300th Blog Post: LEGO Video Games of the 90s and early 00s

Wow. Can't believe I've managed to get this far. 300 posts is just amazing (and in a very short period of time). So following my tradition of each of my 100th posts, we take a look at the LEGO Video Games that were around in the 90s and early 00s. Bear in mind that I'm only looking at the ones that I've played and the majority of them are PC games. Another thing I should mention is that all these games were made by third party developers and not purely LEGO, so bear that in mind when you read this. So let's get to it:

Island

The first ever LEGO game in existence (at the time) is a free to roam game where you can play the role of 1 out of 5 playable characters. Each of them have their own origins story and also have similar jobs as well. Unlike the average game that you'd get these days, LEGO Island had no objective in the game. It can be played at your own pace. After playing this game and looking back at it, it was a very good game for it's time and while only the pizza delivery boy has a longer story (if certain conditions are met), it was still good fun to play and the exploration of it was great too. Oh and for anyone wondering, this was the first LEGO game to have voice acting, not LEGO Batman 2. 9/10

Chess

As the title of the game suggests, the objective here is to play chess. So the game has 2 campaign modes, both of which have their own theme (western and pirates) and story, with a good and bad ending. Both campaigns have 3 levels with each one being harder than the last and when a chess piece is knocked off, the signature LEGO humour is thrown in to show the chess piece being kicked up the backside by the attacking chess piece. In addition to this, the game also has some lessons which can be used to perfect your moves. I should also point out that this was one of many LEGO games to have a free gift (the chess king and his throne). It was also among the first LEGO games to have full CGI cutscenes as well. Overall, the game was fun, informative and very child friendly when it came to the lessons. Obviously, you may have to run this software on compatibility mode with today's computers, but never the less, I would recommend this game for learning the basics of chess in a child friendly manner. 9/10

Creator

Does what it says on the tin. Before LEGO Digital Designer was around, the only way to digitally make a LEGO model, was to use LEGO Creator and while it only had the basic stuff, it did a pretty good job of it. Obviously now we have better software for this sort of thing, but back then, this was the only software that can do it right so all credit to LEGO on that. 8/10

Loco

This game had only one objective. To allow users to make a virtual overhead world where LEGO people can live. You basically do that by creating a railroad, regular roads and putting in buildings and houses. The LEGO people would gradually come over time. I find this game in particular, to be very experimental when it comes to using familiar gameplay elements, such as Easter eggs and online functionality. While both these gameplay elements weren't explored a lot, the game was still good fun to play and probably is still used to work out a system for a railroad. 9/10

Racers

LEGO Racers was among the first LEGO game to be multiplatform, however most critics thought that the PC version was the dominant one, and I agree. The game has you create your own go kart and racer with all the elements of the LEGO themes in those days, and can then race against opponents. The game is your typical racing experience, only with LEGO. You have power ups, rivals, ghost races and a number of unlockables. It's a good game, but I personally feel that Mario Kart is better in some sense. 8/10

Rock Raiders

This is an intense LEGO game that even the most hardcore of players would find difficult to complete. Being what I think is the only game so far to be based on just one theme, LEGO Rock Raiders is a simple but frustrating strategy game where you play the commander as it were and help the Rock Raiders gather enough energy crystals to get back home. Sounds easy enough, but with rock monsters, giant slugs, creepy crawlies and dare I say it, LANDSLIDES!!!! it just makes things a little bit harder. Now I say landslides in capital letters because that will be the only thing you'll hear and get frustrated about when you play the game. Overall the game has been made well and is more suited to older LEGO fans, but can be a tad frustrating and boring too. 7/10

LEGOLAND The Game

Now I'm sure every single LEGO fan like me, got excited when this game came out. LEGOLAND is a theme park simulation game and your given the task of rebuilding the park. Now I personally felt that this game could adapt more recent LEGOLAND rides and attractions, but at the time, game updates weren't possible so what you see is what you get. You get a number of rides and attractions that you use during the game and for each level (which ironically uses the name of a part of the miniland areas of the park), you are to rebuild the park and impress the inspector who will give you very limited park appraisals which you will need to make all boxes green before the end of the game. As this game marked the end of an era for LEGO games, many LEGO references from other games are featured here, as well as some edited cutscenes from LEGO Rock Raiders and LEGO Chess. Great fun for any age. 9/10

Alpha Team

Another based on one theme game that this time, does it right. Following the themes original storyline, various members of the Alpha Team, have been held hostage in Ogel's big top secret base and the team's leader, Dash, must venture in to find and rescue them, while at the same time, stop Ogel's plans for world domination with the power of mind control orbs. For each level, you need to place different objects in the location that they are needed in to plan out your attack. TeeVee, the team's helpful computer, helps you out along the way. As the game progresses, there will be objects that may look more complex to set up (especially when it comes to connections). A great game which judging from it's length and gameplay, should be appealing to more adult fans. 9/10

Creator: Knights Kingdom

Serving as the very first sequel to any of the previous LEGO games, this Creator game is more suited to the medieval times. This game is only slightly better in that it has more stuff to do in it such as a workshop and challenges, as well as having a much bigger environment than the first game. All tick boxes checked so good work LEGO. 9/10

