Review: 71171 Starter Pack
Posted by CapnRex101,
Typically Brickset would not be the place to come for LEGO video game coverage, but that is not the case with LEGO Dimensions as guest reviewer LEGOManiacs casts his expert eye over the starter pack:
When LEGO Dimensions was first announced in early 2015 I was excited and nervous in equal measure. There was a new LEGO game coming from TT Games and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it but it became immediately apparent that this game would be a dramatic departure from any of the previous titles. The new game would be a "Toys-to-Life" game (commonly abbreviated to TTL) and I had been burned by TTL games before. Dropping hundreds of dollars into unsatisfying games such as Skylanders and Disney Infinity left me hesitant to see the LEGO name attached to a similar project. However, by the time the announcement trailer ended I knew I had nothing to worry about. LEGO was in good hands and together with TT Games, they were ready to Break the Rules.
A TTL video game uses Near Field Communications (NFC) to read and write digital information to a figure. Most of the games that use this technology involve a "portal" or "gamepad" which can read the information on the figure and transfer it into the game; so one second a figure is just collecting dust on your shelf and the next you are running around new worlds with that character in a video game. It can be quite fun if done properly or extremely frustrating when the product doesn't meet expectations. I can't think of another toy brand that would lend itself better to a TTL game than LEGO and with TT Games, the people behind other amazing LEGO video games such as LEGO Harry Potter and LEGO Jurassic World, responsible for bringing these franchises to life there is little need for trepidation.
Box and Contents
We will kick off our LEGO Dimensions reviews by taking a closer look at 71171 LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack. The box features an image of the LEGO Gateway as well as images of the three minifigures you receive with the starter pack: Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle. Along the top of the box are images of all of the planned add-on packs scheduled to be released in a total of five waves between now and May 2016.
The back of the box shows the game's main villain Lord Vortech (who I sincerely hope gets a minifigure release) commanding a horde of his minions which include Orcs, Micro Managers and even flying monkeys. There are also images depicting the gateway being built as well as the three different models that can be made from the one vehicle included, the Batmobile. You will find logos for many of the other well-known properties that make up the game too. It is not only DC, Lord of the Rings and The LEGO Movie mashed together here. You will also see the worlds of Back to the Future, Doctor Who, Scooby-Doo, The Simpsons and many others colliding in an amazing adventure across the LEGO Multiverse.
Inside the main box are two further boxes. The first is an unremarkable white one containing the video game and the electronic base of the LEGO Gateway. The second is a smaller version of the main box, the only difference being the lack of a console identifier and the back of the box which shows the additional Level, Team and Fun Packs you can purchase to expand your collection of playable characters and in-game content. These add-ons are not necessary to complete the game 100%; they merely add to the overall experience. For LEGO collectors who don't plan on buying the game these minifigure packs are a great way to get some awesome minifigures without spending a lot of money on a larger set, although you might be tempted to purchase the entire game of course!
The box contains three numbered bags of pieces, a baseplate, a small sticker sheet and the instructions. LEGO really should have done a better job packing this box as my instructions were folded and the dark bluish gray baseplate was a little warped, but not so badly that I can not use it. Considering the price of $99.99 or £99.99, (although you can find it on Amazon for a lower price), it would have been nice if the instructions, stickers and the baseplate came bagged with cardboard as they do in most sets in this price range, even if there are only 269-pieces.
Minifigures
Bag one contains the elements to build our three heroes: Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle. These characters have all appeared before in sets based on their respective IPs, although the combination of Batman's old cowl with his new torso design is exclusive to this pack. Wyldstyle comes with a new 'relic scanner' printed 1x2 tile which appeared briefly in The LEGO Movie.
As you can see each minifigure stands on a trans-blue disc which is printed with a symbol representing that character. A bat for Batman, Elvish runes for Gandalf and a stylized "WS" for Wyldstyle. These discs contain the information that transports each figure into the game. Unlike other TTL games, the minifigures and other models can be removed from the base and played with even after the game is completed! It is frustrating to pay $15 for a figure to use in a game only for it to take up space once the game is completed.
I should mention that you need not worry about losing pieces or the minifigures; as long as you still have the disc, the game is playable. The physical LEGO is really just for decoration, but the best kind of decoration of course!
