What happens if you take Mario Kart, Sonic Racing Transformed, and Forza, and add Lego into the mix? The game with the most ridiculous name possible. Seriously: I’ve been trying to remember what it’s called for a month.
I’ve been eagerly anticipating a game like this for years. Do you remember Lego Racers, the cult classic that still has a loyal following? It seemed like Lego 2K Drive would be a worthy successor with its impressive graphics, the option to customize your own vehicles, an expansive open world, and even… microtransactions?
Let’s start with the positives. Lego 2K Drive embodies the brand’s trademark humor that has made games and movies with this logo so well-known. The game is filled with references and sarcasm. It even has a storyline with a great villain.
The game’s standout feature is the full-fledged car editor which allows players to create any vehicle they can imagine. This level of freedom is a wonderful feature that makes the game truly great. Unfortunately, this is also the game’s most unique aspect – the rest of the game is quite similar to other releases.
While I have a lot of respect for Forza, I never considered its format to be the best. Other open-world racing game developers seem to disagree, as they all seem to be emulating the structure of the latest Playground Games releases. However, Lego 2K Drive cannot boast of a seamless world with different biomes. Instead, it allows players to choose from several worlds with different themes, such as a green world or a desert world. It’s nothing particularly special.
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The tendency to imitate the best examples of the genre is evident in other aspects of the game as well. For instance, races are conducted using items, much like Mario Kart. However, like all imitations of the greatest karting game of all time, it falls short of the mark. While everything looks great and vibrant, there is still rubberbanding, which makes every race seem like a farce until the last lap. This game mechanic has been a source of complaint since the 90s, yet it refuses to die. Additionally, the feeling of déjà vu is always present since the game seems to borrow heavily from Sonic Racing Transformed or The Crew 2, where the car can transform into another mode of transportation. It made me want to play Diddy Kong Racing, actually.
I played through Lego 2K Drive with the desperate hope of falling in love with it. Fortunately, the game did not completely disappoint me, and it did not break my heart. The developers understood that creativity must come first. This is precisely what we expect from a game with this brand, and this is precisely what we got. The car editor is fantastic and easy to use, although I did have some initial difficulty with it. For example, I mistakenly created a car backwards, and I had trouble fixing it. The game even poked fun at me for this mistake. When I returned to the garage with my backward-moving car, the first thing I heard from the NPC was, “Attention: Don’t make the car backwards.”
The Lego 2K Drive looks great on any screen and boasts a stable frame rate and vibrant graphics. The charming screensavers are reminiscent of the Lego Movie. However, the sound quality could be improved, as voice distortions became noticeable once I turned on the AV receiver.
While the graphics are impressive, I have some doubts about the stylistic choices made. This is not the first time I’ve had this concern – I also felt the same way about LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Specifically, I don’t understand why the developers chose to blend the world of Lego with a pseudo-realistic environment featuring grass, earth, and water that appear lifelike instead of plastic. I remember playing Lego Worlds, a game that was entirely composed of Lego cubes and looked fantastic. The pieces could be manipulated, dug up, blown up, and used for construction. In contrast, the hybrid world of Lego and real-life elements in Lego 2K Drive cover only a third of the game.
It would be visually stunning if the world consisted entirely of Lego cubes, as it would make it stand out from any other game. However, for some reason, the developers decided to limit the use of Lego to only a third of the game featuring Lego characters.
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The aspect of progression in the game seems to be based on an XP scale. As you progress through each level, you unlock new opportunities and earn currency, but the rewards become less satisfying as you advance further. Eventually, you may be tempted to use real currency to purchase cars and coins from the in-game store, which also offers seasonal passes. It’s a bit disappointing that a full release game priced at $59.99 would rely heavily on in-game purchases, but that’s to be expected from 2K.
When it comes to Lego 2K Drive, it depends on personal preferences. The game seems to target both nostalgic Lego Racers fans and younger players, but it’s hard to determine a clear target audience. Overall, it’s a decent release, but the price may be a bit steep. After spending a lot of time playing it, the world never feels truly alive or realistic – as realistic as a world made of plastic can be, anyway. The NPCs are placed strategically, and the cities made of sparkling cubes are tiny. Most of the time, you’ll be driving on fields and rivers, but they lack the cubic charm of the rest of the game.
Verdict
It’s a challenge to review Lego 2K Drive. On one hand, it boasts superb visuals, vibrant colors, and delightful humor, complemented by an impressive editor. On the other hand, it’s plagued by microtransactions and a tedious structure that promotes grinding. While it does feature the anticipated Lego racing format, it appears to be yet another imitation of popular games. It seems as though the developers (or publishers) are still undecided on their vision for the game.