If you like Lego And video games, it’s an exciting time.For the first time in years, it looks like we’ll be getting a sizable budget, console-based LEGO game, rather than some kind of spin on the well-established formula from Traveler’s Tales Lego Star Wars and their relatives.Not some mobile game, nor a limited-scope indie-style endeavor like the excellent The Story of Lego Bricks – but something mainstream, mass market and different.
If you haven’t followed the video game rumor circle, this game should be called Lego 2K Driverwhich is basically described as a “Mario Kart-style racer,” which also draws inspiration from the classic lego racing Years of games, some of them.
A prolific leaker (who usually exclusively reposts stuff gleaned from media outlets who’ve seen banned items but can’t keep their mouths shut) has suggested that the game has a closed beta, and screenshots have even leaked online. LEGO finally made an announcement later this week. The announcement features the road under construction and the Octan Racing logo.
Octan is a fake gas station and car brand that harkens back to Lego City sets of the 80s and 90s. So it’s all clearly true.
Anyway. I am very excited. I’m a big fan of the adventure games that Traveler’s Tales has focused on over the years, but we haven’t had anything really different in a long time. Dimensions is the same type of game as the licensed product, but with a toy-to-life NFC element. While still similar in many ways, the last game that really tickled me was the massively underrated LEGO City Undercover–so I’m excited to see something new.
Also, I think the Lego Racers games that came out in various forms on the PC, PlayStation, PS2, Game Boy, and N64 in the 90s are classics. The idea of a modern take on these titles is really, really exciting – and it’s great to see LEGO finally break with the accepted bulletproof formula that’s been flawless for years.
In fact, I called for it last year, saying how much I missed LEGO’s early play experimentation period. I bemoan how so much of LEGO games are formulaic now. I even mentioned Lego Racers in that article. So to say I’m excited is a bit of an understatement. However… that’s not really what I want yet.
Racing is a relatively safe bet. Lego Racer even made a light run in the form of the Forza Horizon DLC. But I really hope this leads to more revivals of 90s classics.
Rock Raiders is an excellent real-time strategy game that’s ripe for a revival, even if it’s no longer an active LEGO theme. Or you can map that idea to another current theme, such as Monkie Kid, the city, or ninjas. And, well, what I really want is a LEGO island.
Lego Island is a light-hearted exploration-based open-world adventure that’s just a masterful design. As a kid, it captured my imagination and completely mesmerized me – it’s the kind of open world game that doesn’t get made very often anymore.
Years later, there was a distant relationship from LEGO Island to Undercover City – except that Undercover’s biggest inspiration was Grand Theft Auto, so it has the rhythm and feel of those games. LEGO Island is something else entirely – for the most part, it’s the perfect game for kids to relax, hang out in, discover secrets, complete quests, have mini-games, and… oh my god, I came up with a new game and thought about leaving.
Early rumors of a deal between LEGO and 2K Games suggested that the two companies are working together on a number of games–of which LEGO 2K Drive is just the first. If it can channel the energy of those ’90s games, I’ll be at 2K Drive on day one. But I’d really like to see more ideas for the next game in this deal.