The LEGO Movie Videogame wants to be a lot of things at once. It is a platformer, a puzzle game, a movie tie-in, and a celebration of pop culture. It mostly succeeds at being fun, occasionally succeeds at being clever, and rarely succeeds at being a cohesive whole. Released in 2014 for PS3, PS4, PC, and Mac, it is based on the film of the same name and aims to recreate its spirit through building, combat, and exploration. The result is a game that is often enjoyable but rarely memorable.
Trailer, via Warner Bros. Games.
Building Is the Star
The best moments in The LEGO Movie Videogame happen when you are building. The construction system is simple but satisfying. You collect pieces, assemble them into structures, and watch them come to life. Whether you are constructing a vehicle, a fortress, or a simple wall, the act of creation feels rewarding. The game’s puzzles are built around this mechanic, and when they work, they work well.
The level design supports this. Each area is filled with studs, green pieces, and blueprints that prompt you to build something specific. The puzzles range from basic to moderately challenging, and the game does a good job of explaining its logic. The only real complaint is that some puzzles feel arbitrary, with solutions that are not immediately obvious.
Platforming That Misses the Mark
The action segments, however, are where the game stumbles. The controls are serviceable, but the camera is often uncooperative. Running through levels can feel disjointed, with jumps that require precise timing and a camera that does not always follow you where you need to go. The game tries to replicate the film’s fast-paced energy, but the execution falls short.
Boss fights are a particular weak spot. They are large, colorful, and silly, but the difficulty curve is inconsistent. Some fights are easy, while others demand pixel-perfect precision that the game does not always make clear. The frustration builds, especially when a boss fight you have just finished asks you to repeat a sequence you barely understood the first time.
Story Mode Carries the Weight
The main campaign follows Emmet, the film’s protagonist, as he navigates the world of Bricksburg and Beyond. The story is a faithful adaptation of the movie, with dialogue lifted directly from the film. This is both a strength and a weakness. The humor lands well, and the characters feel familiar, but the pacing suffers from the game’s need to pad out its runtime.
The story mode is linear, and it does not offer much in the way of branching paths. You follow Emmet through a series of levels, each tied to a location from the film. The narrative is solid, but it is not the kind of story that stays with you after you finish it. It is competent, but it is also forgettable.
Free Play Offers More Depth
The Free Play mode is where The LEGO Movie Videogame shows its best side. Here, you are free to explore the game’s worlds, build anything you want, and solve puzzles without pressure. The mode is open-ended, and it encourages creativity in a way that the main campaign does not. It is the closest the game comes to being a pure sandbox experience.
The worlds themselves are varied. You have Bricksburg, a sunny suburban town; Beyond, a mysterious and dangerous landscape; and other locations that draw from the film’s visual identity. Each area is packed with hidden items, collectibles, and optional challenges, giving you plenty to do even when the main objective is completed.
Multiplayer Adds Replay Value
The multiplayer mode is a separate experience, and it is surprisingly deep. Players can build and battle against each other in a series of minigames, ranging from racing to capture-the-flag-style skirmishes. The mode is competitive, and it rewards quick thinking and creative construction. It is a welcome addition, though it is not available on all platforms.
The multiplayer is a standout feature, and it is one of the reasons the game holds up better than its main campaign might suggest. It offers a reason to return to The LEGO Movie Videogame long after the single-player story is finished.
Sound Design and Presentation
The audio design is strong. The music is energetic, and the sound effects are playful. The voice acting is performed by the cast of the film, and their performances carry over well into the game. The presentation is bright and colorful, with a cartoonish style that matches the film’s aesthetic. The game looks good, even if its technical performance is modest.
Performance is a mixed bag. On PS3, the game runs at a lower frame rate and suffers from occasional slowdown. On PS4, PC, and Mac, the game performs better, though it is not a technical showcase. The load times are acceptable, and the game rarely crashes, which is a relief given the complexity of its construction systems.
What Works, What Does Not
The LEGO Movie Videogame is a game of contrasts. Its strengths are its building mechanics and its multiplayer mode. Its weaknesses are its platforming and its story mode. The game is at its best when you are creating, and at its worst when you are fighting bosses. It is a game that knows what it is good at, even if it does not always deliver on its promises.
The game is not a masterpiece, but it is not a failure either. It is a solid, if flawed, entry in the LEGO game lineup. It is worth playing for fans of the film and for anyone who enjoys creative construction, even if the action segments are a letdown.
Final Score
The LEGO Movie Videogame is a game that is best enjoyed in small doses. It is a game that rewards curiosity and punishes impatience. It is a game that is fun, but not a game that demands your full attention. It is a game that is good, but not a game that is great.
The game is available on PS3, PS4, PC, and Mac, and it is a product of TT Games, the studio behind many of the LEGO games. It is a game that carries the weight of a beloved franchise and a successful film, and it manages to honor both while falling short of greatness.
Here is a breakdown of the game’s components:
| Component | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Building Mechanics | Creative, rewarding | None notable |
| Platforming | Fast, energetic | Camera issues, inconsistent difficulty |
| Story Mode | Faithful to the film | Linear, forgettable |
| Free Play | Open-ended, creative | None notable |
| Multiplayer | Deep, competitive | Limited to some platforms |
The game’s schedule is straightforward. It was released in 2014, and it has remained available across multiple platforms since then. There has been no major update to the game, though the multiplayer mode remains a draw for those who enjoy online play.
The LEGO Movie Videogame is a game that is best played in short bursts. It is a game that is fun, but it is not a game that demands your full attention. It is a game that is good, but it is not a game that is great. It is a game that is worth playing, but it is not a game that you will remember long after you put it down.
The LEGO Movie Videogame scores 6.3 out of 10.
