doses. The lack of traditional Lego “red bricks” for cheats or modifications, however, feels like a missed opportunity. While players can still collect red and gold bricks to unlock costumes and customization items, it’s not quite the same as the fan-favorite cheat codes and multipliers from past Lego titles, which offered a sense of discovery and added replay value.

Customization: Building Your Own Adventure

Customization is one of the more compelling aspects of Lego Horizon Adventures. The game offers a surprising level of freedom when it comes to tailoring both the characters and the central hub area, Mother's Heart. The hub town can be customized with a variety of fun additions, like hot dog stands or dragons that perch on rooftops, giving players the chance to make the world feel more personal. Outfits are a significant part of the customization process, with over 100 gold and red bricks to collect for different unlocks. The community board at Mother’s Heart provides various tasks that prompt players to experiment with their attire, like dressing as a Ninjago character to complete a specific combat challenge.

The skill tree system adds a touch of strategy to the customization, with a general tree that provides perks for the entire team and character-specific trees for each ally. While the trees are relatively simple, the benefits are helpful and make the progression system feel meaningful. As you level up from defeating enemies, you can unlock bonuses like increased health, improved weapon damage, or extended freeze effects. These perks, though not groundbreaking, add enough incentive to keep players engaged in leveling up their characters.

Combat and Machines: Simplified Yet Satisfying

Combat in Lego Horizon Adventures is simplified but retains the essence of Aloy’s skills and the iconic machine battles. Aloy can wield her bow and spear, but the controls are streamlined, allowing for easy aiming and attacking, perfect for younger players or newcomers to the series. The machines are visually familiar yet quirky in the Lego style, offering entertaining variations on Horizon’s enemies. These include the Watchers, Scrappers, and even the towering Thunderjaws—all with a distinctive Lego makeover that makes them less intimidating but no less engaging.

Each machine has weak points highlighted by glowing Lego studs, encouraging players to target these areas for extra damage. While this makes the battles more accessible, experienced gamers might find the fights a bit too easy, especially if they’re accustomed to the strategy and precision of the original Horizon Zero Dawn. However, the quick pace and playful machine designs bring an undeniable charm, with some machines occasionally dropping Lego parts that can be used for crafting or unlocking special attacks.

The game introduces a unique mechanic for controlling the machines: by gathering specific parts, Aloy can temporarily "hack" certain machines to fight alongside her or assist in solving puzzles. While the AI is fairly basic, this mechanic provides some enjoyable variety and helps in building a light sense of strategy. Watching a Lego Thunderjaw charge into battle as Aloy rains arrows on enemies adds a satisfying touch to the action, reminding players of Horizon’s tactical elements without requiring complex inputs.

Puzzles: Kid-Friendly but Basic

Puzzles in Lego Horizon Adventures are straightforward and designed with accessibility in mind. Most involve rearranging Lego blocks, finding the right colored key, or manipulating environmental objects to progress. While this simplicity aligns with the game’s family-friendly approach, it can feel underwhelming for players used to the environmental challenges of other Lego titles or the more intricate puzzles in Horizon Zero Dawn.

The game does sprinkle in a few clever Cauldron puzzles, which involve platforming and timing sequences, and these add a small touch of complexity. Players may need to jump across moving platforms, activate switches, or coordinate with hacked machines to proceed. These sections are a refreshing break from the simpler puzzles, though they’re few and far between. For the most part, the puzzle-solving remains lighthearted and accessible, fitting the game’s target audience but perhaps leaving older players wanting more.

Verdict: A Joyful Adventure for All Ages

Lego Horizon Adventures offers a fresh, fun take on the Horizon Zero Dawn universe that can appeal to both fans of the original game and newcomers to the series. By embracing the playful nature of Lego games, the developers have created a world that’s lighthearted, visually vibrant, and engaging for younger players. The simplified combat, streamlined puzzles, and quirky character quirks make it an ideal entry point for a younger audience while still holding enough references to delight dedicated fans.

While it lacks the depth of both the original Horizon game and some other Lego titles, Lego Horizon Adventures finds a balance between accessibility and nostalgia. It's a joyful, family-friendly experience that invites players to explore the world of Aloy from a fresh perspective. From familiar characters with new quirks to colorful environments brimming with Lego creativity, it’s a game that manages to both honor and humor the source material. With its captivating art style, clever nods to the original story, and straightforward gameplay, Lego Horizon Adventures may not replace the original for hardcore fans, but it certainly brings its own charm and accessibility, making it a worthy addition to the Lego gaming lineup

Customization: Crafting a Personalized Adventure

One of the standout features in Lego Horizon Adventures is its extensive customization options. With over 100 gold and red bricks scattered across the game, players can unlock everything from character costumes to hub world enhancements. These collectibles encourage exploration and allow for some delightful personalization. You’re not only building and rebuilding Lego structures but also creating an aesthetic that’s all your own, especially in Mother's Heart, the central hub area.

