Lego Dimensions


Lego Dimensions is a Lego-themed action-adventure crossover video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360. It follows the toys-to-life format, in that the player has Lego figures and a toy pad that can be played within the game itself where it features characters and environments from over 30 different franchises. The Starter Pack, containing the game, the USB toy pad, and three minifigures, was released in September 2015, while additional level packs and characters were released over the following two years. A third year of content was planned, but was cancelled in October 2017.

Gameplay

Lego Dimensions features the same style of gameplay as the previous Lego video games developed by Traveller's Tales, in which up to two players control Lego minifigures based on various represented franchises. Players progress through linear levels, using their characters' abilities to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and attempt to reach the level's end. Characters are entered into the game by placing their respective minifigures onto a USB toy pad, with each character possessing unique abilities that can be used to solve puzzles or reach hidden areas. Using a character from a certain franchise will also unlock that franchise's Adventure World, an open-world area for players to explore and complete in-game objectives.
The Starter Pack includes the toy pad and the game's 14-level main story campaign, which revolves around Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle, while additional levels are made available by purchasing Level Packs and Story Packs. In addition to the minifigures, players can also build models of vehicles, such as the Batmobile, TARDIS, Mystery Machine, or DeLorean, and put them into the game for characters to drive. Completing objectives in the levels and adventure worlds will reward players with gold bricks, which can be used to upgrade vehicles and give them new abilities. Each adventure world also contains a red brick for players to retrieve; these will unlock special bonuses, such as visual modifiers for characters or extra assistance at finding collectible items. Unlike series such as Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and Amiibo, the minifigures, vehicles, and the USB toy pad are all made from real Lego pieces and can be freely built and customized.
All minifigures and vehicles can be used in any available level, though specific figures must be present to initially enter those levels or worlds. An additional feature called "Hire a Hero" was added shortly after the game's launch; this feature allows players to pay in-game currency to temporarily summon characters they do not own in order to complete an otherwise-inaccessible puzzle. The game's second year of content also introduced competitive multiplayer in the form of the Battle Arenas, allowing up to four players to compete in modes such as Capture the Flag. Gold bricks can be used to purchase new power-ups for the Battle Arenas. Certain packs also include exclusive features; for example, the Midway Arcade level pack unlocks playable emulations of over 20 Midway arcade titles, while the Teen Titans Go! packs unlock an exclusive Lego-themed episode of the series that can be viewed in-game.

