Review: LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5) - Dull Design Lets Down This Gorgeous Spin-Off

Nobody could've expected LEGO Horizon Adventures, a playful, plastic take on one of PlayStation's most popular franchises. Aloy's main games are laden with thick sci-fi lore, serious themes, and complex mechanics; squeezing all of that into an all-ages spin-off has always felt like a tall order. The result is a game that delights us in some ways, but leaves us feeling a little baffled in others.This is an action platformer that shrinks down the events of Horizon Zero Dawn into a shorter, linear experience for a family audience. LEGO really is the perfect way to do this, because it's instantly recognisable and opens the door for a much sillier direction. It works surprisingly well in Horizon's case; many of the intricacies of the narrative are thrown out and the game happily pokes fun at the narrative and its characters. The vocal performances help tremendously, with several returning cast members clearly enjoying the less serious tone. If you're a Horizon fan, it's really fun to witnes...