Stunt Rally

LEGO Stunt Rally is the second racing game featuring LEGO elements. The game has you crating your own tracks as well as doing various races along the way. Unlike Racers, this game has a more simplified vehicle creation mode where the phrase "what you see is what you get" thrown in. You get rivals, power ups and even more references to past LEGO games. Great game, but quite short in my opinion and not that much replayabilty after the main game is finished, but very well designed tracks, never the less. 8/10

Creator: Harry Potter

Now I would like to point out, that this is the first movie licensed LEGO game, not LEGO Star Wars and the first LEGO Harry Potter game, not LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4. OK that's out of my system now. Continuing the success of Creator: Knights Kingdom, this one has more areas to explore, such as Kings Cross station, the castle grounds, inside Hogwarts and of course, the forbidden corridor. There are challenges here, but unlike Creator: Knights Kingdom, they can be done at your own pace. In addition to the model workshop, there is now a workshop that's built specifically for minifigs which works well. Despite it being not a big step up from the last game, at least it's fun never the less. 9/10

Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge

And so after a long wait, we finally get a sequel to the first ever LEGO game. Unlike the first game, you only get to play as the pizza delivery boy this time around. However there's plenty of stuff here to make up for the stuff that was in the last game, but not in this one. The story is longer, there's plenty of mini games and you can move over to other islands. I will say however, that some of the other islands, you may only get a chance of playing on them once, so make the most out of it and use that time to find all the collectibles. Otherwise, it's a great and lengthily game that is fun, enjoyable and has lots of replayabilty in the form of mini games and collectibles. 9/10

Racers 2

Another racing game that looks to be superior than it's predecessor. In Racers 2, Rocket Racer has been invited to another racing tournament that he wins to get back the fame that he had in the last game. But can he get ready for a new challenge? The game is quite limited to the last game in that it's creation purposes can be used only once for the racer and once for each world when in the game. You are, however given more freedom and can explore up to 5 worlds based on different LEGO themes with a series of races as well as finding the many mini games and golden bricks. The amount of racers are bigger than before, some characters can use something other than a car in the game, and even upgrades are available too. Despite the limitations, I find this game to only be slightly better than the last game, but otherwise, still fun to play.

Drome Racers

Drome Racers is currently the 4th and final racing game with LEGO elements. However I would say that, but I ultimately feel that there is little to now LEGO elements thrown into this game. It's just purely a racing game, nothing more. It's definitely not the best one I've played and it is a tad boring and sort of frustrating after a while. I would avoid getting this one because it sucks.

Island Xtreme Stunts

The 3rd and from the way things are going right now, final LEGO Island game to be released. The game is bigger, incorporates the LEGO Studios theme a lot, and can have a bit of a confusing storyline, especially with how the antagonist returned to the Island after the events of the 2nd game. Despite that, there's plenty of collectibles, L.E.G.O Radio makes it's long awaited return and a few mini games with an increased difficulty for each stage of it. Overall, the best in the series. 9/10

Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The last ever Creator game is also a sequel to the last game. The game has all the elements from before, but now let's you explore the world freely through the eyes of Harry Potter and has a more structured story as well. While it focuses purely on the 2nd book and film, it does however, have elements that came from the 1st book and film, such as the troll in the girls bathroom. Overall, a good finale to a great series of games. 9/10

Football/Soccer Mania

Having been released in a World Cup year, LEGO Footie has so far been LEGO's only video game to have a sports element thrown in. The game is another multi theme game and allows you to basically play football/soccer, with some power-ups and other stuff too. It even has it's own story mode and world cup mode. A well designed LEGO game that is probably the only decent one that EA have made. But I could be wrong. 9/10

Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension

If you think some of the games made by TT are bad, think again. This my friends is the worst LEGO game ever made. It's far, far too long, there's no explanation of what's happening, no tutorials and what's even more worse, is that there's not a single LEGO element in there. There was an online game called Galidor quest and if I had to choose out of the 2, Quest would be my choice as it's better and more well designed than this rubbish. 6/10

Bionicle: The Game

So completing my list, we have Bionicle: The Game. This served as a tie-in to the direct to DVD feature, Bionicle: Mask of Light while also exploring the 2001-2003 storyline of the theme. Initially, the game was going to be bigger with all Toa, Toa Nuvas and the Toa of Light being playable, but due to deadlines, all that had to be cut and only the Toa of Fire, Tahu can be played as a Toa and Toa Nuva in the game. It's storyline is different to the theme's main storyline with all the matoron and their religious leaders having little to no significance to the game's main plot. Another thing, this is the only Bionicle game at the time to be multi-platformed as there was an earlier PC game planned, but never saw the light of day. Still, it's an OK game for the most part. 8/10

So that's your lot for this time. I will need to have a long think of what to do for my 400th post, but should any of you have any ideas of what I could do in regards to reviews, top 10s, personal posts etc. then comment below and I'll see what I can do. But for now, my final overall score for all these games is a 7/10.

BTW, LEGO Creator Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is my 100th game reviewed on this blog.