After players have spent years exploring some of their favorite IPs through Traveller’s Tales’ countless LEGO games, Funko has finally arrived to deliver a game of its own. Much like those LEGO games, Funko Fusion has brought some of the biggest franchises to the world of Funko for a new type of adventure. Now, players are able to explore the likes of The Umbrella Academy, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World through the Funko lens. And the best part is that Funko Fusion seems to be bringing back what made those earliest LEGO games so special.
Many LEGO fans remember their first LEGO game, with some of the earliest ones still being considered the best that the franchise has to offer. Since the release of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, the series has grown and changed with new IPs, mechanics, and a whole new style. Even though that has been great to see, some fans have also yearned for a return to those early days, and luckily, Funko Fusion seems to be giving them some of that nostalgia.
Funko Fusion Seems to Be Revisiting LEGO’s Exciting Past
LEGO Games Used to Be Known for Their Visual Humor
When LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game was first released, the LEGO games were devoid of any form of voice acting. Instead, the game relied on visual gags to get the story across, which made for something really special. That model persisted for years, with each game further expanding what these visual gags could be. However, the release of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes changed all that, and the franchise has not really looked back since.
Not only did LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes introduce the franchise’s first massive open-world hub, but it also tossed voice acting into the mix. While there were still countless visual gags, the story could now be told through spoken dialogue. That change proved a bit controversial with players after years of hearing the characters mumble, but Traveller’s Tales forged ahead with this new approach. And although LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga did include a mumble mode for those looking for that nostalgia, the franchise does not seem like it will ever go back.
Funko Fusion Has Brought That Era Back
Funko Fusion, on the other hand, does not really have any voice acting, save for a few moments here and there. Instead, the characters make grunting noises and wide-eyed expressions to get their point across. There may be lines of text occasionally, but players will never hear the Funko Pops actually say any words. That makes it feel like a blast from LEGO games’ past, which makes for a special experience that some fans may not soon forget.
Now, they can explore franchises such as Jurassic Park without having to hear the movie dialogue coming from their characters’ mouths. And the nostalgia does not stop there either, as much of the game feels built like how those original LEGO games were. There is no character creator, massive open world, or hundreds of characters to collect. It simply gives players a hub world with doors that lead to various levels, has them experience a story devoid of spoken dialogue, and lets them engage in all sorts of collecting fun.
Funko Fusion may not be perfect, but it does seem to be delivering something that some LEGO fans have sorely missed. Not only are there countless franchises to explore, but the way the game lets players do it feels exactly like what they got from LEGO’s earliest days. And if the game succeeds, it will be interesting to see if it ends up evolving just as much as LEGO has.
