I confess - we aren't exactly a "gaming" family. It's not that we don't enjoy playing video games, but with my oldest being only 7 years old it is something we are newly exploring together. I am always asking myself:
- Which games are appropriate?
- Which are fun for the whole family to play?
- Which games will last and have enough gameplay to justify the price?
When WB Games offered Macaroni Kid Chicago the opportunity to preview the new LEGO MOVIE 2 VIDEOGAME for the PS4 it was an easy "yes". Although we hadn't seen the latest movie we have always really enjoyed the LEGO movies and my son still randomly brought up the LEGO MOVIE game he played a couple of years ago at a friend’s house. It also gave us a good reason to host another Macaroni Kid "Play Party" on a dreary winter day!
To host a "Play Party" it's pretty simple - you need kids, a new game and (in this case) plenty of Legos and balloons. So we picked a Saturday, called up our friends and took over the party room of our building. When I mentioned to our guests that they were going to "Come Together Now" to play the LEGO MOVIE 2 VIDEOGAME before it's release date (February 26) that made us all feel "Super Cool" (sorry, I had to drop those songs in there!). One thing I had to take into consideration was that the game is a two player game, so we put out a giant bin of Legos for kids to show off their "Master Builder" skills. We also set a timer to help the kids manage swapping a new player in and out.
One of the coolest things about this game is that a 2nd player can easily drop in and out of the game without disrupting the game of Player 1. Not only did it make it easy to swap players in and out, but that is great for when playing as a family. Sometimes the kids are ready to play before mom or dad are free, so we can just hop on and join in the fun at any time! The LEGO MOVIE 2 VIDEOGAME definitely hits all of my criteria for adding a game to the family collection.
Is the game appropriate?
YES! This game is rated for ages 10+ but I found it to be suitable for younger kids like my seven-year-old son and some of his friends. If you allow your kids to watch the LEGO movies and cartoons then this game will not hold any surprises for you.
Is it fun for the whole family to play?
Definitely! I am not a huge fan of games where there is a specific "mission" you have to complete. First of all, they can be frustrating to younger players, but also, there is an "end point" and once you complete the mission the game loses a lot of its appeal and just sits on the shelf. The Lego Movie 2 Videogame is more open-ended in play (similar to the Lego Worlds I was told by a guest) where you can explore, collect and build without following a pre-determined storyline. I felt that this made the game into something that would have a little longevity for my son and spark a little creativity as well - especially in the free-build world of Syspocalypstar.
Is there enough gameplay to justify the price?
Taking the open-ended, creative style into account and the fact that the game retails around $40 I would 100% say that the game is worth the price! You will get HOURS of play with this game, so even if you have a little binge session one day, or throw your own Play Party, you won't be left feeling disappointed.
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After we all played the game for a couple of hours, it was time for a great surprise! As the kids finished building their Emmett and Unikitty mini-figures I explained we had a special surprise for everyone and handed out MOVIE TICKETS for everyone to walk down to the theater to watch Lego Movie 2. This was the best "Play Party" to date and I am so thankful for WB Games making it possible!
About the Lego Movie 2 Videogame:
The alien monster invaders have left Bricksburg in ruins. It is now up to Emmet and a host of heroic characters to go beyond their world and save their friends from the strange inhabitants of the Systar System. Players can journey into outer space, discover new worlds, and test their Master Building skills.
- Emmet, Lucy, LEGO Batman and their friends are back along with new and mysterious characters such as General Mayhem and Rex Dangervest.
- Unlock and play as over 100 playable characters from The LEGO Movie 2 and the first film.
- Journey to the Systar System and discover new worlds.
- Scour the LEGO galaxy for Relics and Master Pieces.
- Explore new worlds from LEGO Movie 2 and revisit iconic locations from the first film.
- Build special LEGO objects to discover new areas and items.
- Build structures to unlock more rewards and missions.
Available now for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. The physical version for Nintendo Switch will be available on March 4!
*This Play Party and Review were sponsored by WB Games but all opinions are my own
