There is no shortage of Lego games – they seem to propagate with the speed of a rabbit farm. Thankfully, TT Games' Lego titles have been consistently entertaining for years. Still, the developer could always improve its work, and we have a few suggestions that will take its recently announced Lego Avengers to new heights.
7. More Realistic Graphics– Lego games have always looked
like Lego bricks, but come on, we know what those look like already. Instead
of improving the lighting in the game or adding some new particle
effects to Iron Man's blasters, TT Games should work to make these Lego
Avengers resemble their real life counterparts. Instead of showing us
more Lego, show us what these Lego minifigs look like inside a child's head.
Remember Marvel: Ultimate Alliance? Lego Avengers should look
like that.
What they'll probably do: Give Iron Man's blasters a
new particle effect and make Nick Fury's bald head even shinier by
making the game look better with normal Lego pieces.
6. Gritty Story– Lego stories are usually humorous, but
aren't you tired of laughing? We want a story with some real emotion and
depth. Give us some really moving, dramatic moments. For example,
during one scene, the bad guy could explain his master plan and then Iron
Man could kick him into one of the Helicarrier's engines saying, "Time
to meet your biggest fan!" Or Thor could hit someone over the head with
his hammer and then yell, "Nailed it!" Marvel: Ultimate Alliance had a
pretty good serious story. Consider looking to that game as a role
model.
What they'll probably do: Continue to add a series of adorable and charming physical comedy bits like they usually do. Groan!
5. Do Another Silent Game– Remember TT Game's Lego titles
didn't feature dialogue? We suggest going back to that formula. Tell a
story in pantomime. In fact, throw out the script entirely; think of it
like improv game design – just keep animating story sequences until you
have a whole game. That's probably how Pixar does it. Think of it like
this: Remember a time when you and your friend locked eyes and without
saying a word you both knew what the other was thinking? That's
powerful stuff. TT Games should try to do that with this game. I don't know how they'll do both this and number six, but if anyone can figure it out it would probably be Ken Levine, so TT Games should hire him while they're at it.
What they'll probably do: Try to communicate thoughts and story using words. What a bunch of dinosaurs.
4. Less Building– Building things is exhausting – just ask any
construction worker. So why do all of the Lego games require you to
collect bricks and build things? Just because TT Games can't finish
building their world before the game ships doesn't mean that players
should have
to finish their job. You know what's more fun than building things?
Destroying things. My favorite Lego memories are of
kicking over and destroying my brother's Lego creations. We need to see
more of that in games. For example, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance did
a great job letting you destroy large parts of the world you explored.
What they'll probably do: Add a series of "brick building" mini-games where players construct things out of bricks. Come on TT Games, we're not babies.
3. Stan Lee Is A Villain– I don't mean that Stan Lee should be a villain in the next game. I mean that man is
a villain. I bumped into him at a convention once and he didn't
apologize. Stan Lee created some of my most beloved childhood heroes,
but it turns out he's a stuck-up, elitist monster (no offense). It seems
only reasonable that TT Games should share my pain with the world in its
next game.
What they'll probably do: They'll probably put Stan
Lee back into the game as an unlockable character, like last time. And
he'll probably have every super hero power known to man, just like last
time. But trust me, power like that corrupts.
2. Free Burritos For Players– Some of my favorite gaming
memories are of going to Chipotle to buy a burrito and then sitting down
with friends to play Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance. Not only was Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance a flawless piece of entertainment, but I
love burritos. TT Games should give all of its fans that
experience by giving away a free burrito with the game.
What
they'll probably do: The game will likely come in a box that includes a
couple of advertisements for other games. You can put rice and
beans on those if you want, but that's not lunch.
1. Change The Name Already– Sure Lego Avengers describes the
game well enough. We know it's about Marvel's Avengers and it's set
inside a Lego world, but it's also incredibly boring. I almost fell
asleep reading it the first time. TT Games should use punchier words to describe
this game. Use power words like Heroic, Spectacular, or even Ultimate.
Also, describe the team-up nature of the game in the title. Is this an
alliance of different heroes? Tell us right in the title; don't make us wait to play the game to find out. For example, Lego Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has a nice ring to it.
What
they'll probably do: Call the game Lego Avengers; we already got the press release.