RATINGS
Pros: Exceptional graphics, fun and innovative gameplay, thrilling "collector" element
Cons: Too simple to engage a more mature audience
Graphics: 9
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 8
Overall: 8
We’ve lately leaped at the opportunity to check out the new cross-platform strategy game LEGO Minifigures Online, which introduces the physical LEGO Minifigures into the digital world. This new family-friendly MMORPG allows LEGO enthusiasts to continue their collection of purchasable minifigures of their favourite characters and professions online, with a multitude of diverse minifigure characters to collect and choose from, each of which present their own distinct attacks in combat.
When entering the LEGO universe for the very first time, we immediately picked up the game with our main character being a Baseball Fielder whose ranged attacks enable him to thrust his baseball at his foes while is charged power attack hurls a giant flaming fireball bouncing across the screen.
Players have several characters at their disposal and can instantaneously switch between a line-up of 3 characters with a single click of a button. However, you are apparently able to also access the main menu in the middle of the game to replace these 3 characters, allowing access to the entirety of Minifigures unlocked by a player.
We were directly taken into a tutorial mode that had us walking along the shelves in a LEGO store, navigating across a variety of environments made up of LEGO bricks where we had to destroy everything that block our way and smashed crates and chest to collect experience stars. Besides obliterating things, we were also task with constructing canons to thrust ourselves across a huge gap as well as with re-erecting a ramp in order to access a higher level. In which way this will continue into the later stages of the game is something we’re unsure about, since it wasn’t much of a challenge but a peculiar aspect nevertheless.
When we reached the end of the tutorial by fighting past some ghostly pirates, the game seamlessly linked to the actual story arc/ plot and 2 LEGO NPCs welcomed us telling that there was supposed to be a welcome party but all the characters apparently have disappeared into the pirate world – sheer horror! One step further, we passed a portal that led into the first of the multitude of worlds players are able to explore in the game.
While playing the game, you will be ale to add new Minifigures to your collection through various means, e.g. by completing quest areas like the monkey cave we discovered. Minifigures are packed in foil players are able to open to obtain a random character that is the digital representation of the physical Minifigures players can purchase at retail stores. An interesting aspect is that those physical versions are accompanied by a card players are able to activate online in order to add the digital Minifigure to their LEGO Minifigures Online account. In addition, players will earn diamonds simply by playing the game, which can also be purchased with real-world cash and are use to get access to additional random Minifigure foil packs.
Combat in LEGO Minifigures Online is fairly simple; players use their left mouse button to perform their character’s main attack and their right mouse button triggers their supercharged cooldown attack while the exact quality of these abilities is determined by the chosen character.
We luckily had several different Minifigures to our disposal, allowing us to experience a variety of distinct abilities. The Waiter, for instance, uses a bottle of grape juice to spray his opponents while the Roller Derby Girl punches enemies at close quarters and summons her roller derby team whereupon 3 skaters will emerge to deal damage and fend off opponents.
Our preferred character, however, was the Battle Mech who was capable of leaping into the air to fire multiple missiles at the opponent – quite cool! When levelling up your individual figures through gameplay, they will unlock additional powers, abilities and upgrades, making them more powerful in combat.
Given the silly and cute Minifigures and dialogues as well as the rather child-friendly theme and plot, the MMO as such is evidently aiming at a rather young audience. We immediately noticed the pretty friendly, very social and cooperative community, as we were invited to join a group for several times during our short trial, which usually isn’t a frequent occurrence in MMORPGs except a tremendously tough opponent has to be taken down. Regarding the fact, that it’s still a beta version, LEGO Minifigures already has a lot to offer, plainly indicating to continuously enlarge the gaming experience with the regular release of new Minifigures and additional LEGO worlds for players to explore.
Deja tu comentario
You must be logged in to post a comment.