Gaming

LEGO Horizon Adventures review: Flat-out fun

Horizon Lego Dawn

Published

November 13, 2024

Lego Horizon Adventures is the first Horizon game that I just couldn’t put down. It’s fun, relatively easy to play, and adds some brevity to an otherwise too self-serious title.

It lego-fies the base game of Horizon Zero Dawn and offers an abridged version of the story. All the while, it offers fun platforming and relatively challenging combat.

Horizon Lego Dawn

Whether or not you’re familiar with the story told during this franchise’s debut, you’ll likely find yourself enjoying how the experience is presented here. If you’ve played any Lego games before, it has the signature Lego game humor, poking fun at the material it’s “adapting” while still telling a generally faithful story.

Lines like “you know how hard it is to count with no fingers” are littered across the game’s dialogue. And they never get old. Many of the punchlines are delivered on time and on target. It’s such stark contrast to the sometimes overly serious tone of Horizon Zero Dawn.

That said, it’s able to take the 23-25 hour story of the original game and tell it in a little over half the time. I completed my playthrough in roughly around 15 hours.

A slightly different LEGO game

The last Lego game we played is LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. While they share the same DNA in terms of dialogue, aesthetic, and storytelling, the gameplay is vastly different.

Unlike in the LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Horizon Adventures has a fixed camera angle. The platforming sections of the stages differ slightly but the entire game generally has a top-down perspective view.

This helps simplify the experience. But make no mistake, there’s still a fair bit of exploring to do. It’s in the players best interest to move around the screen and check every nook and cranny for treasure chests, loot, and what not.

The top-down perspective also makes the combat feel a little bit like the games that have that perspective like Diablo and Hades. While not as challenging as the aforementioned games, this one offers a good variety to keep you engaged.

Arrows, Spheres and more

Combat is pretty straightforward. Square is your primary attack button. You can press it quickly for quick strikes. But it’s best used to press, aim, and hold for more efficient damage.

As you progress in the game, you gain different types of arrows just like in Zero Dawn. These vary from elemental damages to different ways of firing your arrows.

Meanwhile, the circle button is how you activate your gadgets. You can only hold one at a time and most of them are pretty useful in combat. My favorites were the one that lets you dart around in a flash and a Horizon classic – the trapper.

Weapons and gadgets can be picked up throughout a stage. But they’re also available during midpoints where you encounter a merchant and you have three chests to open, mostly containing a full ammo set at your disposal.

Healing is handled through berry trees scattered across the stage. These are very generously placed, especially during the early part of the game. They get a little bit scarcer as you progress.

Dealing with Machines and The Hive

Just like in Horizon Zero Dawn your primary foils are the Machines and The Hive. They can be dealt with generally in the same way. Machines still have weak points that can be targeted when you use your focus. Meanwhile, members of the hive can be dealt shot with weapons, gadgets, or even carried and thrown against each other.

Most of the combat happens in an enclosed space. After exploring, you arrive at the area where there’s tall grass you can hide in. In the enclosed space, you’ll find weapons, gadgets, and things you can throw at the enemies. Some stages also feature environmental things you can use to knock out enemies.

It’s in your best interest to move around as much as you can because the enemies tend to swarm you all at once. By moving around, you become a hard target to hit and also open yourself up to more possibilities of taking them out.

This is the part of the combat that, mechanically, somewhat felt like Hades. It’s nowhere near as challenging as that game, but it has the same general feeling. More importantly, it’s pretty fun and challenging without being too easy or too frustrating.

Clearing these combat spaces, even in just the balanced difficulty, can feel rewarding. Boss fights offer some variety, but the game does well in making sure established rules of engagement remain pretty much the same.

Mother’s Heart

Your base of operations is Mother’s Heart which is your tribe’s town/village. As you progress, you’re able to unlock areas of the town and build different kinds of establishments. They vary in look, feel, and potential for interaction.

It’s here where you spawn after every mission. You can customize the town to your liking with lego parts related to the Horizon franchise but there’s more to unlock and have fun with.

