Get ready for a nostalgic ride as 80s racing spirit comes to life in LEGO 2K Drive, an open-world racing game that combines the thrills of classic arcade racers with the limitless creativity of LEGO.
Developed by Visual Concepts, this collaboration between 2K Games and LEGO invites players to explore the vibrant world of Bricklandia, complete challenges, and experience a unique gameplay influenced by iconic racing games from the past.
Reviving the Classics: LEGO 2K Drive
Unexpected Alliance: 2K Games and LEGO
Classic video games continue to inspire new creations. 2K Games has announced a partnership with LEGO, starting with LEGO 2K Drive, an open-world racing game developed by experienced studio Visual Concepts.
Inspired by Arcade Origins
Executive producer Mark Pierce’s gaming career began at Atari in the late 1980s, working on classic racers like RoadBlasters, Road Riot, and San Francisco Rush. His ambition is to bring the 1980s Atari arcade design mentality to modern open-world racing games.
Welcome to Bricklandia
LEGO 2K Drive invites players to explore the vibrant world of Bricklandia, unlocking races, tasks, and missions. Notable features include:
- LEGO towns with colorful shops and restaurants
- LEGO canyons and farms (complete with adorable LEGO pigs)
- Gothic castles inhabited by ghosts and giant spiders
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Interactive Adventures
As players traverse Bricklandia, they encounter mini figures with challenges to complete. Early game demos reveal tasks such as:
- Jumping over rocky chasms
- Hunting down and retrieving lost characters
- Defeating robot invasion forces
Capturing LEGO’s Signature Humor
The story mode incorporates numerous cut-scenes, reflecting the classic humor found in LEGO movies and games.
Atari Influence and Fluid Gameplay
Super Accessible Handling
The Atari influence is evident in the game’s easy-to-master handling model. With a focus on drifting, players can slide through corners effortlessly. LEGO 2K Drive offers three different driving surfaces:
- Street
- Off-road
- Water
Vehicles instantly transform to suit the terrain, ensuring seamless transitions.
Collision-Friendly Environment
Most collisions in the game result in LEGO bricks exploding without affecting your progress. In fact, smashing objects helps repair your vehicle, encouraging players to break things just like in LEGO Star Wars games.
Nostalgic Arcade Vibes
LEGO 2K Drive’s fluidity and emphasis on stunts evoke memories of Midway’s classic 90s arcade racers like the Cruis’n series and Hydro Thunder. This connection isn’t a coincidence, as key developers from those games work at Visual Concepts.
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Customization and Power-ups
Shopping and Vehicle Construction
Players can buy new clothing and custom items for their vehicles and drivers in various in-game shops. The game also features an extensive construction mode, allowing players to build vehicles from scratch using around a thousand different LEGO bricks and stickers.
Sharing Custom Designs
Though 2K hasn’t confirmed it, it’s likely that players will be able to share their custom vehicle designs with others.
Mario Kart-Inspired Power-ups
During races, players can access power-ups reminiscent of those in Mario Kart, including homing missiles, speed boosts, and cloaking devices. Spider webs also appear as obstacles, obscuring other drivers’ screens.
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Tournament Structure and Multiplayer
LEGO 2K Drive features a familiar tournament structure, with races tiered by difficulty in a series of cup events. The game supports six-player competitive online racing and split-screen local multiplayer, accommodating both cooperative and competitive gameplay.
Conclusion
LEGO 2K Drive is a testament to the enduring influence of classic arcade racers and a celebration of the imaginative world of LEGO. With its accessible handling, engaging gameplay, and extensive customization options, this game offers a captivating experience for players of all ages.
Embrace the nostalgia and embark on an exhilarating adventure as you explore Bricklandia, unlock missions, and compete with friends in this unforgettable racing game.