The Build
The second bag contains the elements used to build the LEGO Gateway. Construction is very straightforward and only took me about twenty minutes. It is broken up into two parts, the first half of which is building the Gateway. The circle in the middle is big enough to place one of the game discs inside and it fits nicely over the circle on the electronic part of the gamepad.
However, the portal is undoubtedly the star of the build and is the most detailed aspect of the set. While it is relatively simple it's still amazing to see a circular object made with angular LEGO pieces. The entire assembly is fitted to the base using a couple of Technic axles so it is very sturdy. I really like the use of light and dark blue along with the gray as it brightens the model nicely and the trans-light blue claws produce an excellent wormhole effect.
I know there are those among you who hate stickers and don't normally apply them. I didn't either when I first became interested in LEGO as an adult but I like the details they add to a set so I have started using them. Luckily there are only seven stickers in this set, all of which are easy enough to apply. The only printed pieces are the shields which you are instructed to place on the back of the model for now and are moved to the front after completing different levels of the game. If you wanted to you can put them in place before playing the game as it will not affect gameplay.
The Completed Model
After building the LEGO portion of the gateway, it attaches to the electronic NFC reader base which fortunately has two 2x2 studded sections on each side to hold it in place. The final product looks even better in person than it does on the box. It has a very organic feel to it and the NFC readers do not look out of place at all.
I love how LEGO designs portals. I came out of my dark ages just before the Atlantis line retired and was instantly drawn to 8078 Portal of Atlantis. In many ways this set is a spiritual successor to 8078. The only thing it is missing is a way to open and close the iris but moving each of the trans-light blue claws by hand has a similar effect, albeit not a smooth one. The gateway contains a few pieces in new colours including the medium azure A-shaped plates which form the outer ring of the portal. If you are not intending to buy the game you should be able to Bricklink one, although I suspect the exclusive elements will be expensive.
The Batmobile is a superb model which makes good use of batarang elements to form the tail-fins. It is clearly based on the model from 76012 Batman: The Riddler Chase, with an orange canopy and substantial afterburner at the back.
Gameplay
Brickset is not normally the place to look for reviews of video games, even LEGO based ones, but physically building and rebuilding vehicles and weapons is a big part of the game, so much so that instructions for the Batmobile and its two variant models are not included in the Starter Set but have to be unlocked through playing the game. You can also find them on the LEGO Dimensions website. I won't go into too much depth about the actual story of the game, just some interesting points which set it apart from other TTL games as well as a few features that make this game stand out as one of the most innovative LEGO games ever made.
The sheer number of popular franchises found in one place might seem overwhelming to some but being able to send Gimli the Dwarf riding a Velociraptor through Springfield was a major selling point for me. Even if you don't love all the properties included in the game there are sure to be one or two that catch your eye. One of the most compelling aspects of LEGO Dimensions is the ability to combine all of the characters from every franchise in the main story. This is possible in other TTL video games but only outside of the main story which has been one of my biggest complaints about those games.
The cinematics are beautifully rendered and could be cut together to make an excellent movie with a few small additions. The dialog is excellent too and will delight both children and adults. For instance, at one point Batman is convinced that Scarecrow of Oz is really The Scarecrow from Gotham who must be using his fear toxin to cause everyone to hallucinate. It is important to note that the Batman you play in the game is not the same Batman from The LEGO Movie and there is even a humorous cinematic early on which proves it.
If you've ever played any of the other LEGO games produced by TT Games, you will be right at home with the mechanics of the game. Destroy everything you can to get studs and complete puzzles using a specific character's special abilities to unlock certain areas of each level. Tricky boss battles that are not simply "beat 'em up" make a return too and require you to think rather than simply mashing buttons. You will also need to revisit levels with other characters to unlock even more secrets! LEGO Dimensions does not break with this tried and tested formula and it works as well as ever even after a dozen or so LEGO games. The mechanics allow casual and hardcore gamers to jump right in and feel comfortable, as well as a little challenged at times.
Where the game really breaks the rules set by other TTL games is the amount of interaction you have with the portal. You sometimes need to transfer your minifigure between the three sections to complete a task or move about the level to access different areas. The electronic portion of the gateway lights up in several different colors to prompt you as required, brilliantly transcending the digital and physical realms.
