A cool first attempt at a LEGO MMOG, but falls short in a few areas.

User Rating: 8.5 | LEGO Universe PC
I have been a fan of the LEGO brand for many years, and when I heard about this game, I got excited. The game is INCREDIBLY original and imaginitive (as a LEGO game should be). The game is a mix of a beat-em'-up and a 3D platformer (that we don't have enough of in our current gaming industry) and a construction game. The beat-em'-up section of this game is the most recurring gameplay type, as it's the least inspired. There are no varying types of combos, as each weapon usually has only a three hit combo that vary in total damage, depending on the weapon. In the game you get, swords, hammers, spears, bats, axes, guns, staffs, katanas, mallets, and much, much more to smash your opposing force: the Maelstrom. More on them later. The platforming does not appear much in the game as the fighting, but it's good. The only problem with the platforming in the game is the terrible camera. You'd think that since the game is been in developmet for so long, this would not have been a problem, but NetDevil figured out how to screw up the camera. Also about the camera, the camera in the fighting is worse. There is a lock on system, but since you can't control it, it is almost completley broken. Now time to talk about the most anticipated part of the game; the building. The building is incredibly fun, and it works perfectly. I dont even need to explain the building. There are three types of building: Quick Building, which is the easiest type of building, requires you to hold down the SHIFT button on your keyboard if you have the required amount of imagination to build things such as Bounce Pads, Turrets, and several other things. Modual Builds are where you take types of models to make things such as cars and rockets that you can use in the game. Brick Builds, which are only usuable on your Property that you claim, let you use the bricks that you found while exploring the Universe to build basically whatever you want. There is one thing that irritated me about the Brick Builds were that once collect a new type of brick, you don't have an unlimited amount of that type of brick. There are also racing, survival, and shooting gallery minigames. They are all pretty much self-explanitory, they are good. Now time to talk about the graphics. Since this is a LEGO game, the graphics are colorful and vibrant. Now time to talk about the sound. The music is cool and original, however the sound effects are stale. The gibberesh is OK. Now, onto the story. The story is about how an evil dark substance called the Maelstrom wants to destroy Imagination. You and millions of other Minifigures have to stop them by claiming Propetries that they invaded and joining the heroic Nexus Force.The Nexus Force consists of four factions. The Sentinels are the knights, Assembley are the master builders and engineers, Paradox are the Maelstrom experts, and the Venture Leauge are the adventurers. You can choose a one of the two current classes on a faction, you get the rank one of three gear for that class. The good thing is that if you don't like the class you have, you can always get the other class. This review is getting long, so I'll just go ahead and finish it. This game is worth the money, so if you have a child who likes LEGO, or if you are a fan of the brand yourself, this is worth it.