Plot

Arriving on the planet Foundation Prime in the center of the Lego universe, Lord Vortech, a being who has the power to shapeshift and travel through dimensions, and his robotic minion X-PO seek the twelve Foundation Elements, the cornerstones of time and space itself, in a bid to merge all the dimensions into one under Vortech's control. These Elements, such as the Ruby Slippers, the One Ring, the Flux Capacitor, the Palantir, and Kryptonite, were scattered across the dimensions long ago, but gathered together at Foundation Prime's palace can unlock the power to control all of the dimensions. When X-PO voices his doubts of Vortech's evil plan, Vortech decides that he no longer needs him and banishes him to the planet Vorton. Unfortunately for Vortech, his own body cannot handle too many more dimensional jumps, forcing him to open vortexes to the different dimensions and recruits their villains to help him search for the Elements while imprisoning the heroes pulled through them. These actions damage the boundaries between the dimensions, causing them to merge and characters to be displaced.
When Robin, Frodo, and MetalBeard are pulled into the vortexes, each unknowingly in possession of one of the Elements, Batman, Gandalf the Grey, and Wyldstyle all jump in after them. The three get pulled into the same vortex and appear on Vorton, where the vortex generator they came out of explodes, prompting them to rebuild it. Aided by X-PO, the three use the generator to travel through the dimensions and search for the Foundation Elements and the five missing Keystones that power the generator hoping to find their missing friends and stop Vortech's plan from succeeding in the process. Along their journey, they meet and assist the various heroes of the dimensions they visit, such as Dorothy Gale, Homer Simpson, Dr. Emmett Brown, Wheatley, and Scooby-Doo while fighting numerous villains, including the Wicked Witch of the West, Lord Business, the Joker, Master Chen, Saruman the White, Daleks, Lex Luthor, the Riddler, Two-Face, Sauron, General Zod, as well as Vortech himself in 1885 Hill Valley and a haunted circus. However, Vortech eventually realizes that X-PO is helping them. The heroes travel to Foundation Prime to find their friends and fight Vortech, but it turns out to be a diversion, allowing the villains to ambush X-PO and retrieve the trio's Foundation Elements in their absence. With all twelve Elements collected, Vortech unlocks the foundation of all the dimensions, a green Lego building plate, and is imbued with near-unlimited power. He merges Robin, Frodo, MetalBeard, and a piece of himself into a giant robot mutant known as the Tri, and sends it to wreak havoc on the trio's worlds. Fearing that a failure could lead to a transformation into a similar mutant, the villains bail out on Vortech.
The heroes free their friends from inside the Tri and destroy the Vortech piece, causing it to implode. After the Tri's defeat, Batman realizes that they will need all the help they can get to defeat Vortech, leading them to recruit the Twelfth Doctor, Mystery Inc., the Ghostbusters, the space ship Defender, and GLaDOS to their cause. While the Doctor, GLaDOS, and X-PO work on a plan to seal Vortech in a rift loop, the heroes head to Foundation Prime, fighting him along the way. With their allies' help, they are able to destroy the Lego plate, which causes Foundation Prime's palace to collapse and infuriates Vortech. He grows to an enormous size and attacks the trio, but the Doctor is able to manipulate the portal technology and sucks all of them into a rift loop. Using a special device he, GLaDOS, and X-PO designed, the heroes are able to seal Vortech in an endless rift prison for all eternity, saving the multiverse.
In a post-credits scene, an unknown figure finds a piece of Vortech's giant body in the remains of Foundation Prime's palace. He picks it up and instantly becomes corrupted, yelling in pain as he converts into a Vorton being. Vortech's laughter is heard as the scene fades out, suggesting that the figure has been transformed into another Vortech.

Franchises

The game features characters and worlds from thirty different franchises, consisting of:
Where to Find Them
The game also features character and setting cameos from other franchises, including HAL 9000 from the Space Odyssey series, S.T.A.R. Labs from CW's The Flash, Bedrock from The Flintstones, the family room from The Jetsons, and the DNA ship from Red Dwarf. Unlike other toys-to-life series such as Skylanders and Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions allows all figures to be compatible with the existing title, rather than releasing a sequel.

Packs

In addition to the game's starter pack, Lego Dimensions has a wide range of packs available, split into four categories: story packs, level packs, team packs, and fun packs. Packs from the game's second year also unlock Adventure World Battle Arenas, competitive four-person multiplayer areas themed after each figure's respective franchise.

Starter Pack

Story packs

Story packs add six new levels to the game based on the represented franchise; these levels retell the story of their respective film, with characters from other franchises making occasional appearances. The packs also include one or two characters, a vehicle or gadget, and a new gateway design for the toy pad. Story packs each also unlock a new keystone for the portal, providing additional abilities.
FranchisePack nameContentsRelease date
GhostbustersGhostbusters Story PackAbby Yates27 September 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Story PackEcto-127 September 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Story PackZhu's Chinese Restaurant27 September 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Story PackSix additional Ghostbusters levels27 September 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them Story Pack		Newt Scamander18 November 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them Story Pack		Niffler18 November 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them Story Pack		MACUSA18 November 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them Story Pack		Six additional Fantastic Beasts levels18 November 2016
The Lego Batman MovieThe Lego Batman Movie Story PackRobin10 February 2017
The Lego Batman MovieThe Lego Batman Movie Story PackBatgirl10 February 2017
The Lego Batman MovieThe Lego Batman Movie Story PackBatwing10 February 2017
The Lego Batman MovieThe Lego Batman Movie Story PackBat Computer10 February 2017
The Lego Batman MovieThe Lego Batman Movie Story PackSix additional The Lego Batman Movie levels10 February 2017

