LEGO Jurassic World Review

LEGO Jurassic World is one of the latest instalments in the LEGO franchise, with this particular title focusing on not only Jurassic World, but also the Jurassic Park movies as well, giving you a number of levels and settings to enjoy.

Since the game makes sure to follow the story of the movies, it seems necessary to mention it first. What you’re getting out of the story isn’t really anything more than what you would get from the movies. Just like every other LEGO game that is based on their film counterparts, they tend to stick rather religiously to the plot. You might find some little differences here and there, where the two might not correspond exactly, but the general gist of it is all the same. If you’ve seen any of the Jurassic movie franchise, then the games won’t be giving you anything new, other than the chance to play them for yourself.

Again, just like other LEGO games, the gameplay is pretty much identical to its counterparts, and despite being on touchscreen devices, that doesn’t change much. You can opt for two control schemes: casual or virtual controls. They’re all fairly straightforward to use and get you through any tasks without any issues cropping up.

Now, it does have to be said, I was quite surprised by how well the game controls on touchscreen devices, especially when the series originated on consoles. Controls are very well optimised for touchscreen, but at times they do get a little annoying, with the main culprit being the virtual joystick. At times I’m using it, and I find my character walking instead of running, all because I’m not pushing far enough.

One possible disappointment for fans of the more open world LEGO games is that you won’t be finding that here. Levels are just exactly that; levels. Each level is split up into their own sections, where you must complete at least one major goal before you’re allowed to move on. Honestly, I don’t personally mind the linear nature of the game too much, but I can completely understand that for some people it won’t be the what they were hoping for.

In terms of soundtrack, the game does a pretty darn good job overall. With the quintessential Jurassic Park theme being played throughout, you’ll find yourself experiencing the same feeling of excitement and nostalgia you had for the original Jurassic Park as a kid. The soundtrack has definitely been a strong suit for the game, but unfortunately the voice acting is not. There are a number of instances throughout the game where characters voices sound off, and don’t naturally fit. At times, it gives the sense of a poor dub, and that’s not something you want out of your voice acting, especially not in a game where the story is considered rather important.

Just like in other LEGO games, you have the option of switching between characters, but it does this in a rather roundabout way. Instead of pressing a button to switch to a different character, the game forces you to hold onto your character’s face in the top-left corner, wait for a radial to pop up, and then choose your preferred character. The biggest problem is the clunky nature of it all. If you’re playing on a tablet like I was, you have all of the controls easily at your disposal, except the character radial. You have to go out of your way to use it if you’re using a tablet, which soon tends to grate on the experience.

Aesthetically, the LEGO games are more or less always identical in terms of graphics, and you won’t find too much of an improvement over previous titles. Just know that if you like the colourful and friendly world of previous LEGO titles, then this one certainly won’t be disappointing you, especially not when you get to play as a velociraptor!

Overall, while LEGO Jurassic World might have a couple of minor issues here and there, it doesn't subtract from the experience or enjoyment of the game as a whole. The controls obviously will be better on other platforms that have physical buttons, but the touch screen controls do their job well, and you certainly can't fault the game for that in the slightest. LEGO Jurassic World may not be taking the open world route like the more recent LEGO games, but it still leads to a fun and enjoyable experience all around.