The Traveler’s Tales era of LEGO videogames had a stranglehold over thousands of childhoods, with dozens of IPs being rendered in its classic formula. Recently, a new discovery has been made about one of TT’s scrapped LEGO titles, one that’s been known in fan circles for some time.
With games like LEGO Horizon Adventures not quite meeting expectations, the longing for more classic-era LEGO games is more than apparent. Given that TT’s loss of exclusivity over LEGO games coincided with allegations of crunch conditions at the studio, it’s likely for the best that LEGO moved on from it—but the company’s games still have draws worth keeping. A winning collectathon formula, decent narratives, memorable gags, and a style of animation and humor distinct from the LEGO Movie style pursued by something like Horizon Adventures.
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Lego Horizon Adventures: Every Playable Character, Ranked
These characters each provide a unique experience in Lego Horizon Adventures.
New Information About The LEGO James Bond Game Has Leaked
Interestingly, there are a number of TT LEGO projects that never made the light of day. After the success of 2005’s LEGO Star Wars, which immediately cemented the LEGO game formula, the company made a few test animations to pitch some more LEGO game ideas. These pitch videos were released by Jon Burton, former director of TT games, on the YouTube channel GameHut. Included were never-before-seen test clips for a James Bond game and a Tomb Raider game, neither of which saw the light of day beyond this test; not only did LEGO find these IPs too dark, but they both lacked a toyline backing.
However, a new discovery has been made about the former pitch, which is a leaked LEGO James Bond trailer. The footage was reportedly found within a build of LEGO Dimensions, a toys-to-life LEGO game that saw a number of IPs crossing over via the multiverse. The game includes a number of IPs that are yet to receive standalone LEGO sets (such as Gremlins and Goonies), so James Bond would’ve fit right in (even though there are now some LEGO sets based on his Aston Martin car). The question of this trailer’s legitimacy, as well as whether it plays into the original 2005 pitch, is hotly debated.
The Leaked LEGO James Bond Trailer Looks Real, But Not Like The 2005 Pitch
The leaked trailer is a dead ringer for a LEGO Traveler’s Tales game. While there’s nothing to confirm its legitimacy, though the copyright takedowns of the leak do suggest that somewhat, the humor and animation are spot on. Gags such as insertions of a LEGO pig, skeleton minifigures shown during electrocution, comical takes on famous scenes, and kid-friendly interpretations of violent moments are all TT hallmarks.
However, it’s unlikely that this lines up with the original LEGO James Bond pitch from 2005. The animation style, the look of the minifigures, and the overall fidelity (as well as the fact that characters can speak) are more indicative of the TT style that came about post-2012, following on from games like LEGO Batman 2 and LEGO Lord of the Rings. The question is then whether the footage is from scrapped LEGO Dimensions content or a scrapped standalone game. Both are possible, but there’s some credence to it being a LEGO Dimensions expansion. Not only did LEGO Dimensions bring in more mature IP, but its inclusion of Doctor Who allowed the player to switch between versions of the Doctor, a system that would map very well onto James Bond.
Given the conception of a game like LEGO Horizon Adventures, a James Bond LEGO game today isn’t impossible. In fact, the circumstances for making the latter would be very similar to LEGO’s most recent video game effort. However, there’s little to no chance that a full version of what was teased in these leaks (or in the 2005 pitch) will ever come to fruition, especially now TT has seemingly moved on from LEGO.
LEGO
LEGO is a type of toy that predominantly consists of small plastic bricks. LEGO is the world’s largest toy company by revenue, likely due to how versatile the product is and how it appeals to both children and adults.
LEGO isn’t just a toy company, however, as there are numerous LEGO video games, films, and even theme parks.