It’s hard to believe now, but during the late 90s, the Lego company faced an enormous struggle to stay relevant and profitable as children turned elsewhere for entertainment. Now, however, the Danish toy outfit has established itself as a cultural giant built not just from little bricks, but from licensed toys, animated feature films and, of course, video games. The unique, symbiotic connection between key brands like Star Wars, physical Lego playsets and the hugely successful Lego series of games was always going to lead toward a “toys-to-life” title. In this genre, created by Activision’s Skylanders series, special action figures can be placed on a USB portal, which then renders them into the on-screen action (using a rather unglamorous technology close to that which sees an Oyster card open a Tube station’s gate). The only surprise is that it’s taken so long for Dimensions to arrive. Created by Traveller’s Tales, the team behind many of the recent Lego video games, Dimensions’ design takes on a fundamentally similar form to its forbearers.
It’s a third-person action-adventure where gameplay centres on light combat and environmental puzzle solving, with switches, levers and locked doors serving as Dimension’s core currency of interaction. But while it’s conventional, it is certainly not mediocre. Lego Dimensions offers a hugely captivating world filled with character and considered design. The wit that this studio has brought to its previous titles is immediately evident in the setting. Thanks to the dimension-plundering efforts of an archetypical super villain played by Gary Oldman, the game’s cast of protagonists – opening with the Batman, Gandalf and Lego Movie characters included in the starter pack – are forced to protect a series of high-profile fictional worlds. The result sees the protagonists, locations and lore of The Wizard of Oz, Doctor Who, The Simpsons and more mixed and mashed into a series of entertaining levels. The environments are detailed and imaginative, playing home to well-designed puzzles that reward single and cooperative play with near equal grace.
The quality of writing and knack for comedy shines through. Whether it’s Batman’s frustrated attempt to comprehend a Tardis, or confusion about right and wrong on the Yellow Brick Road, Dimensions knows how to raise a smile. There are odd glitches to be found, and perhaps the value of the boss battle is slightly overstated throughout the game. Predominantly, though, Dimensions is tremendous fun. But what of those physical toys? In Dimensions they are, of course, built from Lego, taking the form of characters and vehicles. The starter pack includes the required Toy Pad platform, the three aforementioned character figures, and one vehicle; a diminutive Lego Batmobile. Very quickly, the unique strength of Lego reveals itself. While other toys-to-life games like Skylanders and Disney Infinity have mostly provided players with static action figures, this is a game that wants you to really play with the toys. In fact, the opening starts with putting the controller aside and building a portal on the Toy Pad.
Later models are reconstructed to track progress and reflect upgrades in game, and throughout, you’re never far from the next moment you switch thumbsticks for bricks. But with the toys also comes Dimension’s capacity to irritate. Unavailable areas, hidden items and other concealed elements lurk in each and every level. Many can only be accessed by certain characters or vehicles not included in the starter pack, which must be purchased in the real world for real money. Although this is a standard feature of this genre, it’s still a bridge between the physical and virtual that most parents could probably do without – especially as the extra sets do not come cheap. Available in various arrangements that each provide new Lego models and game content – including entire new missions and levels in some cases – the packs are certainly of a quality equal to the base game. But it is Dimension’s habit of constantly suggesting the introduction of these new elements that is bound to put pressure on parental wallets.
Buying a new pack does make revisiting a level rewarding, and arguably lends longevity to the experience. But one thing is clear; the completist will have to spend hundreds of pounds to experience Dimensions in its entirety. The base game, though, remains superb – the ways Dimensions harnesses what Lego does best to blend the tangible with the digital is consistently delightful. Dimensions may be the best Lego game yet, but like the sweets at the supermarket counter, or those tantalising extras in the latest free-to-play smartphone game, it might prove most talented when it comes to causing friction between parent and child.PS3/PS4/Wii U/Xbox 360/Xbox One (version tested); FAQ About LEGO Dimensions LEGO Dimensions uses magic to bring Toys to Life. At least that's the way it might seem if you’re as mystified by the whole thing as most parents are. Fret not, we’re here to help. Read on to get a sense of the who, what, where, when, and how of LEGO Dimensions. What is LEGO Dimensions?
LEGO Dimensions consists of a central storyline, core video game, physical LEGO toys, a Toy Pad, and a Gateway. The physical LEGO toys can each be built in several different variations then placed on the Toy Pad, along with toy characters, where they're beamed into the on-screen video game action. The player can then use that newly built LEGO toy or character in the video game story missions. How does LEGO Dimensions work? Through the touch-and-tap magic of NFC (near field communication). Each LEGO toy, character, and item that can be brought to life on screen features NFC technology, as does the Toy Pad. Different parts of the Toy Pad can be used to create different effects in the game. For example, if you place a character on the shrinking section of the Toy Pad that character will appear in the game shrunken in size. Who are the playable characters in LEGO Dimensions? This is where the real fun starts. LEGO Dimensions includes multiple LEGO franchises, including DC Super Heroes, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Jurassic World, The Simpsons, Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, and the Wizard of Oz. Characters from all of these franchises will not only be available to bring to life on screen, they can be mixed and matched.
That means you can create a team of Batman, Gandalf, and Marty McFly to save the day. What platforms can I play LEGO Dimensions on? LEGO Dimensions is available for all of the major consoles, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii U. Characters and items can be used across platforms, but video game discs will be platform specific. How do I get started? LEGO Dimensions Starter Packs for each console system include the video game, Toy Pad, bricks to build the Gateway (part of the Toy Pad), 3 toy figures, and a Batmobile toy. This gives you everything you need to begin your LEGO Dimensions adventure. Additional Fun Packs, Level Packs, and Team Packs can be used to add new characters, gadgets, vehicles, and story levels to your game. Want more info about LEGO Dimensions? Check out some of our resources: Plug-in Blog: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announces LEGO Dimensions Plug-in Blog: Why are the "Toys to Life" video games so popular?