The Lego Movie Videogame is simply awesome

SINGAPORE — Developing a game based on a film is sometimes a recipe for disaster. But Lego has an impressive track record of developing entertaining games that provide a good balance of action and puzzle-solving, and the game based on their very first movie is no different.

The Lego Movie Videogame mirrors the film’s plot very closely and the best scenes and jokes are included as well. So, if you have plans to see the movie, it is recommended that you do so before firing up your console.

You play construction worker Emmett, who gets involved in the fight against Lord Business, an evil dictator who wants to end all creativity in the Lego universe.

To combat him, Emmett will team up with a group of “Master Builders” — a special group of characters such as Batman and Gandalf who have the ability to create almost anything with Lego bricks — as they try to save the day.

Although Emmett is the game’s protagonist, you will be able to switch between other characters as they each offer unique abilities and characteristics that allow them to negotiate certain obstacles and solve puzzles.

Smashing Lego buildings, evil robots and figuring out how to unearth instructions needed to progress through a level kept me entertained for hours and the only thing that made me stop was my DualShock 4 controller’s battery running out of juice.

The Lego Movie Videogame is also much more impressive graphically compared to earlier Lego games, including Lego: Marvel Super Heroes — the first Lego game launched for the PlayStation 4, with its entire landscape built from Lego bricks.

Contrary to the movie’s catchy theme song, not everything about the game is awesome. I found myself getting stuck several times when conversations failed to load and had to restart the level in order to progress. These glitches are few and far between, but they ruin the fun.

The Lego Movie Videogame is a lot more juvenile compared to previous Lego titles and the gameplay could have been smoother. But its great graphics, exciting gameplay and simple controls still make it one of the best games based on a film. HIRANAND SUNNY