GameON: Lego Jurassic World

Lego Jurassic World is dino-sized fun.

Leave it to Lego to take one of the most beloved movie franchises of all time and make it even more endearing. Lego Jurassic World, the video game tie-in to the blockbuster of the summer, is a jam-packed tribute to the entire Jurassic Park universe. In addition to covering Jurassic World, Lego Jurassic World also allows players to step into the first three Jurassic Park films, letting fans relive all of the most iconic moments in the series in trademark Lego fashion.

It’s no secret that Lego and developer TT Games have a knack for taking popular properties and spinning them on their heads. The likes of Star Wars, Marvel and DC have all been Lego-ized, if you will, and given a silly sense of humor. That same fun has now been infused into the prehistoric world of Jurassic Park. All the familiar scenes from the series are recreated as Lego Jurassic World takes each one and adds its own unique twist. Don’t be surprised if a T. Rex is walking around with a turkey leg sticking out of its gigantic mouth or if the ever-sly Ian Malcolm won’t stop winking, even in the most critical of moments. These light-hearted antics are welcome and help make for a family-friendly experience.

The attention to detail in honoring the films is impressive, too. The dialogue sounds like it is often lifted directly from the original sound recordings, and the spot-on re-enactments in the cutaway video segments are like re-watching the original films with a Lego left hook. The supercharged T. Rex chase in the Jeep from the original Jurassic Park is a particular favorite and will have you yelling at the television in excitement, as you are given the ability to control the vehicle from a thrilling perspective that has the Jeep coming right at you and into your living room.

It’s a real joy to see all of the characters from the series in Lego form. You get to play as practically every character from the series (yes, even the lawyer Gennaro, who gets eaten off the toilet), but that’s not all: The dinosaurs are also playable. This is not a joke; if you want to have a fight between a triceratops and the venomous dilophosaurus, it can be done. It is truly a dinosaur nerd’s dream come true. The thought and effort put into the different dynamics and presentation of Lego Jurassic World are undeniably present. The mysterious unchecked corners and paddocks of islands Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna are even there to explore, thanks to the open-world freedom of the game.

Lego and TT Games could have easily thrown together a quick and cheap recreation of Jurassic World to coincide with the film’s release. But instead, they were able to put a smile on the faces of die-hard Jurassic Park fans, as well as the new generation that is just being introduced to Steven Spielberg’s dino world through Owen Grady and his raptor squad. As the self-described chaotician Ian Malcolm once said, “Life will find a way,” and Lego has found a way to deliver a memorable Jurassic Park game.