Level packs

Level packs contain a character with two items, which are either vehicles or gadgets, along with a new level to play in, based on the represented character's franchise.
FranchisePack nameContentsRelease date
Back to the FutureBack to the Future Level PackMarty McFly27 September 2015
Back to the FutureBack to the Future Level PackDeLorean Time Machine27 September 2015
Back to the FutureBack to the Future Level PackHoverboard27 September 2015
Back to the FutureBack to the Future Level PackBack to the Future27 September 2015
Portal 2Portal 2 Level PackChell27 September 2015
Portal 2Portal 2 Level PackCompanion Cube27 September 2015
Portal 2Portal 2 Level PackSentry Turret27 September 2015
Portal 2Portal 2 Level PackAperture Science27 September 2015
The SimpsonsThe Simpsons Level PackHomer Simpson27 September 2015
The SimpsonsThe Simpsons Level PackHomer's Car27 September 2015
The SimpsonsThe Simpsons Level PackTaunt-o-Vision27 September 2015
The SimpsonsThe Simpsons Level PackThe Mysterious Voyage of Homer27 September 2015
Doctor WhoDoctor Who Level PackTwelfth Doctor3 November 2015
Doctor WhoDoctor Who Level PackTARDIS3 November 2015
Doctor WhoDoctor Who Level PackK-93 November 2015
Doctor WhoDoctor Who Level PackThe Dalek Extermination of Earth3 November 2015
GhostbustersGhostbusters Level PackPeter Venkman19 January 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Level PackEcto-119 January 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Level PackGhost Trap19 January 2016
GhostbustersGhostbusters Level PackGhostbusters19 January 2016
Midway ArcadeMidway Arcade Level PackGamer Kid15 March 2016
Midway ArcadeMidway Arcade Level PackArcade Machine15 March 2016
Midway ArcadeMidway Arcade Level PackG-6155 Spy Hunter15 March 2016
Midway ArcadeMidway Arcade Level PackRetro Wreckage15 March 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Level PackFinn the Human27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Level PackJakemobile27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Level PackAncient War Elephant27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Level PackA Book and a Bad Guy27 September 2016
Mission: Impossible Level PackEthan Hunt27 September 2016
Mission: Impossible Level PackIMF Scrambler27 September 2016
Mission: Impossible Level PackIMF Sport Car27 September 2016
Mission: Impossible Level Pack'27 September 2016
Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog Level PackSonic the Hedgehog18 November 2016
Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog Level PackSonic Speedster18 November 2016
Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog Level PackThe Tornado18 November 2016
Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog Level PackSonic Dimensions18 November 2016
The GooniesThe Goonies Level PackSloth9 May 2017
The GooniesThe Goonies Level PackOne-Eyed Willy's Pirate Ship9 May 2017
The GooniesThe Goonies Level PackSkeleton Organ9 May 2017
The GooniesThe Goonies Level Pack'The Goonies''9 May 2017

Team packs

Team packs are similar to Fun packs except they contain two characters and a combination of two vehicles or gadgets, one for each character.
FranchisePack nameContentsRelease date
Jurassic WorldJurassic World Team PackOwen Grady27 September 2015
Jurassic WorldJurassic World Team PackACU Trooper27 September 2015
Jurassic WorldJurassic World Team PackVelociraptor27 September 2015
Jurassic WorldJurassic World Team PackGyrosphere27 September 2015
Scooby-DooScooby-Doo Team PackScooby-Doo27 September 2015
Scooby-DooScooby-Doo Team PackShaggy27 September 2015
Scooby-DooScooby-Doo Team PackMystery Machine27 September 2015
Scooby-DooScooby-Doo Team PackScooby Snack27 September 2015
Lego NinjagoLego Ninjago Team PackKai3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoLego Ninjago Team PackCole3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoLego Ninjago Team PackBlade Bike3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoLego Ninjago Team PackBoulder Bomber3 November 2015
DC ComicsDC Comics Team PackThe Joker19 January 2016
DC ComicsDC Comics Team PackHarley Quinn19 January 2016
DC ComicsDC Comics Team PackThe Joker's Chopper19 January 2016
DC ComicsDC Comics Team PackQuinn-mobile19 January 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Team PackJake the Dog27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Team PackLumpy Space Princess27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Team PackBMO27 September 2016
Adventure TimeAdventure Time Team PackLumpy Car27 September 2016
Harry PotterHarry Potter Team PackHarry Potter27 September 2016
Harry PotterHarry Potter Team PackLord Voldemort27 September 2016
Harry PotterHarry Potter Team PackEnchanted Car27 September 2016
Harry PotterHarry Potter Team PackHogwarts Express27 September 2016
GremlinsGremlins Team PackGizmo18 November 2016
GremlinsGremlins Team PackStripe18 November 2016
GremlinsGremlins Team PackR.C. Racer18 November 2016
GremlinsGremlins Team PackFlash 'n' Finish18 November 2016
The Powerpuff GirlsThe Powerpuff Girls Team PackBlossom12 September 2017
The Powerpuff GirlsThe Powerpuff Girls Team PackBubbles12 September 2017
The Powerpuff GirlsThe Powerpuff Girls Team PackOcti12 September 2017
The Powerpuff GirlsThe Powerpuff Girls Team PackPPG Smartphone12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! Team PackBeast Boy12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! Team PackRaven12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! Team PackSpellbook of Azarath12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! Team PackT-Car12 September 2017

