When Funko announced their venture into the gaming world with Funko Fusion for the PS5, expectations were cautiously optimistic. The game promised to bring the beloved Funko Pop figures to life in a virtual universe reminiscent of the successful LEGO video games, which have captured hearts with their quirky, fun adaptations of famous films and series. However, upon playing Funko Fusion, it becomes clear that the game misses the mark in capturing the essence and enjoyment that its LEGO predecessors so adeptly achieved.
Unlike the LEGO games where the settings are dynamic and filled with humorous spins on popular franchises, Funko Fusion delivers a play experience that feels stagnant and uninspired. The game navigates through several pop culture worlds like the ones from Hot Fuzz, John Carpenter’s The Thing, and Back to the Future. Although it follows the plots accurately, the game lacks the lively visual puns and the captivating charm that LEGO games are known for. This absence is partly due to the graphical representation of the characters as Funko Pops, which naturally lack expressive features and thus contribute to the game's bland appearance.
The gameplay structure of Funko Fusion is immediately familiar to anyone who has played a LEGO game. Players move through various levels within multiple hubs, each representing a different cinematic universe. Tasks include solving puzzles and engaging in combat with enemies using the abilities of the characters. As usual, the game encourages revisits to earlier levels to uncover new secrets with characters unlocked later. However, unlike its inspirations, Funko Fusion introduces these elements with little clarity or guidance, leaving players confused about the objectives and mechanics.
Moreover, each cinematic world ends with a boss fight where players have to control a massive Funko figure. These battles are cumbersome and feel disconnected from the rest of the gameplay. The combat mechanics are clunky, and the frequent buggy performance alongside abrupt transitions between cutscenes further detracts from the gaming experience.
Hidden within the worlds are what the game calls Cameo levels—secret stages that offer a break from the main storyline. These levels aim to add a layer of depth and surprise, but instead, they feel like more of the same repetitive tasks but in a condensed form. Herein lies another major issue with Funko Fusion; its overall repetitive nature and lack of innovative gameplay loops make the experience tiring after just a few hours.
The target audience for Funko Fusion is also puzzling. The game banks heavily on nostalgia, featuring universes from films and shows like Battlestar Galactica and The Thing, which might not resonate with younger players. For adults and longtime fans, the game fails to offer compelling gameplay or fresh takes on these beloved stories, making it hard to appreciate even for those familiar with the content.
In essence, Funko Fusion feels like a missed opportunity. It had the potential to blend nostalgia with fun, engaging gameplay but ends up serving as a prime example of how relying solely on the appeal of nostalgia isn't sufficient to create a memorable game. The charm and inventiveness seen in LEGO-themed games are sorely missing here, replaced by a monotonous loop of unchallenging puzzles and uninspired design. As it stands, Funko Fusion does not manage to justify its existence in the crowded space of games designed around popular culture, and it certainly doesn’t capture the magic that it so desperately tries to emulate.
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