LEGO 2K Drive Evaluation (PS5)

LEGO 2K Drive is so almost there. This vibrant arcade racing title makes nice use of its licence, and has laid down a fantastic basis for enjoyable, chaotic driving. Nonetheless, for as a lot because the LEGO model brings to a sport like this, writer 2K Video games clearly noticed greenback indicators over its monetisation potential. The top result’s an excellent entertaining racer that is considerably stifled by a push for microtransactions.

Earlier than we get too far down that rabbit gap, let’s speak in regards to the positives first, as a result of there are quite a bit. To reiterate, LEGO 2K Drive is an arcade racing sport that makes the a lot of the eponymous model to ship a enjoyable, free-wheeling good time. Its Story mode is the place you will spend most of your time, though you may also play Cup Sequence or single races, and naturally take the motion on-line. There is a good quantity of stuff to do, in different phrases, and that is earlier than we get into the Storage’s spectacular constructing instruments.

So, the Story mode, then. You are forged as a beginner driver, tasked with competing in Bricklandia’s racing championships, which culminate with the Sky Cup Grand Prix — the winner of which will likely be topped one of the best racer in all of the land. You may shortly meet associates and enemies alongside the way in which, and their characterisation is simply as daft and lighthearted as you’d count on. Like all LEGO video games, there is a good sense of humour right here that has broad enchantment for gamers of all ages.

Whereas the principle beats of the Story mode are the races themselves, there’s a lot to get pleasure from outdoors of these circuits. A complete of 4 sandbox maps provide you with room to drive round as a lot as you want, and it is joyously boundless. Presumably impressed by The Crew 2, your car will mechanically change between avenue automobile, off-roader, and boat when it goes over completely different terrain varieties, that means you’ll be able to go principally wherever. The open world can also be full of objects, visitors, and pedestrians, all of which might be pushed via with no penalty. In actual fact, there are a number of advantages to smashing via these LEGO props: you earn increase, your car will get some well being again, and it feels extremely satisfying.

Every map comprises its personal set of collectibles to encourage exploration, in addition to quick-fire On-the-Go occasions, quests, and different challenges to maintain you busy. A few of these are obligatory, and whereas they’re by no means as a lot enjoyable as simply racing, it is all fairly inoffensive. There’s nearly sufficient of this aspect content material to justify the sandbox maps, and once more, it is simply enjoyable flying round with out a care. Whether or not you are cruising the open world or competing in races, the driving itself is simple to know and extremely pleasing; huge, meaty drifts cost your increase meter, whereas a quick-turn and beneficiant leap will let you have respectable manoeuvrability.

Once you do get out on a observe, races really feel extra akin to a kart racer. That is largely resulting from a collection of power-ups and weapons you will use Mario Kart-style to clear the way in which to first place. A few of them are fairly normal, like homing rockets and bombs you roll ahead, whereas others are extra imaginative. The ghost energy is an evasive instrument that may be shortly became an offensive one, whereas the teleport appears like a throwback to LEGO Racers on PS1.

You may swap your set of autos for others that you’ve got unlocked, they usually all have distinctive stat bonuses and weights that have an effect on how they deal with. On prime of that, a Perks system permits you to apply numerous passive results. It is nothing too difficult, and truthfully would not really feel all that essential in a sport like this, however we’re positive some will recognize the slight additional depth.

Should you do not fancy any of the pre-built autos, you can also make your personal with a significantly sturdy construct mode. Within the Storage, you’ll be able to select an axel from which to construct, and after that, the sky is the restrict. There are tons of of LEGO bricks and items to select from, and also you lay them down wherever you need, one after the other. You may change the colors of every piece and apply particular results, then equip it and drive all of it you need. Should you like, you may also construct these autos you’ve got unlocked with step-by-step directions, once more all utilizing real-world LEGO items. The digicam management on this mode could make constructing slightly fiddly, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a really spectacular toolkit general.

The one actual draw back is that you simply presently cannot share your creations on-line, which looks as if an enormous missed alternative. It signifies that those that aren’t inclined to construct new vehicles and boats will as a substitute must depend on unlocks or head to Unkie’s Emporium, the in-game retailer the place you’ll be able to spend your hard-earned money.

Rewarded for successful races, discovering new occasions, and beating challenges, Brickbux is the principle foreign money in LEGO 2K Drive, and it is utilized in Unkie’s Emporium to buy new autos, drivers, and even LEGO items for the construct mode. This appears superb at first, however the price at which you earn Brickbux is pretty sluggish — particularly on-line, the place a primary place outcome nets you a whopping 5 Brickbux. New construct items sometimes price 4,000 every, whereas characters are often 6,000, and vehicles are largely 10,000. After taking part in for 15 hours or so, we have accrued about 25,000 Brickbux.

Clearly, this sluggish supply of foreign money is pushing you in direction of microtransactions. You should buy bulk quantities of Cash, which may then be transformed into Brickbux. 500 of them, which prices £4.49, transfers to 10,000 Brickbux. So, a few fiver for a mean in-game car, in case you do not need to grind Story mode races. You do get Cash as a part of the premium Drive Cross seasons, however entry to those clearly prices real-world cash too. All of it feels fairly icky, particularly in a sport geared predominantly in direction of kids. If the steadiness is tweaked to allow you to earn extra Brickbux via common play, that may go some strategy to fixing this problem, however proper now the entire thing’s a bit a lot.

It is a disgrace, as a result of as talked about, the core sport has quite a bit to supply. LEGO followers will love the creation mode, whereas there’s a lot to get pleasure from in regards to the racing itself in addition to the open world design, easy as it’s. Should you can look previous the microtransaction stuff and simply concentrate on the enjoyable, you will have a blast — however the sluggish payout of foreign money (and the very fact the sport prices as much as £60/$70 to start with) makes the in-game retailer exhausting to disregard.

Conclusion

Whether or not you are a fan of LEGO, arcade racing, or each, this sport comes extremely beneficial from us, with the unlucky caveat that it additionally options fairly aggressive monetisation. Tactile open worlds have a good quantity to find, the Story mode strikes the right tone, and the driving itself is nice enjoyable. On prime of all that, a formidable construct mode enables you to make your personal loopy vehicles, although it is a disgrace you’ll be able to’t share them along with your buddies. Sadly, the microtransactions are exhausting to disregard, they usually drag down what’s in any other case a artistic and fascinating racer.