LEGO: The Hobbit is the latest entry in the popular Lego series of games, which seem to be releasing at a faster rate than ever before. In an odd choice by Warner Bros, they decided to release this game with content from only the first two Hobbit films, rather than waiting until the third film completes the trilogy. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug are both featured in this game (in a pretty high level of detail). Obviously, since the third film – The Battle of the Five Armies – has not yet released, its storyline does not play any part in the game. According to Warner Bros, there are plans to bring the third film to the game as DLC in the future, however, nothing concrete has been confirmed. The game, as with all LEGO games, features the usual elements we have come to know: studs, the stud collection bar (named Master Burglar in this game), collectible minikits, mithril bricks and collectible items/treasures. While the plot is extremely accurately reproduced in the games, with the pacing being well balanced, there is something missing in The Hobbit.
There doesn’t seem to be enough action; much of the game is filled with overly many breakable items and tedious tasks. Some of the levels feel very short due a lack of action, while others are too long due to an overload of breakable items. As usual, the game is presented with the trademark LEGO charm and humour that we have all come to love. The characters, environments and animations feature in their usual styles, and there are many witty moments throughout the game. However, the game does suffer from a major problem, and that is the difficulty to make out the different characters. While LEGO characters are usually hugely diverse, each having their own unique appearance, the dwarves look very alike and it is extremely difficult to distinguish each of the characters in order to pick out their abilities. If you enjoy the LEGO series of games, or you are a Hobbit fanatic, there is no doubt you will still enjoy this game. Also, we cannot be too harsh on it; most game adaptions of a film are awful, but the LEGO films are a regular exception to this.
For this reason, we must be fair, and give the game a score based on what it offers, rather than how it compares to other LEGO games. Despite this, I would have much preferred if Warner Bros had waited until the release of the third film before releasing this game, and I think it was a mistake. Are we getting tired of the LEGO games? Maybe, but, there is still a worthwhile experience available in LEGO: The Hobbit. « The Wolf Among Us – Episode 3: ‘A Crooked Mile’ review Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark – Ultimate Edition (PS4) review »The Trail to Oregon!, one of Team StarKid’s latest musicals, debuted on YouTube late last night after running concurrently with Star Wars parody Ani in the summer of 2014. Watch the show now!We got you… dysentry! Team StarKid have created a unique, nostalgic, choose-your-own adventure experience in The Trail To Oregon!, which blends parody and original comedy in an homage to the classic computer game. The show premiered at Chicago’s Stage 773 on July 3, and ran for five weeks alongside Ani as the major productions of StarKid’s “summer season.”
closed on August 10, but after a long wait — Ani aired online last Halloween — Team StarKid have brought the show to YouTube to share with their fanbase. If you missed out on visiting Chicago last summer, watch The Trail to Oregon! The Trail to Oregon! stars Jeff Blim, Joey Richter, Corey Dorris, Lauren Lopez, Rachael Soglin and Jaime Lyn Beatty. The book and music (cast album available now on iTunes) were also written by Jeff Blim, who had been developing this play for over eight years. Like Me and My Dick, an earlier StarKid production, The Trail to Oregon! started life as a 24 Hour Theatre project at the University of Michigan, starring Brian Holden in the one-off initial performance. We spoke with Blim last year, while the show was being put into production, about the history of this passion project: “…it’s actually gone into the woods and back -– it’s now very similar to the original story, which was involving a kid who typed some favorite characters into the game and got sucked back into the Trail.
So it’s about a kid who got sucked back into the Trail, the real Trail, who’s a fan of the game, or not a fan of the game. And then crazy things happen, and it’s pretty ridiculous. It’s gone through several drafts and I’ve submitted it to festivals before but we’ve rebooted it recently and it’s been like the project of my 20s.”pays tribute to the original Oregon Trail not only in setting but also in style. The live performances were different every night — the audience got to control aspects of the play, from naming the characters onwards, using a ballot system, allowing them an immersive experience similar to the game. Of course, Team StarKid had to pick one of many different versions of Oregon! to film and edit as a concise online video, but there might just be a little opportunity for the viewer to participate in an interactive element of the show just as the live crowds did. Taste is subjective, of course, but we’re already hearing buzz from fans that it’s some of StarKid’s best ever work.