Overall
LEGO Dimensions has captured my attention. The real and digital worlds of LEGO have been melded seamlessly, offering multiple levels of thoroughly enjoyable play. The Starter Set comes with an excellent LEGO build and, based on the first few levels of gameplay, a compelling story, which make this a must buy game for even casual LEGO video game fans in my opinion.
Most TTL games require you to buy new starter packs periodically so you can use new characters who are not compatible with older editions. However, TT Games announced that they have a three-year plan for LEGO Dimensions and the present Gateway which goes some way to ease concerns about the high price tag. Yes, the add-ons will cost more money but you are not just getting a figure who can only be used in the game and then forgotten about, you get actual LEGO bricks and minifigures you can use outside the game however you want! While some of the characters are readily available in a variety of inexpensive sets others have only appeared in far more expensive ones. Of course the Portal 2 and Wizard of Oz characters are brand new and currently exclusive to their respective packs!
If you are looking for a new and exciting way to experience LEGO, you have found it. Based on building the portal and the few levels of the game I have played so far, LEGO Dimensions is a clear winner. I hope LEGO releases some actual sets based on the game as there are a variety of interesting characters and locations involved that deserve to be immortalized in physical bricks and made widely available.
Thanks to Huw and CapnRex101 for assisting with the formatting of this review. LEGO Dimensions is available now in most North American and European markets so pick up your copy today!
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47 comments on this article
Great review. Now if I only had the money...
Oh, now I'm really sad, I don't have a compatible console and this game looks really good! I also don't have an excuse for getting the Lego Doctor Who pack before the set comes out! :(
If only I had the money... And a console. I play games on my PC and the lack of a PC version simply means TT won't be seeing my money. I may buy a couple of booster packs like the Doctor Who one, but with the high prices I'll not make a habit of it.
Great review, thanks very much @LEGOManiacs for contributing it.
Thanks for covering this!
Nice, well-rounded review. I'm not much of a gamer so I had little interest in "toys-to-life" products before LEGO Dimensions was announced. However, it has been interesting to watch them evolve. LEGO Dimensions takes the physical interaction with the toys and toy pad farther than any other toys-to-life game before it, and it will be interesting to see how its competitors in this category respond.
As far as the game is concerned, the mash-up storytelling is innovative. It's great that each pack's characters, vehicles, and gadgets can be used in any level, and that packs representing new franchises unlock additional "adventure worlds". From what I hear, Disney Infinity doesn't take advantage of its "mash-up" concept in any storytelling capacity, instead just letting you use figures together in "Toy Box" mode and locking the story levels to their respective characters. Whereas LEGO Dimensions uses the trademark humor of the LEGO games to poke fun at its own wacky crossover potential.
On the business side of things, the decision to keep the Starter Pack forwards-compatible is a great one. Some people have brought up that Disney Infinity does this with their Toy Pad hardware. But you still need the Disney Infinity "2.0" and "3.0" software to use the "2.0" and "3.0" characters. LEGO Dimensions takes it a step further by letting all figures use the same software, which makes sense — in this age of over-the-internet software patches, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to make new packs compatible with the old software unless there are actual hardware changes to the included figures.
LEGO Dimensions IS expensive, but after looking at it for a while I think its launch pricing makes a lot of sense what with all the new functionality it brings to the table. I fully expect the prices of wave one packs, including the starter pack, to go down over time, as is the case with older Disney Infinity and Skylanders packs. I definitely think $15 for a buildable Fun Pack or $25 for a Team Pack is generally a better value than $13–15 for a static Disney Infinity, Skylanders, or Amiibo figurine, especially with how much more in-game content each LEGO Dimensions pack seems to unlock. Though aftermarket prices are of course a different story, and we can only hope LEGO and WB Games will do a better job managing the supply of these figures than Nintendo has done with the Amiibo figurines of some of their less mainstream properties.
I do not know if I will play LEGO Dimensions, but my twin brother is much more of a gamer, and he seems interested. And since the game has co-op, I'm sure I'll find opportunities to jump in.
Got it! Played it! Underwhelmed :-( Hopefully it evolves and gets better otherwise I will likely head over to eBay. Oh... great review though!
