Lego Universe Impressions
We explore Lego Universe to find out what the brick builders can bring to the MMO genre.
Attendees of GameCity 5 were given the opportunity to play a demo of the new, eagerly awaited Lego Universe title for the PC and Mac. The title is the newest in the long-running Lego franchise, this time scrapping the film tie-ins in to take on the world of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games.
The game’s mechanics and layouts will be instantly familiar to those who have played popular MMO World of Warcraft. At first glance, Lego Universe will seem little more than a game to tap into a younger audience with a WOW clone. However, after playing for a brief period, it’s easy to see that the game has a lot more to offer than you might expect.
The game controls use a standard MMO format. You control your character by using WASD keys and select enemies to attack by using the mouse. You’re given a wide array of moves and items to obtain along your quest, giving a lot of variety in the way you can fight enemies, though we were only able to play long enough to use the standard sword available. The game incorporates two main gameplay elements that feel very unique to Lego and help to distinguish it from its MMO counterparts – imagination and construction. Imagination acts as a magic power bar and allows you to easily create things like Lego gun turrets by using blocks on the ground. While construction allows you to make more elaborate things like bridges or springboards.
As you’d expect from a Lego title, the game offers a huge amount of customisation options ranging from character appearances and attributes to the Lego block building tool allowing you to create your own private properties out of any parts available and assign behaviours like making them move. While it’s possible to create any shape with the custom build tool, your creations are sent off to moderation before being introduced to the general public (a feature used to discourage those with more active imaginations we’re sure).
Though the game is widely imaginative, the game’s clear target is a far younger audience than the average MMO player. The game’s staff maintained that it has been thoroughly designed with children’s safety online as the number one priority. Things like very strict word filters in the chat function are incorporated for any sceptical parents who may feel like the game is too open for young gamers.
Lego titles have shined amongst video games in recent times, largely due to the heart and imagination poured into every nook and cranny. Lego Universe certainly lives up to the franchise’s good name with a truly unique and (more importantly) fun take on the MMO genre. However, only time will tell if younger gamers latch onto its creative features long enough to convince their parents to fork out the monthly subscription fee and create a vast online community of new Lego lovers.
Dan Key
