LEGO® Party!: Building Blocks of Fun and Frustration

A Brick-tastic Bash with a Few Loose Pieces

Launch Day Larry

LEGO® Party! is here to remind us that even in the world of colorful bricks, not everything fits perfectly. This party board game, reminiscent of Mario Party, offers a delightful mix of fun and frustration, with minigames that will have you laughing, crying, and possibly questioning your life choices—all in the span of a single round.

Gameplay: A Minigame Melange

LEGO® Party! delivers a gameplay experience that feels like a rollercoaster ride through a LEGO theme park. The minigames are the heart of the experience, offering a variety of skill-based challenges that are as entertaining as they are diverse. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a casual player, there’s something here to tickle your fancy. The game’s design encourages mastery, with a balance of simplicity and depth that keeps you coming back for more.

However, not all is sunshine and rainbows in LEGO land. The control scheme, particularly for keyboard users, feels like trying to build a LEGO set with mittens on. The WASD configuration is less than ideal, and some minigames demand the precision of a surgeon, making controllers the preferred choice. Accessibility remains a concern, as players with disabilities may find the controls challenging.

Customization is a double-edged sword. While there’s a plethora of options to unlock, the inability to change certain colors or access all LEGO skins for custom characters feels like a missed opportunity. The game boards themselves are a mixed bag. The Pirate board is a solid starting point, but the Ninjago board’s lack of player agency and the Space board’s over-the-top alien boss fight can detract from the experience. The Theme Park map, however, is a standout, offering dynamic gameplay that evolves as you play.

Graphics: A Visual Feast with a Side of Stutter

LEGO® Party! is a visual delight, with graphics that are as vibrant and engaging as a Saturday morning cartoon. The game’s aesthetic is a major draw, with beautiful lighting and a polished style that makes every board and minigame a joy to behold. The graphics contribute to a seamless and responsive experience, drawing comparisons to the charming style of LittleBigPlanet.

Yet, even the most beautiful LEGO set can have a few missing pieces. Technical issues like stutters and FPS drops, particularly during map-building sections, suggest that the game could use a bit more polish. The lack of ultra-wide support is another area for improvement, as accommodating wider screens could enhance the visual experience further.

Customization options, while nice, could be more flexible. Players have expressed a desire for more control over character appearance, particularly in changing colors of hairstyles and gear. Cutscenes, though visually stunning, could benefit from a skip button to balance appreciation with gameplay efficiency.

Story: A Narrative as Thin as a LEGO Brick

In the world of LEGO® Party!, story takes a backseat to gameplay. The game offers a unique blend of story and mechanics through its themed boards, but the narrative elements are more of a backdrop than a driving force. The evolving game boards create a sense of progression, akin to building a LEGO playset, but the lack of depth and meaningful choices can leave players wanting more.

The Pirate board serves as a simple introduction, while the Ninjago and Space boards fall short in providing engaging narratives. The Theme Park map, however, executes its concept well, though the narrative tension diminishes towards the end. The game isn’t heavily focused on a traditional narrative, and while the strategic elements add depth, the story feels more like an afterthought.

Cutscenes, while beautiful, can become repetitive, and the lack of a skip button can hinder the pacing. The game’s length and focus on mini-games and customization over narrative depth suggest that future updates could benefit from more story-driven content.

Final Verdict

LEGO® Party! is a charming and entertaining addition to the party game genre, offering a mix of fun and frustration that will keep you and your friends engaged for hours. While the game shines in its minigames and visual appeal, it stumbles with control issues, limited customization, and a lack of narrative depth. With a few tweaks and updates, LEGO® Party! could build itself into a must-have title for party game enthusiasts.

Score: 7/10