Wow, thorough review! But now I'm sad. No console, nowhere near enough money and the game looks good! Ah well. I'll probably be content with just buying a few packs for the figs.
I picked up the Starter Pack day one (along with the Oz pack), and it's spectacular. Very fun, and very interactive. It's expensive, but I think the physical Lego, the extent of how large the game is, and the entertainment value is worth the price.
Nice job, LEGOManiacs - I'm awaiting the arrival of my preorder even more eagerly now than I was before!
This is a great and somewhat reassuring review as my Dimensions has arrived today and I'm yet to build the portal and start playing. It confirms my suspicion that the general gameplay follows Tt tradition but with a couple of unusual twists with the pads. If and when you progress to it (because I think you said you were aiming to get all the packs) I look forward to your Portal level pack review LegoManiacs!
It's funny to find out that Batman is not 'Lego Movie' Batman, I wonder if it's because he doesn't recognise his "PARENTS! FEELINGS!" mega mix?
I don't know about the game cause Disney infinity was really disappointing... but ill buy the portal pack just for the Cheryl figure!
I do hope for Sauron to be made into a set.
Thank you all for your kind words and a special thanks to the Brickset team for their help and for allowing me to bring you this review.
@legolover1016 I was worried at first because Disney Infinity was very disappointing for me too. You needn't be worried though. This game has a cohesive story that Infinity was lacking and its gameplay and extras are much easier to figure out.
6ft cable isn't long enough. Can't play from the couch so no sale.
Great review. I'm not in the market for the game, but the Stargate-esque look of the portal makes me smile and I think that this whole idea is cool in theory.
@jonamok It's a shame the included cable isn't longer or that there isn't a wireless solution, but USB extension cables are pretty cheap online.
I'm a regular Lego gamer, and Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (the last Lego game I bought) was really boring for me to the point that I stopped playing after the second level. However, this game has been fun and has already put a smile on my face a couple times just playing through the first level or two of the story mode. I didn't think I'd like building the vehicles and such while playing the game, but they are quick and actually kind of interesting builds, and I now look forward to them.
I bought the Portal and Back to the Future level packs and so far they've been great as well. Really cool to hear the original actors reprise their roles.
@legomaniacs Great review, I don't think we'll be getting this cause I am not much of a gamer anymore and I am trying to limit screen-time for my 6-year old, so hope he is not going to want it to much when he sees it in the shop. Looks all nice tough and it was nice to know a bit more about it. That portal does look amazing and I am going to make that micro-batmobile tomorrow, looks like you don't need fancy parts for it. I am doubting about the Oz and dr Who packs thought, would be nice things to have...
Excellent. I agree that the art looks great, and it looks like great fun to play.
Although... I wouldn't call Harry Potter a 'Great LEGO Game.' More like a 'Blah, Easily Forgotten LEGO Game.' :P
Great review! :) The game looks interesting, but I doubt I'll be getting it..
I'm really sorry, and its great to see a new reviewer but from the first section it was obvious that reading this review would be an utter waste of time, completely uncritical, wrong on facts, totally missing the nuance of the business model. A fanboys orgasm but really not a review.
Are TT games amazing or were they pretty good, but becoming tired and repetitive in nature? The LEGO movie game was pretty dire, Star Wars was amazing but two player was clunky in the extreme. A mixed bag with IJ1, PotC and a few others standing out from a lot of mediocrity. The last few have passed myself and my kids by.
Is the wealth of IP a good thing? Or does it make for a diluted experience of trawling through elements you have no interest in? I certainly have no interest in playing through/with a chima or ninjago theme, not really scooby doo. Portal yes, Batman ok, Lego movie perhaps. Lotr no. I and my kids love LEGO star wars, but I wouldn't have wanted to have swapped the Ep4 section for some LEGO atlantis.
Is the enhanced interaction between the toys and game a good thing? How quickly will that interaction of moving characters to follow the lights become a boring inhibitor to playing rather than an exciting new feature?
Since when did TTL games require you to buy new starter sets? Infinity doesn't for example. The gameboard has been compatible throughout, you can buy the new version on disc (which gives you the toybox making all new and any existing characters work) and then choose which ever play sets (similarly priced to Dimension level packs and with far far more digital content) you're interested in.
