LEGO 2K Drive Assessment (PS5)

LEGO 2K Drive is so practically there. This vibrant arcade racing title makes nice use of its licence, and has laid down an ideal basis for enjoyable, chaotic driving. Nevertheless, for as a lot because the LEGO model brings to a recreation like this, writer 2K Video games clearly noticed greenback indicators over its monetisation potential. The top result’s a brilliant entertaining racer that is considerably stifled by a push for microtransactions.

Earlier than we get too far down that rabbit gap, let’s discuss in regards to the positives first, as a result of there are so much. To reiterate, LEGO 2K Drive is an arcade racing recreation that makes the a lot of the eponymous model to ship a enjoyable, free-wheeling good time. Its Story mode is the place you will spend most of your time, though it’s also possible to play Cup Sequence or single races, and naturally take the motion on-line. There is a good quantity of stuff to do, in different phrases, and that is earlier than we get into the Storage’s spectacular constructing instruments.

So, the Story mode, then. You are forged as a beginner driver, tasked with competing in Bricklandia’s racing championships, which culminate with the Sky Cup Grand Prix — the winner of which shall be topped the perfect racer in all of the land. You may shortly meet associates and enemies alongside the best way, and their characterisation is simply as daft and lighthearted as you’d count on. Like all LEGO video games, there is a good sense of humour right here that has broad enchantment for gamers of all ages.

Whereas the primary beats of the Story mode are the races themselves, there’s loads to get pleasure from outdoors of these circuits. A complete of 4 sandbox maps provide you with room to drive round as a lot as you want, and it is joyously boundless. Presumably impressed by The Crew 2, your automobile will mechanically swap between road automobile, off-roader, and boat when it goes over totally different terrain sorts, which means you’ll be able to go principally anyplace. The open world can be full of objects, visitors, and pedestrians, all of which will be pushed by means of with no penalty. Actually, there are a number of advantages to smashing by means of these LEGO props: you earn enhance, your automobile will get some well being again, and it feels extremely satisfying.

Every map comprises its personal set of collectibles to encourage exploration, in addition to quick-fire On-the-Go occasions, quests, and different challenges to maintain you busy. A few of these are obligatory, and whereas they’re by no means as a lot enjoyable as simply racing, it is all fairly inoffensive. There’s nearly sufficient of this aspect content material to justify the sandbox maps, and once more, it is simply enjoyable flying round with no care. Whether or not you are cruising the open world or competing in races, the driving itself is simple to know and extremely satisfying; massive, meaty drifts cost your enhance meter, whereas a quick-turn and beneficiant soar will let you have first rate manoeuvrability.

If you do get out on a observe, races really feel extra akin to a kart racer. That is largely as a consequence of a number of power-ups and weapons you will use Mario Kart-style to clear the best way to first place. A few of them are fairly commonplace, like homing rockets and bombs you roll ahead, whereas others are extra imaginative. The ghost energy is an evasive software that may be shortly become an offensive one, whereas the teleport seems like a throwback to LEGO Racers on PS1.

You possibly can swap your set of automobiles for others that you’ve got unlocked, and so they all have distinctive stat bonuses and weights that have an effect on how they deal with. On prime of that, a Perks system means that you can apply varied passive results. It is nothing too difficult, and truthfully would not really feel all that obligatory in a recreation like this, however we’re positive some will respect the slight further depth.

In case you do not fancy any of the pre-built automobiles, you may make your personal with a significantly sturdy construct mode. Within the Storage, you’ll be able to select an axel from which to construct, and after that, the sky is the restrict. There are a whole lot of LEGO bricks and items to select from, and also you lay them down wherever you need, separately. You possibly can change the colors of every piece and apply particular results, then equip it and drive all of it you need. In case you like, it’s also possible to construct these automobiles you have unlocked with step-by-step directions, once more all utilizing real-world LEGO items. The digicam management on this mode could make constructing slightly fiddly, but it surely’s nonetheless a really spectacular toolkit total.

The one actual draw back is that you just at the moment cannot share your creations on-line, which looks like an enormous missed alternative. It signifies that those that aren’t inclined to construct new automobiles and boats will as an alternative must depend on unlocks or head to Unkie’s Emporium, the in-game retailer the place you’ll be able to spend your hard-earned money.

Rewarded for successful races, discovering new occasions, and beating challenges, Brickbux is the primary forex in LEGO 2K Drive, and it is utilized in Unkie’s Emporium to buy new automobiles, drivers, and even LEGO items for the construct mode. This appears advantageous at first, however the price at which you earn Brickbux is pretty gradual — particularly on-line, the place a primary place end result nets you a whopping 5 Brickbux. New construct items sometimes value 4,000 every, whereas characters are often 6,000, and automobiles are largely 10,000. After enjoying for 15 hours or so, we have accrued about 25,000 Brickbux.

Clearly, this gradual supply of forex is pushing you in direction of microtransactions. You should buy bulk quantities of Cash, which might then be transformed into Brickbux. 500 of them, which prices £4.49, transfers to 10,000 Brickbux. So, a few fiver for a median in-game automobile, if you happen to do not need to grind Story mode races. You do get Cash as a part of the premium Drive Cross seasons, however entry to those clearly prices real-world cash too. All of it feels fairly icky, particularly in a recreation geared predominantly in direction of kids. If the steadiness is tweaked to allow you to earn extra Brickbux by means of common play, that may go some strategy to fixing this problem, however proper now the entire thing’s a bit a lot.

It is a disgrace, as a result of as talked about, the core recreation has so much to supply. LEGO followers will love the creation mode, whereas there’s loads to get pleasure from in regards to the racing itself in addition to the open world design, easy as it’s. In case you can look previous the microtransaction stuff and simply deal with the enjoyable, you will have a blast — however the gradual payout of forex (and the very fact the sport prices as much as £60/$70 to start with) makes the in-game retailer arduous to disregard.

Conclusion

Whether or not you are a fan of LEGO, arcade racing, or each, this recreation comes extremely really helpful from us, with the unlucky caveat that it additionally options fairly aggressive monetisation. Tactile open worlds have a good quantity to find, the Story mode strikes the right tone, and the driving itself is nice enjoyable. On prime of all that, a powerful construct mode permits you to make your personal loopy automobiles, although it is a disgrace you’ll be able to’t share them along with your friends. Sadly, the microtransactions are arduous to disregard, and so they drag down what’s in any other case a artistic and interesting racer.