It’s also in this hub where you can level up, change your look, and collect more Lego Bricks by completing town quests. These quests are mostly simple and just require building certain things. While others require you to wear a particular costume as you go on your adventures.

You can change up your look after a certain point of the game. It unlocks pretty early on. You can dress as Horizon characters. And just like the buildings and structures, more non–Horizon costumes will be available to you as you progress through.

There’s a general skill tree that applies to all the characters you can control. Yes, characters. As a solo player, you’ll have four playable characters at your disposal. If you’ve seen some of the previews of the game, you already know that Varl is one of them. Won’t spoil the rest.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try Co-op play as my Player 2 was away during the review period. That opened up some tricky decision-making as to which character I will use in each mission. Ultimately, I went canon and just used Aloy 85% of the time.

Is this your GameMatch?

LEGO Horizon Adventures is a Super Swipe. It’s a game we can easily recommend because it’s such a good time. The gameplay is fun, the humor is on point, there’s an option for couch or online Co-op, and it’s easy to pick-up and play.

I have unfinished playthroughs in both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Something about those games just didn’t land with me personally right away. But the lego-fied version is different. In fact, it’s even renewed, even just by a little bit, my desire to complete the playthrough of the actual game it’s based on.

I also learned a lot about my personal tastes playing through this. I’m all for realism and the usual cinematic action-adventure that PlayStation offers. But if Astro Bot and now LEGO Horizon Adventures is any indication, there’s definitely a place for bright, stylized games that’s just flat-out fun.

Gaming

NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 can turn your favorite AAA game into AI slop

DLSS 5 will launch on select games.

Published

March 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Have you ever wondered why RAM prices are going up this year? Everyone is rightfully saying that AI is the reason for the price hike, but it’s hard to palpably see why. Today, NVIDIA is showing off where its hard-earned profits are going by revealing DLSS 5.

For gamers who don’t have a particularly strong machine, NVIDIA’s DLSS technology upscales a game’s graphics quality and frame rate to artificially keep up with newer hardware. A few months ago, the company unveiled DLSS 4.5, which marks the latest step to help games sparkle. Today, with DLSS 5, the technology is going all-in on AI.

In a tech demo, NVIDIA showcased the latest version of the technology. This time, the feature will use photoreal lighting and materials to alter graphics. It can allegedly analyze a scene’s elements — including hair, fabric, and translucent skin — based simply on a single frame.

The demo’s most prominent example is Resident Evil Requiem. Grace Ashcroft, the gamer’s protagonist, evolves from her doll-like appearance into… well, something you might see on an AI-generated mobile game ad.

NVIDIA claims that the new version will make games look closer to real life. The jury is still out, especially with such a low sample size. However, in this writer’s humble opinion, it’s gonna be a no for me, dawg. I’d rather play with what the developer originally intended for their game than with yet another generic AI filter.

The new feature is rolling out to some of the biggest games today including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil Requiem, and Where Winds Meet.

Gaming

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.1: Dark secrets within the Phantasmoon Games

Ashveil becomes playable character

Published

March 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Version 4.1 update for Honkai: Star Rail will be available on March 25. Called “Unraveled for Daybreak”, the update will continue to revolve around the story of Planarcadia.

Here, the Astral Express Crew is invited to attend the grand Star Rail FEST, a fan festival inspired by their past interstellar journeys.

In the process, they will join a new 5-Star Character, Ashveil, as they uncover the dark secrets lurking during the Phantasmoon Games.

Star Rail FEST

This festival features three major open zones: the Belobog Zone, Xianzhou Luofu Zone, and Penacony Zone.

The festival is set-up after the Trailblazer has successfully obtained the mask of the supplicant to participate in the Phantasmoon Games. Pearl, the CEO of Planarcadia, then collaborates with the Astral Experss Crew to hold a grand exposition.

Citizens of Planarcadia can board a special Pom-Pom front shuttle express through Interplanar Jump to enjoy the highlights of their trailblaze journey.

Trailblazers can witness giant balloon figures, immerse themselves in a duel against the Lord Ravager Phantylia, and charge headlong at The Great Septimus.

