A Brick-Filled Journey of Wonder
If I had to describe the feeling I got from playing LEGO Voyagers in one word, I’d choose wonder.
The childlike wonder of bigger things in the world. The desire to search for what may be out there… an adventure.
All of this is perfectly captured through the experience, I may even say journey, LEGO Voyagers takes you through its magical, brick filled world.
Gone are the days large scale IPs are the basis for LEGO titles, and during Voyagers you take the mantle of two 1×1 LEGO bricks dubbed Red and Blue. Their innocence, cute singular eyes, and fabulous singing voices are all that’s carried through after they sail to an unknown island to fulfil their childish dream, one that you will be a major part of completing.
Along the way you’ll find LEGO bricks – many of which will be transformed into creatures such as butterflies or crabs – leading to awe inspiring set pieces across Red and Blue’s journey of growth. It’s a simple story, yet a universal one that all of us have been through at some point in our lives, leaving a subdued narrative that still resonates.
Physics, Puzzles, and a Partner
During this narrative, the main emphasis is placed on what every great game strives to perfect, the gameplay. In the past, the typical LEGO gameplay consisted of a cycle of LEGO-like reincarnation, during which you’d destroy everything in your sight to rebuild it into something anew.
It’s safe to say this LEGO-like reincarnation has vanished in LEGO Voyagers, instead replaced by a much more platformer oriented approach.
A system revolving around momentum and physics, all in the name of platforming is one of the various foundational pillars (perhaps LEGO bricks would be a more apt analogy in this context) keeping LEGO Voyagers afloat; the very movement of your character is only achieved through the interaction with external factors such as environment and obstacles. You’ll roll, hop and attach yourself to the various bricks found in this block world, relying on wit and singing to work your way through.
Your way through, in this instance, is LEGO bricks for building blocks, environments and, most curiously of all, enemies, such as many two piece blocks with claws as a crab, or corner pieces taking on the mantle of butterflies. Each of your abilities plays a vital role in progressing through the world of LEGO Voyagers, and most of all the option to attach yourself to LEGO bricks will become crucial in platforming over pits of death, moving bricks and solving puzzles.
Mandatory Co-op and a Friend’s Pass
The most LEGO-like aspect of all comes into play quite early on, being that of the puzzles. Given the target demographic – that clearly being the younger or newer gamer – the puzzles certainly stay on the easy side, often involving removing a brick to free the path ahead, or spinning a wheel to unlock a door. Yeah, I wasn’t kidding when I said they were easy.
As you progress, they do become more challenging eventually requiring moving bricks into specific locations, launching one another up to locations through levers and various other mechanics you’ll learn to love during your play-through, whilst maybe hating your co-op partner if they can’t figure things out.
In fact I’m amazed I’ve gone so far without talking about the co-op of LEGO Voyagers yet, as it without doubt is another of the foundational LEGO bricks keeping this game intact. Previous entries allowed for optional co-op, often heightening the experience, yet never the only way to play… LEGO Voyagers has a different approach; co-op is mandatory, being the only way to play the game.
The playground you fall into is very blatantly designed for two players, with each puzzle, platform to hop across, and every set piece you encounter requiring two players. This choice leaves the game sitting as a perfect entry point to children, partners or just about anyone wanting to be introduced into the world of gaming due to its innate accessibility.
It also conjures up a beacon of shining hope through the benevolent addition of a Friend’s Pass, a feature allowing two people to play the game for the price of one. In an industry that can often feel as though money is the motivating factor, it’s refreshing to see such innocence attributed to a title, providing benefits on top of an already reasonably priced game.
A World of Wonder
So we’ve covered the story, basic gameplay, and bedazzling special features, but what do you actually do in LEGO Voyagers? By that I mean, what is your main, overarching objective. Every game has one, be it to save the princess or go through a complex RPG story. For LEGO Voyagers… well I’m still trying to piece that together myself. It’s clear through the show not tell storytelling, which is done masterfully may I add, that a ship crashed in a derelict environment that Blue and Red stumble upon. They investigate and wind up in vast grasslands, futuristic complex’, and a further wide array of environments, but my initial question is never answered, always feeling as though you’re just… wandering.
The main objective here is never clear, except to progress, ultimately leaving LEGO Voyagers feeling more like a tech demo than a complete gaming experience.
Despite this, it’s hard to feel disappointed with the occasional underwhelming gameplay of LEGO Voyagers when you take one look at the environments. From the moment you boot up the title screen, this LEGO world is built up of various set pieces such as a boat, telescope, spaceship and many many more that will evoke a grandiose sense of wonder as you journey through it. A personal favourite was that of some spinning wheels you can discover abandoned as you explore. You can hop on them and launch yourself and your co-op partner around, definitely giving a good giggle, yet reinforcing my point about LEGO Voyagers.
There’s not a clear objective in this world, but maybe that’s the fun. In such a simple, childlike view of a universe, there is no goal besides progressing on an adventure, and taking in meaningless fun along the way, a feeling captured perfectly through Blue, Red and the LEGO world.
Each environment brings luscious landscapes which, when paired with the LEGO art style, soothes and immerses you into a world that can’t help but feel like a nostalgic look back on your own life. Grasslands, lakes, beaches, it’s all here and is all part of the adventure. This doesn’t make up for the fact that LEGO Voyagers clearly lacks a goal, yet viewing it as a reflective, calming journey certainly helps in maintaining its enjoyment factor.
A Creative Journey
LEGO Voyagers sets many foundational bricks that could be used by LEGO titles for years to come, be it the refreshing take on gameplay, reflective show-not-tell narrative told in wonder filled environments, or simple co-op fun. Sadly, a lack of overall direction and goals leaves LEGO Voyagers feeling more like a tech demo that future titles will have to rebuild, rather than a complete gaming experience.
Important Links
LEGO Voyagers Announced: A Co-op Adventure from Annapurna and the Builders of a Journey | Release Date Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/lego-voyagers-announced-a-co-op-adventure-from-annapurna-and-the-builders-of-a-journey/
Beyond the Brick: An Exclusive Interview with the Creative Director of LEGO Voyagers – https://www.thexboxhub.com/beyond-the-brick-an-exclusive-interview-with-the-creative-director-of-lego-voyagers/
Buy LEGO Voyagers on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lego-voyagers/9NKD66G942R8/0010
