Review of LEGO Horizon Adventures

During the pandemic, I finally got around to playing Horizon: Zero Dawn, a game that’s become a cornerstone for Sony with its follow-up, making it a two-game powerhouse. Sony generously offered several games for free, and the "Complete" version of Horizon, which included the substantial DLC "The Frozen Wilds," was among them. Deciding to dive in, I was quickly enamored with Aloy and her action-packed world filled with robotic dinosaurs. Having dedicated over 250 hours to Breath of the Wild beforehand, I couldn’t help but nickname it "Robot Dinosaur Zelda." The thrill of hunting robot dinosaurs in an expansive open world with a bow and arrow, coupled with its intriguing sci-fi storyline, left me a devoted fan of Aloy’s adventures. After finishing its sequel, Forbidden West, on my PS4, I even shelled out for a PS5 just to experience the exclusive "The Burning Shores" expansion — and I can confirm it was worth every penny.

To put it simply, Horizon has captured my heart.

Given my affection for the series, it was a bit perplexing when a LEGO adaptation of the original game was announced, with the even more unexpected news that it was a Sony game available on the Switch. After spending time with LEGO Horizon Adventures, the feeling of peculiarity persists. It departs from what typically draws me to my "Robot Dinosaur Zelda" games, lacking the engaging gameplay loop and the precision in combat that defined the original Sony games. It’s as if it’s still trying to carve out its unique identity.

A notable highlight, though, is the return of the main voice cast, with Ashly Burch as Aloy, JB Blanc as Rost, John MacMillan as Varl, and John Hopkins as Erend. The twist? Each character is portrayed with a more comical, self-aware approach, which I found charming and often amusing. However, I was somewhat let down by the replacement for Sylens, originally voiced by Lance Reddick, whose absence is deeply felt. This substitute made me uneasy about the future portrayal of Sylens in the next Horizon game. Regardless, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a loose interpretation of Zero Dawn’s narrative, pushing the “Zero Dawn” aspect to the sidelines, which was, truth be told, one of my favorite parts.

In this version, your little LEGO Aloy embarks on her journey from an overhead perspective with a fixed camera. This setup works well for the vibrant platforming sections but becomes problematic during combat sequences. Battles typically occur in isolated arenas filled with robotic adversaries and occasionally human foes, like the Shadow Carja. Aloy can conceal herself in orange grass — where she comically becomes grass herself — but her cover vanishes as soon as she engages in combat. The inability to adjust the camera hinders your view of the battlefield, which proved frustrating.

Aloy’s Focus is activated with the L button, showcasing weak points on foes. While these details mirror those found in the main games, the accuracy in aiming here is lacking. There’s no slow-motion aiming, a hallmark feature in the PlayStation games, and parts rarely break off the machines. The absence of special arrows that deliver more damage or dislodge parts is replaced by "special weapons" with finite ammunition and "gadgets" with limited usage.

Among these special weapons are elemental bows, with gadgets ranging from fiery jet boots to energy shields, a Tripcaster, and a "Brick Separator" for melee. While these bring some diversity to combat, they aren’t particularly fulfilling. Planning or strategic depth is scarce in LEGO Horizon Adventures, often reducing battles to a game of dodge and poke.

You’ll gather studs — LEGO currency, of sorts — by smashing environmental objects, discovering chests, and defeating machines, and then spend those studs at your base camp in Mother’s Heart. This base, a reimagined take on Aloy’s origin village in Zero Dawn, is an unusual area here, serving as a sandbox where you can customize buildings, purchase costumes, check quests, and develop abilities. As you progress, more sections of Mother’s Heart become accessible for — you guessed it — more customization! However, without a specific quest driving me, I found little motivation to tweak Mother’s Heart beyond necessity.

Besides an incentive for earning bonus studs upon return, the system felt tedious, as it required some legwork to collect these bonuses. Despite unlocking buildings and outfits at a fair pace, there was a dearth of Horizon-specific elements. Many customization options stem from standard LEGO themes like City, Ninjago, and even theme park rides. A Ferris Wheel in Mother’s Heart, anyone? Fancy Varl in a hot dog costume? The choice is yours!

Eventually, "Apex Missions" appear, challenging you to defeat tougher machines in exchange for “Red Bricks.” Combat is manageable but can be challenging during intense encounters. Thunderjaws, predictably, pose the greatest threat but thankfully appear sparingly, each with its own specialized arenas. The Cauldron segments, automated facilities where machines are manufactured, stood out as my favorites. Much like in the PlayStation entries, these areas feel alien and feature more platforming and less solo combat.

LEGO Horizon Adventures supports both couch and online co-op, allowing a second player to choose from Aloy, Varl, Erend, and Teersa (a character I had almost forgotten existed). Each character wields different arsenals: Varl mirrors Aloy with a spear, Teersa opts for explosives for fun but inconsistent combat, while Erend employs a colossal hammer for all-melee attacks. Single players can switch between characters in Mother’s Heart or at mission starts. Although I tried spreading playtime across characters, I frequently returned to Aloy.

Playing couch co-op with some friends’ kids, the experience was entertaining, albeit chaotic. Combat can become even trickier when a second player is involved. Losing track of characters or their locations on the screen proved challenging, leading to frequent defeats. Reviving a fallen player requires holding down X, but this takes time, during which opponents can pounce. Players are tethered together, preventing them from straying too far, which was actually quite helpful. The simplicity of combat makes it accessible for younger players — in this case, a fourteen-year-old enjoyed a break from Fortnite, which I count as a success.

Despite its charm, calling LEGO Horizon Adventures a straightforward Horizon game misses the mark. It’s designed with a younger audience in mind, removing many elements that cement the appeal of the PlayStation series. Nevertheless, if you’re in the market for a light-hearted, amusing action game to share with your kids, it’s a solid option. On a related note, I’d love to see more LEGO sets from the Horizon series because my Tallneck looks rather lonely without a Thunderjaw or Slaughterspine by its side.

Just after publishing this review, news broke about Tim Russ, renowned for his role as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, stepping into the role of Sylens. Russ is an excellent choice. While he doesn’t have Reddick’s distinctive voice, he will likely embrace the role smoothly in the main series. Sylens carries an almost Vulcan-like persona with a sharp wit. Here, the character is humorously abstracted as a DJ, so making a fair comparison isn’t really possible.