Did I miss it or was there even any mention of the far far greater cost of Dimensions to other TTL games? If not how can it be washed over so easily?
Like I say a terrible, one sided review that didn't even attempt to see, let alone highlight, any potential faults. Nor express the possibility that people not quite so in love with LEGO games might find the experience less stellar.
I still don't see the point of it at all. It seems to be the same game as always but now cost $1000 instead of $50
This is an amazing review which I really enjoyed reading as I was leaning something new. It completely changed my mind about Lego Dimension.
At first, I had no intention of purchasing the game whatsoever but now will probably do purchase a few sets, not for the minifigures but for the game.
Shouldn't this "review" be labeled "commercial?"
"The cinematics are beautifully rendered" - would be true about 10 years ago. Generally speaking, the Lego based games are quite a bit behind technologically. It is true to say this is the best of the Lego based games. Which was not a huge achievement, considering how mediocre (at best) the older releases were.
It should be noted that the game makes sure you (or your kids) learn you are missing an addon or another. Via the empty "placeholder" art sitting in the spot where the extra content would be accessed. Can imagine a bitter feeling and a sad kid's face when the level on the screen cannot be accessed. So no way you can complete 100% of the game with the basic set. Level packs seem to contain considerable portion of the content it seems, as well as add to considerable portion of the price total.
You barely mention the gameplay. How varied are the puzzles that require physically moving the pieces? How early do they become a tedium? How many hours of playtime does the game offer? Is it as short as the other Lego games (a handful of hours)?
Fans should approach the release with some caution until there are proper reviews out there.
Reviews should not be released until the content has been fully explored. I hope that this is an organic review that will be updated over time, at least after completion of the original release and the various content packs.
Jeez, $100? That seems a little much. I will definitely buy this sometime in the future. What really stinks is that I have no compatible console either. =(
Great review. In a way you can make the portal look like anything as long as you don't block the NFC hole.
While I think it's a shame that it isn't available for PC, this follows market trends because as far as I know TTL has never been available for PC and is directed towards kids who have access to a family console.
I agree with Aanchir that already the Lego Dimensions packs offer way more value than other TTL franchises which are only static figurines. Even though they seem pretty expensive, they are on par with similar things on the market. I'm gonna wait for any markdowns (as Aanchir also mentioned) to buy this myself.
What nparker said. If you don't like the review, don't think you're clever by bringing the reviewer into disrepute.
The price of this and all the other Dimension packs is a total disgrace.
No, a good reviewer will be both subjective and objective throughout their review. Of course it's almost impossible to leave your opinions out of it entirely, and it would be ingenuous to try, but you should be able to see some faults in the game or at least the opposite side of the coin. Other reviews I've seen have given it a score of between 70 and 80% suggesting there's plenty of room for improvement. They say things like the wide range of the IPs included is the core strength of dimensions, but is also a weakness if you don't like all the IPs. They say the extra interaction with the portal is interesting, but could become tedious. They say that in other Tt games you can play all the characters you come across where as here you're strictly limited. With respect this review is very shallow and has little thought to it. Some people clearly like that, read a few proper reviews and you can see the difference.
And to be clear I don't hate on dimensions, I suspect I'll get it for the kids, but it's clear there are issues that this review completely fails to address.
@cheshirecat: We know you don't hate on dimensions, you just hate on the review. This review is just telling us HIS opinion, not anybody else's, and clearly, he just loves it. There was no point reading this review and then deeply criticizing it if you already had your own opinions on the set. You could have just told people your opinions rather than complaining about the review.
The whole Dimensions system fixes a core issue I have with the toys to life genre: the toys suck. As a child I would not be impressed by the little static statues of amiibo/infinity/skylanders. But little Lego builds and figures on NFC stands? Brilliant.
Too bad the gameplay of Lego videogames has become so dull to me.
There appears to be two ways to look at this game - as a video game and as Lego sets. As a game, it just looks like the same old Lego games but with the TTL character swapping. So in order to play the game in it's entirety - which by the way you CANNOT play the game 100% with only the starter set, level packs aren't additional content, they're withheld content - that will cost $190 so far for the starter and 3 level packs, more than TRIPLE why a typical new release game costs at $60 (Games which usually have some sort of preorder bonus that pays for half of the game on the aftermarket, even).
