Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
LEGO Universe: Hands On with the Gnarled Forest
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
MMORPG.com writer Bill Murphy recently had the opportunity for a hands-on look at LEGO Universe and its Gnarled Forest. The Gnarled Forest is one of the many 'themed islands' that make up the LEGO Universe. Check out Bill's zone preview!
For those unfamiliar with the gist of LU’s story, the game is set amid a chaotic time during the LEGO people’s existence. One of four explorers on a search for the source of Pure Imagination (yes, I’m singing the Willy Wonka song too) gets sucked into the source upon its discovery, causing a dark Maelstrom of chaos energy to be unleashed upon the entire LEGO Universe. Your role in all this is as a Minifigure called to arms to defend the Universe from the invading forces of the Maelstrom and to find a way to halt its onslaught.
Check out Bill's full preview of LEGO Universe: Gnarled Forest.
Comments
Nice in-depth article here. This game looks like it's going to be a lot of fun (I only wish my baby was a few years older so he could play with me). For some reason I am really interested in what the character creation will be like in this game. Can you loot new heads as well as bricks? In any case this looks to be shaping up to be a fun and hopefully in-depth little game.
I really don't know what to think about this one. At first glance I think "Lego" = kiddy MMO but if it is fun, unlike many of the current MMOs, then what the heck I'll give it a shot. It dosent sound like the traditional class system, would be cool if you could modify your mini by the types of blocks he is made from. The reviewer didm't cover the MMO aspect of it though...in fact it sounds like he is soloing the whole island? Is there going to be crafting on release?
I'm very interested in trying this game out. I have played both Lego Star Wars and Lego Batman and had loads of fun in both of them. So if this is indeed similar to those games like the author describes I should get what I expect.
I think they probably started out with the intention of making a game for kids, but it is my impression thus far that the focus has shifted to a slightly older audience.
Besides the game is being developed by adults, and play tested mainly by adults, so it is only natural that the game would slip off the kiddie tracks.
You get drops that give you the ability to change minifig parts
Game is very very simple a child could play and have fun while it also appeals to adults with achievements and other treats you will have to preorder to join the fun and see what your missing
lmao @ augustgrace... i'd say that MOST if not ALL children games are um... made by adults. just because its being made by adults and tested by adults doesnt mean it's not going to be a game for children. it would be great if it was gonna be made for a more mature audience but your reasoning is just TERRIBLE... thanks for the laugh though. :-)
Eh i wouldn't say it's kidish or adult I think it's more rated "E" for everyone... like a Mario game.. and how many adults like mario? a lot... so i dunno it'll be interesting to see how much if any it costs per month and how much content the final product will actually have... but it does sound interesting... I'm not going to play it... but it sounds neat enough.
The more info I see about this game, the more interested I am in checking it out. Simplistic fun with a bit of (hopefully) in-depth crafting will be a great side distraction.
The quests sound inovative but the contols are way too simplistic. That has to have an effect on what a player can do in the game, simplistic controls do not help with interaction.
I like the idea of problem solving games. There aren't that many on the market today, things of the nature of A Tale in the Desert and WURM. I wish there were more, so the idea of this game intices me and I loved my LEGO sets as a kid. It doesn't bother me if it's 'kiddy'. I think us adults get too caught up on how things are packaged sometimes. I'll definitely be watching the progress on this game.
Playing MUDs and MMOs since 1994.
my girlfriend love this game
I think the only thing that could interest me in that game is building stuff, if it shows up directly in the world so that other users can visit/explore/use it.
Everything else could be removed from the game, I wouldn't care
It sounds like you enjoyed your experience in Gnarled Forest. The game does have interesting concepts. We'll see how this pans out.
F.Y.I. The second photograph down is not from Gnarled Forest.
I bow before your wisdom sir. Oh wait, no I don't because you didn't understand what I was saying!
Nothing, whether it is a movie/cartoon or game, can ever truly appeal to just children as long as adults are the dominating force behind the creation. Ever watch one of those disney movies and pick up the adult themes that some smart ass writer though he could get away with slipping in?
If the adults are the driving force behind a game, and the game is tested nearly exclusively by adults, then it would be impossible to avoid veering towards a more adult slant.
I THINK ITS NICE EVEN THOUGHT I HAVEN'T PLAYED IT BUT I TRIED THE STAR WARS LEGO WARS ANG ITS GREAT
^DeATh^
well the person did say they give him the go ahead for that island so not the game in general but yeah that sounds cool and if you ever played a lego game they allways have that option i just hope that have it here
I think it looks fantastic. it's something new imo. The only issue, as said before by others, the community might be too full of kids.
With a gun barrel between your teeth, you speak only in vowels.
I enjoyed the Gnarled forest alot cos I had a shield with a special power that allowed me to be invunerable for a few minutes and it recharged very quickly so I just ripped through every enemy until I ran out of imagination or got hit by laaaaaaaaaaag. I don't remember how I got the shield but I'm guessing its from an achievement.
This is not a game.
They have stated in other reviews that the "crafting" they have so far is building buildings such as castles and such on your property. They have not said anything yet about building your own bricks or gear.
Emissary of Istaria
well so far i have been playing the beta and its fun, u get to build lots of stuff and have pets and all its great so far
Zach