Fun packs

Fun packs each contain a character from a certain franchise and a gadget or vehicle to play with.
FranchisePack nameContentsRelease date
The Lord of the RingsGollum Fun PackGollum27 September 2015
The Lord of the RingsGollum Fun PackShelob the Great27 September 2015
The Lord of the RingsLegolas Fun PackLegolas27 September 2015
The Lord of the RingsLegolas Fun PackArrow Launcher27 September 2015
The Lord of the RingsGimli Fun PackGimli27 September 2015
The Lord of the RingsGimli Fun PackAxe Chariot27 September 2015
The Wizard of OzWicked Witch Fun PackWicked Witch27 September 2015
The Wizard of OzWicked Witch Fun PackWinged Monkey27 September 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaLaval Fun PackLaval27 September 2015
3 November 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaLaval Fun PackMighty Lion Rider27 September 2015
3 November 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaCragger Fun PackCragger27 September 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaCragger Fun PackSwamp Skimmer27 September 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaEris Fun PackEris27 September 2015
Lego Legends of ChimaEris Fun PackEagle Interceptor27 September 2015
The Lego MovieEmmet Fun PackEmmet Brickowski27 September 2015
The Lego MovieEmmet Fun PackEmmet's Excavator27 September 2015
The Lego MovieBad Cop Fun PackBad Cop27 September 2015
The Lego MovieBad Cop Fun PackPolice Car27 September 2015
The Lego MovieBenny Fun PackBenny27 September 2015
The Lego MovieBenny Fun PackBenny's Spaceship27 September 2015
The Lego MovieUnikitty Fun PackUnikitty3 November 2015
The Lego MovieUnikitty Fun PackCloud Cuckoo Car3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoJay Fun PackJay27 September 2015
3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoJay Fun PackStorm Fighter27 September 2015
3 November 2015
Lego NinjagoNya Fun PackNya27 September 2015
Lego NinjagoNya Fun PackSamurai Mech27 September 2015
Lego NinjagoZane Fun PackZane27 September 2015
Lego NinjagoZane Fun PackNinjaCopter27 September 2015
Lego NinjagoSensei Wu Fun PackSensei Wu19 January 2016
Lego NinjagoSensei Wu Fun PackFlying White Dragon19 January 2016
Lego NinjagoLloyd Fun PackLloyd Garmadon10 May 2016
Lego NinjagoLloyd Fun PackLloyd's Golden Dragon10 May 2016
DC ComicsWonder Woman Fun PackWonder Woman27 September 2015
DC ComicsWonder Woman Fun PackInvisible Jet27 September 2015
DC ComicsCyborg Fun PackCyborg27 September 2015
DC ComicsCyborg Fun PackCyber-Guard27 September 2015
DC ComicsSuperman Fun PackSuperman15 March 2016
DC ComicsSuperman Fun PackHover Pod15 March 2016
DC ComicsAquaman Fun PackAquaman15 March 2016
DC ComicsAquaman Fun PackAqua Watercraft15 March 2016
DC ComicsBane Fun PackBane10 May 2016
DC ComicsBane Fun PackDrill Driver10 May 2016
The SimpsonsBart Simpson Fun PackBart Simpson3 November 2015
The SimpsonsBart Simpson Fun PackGravity Sprinter3 November 2015
The SimpsonsKrusty the Clown Fun PackKrusty the Clown3 November 2015
The SimpsonsKrusty the Clown Fun PackClown Bike3 November 2015
Back to the FutureDoc Brown Fun PackDoc Brown19 January 2016
Back to the FutureDoc Brown Fun PackTraveling Time Train19 January 2016
Doctor WhoCyberman Fun PackCyberman19 January 2016
Doctor WhoCyberman Fun PackDalek19 January 2016
GhostbustersStay Puft Fun PackStay Puft Marshmallow Man15 March 2016
GhostbustersStay Puft Fun PackTerror Dog15 March 2016
GhostbustersSlimer Fun PackSlimer10 May 2016
GhostbustersSlimer Fun PackSlime Shooter10 May 2016
The A-TeamA-Team Fun PackB. A. Baracus27 September 2016
The A-TeamA-Team Fun PackB.A.'s Van27 September 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Tina Fun PackTina Goldstein18 November 2016
Fantastic Beasts and
Where to Find Them		Tina Fun PackSwooping Evil18 November 2016
E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialE.T. Fun PackE.T.18 November 2016
E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialE.T. Fun PackPhone Home18 November 2016
Adventure TimeMarceline Fun PackMarceline the Vampire Queen18 November 2016
10 February 2017
Adventure TimeMarceline Fun PackLunatic Amp18 November 2016
10 February 2017
Knight RiderKnight Rider Fun PackMichael Knight10 February 2017
21 March 2017
Knight RiderKnight Rider Fun PackKITT10 February 2017
21 March 2017
The Lego Batman MovieExcalibur Batman Fun PackExcalibur Batman10 February 2017
21 March 2017
The Lego Batman MovieExcalibur Batman Fun PackBionic Steed10 February 2017
21 March 2017
Lego CityLego City Fun Pack9 May 2017
Lego CityLego City Fun PackPolice Helicopter9 May 2017
Harry PotterHermione Granger Fun PackHermione Granger9 May 2017
Harry PotterHermione Granger Fun PackBuckbeak9 May 2017
BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice Fun PackBetelgeuse12 September 2017
BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice Fun PackSaturn's Sandworm12 September 2017
The Powerpuff GirlsButtercup Fun PackButtercup12 September 2017
The Powerpuff GirlsButtercup Fun PackMega Blast Bot12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Starfire Fun PackStarfire12 September 2017
Teen Titans Go!Starfire Fun PackTitan Robot12 September 2017