The customization goes beyond cosmetics, too. There’s a basic but enjoyable skill tree system that offers some character development, allowing you to enhance Aloy and her allies’ combat effectiveness and survivability. The skill tree is divided into two parts: a general one that benefits the whole team and character-specific trees that offer bonuses tailored to each individual’s strengths. While simple compared to other RPGs, this feature adds an extra layer of engagement, giving players small goals to work towards.

The community board in Mother’s Heart is another fun aspect, encouraging players to switch up their playstyle by completing quirky challenges. These range from dressing up as certain characters to using specific attacks to defeat enemies. The board also drives many of the customization opportunities, motivating players to explore the game’s many different outfits and abilities. Whether you’re transforming Mother’s Heart into a bustling town with hot dog stands and quirky characters in costumes or building elaborate structures, the game offers a surprising degree of freedom in making the world feel like your own.

Item Collection and Skill Building: A Simplified RPG System

In addition to leveling up and unlocking new skills, Lego Horizon Adventures introduces a lighthearted item collection system that’s reminiscent of Horizon Zero Dawn’s weaponry and elemental attacks. The limited-use rare weapons and gadgets you collect throughout the game offer a nice sense of variety, even if they are randomly distributed. With each new stage, there’s a bit of excitement around what items you’ll get, though the unpredictability of these drops can sometimes be frustrating if you’re hoping for a particular weapon to complete a challenge.

The inclusion of elemental weapons—such as fire or shock arrows—is a nod to Horizon’s original gameplay, allowing players to exploit machine weaknesses for maximum impact. This mechanic is mostly intuitive, but the random nature of item drops means players can’t always rely on having the right tool for every battle. However, the skill tree offers a way to mitigate this, with abilities that increase item drop rates or provide players with a random item at the start of each level.

One of the more engaging aspects of combat is the ability to strategically target machine parts. Using Aloy’s Focus, players can identify and break off weak points, changing the dynamics of each fight. Removing the horns of a Broadhead, for instance, might cause it to damage itself during a charge, adding a small layer of strategy to battles. This mechanic, while simplified, feels satisfying and stays true to Horizon’s tactical roots, even within the Lego format.

Difficulty Options: A Lego Game with Added Challenge

Unlike most Lego games, which are typically designed to be low-stakes experiences, Lego Horizon Adventures introduces a unique checkpoint system that changes the consequences of death. Rather than losing only a few studs upon dying, players are sent back to their last checkpoint, which can be as far back as the start of an area. This departure from the standard Lego formula adds a bit of tension to the game, particularly at higher difficulty settings where enemies deal significantly more damage.

The game’s five difficulty options provide a range of experiences for different skill levels. On the lowest setting, combat is almost risk-free, with enemies dealing minimal damage, while the highest setting can turn some battles into a real test of skill. Machines like Thunderjaws and Corruptors deal devastating blows on harder difficulties, forcing players to approach fights more cautiously. The game even offers a gadget called Rush Boots, which allows Aloy to zip around in short bursts, adding a dodge-like mechanic for those trickier encounters.

This range of difficulty options makes the game accessible to players of all ages while giving seasoned gamers something a bit more challenging. However, the lack of consistent dodging mechanics makes it tough to handle enemies that deal high amounts of damage, which could frustrate players who crave precise control in combat. Nonetheless, the adjustable difficulty adds replayability and makes the game appealing to a broader audience.

Hub World Fun and Community Challenges: Bringing Mother’s Heart to Life

Mother’s Heart serves as the game’s central hub, where players can interact with NPCs, take on community board challenges, and customize the town’s appearance. It’s a lively area that you’ll return to often, with plenty of opportunities to make the space feel uniquely yours. The community board is where a lot of the game’s charm shines through, asking you to complete whimsical tasks such as building playgrounds, hosting town events, or dressing up NPCs in silly costumes.

Customization in Mother’s Heart is robust enough that you can make significant visual changes, from adding dragons on rooftops to decorating the streets with quirky, themed items. These options encourage players to get creative, turning the hub into a vibrant representation of their progress in the game. Each addition feels rewarding, and seeing Mother’s Heart evolve over time adds a sense of accomplishment that helps offset the simplicity of the main levels.

The game also introduces small, engaging side activities, like fishing or playing fetch with a dog, which are both accessible via built-in interactions in Mother’s Heart. Though simple, these interactions add personality to the hub, making it feel like a real place within the Lego Horizon universe.

Replayability: Customization and Community Challenges Drive Extra Playtime

While the main campaign is around 12 hours long, completing all customization options, community board challenges, and finding every collectible can take significantly longer. With over 100 gold and red bricks to collect, players have ample motivation to explore every nook and cranny. The community board is a particularly nice touch, providing a steady stream of new tasks that encourage players to switch up their playstyle and continue improving their hub world.