Meanwhile, the festival’s organizer, Pearluxe Corp, will also have an area unlocked: Pearluxe Tower. Inside is a newly ultra-poseable model, “Alloy King Pom-Pom” and a variety of mechatron-themed interactive activities.

However, beneath the revelry, conspiracies are abound, and various crises will soon follow.

Ashveil joins the list of playable characters

This marks the start of a new adventure for the Trailblazers, to be joined by famous detective, Ashveil.

This 5-star Lightning-Type (Path of The Hunt) “detective unreliable” will showcase his serious and dependable side as a playable character.

Ashveil uses his Technique to inflict a Stunned state on enemies within a certain range. After entering combat, he can increase the CRIT DMG of all allies and selects one enemy to be the Bait.

As long as the Bait is on the field, the DEF of all enemies will be reduced. And when Ashveil uses his Skill on the Bait again, he will deal extra DMG and recover Skill Points for the entire team.

Moreover, when a teammate attacks the same Bait, Ashveil unleashes a Follow-Up ATK and gradually accumulates Gluttony in combat. Consuming this can further enhance the unit’s Follow-Up capabilities.

At the end of the last story stage, he will enter the Phantasmoon Games and begin investigating the murder case that occurred in the Dovebrook District.

He will work alongside the Astral Express Crew to uncover the conspiracy hidden beneath the surface of the elation feast to deliver justice for the fallen.

More features

In addition, Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.1 will launch with the Wispae War Saga. The Trailblazer can lead various types of wispae soldiers to battle in the Graphia Academy.

Here, they can defeat powerful champions by employing different strategies, upgrading wispae, and using spell cards and capsules with different effects.

Players can acquire both rewards and engage in even more challenging matches against outsider adversaries.

Gaming

Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7 available on March 24

Featuring Hollow Champions tournament, new Agents

Published

March 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Version 2.7 of Zenless Zone Zero will become available on March 24 across platforms. Called “Champions Never Fall to the Past”, the update features the Hollow Champion competition and new agents.

The Hollow Champion competition sweeps across New Eridu — hosted by TOPS — spreading excitement as far as beyond the city center.

Competitors can take home high-stakes rewards, including the rare Porcelloy W-Engine. The tournament’s scale draws not only familiar allies, but even several unexpected participants.

There’s the Public Security’s Metropolitan Order Division, aside from the Cunning Hares and Sons of Calydon. It is said that the Calydon’s Sweepers will also step into the competition.

New Agents emerge

Furthermore, among the figures emerging from the shadows is the infamous Black Wolf Romeul. In battle, Romeul can activate a Corruptive Barrier for increased CRIT Damage Resistance and Interruption Resistance. This also causes opponents to continuously lose HP.

To break through this barrier, teams must be capable of delivering sustained Anomaly damage. This adds a new tactical layer for those wanting to challenge him.

Moreover, Cissia of the Metropolitan Order Division will also enter the race. As an S-Rank Electric Attack agent, Cissia gains three stacks of Venom upon entering battle.

Each stack deals Electric damage, while temporarily increasing her own CRIT Rate. The Venom gradually dissipates over time, but Cissia can also generate additional stacks through her EX Special Attack. As the stacks accumulate, she may expend them with her Basic Attack, Serpent’s Kiss.

Joining Cissia is the Angels of Delusion lineup, captained by their dancer, Nangong Yu. The S-Rank Ether Stun Agent enhances her team’s Anomaly Buildup Rate against Stunned enemies.

During combat, she automatically regenerates Downbeat over time. Additional Downbeat is also restored whenever a squad member inflicts Anomaly on enemies.

Once the Downbeat is sufficient, she can unleash powerful charged attacks to extend the enemy’s Stun duration. This is while her own Stun and Anomaly buildup accelerates. Meanwhile, her Ultimate can activate Ether Veil: Delusion Reprise to boost the squad’s entire Attack.

Proxies can unlock an exclusive faction wallpaper after collecting all members of Angels of Delusion. In addition, S-Rank Ice Rupture Agent Yidhari and Electric Attack Agent Seed will also return to Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.7.