An Honest Defense of the LEGO Video Games

I think in most gaming circles, I would not be considered a "gamer," as most hardcore gamers interpret the word. Yes, I play video games, for many more hours than the average human being. Yes, I do buy some games brand new and play the heck out of them, my sights almost always set on that elusive yet tempting "100% completion" rating. And yes, in the words of a good friend of mine from my youth, I am "obnoxiously good" at learning how to play a game quickly and efficiently. I remember that particular conversation occurring over Soul Caliber 2 for the Gamecube. He had bought the game a week previously, and within about twenty minutes or so, I was beating him regularly with characters I was only trying out for the first time. As a result of all of this, most people, particularly those that do not play video games on a regular basis, consider me a "gamer," and I, too, refer to myself as such. Yet, because of what games I play, how often I end up playing those games, and my attitudes about gaming in general, in spite of everything I just wrote, the gaming community would probably not consider me a true "gamer."

It's sad, though, that such a community can only be open to those that play certain games. The online gaming craze that start in the late nineties has grown exponentially - now, some people only play games online. Moreover, the need for better and better graphics (which most people interpret as "more realistic") has captured the attention of the hardcore gaming community, as well as the need for "grown-up games," leaving gamers like myself out of the loop in many instances. And, while I could write forever about how sad and depressing that all is, that is not my goal here. No, my goal is to make an argument about a specific type of game, one that is regularly disregarded by those that consider themselves hardcore gamers. This type of game, despite its fun-factor and playability, gets labeled a "kid game," and naturally, anyone that plays this type of game is not serious about their craft. These games, for lack of a better word, are actually quite...

Awesome (because everything is awesome ... am I right?).

Alright, so I've really only got experience with two of the games in this series: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Wii version) and LEGO Marvel Superheroes (Wii U version). A few summers ago, LEGO Star Wars was my jam - I played it nearly every morning (something I can afford to do over the summers, since I spend the rest of the year teaching). I was obsessed with collecting every single little thing I could, unlocking every character and trying them all, and watching the entire Star Wars story played out by what amounted to be mimes, since the LEGO characters were given no dialogue. The game was charming, fun, and catered to my need to collect things, no mater how insignificant those things are. Did I ever get everything? As is often the result of my tireless hours spent playing a single game ... no, I did not. I could have, damn it, but the summer ended, and my schedule became full from teaching, planning and grading. By the time I had time to play something else, I had gotten something new and my attention shifted away from my beloved LEGO Star Wars.

Several months ago, using an Amazon gift card (thanks, Mom and Dad), I ordered another LEGO game, since I had enjoyed one already. The Marvel movies, as much as they are able to keep things cohesive and consistent, couldn't quite put together the heroes I wanted to see together (the X-Men and Fantastic Four being shunted away in their own franchises for stupid reasons having to do with "rights" and crap like that). So, given my brief research into LEGO Marvel Superheroes, I was excited for the possibilities. I have not been disappointed - I just finished a level where the Human Torch fought alongside Black Widow and Hawkeye! This game, unlike LEGO Star Wars, has dialogue, but that doesn't detract from the fun: the one-liners are not only true to the characters in their more goofy moments, but also to my incredibly "punny" sense of humor (ask my foster kids - if they don't cover their eyes and shake their head in embarrassment over a terrible joke I have just made at least three times a day, I have not done my job). The game, like the Star Wars iteration, has plenty to collect, and will undoubtedly take up much more of my time than Star Wars did. This thought makes me happy.

Now, I can hear some of you now, groaning and wondering how on Earth I am able to call myself a gamer with any amount of dignity. "LEGO games?" you might ask, "How on Earth are these the tools of a mighty gamer? They're too easy!" On that note, I kind of agree. These games were certainly not designed to be incredibly challenging - as a matter of fact, just a quick perusal of lists online of games that are great as "starter games" for those people with zero or little gaming experience will prove that point. Nearly universally, these games are labelled as easy to pick up and play and enjoy. You don't have lives - you simply lose what amounts to money each time you die. The default game mode yields helpful hints regularly, prompting you to use a certain type of character or interact with a certain object. The controls are quite simple - just directions, and maybe two or three other buttons are used. Combat is straight-forward, with no crazy button combinations to worry about. For someone like me that has been playing games since I was 3 or 4, these games present little to no challenge.

So why waste my time on something so easy? I'll tell you - because it's fun. Sometimes "fun" is being challenged, and for that, I turn my attention to other games (particularly the classics on the Sega Genesis and SNES or the NES - some of those are freakin' impossible). But, sometimes "fun" is something lighter and friendlier, and after an entire school year of trying to make high school students care about algebra and calculus, I'll gladly take some time to play something easy if it means I mostly just get to be entertained. Although I wish Mr. Fantastic didn't constantly repeat the line "I really had to stretch my legs for that one!" (or something along those lines), I still chuckle every time it happens, and every time something ridiculous happens. Anyone ever want to see Wolverine make one-liners at the Hulk's expense? Done. Ever want an image as funny as Iron Man just wearing his helmet and a pair of spotted boxers? Done. And nothing makes Return of the Jedi more believable than making everything out of LEGOs (seriously, that is the only way those freaking Ewoks could have completely manhandled the Empire!). LEGO games bring out the fun parts of ever franchise it seeks to embrace.

And that's the key word - embrace. These LEGO games, perhaps more so than the more "serious" games based on the movies from these franchises, embrace some of the more wonderful things these franchises have to offer. We all know the Marvel movies can be fun - so, if you are in the mood for the fun from that franchise, pick up the LEGO version. The same applies to Star Wars. LEGO games, in my experience, show just how entertaining some of these franchises can be, without sacrificing what these franchises are all about. Mind you, I haven't played all of the LEGO games, but if the others are anything like the ones I have made time to experience, they must be just as solid in terms of their representation of the franchises they emulate.

Now, don't mix up my defense of these games with their quality - these games are by no means the "best" out there. The vehicle levels in LEGO Star Wars are downright unwieldy most of the time, and both games I have played have their share of glitches. Case in point - I fell into the water as Iron Man in a level on The Raft in LEGO Marvel Superheroes, and it respawned me on a slanted part of cliff that dumped me right back in the water, over and over again. Even when I switched to my other characters, I could look over at Iron Man and see him, again and again, spawning and falling into the water. These games are not artistic masterpieces, and there are bugs that probably should have been worked out, but that doesn't mean they aren't an absolute blast to play.

In the end, a game doesn't need to be perfect to be fun - sometimes fun is all a game really needs to succeed. And in that regard, the LEGO games are hugely successful at what they seek to do. If I want a good laugh and an opportunity to explore a digital world that is far removed from my own, I pop in a LEGO game and let the ride begin. If I want something more meaningful, I'll find a Zelda game. If I want a challenge, I'll break out a classic platform like Lost Vikings (GOD, that game is hard!). If I want something that's pretty to look at, I'll play a Batman game or one of the Super Mario Galaxy games. But, if I want something stupidly fun and entertaining that probably won't drive me to rage quit (here's talking to you, Super Mario 3D World and your STUPID final level), I'll pick up a LEGO game and be able to relax for a little while.

Well, relax until someone needs me, or I need to feed someone, or put someone to bed ... you get the idea.