Mobile Game Review of "LEGO Racers"

LEGO Racers from Hands-On Mobile is not really based on either of the two existing LEGO Racers games, but sort of a combination of the two. It's a competent product, but again, lacks imagination.

You can race as any of the 5 teams based on LEGO products (space team, based on "Life on Mars", Dino Team based on "Dino Island"... you get the idea). There are total of 15 tracks, three for each of the five teams. Each track has a different feel, and all have their set of hazards, from oil slicks (you go out of control for X seconds), to water puddles (slows you down to a crawl), to flame vents (cooks you) to laser barriers (zaps you). If your life runs out, you decompose into component blocks... Then comes back several seconds later with full life. Basically, it's a big delay.

However, if you take away the Lego feel, it's basically a reprise of the old "Sprint" arcade game, albeit with a few "bonus features". You can use weapons (missile, or the zapper), or leave traps (from banana peel to portable hole to pile of bricks), but the game is a normal 2D racing game. You must place in the top 3 (out of four? Can't be THAT hard, can it? Yes it can) to continue to the next race. If you finish all 15 races, you "win".

As you play, you win LEGO points. You can even collect a few more during the race if you see some. You also get lots of powerups like first-aid kit (heals any damage), nitro charge (gives temp boost of speed), and more. The points can be used at end of race to upgrade your vehicle in speed and traction, and purchase more nitro charges.

Replay value ain't bad as you can randomly choose a team, each race can be different as a lot of the powerups are randomly distributed, and there are three levels of difficulty if you find the default game too easy.

All of the levels look proper. The course walls have the LEGO studded bricky look, and so does the vehicles.

Controls are responsive enough, and the more advanced courses can be difficult as there are more narrow passes, underpasses, boost pads (give you a kick in speed), jumps (if you don't jump right you land in the water, or worse... lava). Still, it is a 2D racing game, and you know your handset can support 3D racing... So again, it's a pretty good 2D game, but still kinda "meh".