Lego Jurassic World: Jurassic, but plastic

As soon as Lego announced that it had acquired the Jurassic Park license, I started hoping that we’d see a game, too. It seems like a natural fit. These summer blockbusters are filled with iconic scenes ripe for spoofing, and feature a variety of interesting characters with different personalities and skillsets. And, of course, you’ve got dinosaurs. Fortunately, Traveller’s Tales was way ahead of me.

Don’t let the name fool you Lego Jurassic World is based on the events from all four Jurassic Park films, including the upcoming release. During my hands-on time with the game, I got to check out some of the biggest moments from the original movie, featuring one of the biggest meat lovers around.

The scene started with a bang, or in this case, a series of nerve-jangling thuds. There are only a few things that can stomp around like that, and you don’t want to stick around to greet any of them. Our Lego Jeep bounced with each approaching footstep, sending a cup bouncing off the dashboard. Then the side window filled with a monstrous sight: the Tyrannosaurus rex. The moment was significantly less frightening than in the original, but it still retained much of its power  thanks in large part to the creature’s signature roar.

The beast smashed one of the vehicles into the mud, trapping the kids Lex and Timmy Murphy beneath the surface. We’d have to act fast. I had Ian Malcolm and Alan Grant at my disposal, as the dinosaur poked at the submerged car with its snout. Malcolm didn’t do much in the rainy scene, mostly bouncing around on his heels and acting nervous. Grant did the brunt of the work, digging up parts, slashing through vegetation with his machete, and assembling a dino-distracting contraption: a hand-cranked music box. The dinosaur didn’t seem interested in hearing a strippeddown version of John Williams’ classic theme, so Grant gave the box a big kick. A giant bone bounced out of the lid, mounted on a spring. That was enough to get the now puppy-like T-rex to turn around.

TT Fusion has dialed into what makes the characters in the films so memorable, and equipped them with appropriate abilities. As I mentioned, Grant is a jack of all trades. Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler dives into piles of dino poop with vigor, extracting vital clues in the process. Malcolm can throw a mean flare if he has to, and Lex’s screams are put to good use by shattering glass bricks.

The game features the usual series of collectables, but there’s a bonus for dino enthusiasts: Players can unlock 20 different species of dinosaur by finding hidden amber bricks, and they can be mixed and matched to create new fantastical beasts. Players can also take control of some of the smaller dinosaurs in free play, letting them show off just how clever they are. And if you feel like the T-rex got a raw deal, you’ll be able to play as the big boy himself as he chases down the Jeep. Maybe we’ll learn what he planned on doing with it.