The variety of costumes and character skins available through collectibles gives players a reason to keep coming back. Unlocking new skins not only adds to the fun but also allows for new interactions and reactions from NPCs, which can lead to amusing moments and dialogue exchanges. With challenges that prompt you to try new character combinations, weapons, and gadgets, Lego Horizon Adventures provides enough replay value to make up for its relatively short campaign.

Final Thoughts: A Whimsical Twist on a Beloved Franchise

Lego Horizon Adventures brings a whimsical and accessible twist to the Horizon series, capturing the essence of Horizon Zero Dawn while making it approachable for all ages. With a playful art style, fun customization options, and engaging combat mechanics, it offers a fresh perspective on Aloy’s journey that is both nostalgic and charming. Though the game’s simplified design and predictable level structure might not satisfy hardcore fans of Horizon or seasoned gamers looking for a challenge, its dedication to capturing the heart of Aloy’s world makes it a delightful adventure in its own right.

The addition of community challenges, a customizable hub world, and varied difficulty settings provide a satisfying experience that appeals to a wide audience. The game’s unique checkpoint system and the randomness of rare item drops might be divisive features, but they ultimately add to the lighthearted, unpredictable nature of a Lego game.

Ultimately, Lego Horizon Adventures may not reach the storytelling heights or mechanical depth of Horizon Zero Dawn, but it successfully reimagines the world in a way that’s accessible and enjoyable for all. With its engaging, albeit simplified gameplay, and heartwarming homage to beloved characters, it stands as a charming and family-friendly addition to the Lego game universe—a playful companion piece that can sit comfortably alongside the original, appealing to fans old and new alike.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Charming Visuals and Attention to Detail: The game beautifully captures the world of Horizon in Lego form, offering vibrant, familiar environments and iconic machines that are endearing and visually captivating.

• Accessible for All Ages: With its range of difficulty settings and simplified gameplay, Lego Horizon Adventures is suitable for both younger players and fans looking for a laid-back experience.

• Engaging Customization and Replayability: The extensive customization options, from character costumes to hub world enhancements, provide plenty of reasons to keep exploring and replaying.

• Fun Community Challenges: The community board tasks are whimsical and enjoyable, encouraging diverse playstyles and making Mother’s Heart feel alive and dynamic.

• Nostalgic References for Fans: The game is filled with Easter eggs and references that will delight longtime Horizon fans, capturing the essence of the original games in a playful Lego style.

Cons:

• Simplified Combat Mechanics: Fans of Horizon’s complex combat might find the simplified mechanics lacking, as combat does not allow for the depth and precision found in the original games.

• Random Item Drops Can Be Frustrating: While the randomness adds an element of surprise, players looking for specific tools or weapons to complete challenges may find the unpredictability frustrating.

• Checkpoint System Adds Frustration on Higher Difficulties: The unique checkpoint system, which resets players to the last checkpoint after death, can be punishing at higher difficulty levels, where enemies deal more damage and combat encounters are more challenging.

• Limited Dodging and Movement Options: The lack of refined dodging mechanics can make combat feel stiff, especially when facing larger, more aggressive machines that require precise movement.

Verdict

Lego Horizon Adventures offers a delightful and approachable take on the Horizon franchise, making Aloy’s world accessible to a broader audience through its playful art style and simplified gameplay. While the lack of depth in combat and the checkpoint system may deter hardcore fans, the game’s charm, customization, and replayability make it a worthwhile experience for those looking for a lighthearted adventure. Whether you’re a fan of Horizon Zero Dawn or a newcomer to Aloy’s world, Lego Horizon Adventures is a whimsical journey filled with creativity, nostalgia, and heart.

Closing Thoughts

Lego Horizon Adventures is a game that embraces the spirit of Horizon Zero Dawn while reimagining it for a new audience. It’s clear that the developers had a lot of fun recreating Aloy’s world in Lego form, and this enthusiasm shines through in the details and clever humor woven into the experience. The choice to bring back the original voice actors was a strong one, adding authenticity and charm to familiar characters, even if the new tone means we see a lighter side to them.

While the game doesn’t reach the narrative depth or complex gameplay of the original Horizon, it provides an engaging, family-friendly entry point into the series. From the expansive customization options to the vibrant, Lego-built environments, Lego Horizon Adventures offers plenty of reasons to jump in, collect Studs, and relive iconic moments with a humorous twist.

Ultimately, Lego Horizon Adventures is about having fun and enjoying a journey through a world that feels familiar yet fresh. It captures the essence of Horizon without taking itself too seriously, proving that there’s room in the gaming world for more playful reimaginings of beloved franchises. It may not be the definitive Horizon experience, but it’s a refreshing and joyful one nonetheless, leaving room for both newcomers and fans to enjoy a new spin on Aloy’s story. Whether you're here for the nostalgia, the creativity, or simply a fun co-op adventure, Lego Horizon Adventures is a charming journey worth taking.