We’ve got Dodgson here!
Each entry in the LEGO series of games proves to me that TT Games has a ton of heart. Each franchise they tackle feels expertly designed for fans of that property. LEGO Jurassic World is no exception. The beloved dinosaur series finally gets the LEGO treatment, and the details from the music, to the quotes being the Achievement names is near perfection. Each iconic scene from every movie is here, including the latest chapter in the series. It tugged at my nostalgia more than any previous LEGO game, and even though the mechanics remain the same, it felt more alive than most of its predecessors.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is a LEGO game, nothing more, nothing less. The mechanics are the same as the 377 iterations before it. Players are tasked with figuring out which character has the ability to solve whatever roadblock is presented before them. Studs will be collected in the millions, and destroying things can sometimes lead to building new contraptions. Navigation is still a bit obtuse, but having memorized the movies it was a bit easier to figure out what to do next.
MSRP: $59.99 (XB1, PS4) $49.99 (360, PS3, Wii U) $29.99 (3DS, Vita)
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PS3, 360, PC, 3DS, Vita, Wii U
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
Multiplayer: Local Only
If there is one revolutionary piece to Jurassic World, it is the dinosaurs themselves. These scaly creatures crop up as playable characters through each campaign. They are a blast to play as, and I only wish they had more screen time to toy around with. They do make a return outside of the story missions in small diversions, which are cool, but much less exciting after five to ten minutes of playing around with them.
Each area hosts familiar scenes from the movies with any reference to death or violence tossed out the window. TT Games has done a great job of lightening the mood of otherwise dreary or horrifying scenes with their trademark humor. Seeing the lawyer brush the T-Rex’s teeth is much more family friendly than what really happened. Every scene is given this treatment, and it meshes well with what I remember, and what I would want my five-year-old to see.
Playing alone still frustrates as the AI is beyond useless. After all these years one would think this issue would have been solved, but they still spend time standing around, or getting stuck on walls. The lack of online co-op is also still present, while local is clearly the best way to play. Still not a fan of the dynamic split screen though.
Free play returns and remains my favorite part of the LEGO games. Going back with unlocked characters and seeing areas previously blocked off is a highlight. Still it is definitely padding, and time spent to unlock generic characters is taken to a whole new level in Jurassic World. I mean who is legitimately excited for dock worker #4? Still there is enough nostalgia to keep it moving, and of course the dinosaur free areas are cool. The Crash Bandicoot-esque chases sequences are also a nice diversion, although a bit repetitive.
There is something special about LEGO Jurassic World though that I can’t quite put my finger on. I have massive LEGO game fatigue. The thought of playing the games bores me to tears, yet I couldn’t stop playing this one. Could be the nostalgia of the Jurassic Park series, or the fact that I love dinosaurs, but this is by far my most played entry, and I expect to keep playing it for months to come.
Visually, the game looks stellar. The LEGO look is there, but the new additions such as the dinosaurs look fantastic. The levels are beautifully crafted, and the effects are stellar. This is the most interesting LEGO game in years, aesthetically anyways.
LEGO Jurassic World is as charming and loveable as you would expect a LEGO game based on the series to be. The series is in a weird place right now with LEGO Dimensions basically creating a platform for all future iterations, so I wonder how much longer these franchise-based entries will last. Besides haven’t they already nailed most of the best anyways? Still, LEGO Jurassic World is a fantastic addition to the series, and if it ends up being one of the last ones, it is going out with a bang. Life found a way, so make sure you find a way to play this amazing game.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
