LEGO and developer TT Games struck gold with the release ofLEGO Star Wars: The Video Gamein 2005, and it wasted no time in using this newfound formula for repeated success. After two moreLEGO Star Warstitles,theIndiana Jonesfranchisewas up to bat, withLEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventureslaunching in June 2008. ThoughLEGO Indiana Joneswas released just a month afterKingdom of the Crystal Skull, that movie would need to wait another year before it received the LEGO treatment, withLEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continuesdropping in 2009.
For the most part,LEGO Indiana Jones 2followed the same formula as the rest of TT Games' licensed LEGO adventures, but there were a few more ambitious ideas packed into the unassuming sequel.LEGO Indiana Jones 2was the first in the franchise to experiment with an open-world design for its hub areas, though its execution left a lot to be desired. The same is true forLEGO Indiana Jones 2’s level creator, but it’s also a concept that deserves another chance.
It’s Time for LEGO Indiana Jones 2’s Level Creator to Return
LEGO Indiana Jones 2’s Level Creator Was an Ambitious Idea
One ofLEGO Indiana Jones 2’s most ambitious ideas was its Level Builder mode. Accessible via the game’s main menu,LEGO Indiana Jones 2’s Level Buildersaw players pick a specificIndymovie’s theming, choose a location based on the movie, and enter an empty play space. The player would then be given free rein to create their very ownLEGO Indiana Joneslevel, being given an array of blocks, hazards, objects, and baseplates that they could manually place in the environment. Once the player had filled the small level as much as they wanted, they could save the level and play through it using any of the game’s unlockable characters.
As can be expected of a kid’s game from 2009,LEGO Indiana Jones 2’s Level Builder mode wasn’t quite as impressive as it sounds on paper. Players had a very limited number of objects and bricks they could place, and there was little room for creativity given how strict the rules of placement were. This Level Builder returned just once more, inLEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, where it didn’t really receive any improvements.
A New LEGO Level Creator Could Thrive Now
In the 14 years that have passed since LEGO’s Level Builder was last seen, creative modes and level creators have gradually become a much more prevalent part of the gaming landscape.Fortnite’s Creative Modeallows players to create their own maps and game modes that can then be shared with millions of players, whileSuper Mario Makerallows fans to access an extensive catalog of assets from across theSuper Mario2D era.
With level creators being bigger than they ever have been, it’s about time LEGO brought back its Level Builder. A modern version ofLEGO Indiana Jones 2’s Level Builder could be a huge hit, just as long as it included all of the modern bells and whistles that fans have come to expect from other games that focus on user-generated content. A LEGO Level Builder game could also have a major edge over the competition if it leveraged all ofLEGO’s licensed themes, just as it did withLEGO Dimensionsalmost a decade ago.
LEGO
LEGO is a type of toy that predominantly consists of small plastic bricks. LEGO is the world’s largest toy company by revenue, likely due to how versatile the product is and how it appeals to both children and adults.LEGO isn’t just a toy company, however, as there are numerous LEGO video games, films, and even theme parks.
