Lego Brawls from Red Games Co. and LEGO Games is a brawling game that younger gamers would enjoy quite a bit. If you’re a seasoned veteran of fighting games that are very similar to Super Smash Bros, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere though and that’s because of a couple of things.
So why exactly is Lego Brawls a bit of a letdown? Firstly, the game is very barebones. There are only two modes on offer here in Lego Brawls. These are 4 vs 4 and the other being free-for-all. There’s no real story mode here. Nor is there anything else to keep you busy. It’s extremely disappointing, to say the least especially given the game’s high price on Steam.
Lego Customization
Lego Brawls does however have very extensive customization which Lego fans will enjoy. You can change your character up quite a bit and the longer you play the game, the more items you’ll unlock to customize your character with. This is a double-edged sword though because, for some reason, the item drops are completely random and not limited to a specific theme. So if you wanted to only build Lego Jurassic World Minifigures for battle, you’ll have to wait until you get the required drops from that particular Lego franchise.
This also means that much of Lego Brawls involves grinding out constant battles hoping for the right drops. If the game had more maps, more variation and more content, this might have been ok but as it stands right now, the barebones nature of the title and the lack of content makes this a chore more than anything else. You’ll have to make do with a mixed bag of customization items until you eventually get the ones that you’re looking for.
The gameplay in Lego Brawls is pretty straightforward. Players will beat down other Lego Minifigures in an arena much like in Super Smash Bros. Players will be able to have a tonne of fun beating down other Lego Minifigures in a variety of themed maps. However, while they do feature different themes, the maps themselves are quite similar to each other in terms of their layouts. The aesthetics and what goes on in the arena are what sets them apart. The Lego Jurassic World map for example features the ability to transform into a large dinosaur and wreak havoc on the map against other players. The Ninjago-themed map features a giant Ninjago mech too.
Probably one for the younger gamers
Lego Brawls is essentially an easy-to-grasp brawling game that younger gamers would come to terms with quite quickly. There are a lot of mini-figures that you can create, but they play out in the same manner for the most part. Some weapons also need more balancing since they can completely outmatch others in the game. Playing as the “Champions” adds some variation to the game but again, due to the lack of content, this can get boring after a while.
Lego Brawls does shine in a few aspects and isn’t a complete disappointment though. Graphically, the game looks great and the Lego customization is extremely well done. It’s just such a shame that this opportunity has been squandered completely and the gameplay itself falls into a tried and trusted formula without really exploring the creativity of the Lego franchises themselves.
The soundtrack to the game is fine but don’t expect anything mind-blowingly awesome here, unfortunately. It’s mostly quite forgettable and there’s no voice acting whatsoever in the game. Again, another missed opportunity given the franchises Lego is involved with and that are featured in the game.
In the context of younger gamers playing Lego Brawls, it will certainly tick all the right boxes. Fun, easy-to-grasp gameplay that isn’t complicated? Check. Visually pleasing graphics? Check. Lots of grindy content? Check. About as shallow as a rock pool? Check. Kids in primary school will love this for sure until they finally get bored of fighting very samey battles and move on.
Final Verdict
Ultimately Lego Brawls is a disappointment. It’s a very basic game where you can hack, slash, earn loot and repeat by fighting against other players. There are no real stats attached to weapons and some power-ups in levels feel quite overpowered compared to others. The limited map selection and lack of anything substantial with regard to a story mode mean that after a few hours, you’ll probably get bored of this game. This was a wasted opportunity and if it ever gets a sequel, a whole heck of a lot more should be done to innovate on it. The potential is there, it just needs to be expanded upon some more. Lego Brawls is quite pricey on Steam so if you’re interested in this title, try the demo out first. If you really do want to take the plunge and buy the full game, it’s probably better if you wait for a deep discount because there’s a severe lack of content here.
Grab your copy here https://store.steampowered.com/app/1731460/LEGO_Brawls/
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, MORE
Developers: Red Games Co., The Lego Group
Publishers: The Lego Group, BNE Entertainment, Lego Interactive
Enjoy the review? want to read more of our reviews? then click right here to be whisked away to the realm of our opinions.
You must be logged in to post a comment.