LEGO Horizon Adventures: An In-Depth Review

I was late to the Horizon: Zero Dawn party, which turned into a major franchise for Sony, now boasting two robust games. It wasn’t until the isolating COVID period that I stumbled upon the “Complete” version with its comprehensive DLC, “The Frozen Wilds,” offered free by Sony. Giving it a shot, I quickly became enamored with Aloy and her intriguingly dystopian, robot-infested universe. Having spent over 250 hours wandering through Breath of the Wild, I whimsically dubbed Horizon “Robot Dinosaur Zelda” since it involves tracking mechanized beasts with a bow across a sprawling world. Horizon’s rich sci-fi tapestry and gripping story arc turned me into a devoted fan of Aloy. So much so that after enjoying Forbidden West on my PS4, I bought a PS5 just for the exclusive expansion, “The Burning Shores,” and it was totally worth it.

To put it simply, I absolutely love Horizon.

That’s why the announcement of a LEGO rendition of the first game felt odd, especially with it being a Sony-published venture on the Nintendo Switch. After immersing myself in it, the peculiar vibe of LEGO Horizon Adventures persisted. It strays from what I seek in my Robot Dinosaur Zelda experiences, lacking the tight combat mechanics I adore in the original Sony series. This adaptation seems like a title struggling to find itself in the gaming world.

On a positive note, most of the original voice actors returned, including Ashly Burch as Aloy and JB Blanc as Rost. They bring a delightfully self-aware humor to their characters, which often had me chuckling. Although Lance Reddick’s replacement as Sylens lacked his irreplaceable presence, which left me apprehensive about the character’s future portrayal in Horizon 3. Nevertheless, LEGO Horizon Adventures dives loosely into Zero Dawn’s storyline, omitting the “Zero Dawn” segment, which is, unfortunately, my favorite part.

In this game, our small LEGO Aloy navigates her world armed with a bow from a fixed overhead perspective, which works well for the visually pleasing platforming parts but hinders combat. Battles occur in isolated zones filled with adversaries like machines and Shadow Carja humans. You can conceal Aloy in orange grass, blending cleverly, but any attack exposes her position. The unadjustable camera frustrates as it limits your battlefield view.

Pressing the L button enables Aloy’s Focus, marking the machines’ weak points. While similar to their console counterparts, aiming here is less precise, and there’s no slow-motion effect (a beloved feature of the console games), making it hard to dislodge parts from machines. The absence of specialized arrows makes combat challenging, alleviated by discovering “special weapons” with limited ammo and multifunctional “gadgets.”

Special weapons introduce (primarily) elemental bows, and gadgets offer entertaining variations like flame-jet-enhanced boots, energy shields, Tripcasters, and melee items like the “Brick Separator.” While they diversify gameplay, they don’t provide the acumen or satisfaction I found in the original franchise. Strategy is not a focal point in LEGO Horizon Adventures; instead, it often devolves into keeping a safe distance and taking occasional shots at foes.

You gather studs by demolishing environmental structures, looting chests, and defeating enemies, using these at Mother’s Heart–your rather unconventional home base in this game.

Mother’s Heart is depicted as an interactive playground here, allowing you to personalize buildings, purchase outfits, manage quests, upgrade some abilities, and create things as you progress. New sections of Mother’s Heart become available as you complete chapters, offering even more customization opportunities, which seemed largely unappealing unless tied to a specific quest.

Constructed structures gift bonus studs when you return to Mother’s Heart, although collecting them requires a bit of a runaround. New buildings, statues, and outfits unlock steadily, but the scarcity of Horizon-themed options disappointed me. Many customization features, including outfits, come from standard LEGO sets like City, Ninjago, and even theme park rides. Ever wanted to put a Ferris wheel in Mother’s Heart? Probably not, but you can! Want to dress Varl as a hot dog? Feel free!

Apex Missions present a chance to tackle tougher versions of familiar machines, rewarding you with “Red Bricks.” Combat is typically manageable, although I faced multiple defeats during more intense battles. While rare, Thunderjaw encounters pose the game’s toughest challenges, taking place in distinct, enclosed battlefields. My preferred sections were those involving Cauldrons—automatic underground machine-manufacturing facilities. These highlight elements from the PlayStation saga remain as alien as ever, with added platforming and fewer isolated confrontations.

You can enjoy couch and online co-op in LEGO Horizon Adventures, with the second player choosing between Aloy, Varl, Erend, and Teersa (remember her? I rarely did!). Each brings a unique style: Varl wields a spear and closely resembles Aloy; Teersa prefers explosives, which are amusing yet erratic; and Erend opts for brute-force hammer tactics. Solo players can shift between characters at Mother’s Heart or at mission start points. Each carries its own special weapons—mostly elemental types—and while I tried to keep everyone equally developed, Aloy was my go-to.

Testing couch co-op with friends’ kids revealed mixed results. Although serviceable, combat becomes even more chaotic with another player. We often lost track of our locations or characters, leading to frequent deaths. Revivals require holding X, but machines that downed your buddy may still be lurking, presenting a risk. An invisible tether links players, which can be handy. Probably due to this simplicity, combat proved easy for a young gamer (my 14-year-old tester) to grasp. Momentarily diverting him from Fortnite felt like a victory.

While I enjoyed LEGO Horizon Adventures, labeling it a straightforward Horizon installment would be misleading. Geared towards a younger audience, it omits much of what makes the PlayStation series captivating to me. However, if you’re in the market for a lighthearted, humorous action game or a shared experience with your kiddos, it’s a solid option. Now, if only there were more LEGO sets from the Horizon series; my Tallneck could use a Thunderjaw or Slaugherspine companion.

*After completing the review, news broke that Tim Russ, famously Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager, has assumed the voice of Sylens. Though he lacks Reddick’s unique voice (who doesn’t?), Russ should seamlessly step into the role in the main series. Sylens’ character, marked by a distinctively Vulcan aura and witty sarcasm, feels abstracted here—he’s a DJ, after all—making any comparison somewhat unfair.