LEGO 2K Drive – a test drive review
This game combines the tried and proven “Mario Kart” type concept with open world maps and ability to customise vehicle just like playing with digital LEGO Bricks. Players can drive around the huge open-world maps and explore Bricklandia in Story mode. There’s also a Cup Series tournament mode where racer race multiple tracks to win the cup. If a player just wants to have a quick game, they can try the mini game mode.
Just like in Mario Kart, drifting and boosting are your best friends in winning the races. It is very easy to drift. You just need to press the accelerator and brake at the same time while steering. I like the open world map where we can roam endlessly around the map to look for next challenge. While roaming, I can also engage with LEGO characters, find hidden collectibles, collect coins and destroy brick objects. The game provides endless fun to the player and is quite addictive.
The game automatically transforms your vehicle from a street car to an off road car when you drive on an off-road area and likewise to a water vehicle when you drive on water. It gives a different driving experience when driving on each different terrain. Players can configure the vehicle to be used for each form (street, off-road and water forms) to suit the player’s individual style. New vehicles will be unlocked when the player wins a race. After that, players can set the vehicle in loadout and try out the new vehicle immediately. With this mechanism, player can explore land and water terrain plus gain some air time using the Jump ability with special equipment like rockets.
Now let’s talk about vehicle customisation which is the most interesting part of the game. The game allows player to design the vehicle you want using the Body Shop in Garage. First of all, player will have to choose a vehicle base. Then the player can start building by select the LEGO element to use in the brick collection menu. I suggest player to run through the building tutorial before building the first vehicle. It will help the player to familiarise with the building system quickly. Players can design vehicles in different shapes and colours to their liking. Once a player completes the design, the player can save the design and start using it to race in the game. Players can also duplicate existing vehicle designs and customise it from there. Players will unlock more varieties of LEGO elements available everytime they win a race.
The story mode is quite engaging with tons of challenges and activities to complete. The ultimate goal is to win the Sky Cup Trophy. Before players can compete at Sky Cup Trophy tournament, the player needs to have won all 24 races in the maps.
The game graphic very looks polished which makes the sceneries beautiful to look at when I roamed around the open world. Overall, the game is fun to play and one of the best LEGO games around in my opinion. I give a rating of 9 out of 10 to this game.
Key features include
● Story – Play solo or in splitscreen co-op on your journey from rookie racer to famous champion as you compete against a series of charismatic rivals with hopes of one day winning the coveted Sky Cup Trophy. With each victory, you’ll work your way up the ranks to take on the infamous Shadow Z road villain.
● Cup Series – Get the Grand Prix experience in Cup Series mode, featuring multiple tracks back-to-back. You’ll score points after each race based on your finishing place, and those with the highest point totals get the top spots on the podium. There is a Grand Brix Cup Series for every biome in Bricklandia.
● Race – Looking to get straight to the action as fast as possible? Check out the Race mode, where you can choose any course and License Class level (determining overall speed and available abilities) to start driving right away.
● Minigames – Minigames have unique objectives that aren’t based on crossing a finish line, and speed isn’t the only thing required to succeed. In Defend Minigames, you need to smash waves of marching robots to protect objectives, while Rescue Minigames get hectic as you battle groups of roaming baddies and pick up helpless townspeople.
● Garage – The Garage is where you’ll build and modify vehicles. You have the power to make the vehicles of your dreams, customizing every brick from nose to tail. Right from the get-go, you’ll have hundreds of bricks to build with, sorted by type and category, with over 1,000 unique LEGO pieces available over the course of the adventure.
○ Note: To ensure a safe environment, the game will prompt you to submit in-game any player-created vehicles for moderation approval before you can use it in online multiplayer. We will be resetting approvals at launch and, because you are receiving pre-launch access, you may be required to re-submit your vehicles then.
● Unkie’s Emporium – LEGO 2K Drive features an in-game store, Unkie’s Emporium, where players can acquire optional items including new vehicles, minifigures and more. There are two types of in-game currency: Brickbux, which are earned through playing, and Coins, which are purchased with real currency. At launch, all items in Unkie’s Emporium can be purchased with Brickbux. Coins can also be used to purchase more Brickbux.
In LEGO 2K Drive, you can enjoy driving with other players both locally and online.
● Local Play / Splitscreen – On all platforms, you can enjoy in-person driving action with two-player splitscreen. On Nintendo Switch, two players can also link up for Local Play using two Nintendo Switch systems on the same wireless connection.
● Play with Friends Online – Party up with crossplay available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The biggest mode in Play With Friends is Shared World, where up to six players can join up online and race around the vast expanse of Bricklandia simultaneously. Play With Friends also lets your party see who is the fastest driver in Cup Series and Race modes.
● Play with Everyone Online – See how you stack up against racers from around the globe in the Play With Everyone online multiplayer mode, including crossplay on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. You’ll be matchmade with other racers of your skill level to compete in Cup Series or Race events
LEGO 2K Drive is the first release in a multi-title partnership between 2K and the LEGO Group to develop AAA LEGO games. The game is available worldwide on May 19, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Here are some recommended specs for the PC provided by the manufacturer
RECOMMENDED:
● OS: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 64-bit
● Processor: Intel:registered: Core:tm: i7-4790 / AMD Ryzen 5 3500 or better
● Memory: 8 GB RAM
● Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 1070 or better / AMD RX Vega-56 or better
● DirectX: Version 12 (feature level 11_0)
● Storage: 12 GB available space
● Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
● Dual-analog gamepad: Recommended
MINIMUM:
● OS: Windows 10 64-bit
● Processor: Intel:registered: Core:tm: Intel i5 4690 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or better
● Memory: 8 GB RAM
● Graphics: Nvidia 960 or better / AMD R9 380 or better
● DirectX: Version 12 (feature level 11_0)
● Storage: 12 GB available space
● Sound Card: DirectX 9.0x compatible sound card
● Dual-analog gamepad: Recommended
We were provided a gamecode to test out the game by 2K via LEGO for the purpose of an honest review. Provision of codes/sets do not in any way influence or guarantee a positive review.