Polybags

Polybags are limited-edition releases of a single character figure, distributed only at events and via special offers.
FranchisePack nameRelease
DC ComicsGreen ArrowDistributed via 2016 promotional events, Black Friday retail offers
DC ComicsSupergirlPlayStation 4 Starter Pack bundle

Reception

Lego Dimensions received "generally favorable reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. IGN awarded it a score of 7.7 out of 10, saying "Lego Dimensions great characters and fun references consistently left me with a big dumb grin on my face." GameSpot awarded it a score of 8.0, saying "In any game within the toys-to-life genre, there's sometimes an unspoken question: is this also a great toy or just a great game? In Lego Dimensions case, the answer is easy: it's both." They also praised the open world sections of the game, stating that "While they don't feature the same level of intricacy the main game provides, they do add several more hours each to the overall experience." Polygon awarded it 8 out of 10, saying "Where the game's innovative designs push forward what it means to blend toys and games into a single experience, the writing and both companies' willingness to dig deep into their vaults, pull the whole game together." Good Game: Spawn Point Hosts Bajo and Hex both awarded the game 3 out of 5. Praise was given to the puzzles and mechanics, commenting that it may be their favourite LEGO game. However, they gave harsh criticism to the pricing model. Their summation was that it was "poor value", stating that the last few Lego games were "pretty much as good as this one", but players can play as their extensive character rosters without having to buy expensive expansions."

Sales

In the UK and Ireland, Lego Dimensions landed at number 2 on the sales charts in its first week. Sales had surpassed in comparison to first week sales of other 2015 toys-to-life game competitors and Disney Infinity 3.0.

Awards