Over the years we’ve had some absolutely awesome Lego sets. Whether it’s Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, DC or even simple Lego originals like the more modern Lego Builder’s Journey or the classic Lego Island, we’ve been pampered. And now 2K wants to get in on the action, as it has begun a multi-year collaboration with the block brand to deliver a variety of video games, something that starts with the already officially presented and announced Lego 2K Drive.
As you can tell from the name of the game, it’s not a platforming adventure like the ones TT Games are used to. No, it’s a pure racing title, but with plenty of Lego charm to make it more than just endless competition on the track.
What I mean by that is that Lego 2K Drive, developed by Visual Concepts, is actually an open-world racing game, where you can search for collectibles, participate in races, perform additional activities and side quests, all in addition to customizing and even creating your own vehicles, all in the wonderful world of Bricklandia. Think of Forza Horizon, only instead of using a simulated driving mechanic that strives for realism, the game relies more on an arcade kart racing mechanic.
Many of you will immediately think of Forza Horizon 4’s Lego Speed Champions expansion when I mention this comparison, but it’s worth pointing out that these two Lego experiences couldn’t be more different in practice. As I mentioned before, since the game uses kart-like physics, the action is very chaotic and fast-paced, and winning a race depends not only on how you drive, but also how smart you are. use the power-ups. , like rockets or a spider web (think Blooper ink from Mario Kart), and how you react to your opponents’ attempts to use those abilities against you.
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Everything goes a little further, since there is a set of equipment. This has nothing to do with the current Call of Duty Gunsmith system, but it does allow players to change the cars they use in street, offroad, and water locations, vehicles that automatically change when you start driving on different terrains. It’s an unusual system that adds to the chaos in races, but is otherwise completely unnoticeable.
While I can say that my experience with the Lego 2K Drive racing game didn’t surprise me or bring anything really new, it was incredibly fun and I think Visual Concepts has created a very competent. It’s not Mario Kart – again, very few kart racing games live up to this series – but it’s unique and exciting enough to stand on its own.
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But there’s more to Lego 2K Drive than just racing, and this game also features an open world to explore, with a story to follow. This is where you instantly realize this is a realistically suitable game for younger audiences, as the world (which is split into small biomes that are not physically connected) is quite barren and flat . Besides flying as the crow flies to the next race, there are very basic side quests, lots of collectibles, mini-games (like short time trials or jumps – think back to danger signs from Forza Horizon), and if it weren’t for you being rewarded with experience to be able to compete in the next race, I’d probably end up skipping them altogether.
However, it should be added that the open worlds of Lego 2K Drive are not monsters that require dozens of hours to complete. They are smaller and more like vast playgrounds where you can drive your car to kill a few hours here and there. During the just over an hour session I had to go around the world, I found myself breaching the tutorial biome and the second Big Butte location.
The name of the latter, in particular, is a perfect reason to talk about the tone of this game as a whole, since Lego 2K Drive features a humor and nature that is very reminiscent of other Lego works. It’s absurd, silly and full of humor that will delight the youngest and even make the most mature audiences laugh. That tone is probably the only reason to pay attention to the campaign and narrative, as it doesn’t do much to engage the player otherwise. It feels like it was created simply for the game to have a narrative, and for no other reason, as it has less than memorable characters and a plot that doesn’t engage too much. But Lego 2K Drive isn’t meant to rival The Last of Us, and the fact that Visual Concepts has focused more on racing and customization is a big plus.
Going back to the racing aspect, this title will also feature split-screen support, online matches, and even future content that will bring even more tracks (as well as more biomes, etc.). Post-launch support doesn’t mean Lego 2K Drive is going to be overwhelmed with monetization efforts, as I’m told Lego is very strict about this practice, which means any way to spend real money on the game will come in the form of battle passes, not in a way that affects gameplay. Although, given that the Garage customization suite exists, you probably won’t find many reasons to need to purchase additional cosmetic options found in battle passes.
And I say that because the garage system reminds me of the building system in Lego Builder’s Journey, which allows players to literally create any vehicle they want by placing a collection of hundreds of different types of bricks into a variety of unique chassis. , whether they are street cars, SUVs or personal watercraft. It’s complex and if something a little overwhelming at first glance, but once you start to understand the sequel and master the block placement mechanics, which can be a little clunky, it starts to become something special and exciting.
I’m not going to say Lego 2K Drive blew me away after the three hour session lasted behind closed doors, but I had a great time for most of that time, and I think the younger ones in individual (or parents with young children) will have a great time with this game. And the best thing is that you won’t have to wait long to play it, since the May 19 a PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch.