LEGO Marvel's Avengers Reviews
Playing through LEGO Marvel's Avengers may trigger the sense of déjà vu if you've experienced any past games in the series. There isn't anything new to see here, and the franchise really needs a serious revamp if it's going to continue.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is likely to impress no one except diehard Marvel fans, ones that have adorned their walls with posters of Captain America and wear Iron Man costumes for Halloween. And if all you're looking for is a bit of Lego-infused action, there are unmistakeably half a dozen better entries to choose from; the game's own predecessor - 2013's Lego Marvel Super Heroes - one of the more entertaining options.
Radio messages from Peggy Carter! Slapstick with Thor and Hulk! Lego Marvel's Avengers should be a delightful romp with beloved heroes, but it's a clunky chore.
Focusing on the movies rather than the comics has seen Marvel go from inspiring the best Lego game to one of the worst.
A half-hearted recreation of some fun movies, with almost nothing to offer over its predecessor.
Lego Marvel's Avengers is marred by a lack of direction
If you're a fan of the same LEGO formula, then you're sure to find something to enjoy from Marvel Avengers. Just don't expect the slapstick and spoof jokes that we've come to see in other titles, as here you only get a cutup retelling of the two films, complete with LEGO animations. The gameplay too doesn't offer anything new, though the open world environments are a nice deviation from the linear plot scenarios.
Enjoyable without ever being marvel-ous
If you're looking for an exciting, LEGO superhero game, you won't find it in the 3DS version of LEGO Marvel's Avengers. The simple and intuitive gameplay and charming humor can't save this game from its performance issues. Inconsistent framerate, a muddled story and a poorly rendered open world keep LEGO Marvel's Avengers from being mighty.
The 'Lego' games have always been a known quantity, but perhaps familiarity is beginning to breed contempt. 'Lego Marvel's Avengers' wasn't able to hold my attention as well as its forebears, even though it's not a markedly different experience. Perhaps it's time for the series to get a shot in the arm.
LEGO Marvel Avengers for the 3DS is another lacklustre conversion of a superb LEGO game. Hopefully, the rumoured NX hardware will finally give gamers the opportunity to experience the full package on a handheld. To be fair, it's not all bad, and, yes, there are some great stages, and the game is stuffed to bursting with the series signature humour and style. The low price tag helps, but overall this just feels forgettable.
Lego Marvel Avengers is cute fun with a familiar concept. Buy it for your kids if they want it, but don't break the bank for this iterative entry.
LEGO Dimensions felt like much-needed innovation for a game series that has seen little change since its inception in 2006.
But again: many people will enjoy this type of gameplay, and if the simple joy of running around as a LEGO Avenger sounds appealing to you (and you can't play the console version for whatever reason), pick up the 3DS version of Lego Marvel's Avengers. Just don't expect it to blow you away.
You have quite a collection of spectacular failures here in cohesively telling the story of these two films.
LEGO Marvel's Avengers is a mixed experience on Wii U. In solo play there's plenty of content and typical LEGO-style fun to be had, with the extended Avengers cast well used for a variety of gameplay styles, combat moves and environmental puzzles. The Wii U version suffers from poor performance in co-op, however, with some dips and rough edges also to be found in solo play; these factors take some of the shine away. Fans of LEGO games and the Avengers movies will find plenty to like, but technical shortcomings mean it falls short of its full potential.
LEGO Marvel's Avengers still boasts enormous amounts of content, and those that have not grown tired of the formula will find plenty to justify their money. Still it feels like the series is on autopilot and with LEGO Dimensions still fresh in everyone's mind it can be hard to justify spending another full sticker price for what feels like a rehash.
Does your kid constantly go on about Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. while they run around the room in their Hawkeye outfit? Pick up LEGO Marvel's Avengers and add it to the massive pile of LEGO games you likely already have. It's a fun mindless romp through a couple of interesting setpieces, but not a whole lot more than that when it comes down to it.
Ultimately, LEGO Marvel's Avengers delivers plenty of fan service, but it fails to top its predecessors. Instead of something new and innovative, LEGO Marvel's Avengers is a by-the-numbers sequel that scratches the LEGO itch but doesn't offer much more than that. It's also the easiest LEGO game yet.
It's the exact same game that you've been playing for years on end now, dressed up in the mighty Marvel manner of fan service that made the films such a big success.