SinceFunko Fusionseems to be going after the same market as Traveller’s Tales' LEGO franchise, it is only natural that players would compare the two. Both concepts have explored a plethora of iconic IPs, they boast extremely similar gameplay, and they both thrive on being collect-a-thons. But, while the LEGO series has grown and changed immensely since its first days,Funko Fusionseems to be taking a step back and reminding players just what made those earlier games so special.
Of course, one of the first things thatFunko Fusionplayers may notice is the lack of voiced dialogue, which is howLEGO games beforeLEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroeswere. However, that is not where the blast from the past stops, asFunko Fusion’s Factory also feels like it comes directly from one of those classic titles. Not only does it look much like a LEGO hub world, but the way players interact with it feels virtually identical.
Funko Fusion’s Factory Feels Ripped Straight From Classic LEGO Games
LEGO Didn’t Always Have Massive Open-Worlds to Explore
Nowadays, one of the big selling points of LEGO games is the massive open worlds that Traveller’s Tales builds for them.LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagalet players explore practically every iconic planet from the series,LEGO Marvel Super Heroesgave them all of New York City to see,LEGO The Incredibleslet them see the sights of Municiberg and New Urbem, andLEGO Dimensionsgave them free reinover some of the biggest IPs around. All of which makes for an exciting adventure. However, it was not always like this.
BeforeLEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroesintroducedan open-world Gotham City, the hub worlds of LEGO games were mostly confined to a singular building or area. Inside these areas, the films that the game adapted were split up by doors or boards, with each one leading to the game’s level selection. Additionally, these hubs featured the character creator, minikit display room, red brick store, and purchasable characters. And as players progressed further, these areas would slowly get filled with more characters just wandering its hallways.
Funko Fusion’s Factory Delivers a Similar Experience to Those Old Hubs
Unlike modern LEGO games,Funko Fusiondoes not include an open-world area. Instead, players spend the majority of their time in-between levels within the Factory. This Factory serves as the game’s central hub, with each floor being themed after and dedicated to one of the game’s worlds. On those floors, there are five different doors for players to enter, each corresponding to a level. Plus, there are often various power-up machines, a character selector, and some hidden secrets.
If that sounds familiar, it is because it seems to be exactly like how those LEGO games used to operate. Pretty much every aspect of the Factory has been seemingly ripped straight fromthe likes ofLEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, with the main differences being the lack of minikits or red bricks. Along with that, characters are not really wandering the halls nor is there a way to create a custom character. But, other than that, everything else about it feels practically identical.
Funko Fusion’s approach to its hub world may not be exactly what fans were looking for, especially as many of these franchises could have thrived with their own massive open worlds. However, the Factory can also serve as a nice bit of nostalgia for those who may be missing the way earlier LEGO games operated. And with the way the game plays, it may be exactly what those players have been looking for.