If you’re keen to know more before watching, Hypable staff member Danielle Zimmerman caught The Trail to Oregon! live last summer and shared a review: “Unlike the majority of the other Team StarKid musicals, the second act of The Trail to Oregon! was undoubtedly the strongest. It definitely evoked the most laughs, most ending with sore abs. The last two scenes of the musical are not to be missed as they were the most side-splittingly hilarious. They both relied on physical gags (one because of dysentery of course) which we’re not normally as impressed by, but these were especially funny.” Tags: , , , ,This year, the LEGO BIONICLE line, the toy line that helped save LEGO from financial catastrophe, has been rebooted and relaunched. And it’s pretty rad. LEGO originally introduced its BIONICLE line about 15 years ago, and it was initially a sub-part of the Technic series, due to each set’s technic elements. It’s marketed to kids between ages 5 and 16 and has been one of the best-selling series in the company’s history.
In fact, it’s been credited with helping the LEGO Group overcome their late-90s financial crisis. However, a few years ago, the LEGO Hero Factory replaced the BIONICLE line, but this year it’s been rebooted and relaunched. There’s a whole universe created around the BIONICLE heroes and villains, which are part-machine, and part-organic sentient beings. In short “LEGO BIONICLE (2015) is an epic legend set on the mystical island of Okoto where elemental heroes fight for masks of power against a rising evil.” I’m actually really curious about the decision to use names like “Skull Basher” and “Skull Slicer,” considering that the LEGO Group vociferously enforces its policy against releasing violent-themed sets. But, personally I don’t really see a major difference between a sword, a gun, and a skull slicer. However, the way the LEGO Group reconciles this confusing contradiction, is by claiming that these sets are about Good vs. Evil, so children aren’t encouraged to fight each other, with real-world weaponry in real-world settings, but rather “good hero warriors” are designed to combat “evil enemy fighters” in a mythical universe.
Sure, let’s go with that. Here’s a rundown of 2015’s new BIONICLE warriors.LEGO Bionicle Skull Warrior (70791)The 7” tall “Skull Warrior” was designed for “intense action play” and is quite durable. You can repel enemies with his Freeze Bow rapid shooter, which can shoot six shots in rapid succession, and for close combat he comes with a “battle bash function.” And most importantly, you can use his hook blade to rip off the skull masks of your opponents “and channel their elemental power to awaken more of the Skull Warrior’s undead comrades!” What’s also pretty cool is that you can “create a multi-headed warrior” when you combine Skull Slicer and Skull Basher, using the instructions here (in fact, each the sets come with additional instructions to create additional warrior combinations.) LEGO Bionicle Skull Basher 70793 At over 7” tall, the fearsome Bull Skull warrior “Skull Basher” guards the gate to the Temple of Creation. He’s armed with two massive hook axes, and if you press the trigger on his back you can activate the “battle bash function to chop off invaders’ masks.”
LEGO Bionicle Skull Slicer 70792 The ancient arena champion “Skull Slicer” was “animated by the dark magic of the Skull Spider Mask,” who endowed him with various combat poses and “razor-sharp hook blades,” which can be activated simultaneously by turning the wheel on his back. LEGO Bionicle Skull Scorpio 70794The brooding and evil “Skull Scorpio” hangs out in the “dark burial ground of the ancient city” on a seemingly endless quest to discover the “lost masks of power.” He fights off the BIONICLE heroes using his stinger and hook blades, which are activated by a trigger on his tail. He’s an intimidated 4” tall, 10” long, and 7” wide. But what do the kids say? Full disclosure: I’m a 34-year old mom of a 2-year old, and even though I absolutely love Lego, neither myself nor my little boy are the primary demographic for these sets. So, I gave them to my buddies, Grayson (9 years old) and Ronin (6 years old) and asked them what they thought.