Review: LEGO Horizon Adventures on PS5

Who would’ve thought we’d see LEGO Horizon Adventures, a quirky, blocky spin on one of PlayStation’s beloved franchises? Aloy’s usual adventures are deep, drenched in sci-fi lore, and packed with intricate mechanics. To condense all of that into a spin-off aimed at all ages seemed quite the challenge. What came out of it is a game that brings joy in some areas but leaves us scratching our heads in others.

In essence, this game is an action platformer that distills Horizon Zero Dawn into a more streamlined, family-friendly experience. LEGO is the perfect stage for this transformation, instantly recognizable and allowing for a humorous twist. This lighter take works well for Horizon, shedding many of its complex plot elements and playfully teasing its characters. The voice acting shines, with familiar voices clearly having a blast with the more relaxed vibe. If you’re a fan of Horizon, it’s a treat to see this fun, simplified take on the story.

LEGO not only serves as an excellent thematic anchor but also shapes the game’s entire aesthetic. Studio Gobo and Guerrilla Games embraced the LEGO design ethos, crafting the entire game world from LEGO bricks. Everything, from explosions to distant buildings, is made of plastic blocks. Their dedication to this visual style is commendable, with realistic textures and a tilt-shift camera making for striking visuals. While playing in Performance mode, some animations stutter a bit, although not often enough to be a major distraction.

Mother’s Heart, the game’s central hub, is a haven for admiring the vibrant LEGO world. After wrapping up each level, you return here to progress through the game. You can unlock upgrades for Aloy and other characters, try on different outfits, and customize the village with a variety of LEGO creations from the Horizon universe and beyond. As you progress, the hub grows, offering even more space to decorate. There’s also a job board with optional tasks to tackle in the hub or during missions, adding a nice sense of progression.

However, things begin to fall apart in the main levels. Each stage offers a brief stroll through a beautifully designed environment, sprinkled with combat segments and the rare boss fight. It might sound good on paper, but the levels themselves are overly simplistic. There’s little meaningful platforming or exploration—just jumping and climbing through short, straightforward stages that lack diversity. While there are side paths leading to treasures or small LEGO builds, they’re not well-hidden and mostly yield currency that feels too abundant to begin with.

Initially, the simple level design feels like a gentle introduction. However, it doesn’t really evolve. Even intriguing mechanics, like shooting fire arrows to clear vines, are hardly incorporated beyond their introduction. With combat and amusing cutscenes breaking up the gameplay, levels tend to feel flat and lack any real substance.

Fortunately, the combat stands out as more engaging. While stealth strategies fall short and battling cultists is reasonably fun—tossing them around never gets old—the real stars are the fights against machines. Echoing the main Horizon games, each machine features unique moves and weak spots. Targeting these achieves significant damage and disables attacks, introducing a pleasing layer of strategy. Elemental effects and special weapons, from shields deflecting projectiles to hot dog stands launching explosive sausages, add depth. Depending on the difficulty, combat can be quite challenging, making it the high point of each level.

You can play as four characters: Aloy, Varl, Teersa, and Erend, each with their own weapons. Aloy wields her signature bow, Varl hurls spears, Teersa lobs bombs, and Erend swings his hammer. Each plays slightly differently, and there are special versions of their weapons to discover. While four playable characters might seem limited for a LEGO game, their unique tools and the variety of outfits available add a decent amount of variety.

The combat eventually leads to some satisfying boss fights and entertaining cutscenes. But, once completed, there’s no revisiting these levels. There’s no option to replay stages or select specific levels, meaning once you acquire the gold brick to finalize a level, it’s gone unless you start anew. Although most levels lack replay value, it’s a shame that you can’t re-experience cool battles or cherished story moments, especially for a game targeted at younger players.

These limitations are somewhat offset by the introduction of Apex Hunts after completing each chapter, presenting tougher combat challenges. Additionally, Free Mode lets you explore the levels again, completing objectives and collecting more currency. Interestingly, the layout changes each time, hinting at a modular design that may explain why the main levels feel somewhat sparse.

In conclusion, LEGO Horizon Adventures leaves us feeling a bit torn. On one side, it’s a delightful, family-friendly take on Sony’s hit series, skillfully translating its story, characters, and combat into the LEGO universe with beautiful graphics. On the flip side, once the initial charm wears off, the levels feel empty and repetitive, seldom engaging with the puzzle-solving and platforming fans might expect. There’s definite fun to be found, especially in combat, but certain design choices undermine its overall impact.