Children, stop playing with LEGO and start playing with swords.
Remember back in the good ol' days when LEGO meant a bunch of multicolored bricks? Times have changed. For the past several years LEGO has been expanding its lineup with toy lines like Bionicle, Alpha Team, and now Knights' Kingdom. More like traditional action figures than LEGO construction sets, these franchises feature their own heroes, villains, and backstories. It was only a matter of time before these new worlds made their video game debuts; following in the footsteps of Bionicle: The Game is LEGO Knights' Kingdom.
A side-scrolling platformer using an isometric perspective, Knights' Kingdom places you in control of four different members of the Hero Knights. This steadfast group has a single noble creed: "Respect, Loyalty, Honesty and Bravery". Their goal is to acquire the Shield of Ages from the Citadel of Orlan and use it to crush their nemesis, Vladek the Dark Knight. As levels progress, the player can choose from the agile Jayko, the brawny Santis, the brainy Danju and the wily Rascus. Together, they strive to save the ancient kingdom of Morcia from Vladek by ultimately beating him in a sinister contest known only as "The Grand Tournament".
This epic struggle unfolds in a nine-level Story Mode featuring puzzles, mini-quests, and secret areas. There's also a "Tournament Arena" mode allowing you to have one-on-one battles and jousts with other gamers using the GBA Link Cable. Multiplayer action is a welcome addition that's sure to increase this game's replay value considerably.
An element of collection is mixed in as well. Finding certain items that are scattered throughout Story Mode will unlock extra content; collect all the "Vladek Artifacts" and the arch-villian himself is unlocked in the Tournament Arena, and finding all the pieces of the "Lost Key" will open up a second battle mode, "Last Man Standing". Item collection can sometimes be a chore, but in this case it seems like it will be worthwhile.
With what appears to be an in-depth Story Mode, engaging multiplayer, and a compelling storyline, Knightâs Kingdom should be a worthy addition to the LEGO game series. From the screenshots we've seen, the graphics look to be top-notch as well. One thing's for sure: LEGO Knights' Kingdom will make "playing with LEGO" much more than mere child's play!
