LEGO video games and Pixar movies have a great deal in common. They're both such great family fun that it seems shocking we're only getting our first Pixar-themed LEGO game now. And yet, LEGO The Incredibles is the first crossover between these two huge properties. Considering LEGO games based on movies have been coming out for almost as long as we were waiting for Incredibles 2, it's hard to say this game has been "worth the wait", but if you're a fan of either Pixar or LEGO games, and especially if you're a fan of both, you'll find plenty to enjoy with this new title.
The single most important thing to know about LEGO The Incredibles is that you need to wait to play it until after you've seen Incredibles 2. The new game starts off immediately and in the exact same spot that the new movie does. You'll play through several levels before the game gives you an obvious opportunity to break away from the story portion of the game to explore the open world, and while the game certainly isn't an entirely faithful retelling of Incredibles 2, all the basic plot points are there and the game will spoil the movie. The most significant change the game makes is that it adds characters into sequences of the game where you won't find them in the movie, strictly to allow for co-op gameplay.
After you play through the story mode of Incredibles 2, you can travel back in time and play through a story mode of the original The Incredibles movie. These game modes play out in a familiar way if you've ever played a LEGO video game. You move through a linear level, smashing everything in sight to pick up LEGO studs, building the tools you need to progress and beating up bad guys along the way. The various unique abilities of each member of Parr family come in handy as well and are necessary to finish each level. If you're playing along you switch between two characters with the touch of a button or you can play co-op and each take a hero.
You can breeze through the story mode fairly quickly, and there's really nothing wrong with that. It's a lot of fun to play through the various parts of these movies. While the game has a metric ton of additional content on offer, I barely touched most of it until I had both story modes completed, simply because I wanted to play through the next part of the movie that I love.
And there is a lot of additional material. As with previous LEGO title, there are more characters than you'll know what to do with. Some are modified versions of the characters you know, but you can also play using characters that are only ever referenced in the Incredibles movies, like Gazerbeam or Splashdown. Some of their unique abilities can be used to unlock secrets in the story levels, giving them added replayability. These are all unlocked by completing various challenges both within story mode and by completing other side activities.
When you're looking to take a break from the campaign, you can explore the cities of New Urbem and Munciberg, the core locations from each of the two films. There's a Ubisoft level of random icons that litter the map giving you things to do. Time trials, random civilians to rescue, muggers to stop, and various special bricks and other objects to collect. The highlight of these various distractions are the Crimewaves, which start off with a news report letting you know what crime is being committed, then gives you a sidequest to stop it. These are usually creative in their design and just fun, and funny, to play.
Overall I enjoyed LEGO The Incredibles more than the previous LEGO game I played, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2. That game had so much going on that it felt unfocused. The story portion of the game never felt like it mattered or if it had a direction. Maybe it was the benefit of getting to simply follow an existing and proven story, but LEGO The Incredibles feels more confident in that regard, and as a result, it kept my attention much longer.
Whether you're looking for a fun game that just lets you snash things into tiny pieces, a fun co-op experience to have with a friend, or simply to become a more active participant in a favorite movie LEGO The Incredibles has that. Also, you get to beat up a raccoon with Jack-Jack.
This review was done with an Xbox One version of the game provided by the publisher.