So you're paying $130 for a few TINY sets and the gimmick of character swapping. It is beyond me how anyone could not feel taken advantage of.
As sets they are just utter failures. Collectible Minifigures used to be $2, then $3, now $4, but apparently with Dimensions they're $15-30. Good lord.
Like others have already said this review is way too gushing, and barely takes cost into account, which especially for TTL is a bigger factor than a typical game or Lego set review.
You could probably go buy the entirety of the old Lego games for the same cost and just pretend they were all mashed up in the same game. Probably a better use of your money if you liked those kinds of games.
^OOH. Good point.
@nparker Who's throwing a tantrum? We're sharing our thoughts on the article, apparently people feel differently.
I went out of my way to break down just WHY I feel differently (tl;dr version: exorbitant cost). I also explained how that applies to both the sets as game content and as physical sets. (tl;dr version: both are comparatively outrageous).
One in-game character is worth 5 pounds? HAHAHAHAHHAHA. So did you pay like 500 pounds or so for the last Lego Star Wars game? My god man, the mental gymnastics to justify this kind of cost is impressive.
@nparker
No hostility, no more than accusing others of "throwing a tantrum"
As an interesting aside, I was able to put
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Lego Star Wars - The Complete Saga
Lego Jurassic World
Lego The Hobbit
Lego Lord of the Rings
Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7
Lego Star Wars III the Clone Wars
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean
Lego Batman 3
The Lego Movie Game
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
into an Amazon shopping cart, all new, for $195.31. Even considering sales tax for both, that's less than Dimensions, and the level packs aren't even done yet.
The ability to play as so many characters from so many different Lego Dimensions is actually very nice. At our house, we can't wait for the Doctor Who expansion sets to come out. We've been waiting for official Lego Doctor Who sets for ages, and will finally get them (small ones anyway).
Note to fans - as much as I liked the first 10 minutes of the game, my game pad only has 2 out of 3 of its zones working so I can't actually do anything bar walk around a portal room in game. Game breaking defect with the pad itself considering one puzzle type involves you having to use all 3 areas when I can only use 2! I really didn't expect this to happen so replacement time or refund now...
@DanRSL: Evidently it doesn't occur to you that none of those games you listed are new releases. ANY of those games for home consoles would have easily cost $50–$60 when they were brand-new. The fact that you can get them a year or more after their release for much cheaper doesn't mean a game released DAYS ago should be expected to be cheaper than that. Video games simply do not hold onto their value the way LEGO does, at least, not as a general rule.
I'm not going to debate whether LEGO Dimensions is a fair value in general, because really that's a debate about the toys-to-life category in general, a category that I have little firsthand experience with. I sure couldn't tell you why this category of video games has taken off the way it has.
I will say that it appears to be a very good value compared to other games in that category, which from what I've seen seem to offer less physical play potential, less digital content, and less integration between the physical and digital aspects of the product per pack.
The starter pack cost is higher than competing products, probably due to both the bricks and the more complex toy pad (with several discrete sensor areas and colored lights to correspond to in-game effects). But the fun packs and team packs give you about as many physical toys and about as much content as you'd get from Disney Infinity, Amiibo, and Skylanders.
I agree that the level pack cost seems less consistent with what you get and might merit revising later on. But overall, since other toys-to-life games tend to sell very well, I can only imagine LEGO Dimensions will also, especially when the price of the starter pack inevitably drops.
But your little anecdote about your Amazon shopping cart really means nothing to this discussion — it is exactly the sort of ridiculous "mental gymnastics" you claim to be so against.
@nparker - no I just don't agree with your idea of what a review is. I would suggest its the difference between a good review and a bad review. In fact I think you're completely wrong - theres been a long running debate in the gaming community as to whether reviews should be entirely objective - I don't think i've ever seen anyone with a degree of intelligence suggest they should be entirely subjective as you do - that would mean they were only of use to people with the exact same outlook. A good review should have a balance of subjectivity and objectivity so as to relate to a wide enough audience and more importantly should not be so superficial.
Given you assign £5 to the technology in the disc, which in reality would cost about 5p tells us all we need to know about your objectivity.
