Game: LEGO Bricktales
Genre: Puzzle, Adventure, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch (also available on Steam, Windows, Xbox, & Playstation)
Developers | Publishers: Clockstone | Thunderful
Age Rating: US E | EU 3+
Price: US $ 29.99 | UK £24.99 | EU € 29,99
Release Date: October 12th, 2022
Review code used, with many thanks to Plan of Attack.
Over the years many LEGO video games have been released, which have proved to be very popular with all ages. So a new LEGO game release is always something to look forward to. LEGO Bricktales is the latest game, and I’ve spent some time playing it. Lets’s have a look.
Bricks, Lots and Lots of Bricks
LEGO Bricktales is an adventure game set across five different dioramas in LEGO-themed biomes. The game starts with you receiving a letter from your dear grandpa, a genius inventor.
Grandpa has a problem he needs some urgent help with. You see, grandpa’s beloved amusement park is under threat of closure by the Mayor. The amusement park has been somewhat neglected and needs repairs. If the repairs can’t be completed to bring the amusement park up to code, the Mayor will shut it down and seize the land
Help Grandpa
You can’t have that! So being a helpful grandchild, you agree to help grandpa repair the amusement park.
To restore the amusement park, you must use a mysterious device based on alien technology. First, however, the device requires a power source: Happiness Crystals.
Happiness Crystals can be harvested by making people happy and solving their problems. So, with the help of Rusty, a robot Grandpa invented years ago, you set out on a grand adventure in a world built entirely of LEGO brick.
Biomes Made of LEGO
The biomes you travel across are all intricate and colourful and entirely made of LEGO. They are beautiful and so detailed it’s unbelievable to think they are made of LEGO. While travelling through the biomes, you meet various NPCs stuck in some predicament or other, and you must help them.
LEGO Bricktales is crammed with puzzles around every corner. You’ll use the new brick-by-brick building mechanic to construct items using LEGO bricks to solve the puzzles. Better get your engineering hat on as you figure out how to build bridges, construct a gyrocopter, and much more.
Lets Build
Hammer icons (construction spots) are scattered all over the biomes. By interacting with the icons either during the storyline or while exploring, you are whisked to a different screen with a select number of bricks to use.
It’s entirely up to you what way you use the bricks to build whatever is required to advance the story. However, there are some rules when you are building that you must abide by to complete the puzzle. For example, you must place the board with the jars facing the merchant when asked to create a market stall.
Simulate the Construction
Finally, once you think your construction will work, you press the simulate button and hold your breath while watching the simulation. Then, if it fails and falls apart, you can rebuild it as often as you like until you get it right.
Once your construction is strong enough to pass muster, you are returned to the biomes to continue the adventure. That is fun as you get to use what you have built in the adventure, such as making a seat for a zip line that you then use to cross a cap in the terrain. In addition, when you complete a construction spot, it unlocks the sandbox mode for that construction. Then, you can go back in and improve your build with a vast selection of additional bricks from different themes.
Find all the Collectables
There are plenty of collectables scattered around the levels, little LEGO creatures to collect, and chests to find. Plus, you can use the items to buy clothing for your wardrobe to customise your character. Customise your Minifigure character from a huge selection of parts and unlock more options inspired by the worlds you visit as you progress through the story.
Visuals and Controls
The joy-cons control LEGO Bricktales, and you can use the touchscreen during the building sessions. I was surprised at how well the controls work for the building. However, it can be a little fiddly when you start playing the game until you get used to the controls. Each diorama is full of life, with great music and sound effects.
Conclusion
LEGO Bricktales is suitable for all ages to play; children and adults alike will love being able to play with LEGO bricks in the game. The story is charming; I really enjoyed it. In addition, each diorama is unique; brightly coloured and full of LEGO bricks. The puzzles are very enjoyable and challenging. The game encourages you to be creative, especially in the sandbox mode. I like the freedom the game offers in the puzzles, as there isn’t just one way to solve a puzzle. It’s great fun thinking outside the box and finding your own solution to the puzzles.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up 