LEGO Battles Review for Nintendo DS

System: DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Hellbent Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Warner Bros. Interactive	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Jun. 10, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Although the gameplay is fun and very solid, there were a few things that could have been done better. For instance, I enjoyed making very large bases and building up large amounts of troops for my missions. However, I was dismayed when I discovered that you are only allowed to take a total of nine troops out at a time, and any other units must be left behind or brought separately. Although this does make for a simpler game, as a longtime RTS fan, I couldn’t help but cry foul just a little bit.

LEGO Battles screenshot

Another thing that I found a little disappointing with LEGO battles was the A.I. While dragging groups of nine units, sometimes I would only see seven or eight individual units following, as some poor fellow had gotten stuck behind a tree or had gotten off course somehow. This is especially frustrating when I have built an extra-large force and have to manage all the lost characters from two or three troops of nine that I am attempting to move simultaneously.

Still, despite these few faults, I do think that LEGO Battle is a worthy RTS. Although it is not the most complex, I certainly had fun with it, and I found several excuses to come back to it. Although there are only six different story modes, you can also design your own LEGO Battle experience using the free play mode. This mode allows you to use any unlocked units on any unlocked map, and it even lets you set your own conditions and rules. There is also a multi-cart multiplayer that lets you form competitive strategies against local opponents.

Visuals and sound are both on par with previous LEGO games. The visual look of the game is quite sharp, and I was especially impressed with the animation quality of the cutscenes. In-game graphics are a little bit more basic, and they feature sprite units and pixel-based environments. Although the in-game visuals are not all that technically remarkable, I have to say that when I considered the size and scope of the levels, I was still impressed with the overall visual style in-game as well.

The sound scheme in the game is also very high quality. The cutesy LEGO voiceovers are still here and, though they are completely unintelligible, are still amazingly humorous. The level music is fun to listen to as well, and it varies nicely throughout the different themed levels.

Although I really liked LEGO Battles, it isn’t a game for everyone. If you are a hard-liner RTS fan who craves challenges like those found in PixelJunk Monsters or Final Fantasy Tactics, than you might find this title a little too simple. However, if you can appreciate the LEGO brand of humor, and you don’t mind a fairly forgiving RTS, then this game is a ton of fun and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The construction elements and simple strategy gameplay definitely don’t present the most ominous challenge, but they are fun and different enough to keep the gameplay interesting. Just don’t go to pieces if you fail a mission!

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.1

Graphics
Opening animations look great and are almost on par with console cutscenes from other LEGO titles. In-game graphics are also very good.

3.9

Control
Controlling the LEGO troops is fairly easy, but navigating large maps is difficult with parties of more than nine.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Music is lighthearted and fun to listen to. LEGO-style voices and sound effects are super cute and entertaining.

3.8

Play Value
Although this is not a hardcore RTS by any stretch of the imagination, the cute LEGO storylines as well as the large maps and customizable free play options make this one lots of fun, and you may be surprised by how much you keep coming back.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

LEGO Battles features six distinct story lines and 90 different levels, focusing on the three main themes of LEGO Battles: LEGO Space, LEGO Castle and LEGO Pirates.

Players can build their own LEGO bases and battle teams by mixing and matching units to create the ultimate customized LEGO squad.

Test your strategies in single-player story or Free Play mode to unlock hidden treasures

Multiplayer mode allows players to pitch their customized army against friends on 30 different maps via wireless DS multi-card play.

Fight on land, sea and in the air using 30 different vehicles

With 55 playable characters and 30 vehicles, players will be able to assemble their favorite LEGO team to battle with.

Use the Hero unit to cast special attacks on the battlefield!