@cheshirecat @Aanchir @nparker @DanRSL: What is this, Youtube? Just calm down guys, we've all heard each others opinions now, so lets just leave it at that...
I am finding the discussion below the article a lot more interesting than the article itself. My own observations:
Firstly, the article is unashamadly positive about the game. People who are not comfortable with that should not trust a single source when forming their own opinion.
Secondly, it is well-known that Lego is expensive (but justified due to quality). It is also well-known that TTL games are expensive (but justified because of... hype? I don't know really - there must be a reason beyond collectable figurines anyway). What we have here is either one of two things:
1. expense squared - the high price of Lego married to the high price of the TTL currency. For those of us who are fans of one but not the other that might affect their view of the game's value.
2. expense halved - the increase to the price of a Lego set, or the increase to a TTL game results in an overall experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. To those of us who like the TTL and Lego convergence this is a no brainer.
What we have here are people who are at the opposite ends of that continuum experiencing values dissonance due to talking to those at the other end of that continuum.
Personally, I hope that this is a great success, but not for the reasons people might think. I'll let others guess at my opinion on the game itself.
@Aanchir
You'll notice I already took into account how expensive this is new vs. other Lego video games new, more than 3 times the cost And If you were to get them on day one, you'd also get polybags like Good Morning Bilbo Baggins, the Iron Patriot, JW Dr. Wu, etc., which is the equivalent of Lego handing you a $20, $35 and $15 bill respectively. When you buy these games, even day 1, you aren't paying $60. But even devil's advocate, lets say $60.
With the Level Packs, does the game become 3 TIMES longer than a normal game? I'm not being rhetorical, I'm actually curious and if that's the case, then they've done well for their customers. But considering it's "Level" Pack, and not "Levels" or "Game" Pack, I doubt it. Anyone who has played it have any insight?
Furthermore, without buying any of the bonus packs, how many characters do you get to play with? Is it literally just the starter 3? I imagine one or two new characters are added for each world, so, what, like 20 total without bonus packs?
Based on my admittedly limited knowledge of the Lego video games I understand that they typically have anywhere from 20-100 characters depending on the series depicted. Ok, I just counted, there are 126 and 14 "extra" (whatever that means) characters in Lego Star Wars. To take the "play as anyone" aspect which is fairly unique to these games and break it into $15+ add-ons definitely feels like a HUGE step backwards.
But that's just looking at it as a game. You get the physical toy, too. Well, this is just speculation, but the only figures I see fans too excited about are Dr. Who, Portal, Ghostbusters, and maybe BttF. In other words, figures that aren't already available (or updated versions). Dimensions is different from other TTL brands because the toy is actually a toy, not just a collectible statuette. I actually applaud Lego for this because it at the very least promotes actual play and is not just an artificially inflated expensive hobby. However, by not being exclusive, the perceived value of Lego's TTL packs is only as valuable as the figure itself. No one cares about Gimli or Superman being made for the millionth time, whereas every Disney Infinity or Nintendo Amiibo is unprecedented, and is automatically more coveted.
As game DLC I see it as a fail, as an investment (which as stupid as that should be, is a real thing, I guess) it's probably not a good idea, and as Polybags its CLEARLY an abysmal value.
But hey, everyone needs a hobby, so why not harmless overpriced toys? I just think it's worth looking at from all angles.
I took a look and it's beyond my understanding how someone can spend so much money on this. But to each their own.
I played a lot of TT games, starting with LSW back on my PS2 to The Hobbit this year. The games did not evolve a single bit, which is fine by me because once you get them for little money and can sell them afterwards, you're paying something like 5€ a game, what is fair considering what you get. But 60€ for an outdated game while you can spend this money on titles like GTA V or MGS V? Absolutely no way.
And now we're talking about 100+ € and you cannot even complete it until you spend 190€?
Taking the little builds and minifigs into account, may I remind kindly that you can get the licensed set Ecto 1 (my favorite set of the current decade) with 500 pieces and 4 minfigs for 50€? In Dimensions-value that is what - a level pack and a character pack? So 2 minifigs, a couple of bricks and a level worth a small DLC?
It's beyond my capacity of rational thought. And yes, I saw and played the game. It's mediocre.