“LEGO 2K Drive” marks the first collaboration between 2K Games and the beloved LEGO franchise, and it’s clear that developer Visual Concepts, renowned for their NBA 2K and WWE 2K titles, has brought their expertise to the table. With an announcement made only a couple months ago in March, I was very surprised at the short window between announcement and release this game had and I hope it’s something more games adopt in the future. So, is the game any good? Initially, I expected “LEGO 2K Drive” to be a simple LEGO version/knock off of “Mario Kart.” To my delighted surprise, the game goes above and beyond my expectations, offering not only thrilling racing action but also an expansive open-world experience.
Set in the vibrant realm of Bricklandia, players are thrust into the role of a rookie racer competing for the prestigious Sky Trophy. To achieve victory, you must overcome various rival racers, culminating in a heart-pounding showdown against the formidable villain Shadow Z. As you progress through the story mode, you’ll unlock additional areas within Bricklandia, each representing a distinct biome, if I recall there are five in total. The ability to fast travel between these areas at any time adds a very welcomed convenience to the overall exploration and accomplishing side missions. If you thought you were only going to be driving cars, think again! “LEGO 2K Drive” doesn’t limit itself to being on land, you will also be racing on speed boats. Switching from a car to a boat is instantaneous and really cool to see your designed car transform.
Much like its “Mario Kart” inspiration, this game features power-ups that can be collected during races, providing strategic advantages over your opponents. These power-ups add an extra layer of excitement to the addictive gameplay. The race tracks themselves are thoughtfully designed, incorporating elements from various LEGO sets and themes, ensuring there is something to love for the broad spectrum of LEGO fans. Personally, I loved the medieval sets growing up.
One of the game’s standout qualities is its undeniable LEGO charm that is apparent in all previous LEGO games. Bricklandia is brimming with personality, and is packed with things to do. This diversity ensures that exploration never becomes monotonous, keeping players captivated by the whimsical world around them. The game’s accessible mechanics are very easy and simple to adjust to, which make it suitable for younger gamers to play, which I’m sure that’s their target audience so that’s how it should be, but even with its simplicity the game is just a fun and enjoyable experience for players of all ages. In a time when online multiplayer dominates, “LEGO 2K Drive” also recognizes the importance of local multiplayer. The inclusion of local multiplayer options, such as split-screen co-op, is just fantastic (and criminally underused in games these days). Allowing friends and family to share the excitement within the same room is an important part of gaming that is unfortunately fading for whatever reason.
There shouldn’t be a LEGO game if there’s no customization options, luckily this one has it in spades. In the garage further enhances the game’s appeal. As you progress, you’ll unlock an array of different blocks to construct and personalize your vehicles. Whether you prefer to unleash your creativity or choose from a selection of premade vehicles, the game caters to both the imaginative and the non-imaginative gamers that just want to get on with the racing. I would be amiss if I didn’t bring up some of its side content, the game offers a variety of inventive mini-games throughout Bricklandia, doing so also unlocks more items in the garage and just helps pace out the overall racing with something else to do. Such as destroying waves of robots with your vehicle before they take down a few generators.
So, is “LEGO 2K Drive” a perfect game? Of course not, I’m sure 2K will continue riddle the game with microtransactions and it’s very likely this will become an annualized series if it does well (hopefully they won’t be carbon copies of each other), but the game really is a charming and ambitious racing adventure that successfully combines the best of the LEGO universe with exhilarating racing gameplay. With its open-world exploration, diverse areas, surprisingly fun story mode that you can play with a friend in the same room, and various multiplayer options, the game offers a very well-rounded and entertaining experience for players of all ages. Keep in mind there are several versions of this game releasing, with the base game only for last-gen consoles only costing $59.99 and a cross-gen version for $69.99, but that’s not all, because 2K loves to upsell, there are also $100 and $120 versions available. I recommend doing your research before selecting the version you want to get. But yeah, whether you’re a fan of LEGO, racing games, or simply seeking a delightful and accessible gaming experience, “LEGO 2K Drive” is a must-play title I didn’t know I’d be recommending so highly, but I am.
8.5/10
For more information, visit: https://lego.2k.com/drive/
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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