Lego Jurassic World PlayStation 4 Review
Summary: Charming and addictive, Lego Jurassic Park is one for us Nineties kids to slip into the console and sit down with the new generation, sharing the joy of communal gaming.
4.3
Nature Finds A Way...
Like many classic film licenses, the Jurassic Park series has had a whole range of tie-in and stand-alone video games of varying quality, ranging from the relatively solid Jurassic Park: The Game from Telltale Games to the bitter aftertaste that was Trespasser.
As one of the prime candidates for the process Legofication (see also: Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and The Goonies), it was only a matter of time before the Traveller’s Tales crew got around to rendering John Hammond’s ambitious vision in brick form.
Releasing just in time to capitalise on the massive success of Chris Pratt’s Tight Pants in the latest entry in the film series, Jurassic World, Lego Jurassic World collects all four tales of man’s hubris and kickass Raptor scenes into one immensely satisfying package.
One of the complaints I’ve been seeing around the net is that Lego Jurassic World, whilst one of the most technically stable and fun entries in the Lego game series because goddamned Dinosaurs!, the game doesn’t deviate enough from the standard formula perfected in previous entries.
This personally wasn’t an issue for me, as the only other Lego game I’ve invested a substantial amount of time into is Lego Marvel Super Heroes, which was an immensely satisfying experience, if one blocks out the races that require flying, and the first Lego Batman title.
The thing I love about playing Lego games is how intuitive the controls are, allowing even the younger members of your family to pick up a controller and jump into the action; split-screen co-op is also the ideal way to play and the game seems to be designed around this, and going in with a buddy by your side sure beats the minor hassle of constantly flicking between multiple characters to solve a puzzle.
We’ve all seen the films, so I’ll only touch upon the story elements briefly – Following the creation and eventual downfall of Jurassic Park, the discovery of the second island, Alan Grant’s mission to rescue a stranded child and the troubles that befall the up and running park in modern time, each entry comprises five levels of the game, making for a tight play through that has all of the expected charmingly innocent Lego nature on full display – Nobody dies in this game, for example.
By far the biggest addition to the game would be the ability to create and take control of your own Dinosaurs. Stomping about and charging into things never gets old and the Dinos control just as well as the regular character despite their often immense size.
As you make your way through a sprawling open world Jurassic Park you’ll solve puzzles, complete tasks and seek out collectables, with a wealth of characters, vehicles and other hidden goodies to unlock, although aside from the core cast of the series many of the unlockable characters are guys like “Park Sanitation Officer” and “Chef’s Second-in-Command – The Jurassic Park series doesn’t have a wealth of characters to draw upon.
You’re never short of something to do though and, for the most part, the side missions are entertaining to blast through. Probably the least enjoyable sections would be the chase sequences where you drive directly towards the screen, avoiding obstacles while trying to perform tasks like tossing a road flare into the mouth of an irate T-Rex, and these are far from terrible.
The top picks of the four vignettes would be, much like the films, Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, both of which feature more extravagant setpieces and engaging environments. The Lost World and Jurassic Park III shape up well enough but personally I had the most fun with the bookending chapters.
The puzzles are pretty simplistic, considering the target demographic, and the game is much less combat heavy compared to other Lego titles, but neither of these prove to be a bad thing.
Graphics and Audio
Lego Jurassic World looks great on the PlayStation 4, with no noticeable aliasing or any major graphical hiccups. The world of Jurassic Park is rendered in vivid detail and the animation is smooth and fluent. The soundtrack is robust and helps immerse you into a world where Dinosaurs can exist, but the audio is sourced directly from the films and can sound crackly or plagued by inappropriate background noise at times.
Overall, a commendable effort in these department, and I can let the Dialogue issues slide a bit when one considers the logistics of reuniting the cast of all four films to re-record their dialogue. One note though – Remember that uplifting Jurassic Park theme tune? Well, get ready to hear it over and over again, a minor niggle but one which may force players to turn down the audio by the game’s midway mark.
Final Thought
Lego Jurassic World is, for me, one of the best Lego experiences I’ve had, with the nostalgia goggles well and truly affixed to my face throughout the 7-8 hour main campaign.
Having been spared the Lego game fatigue that has prompted some of the criticisms against this game, I simply enjoyed the game for what it was – A tidy little adventure game with great mechanics, hugely satisfying co-op play and an opportunity to relive one of the film series’ that defined my childhood in fine detail.
Charming and addictive, Lego Jurassic Park is one for us Nineties kids to slip into the console and sit down with the new generation, sharing the joy of communal gaming.
Recommended.
Primary Format – PlayStation 4 (Reviewed), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC
Game Genre – Action & Adventure
Rating – PG
Game Developer – Traveller’s Tales
Game Publisher – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Reviewer – Sean Warhurst
About the Author
Sean Warhurst Avid gamer. Cinephile. Considerate lover. Neither the word Protractor or Contractor accurately conveys my position on how I feel about Tractors.
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