Review: LEGO 2K Drive

destructoid.com:

I admire that so many developers and publishers out there are still chasing that kart racing checkered flag. Because there is one clear winner in this category, every other racer we get is just lucky to finish as a runner-up. Over the past few years, we’ve seen several new games in the genre come and go with little fanfare. I don’t know if the same fate will befall LEGO 2K Drive, but what I do know is the racing in this game is legitimately fun.

It’s just, well, a good chunk of everything around that racing is rather lackluster.

LEGO 2K Drive (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)Developer: Visual Concepts Publisher: 2K GamesReleased: May 19, 2023MSRP: $69.99

Welcome to Bricklandia, where racing is king, monsters are real, and you can’t get out of your car. As the newest driver on the block, you’re recruited by local legend Clutch Racington to prove your mettle on the track and defeat the vile racer Shadow Z to win the Sky Cup. It’s the exact type of simple story one should expect from a sandbox LEGO racing title, complete with child-friendly puns and jokes from the talkative supporting cast. While the story may live at the shallow end of the pool, the racing of LEGO 2K Drive has a surprising level of depth to it.

Don’t be mistaken. This is a kart racer through and through, with simple driving mechanics, weapons, boosts, and drifting that can take a bit of getting used to if you’re coming to it directly from the Mario Kart series. There’s also a handbrake that lets you do 90-degree turns on the fly, a mechanic the game makes full use of in its track design. All of LEGO 2k Drive‘s modes are available right from the start. There’s the story mode, where you compete in a variety of races and challenges