Funko Pops are characterized as small, minimalistic collectible figures, encompassing properties from Adventure Time to Stephen King’s IT. These figures are generally noted for their lack of intricate detail and imaginative features. Sharing a uniform design, their primary distinction lies in the specific movie, video game, or collection they represent. Unfortunately, Funko Fusion mirrors this perceived lack of imagination prevalent in its collectible figure counterparts.
The premise of this game, featuring characters and environments from Hot Fuzz, Nope, The Thing, Scott Pilgrim, and other properties, held considerable appeal. As a devotee of cinema, the initial announcement was met with anticipation. Having followed Funko Fusion since its trailer debut over two years ago, expectations were tempered, anticipating a potential imitation of the Lego game formula. However, the delivered experience proved to be a significantly less compelling, and somewhat derivative, iteration of that established blueprint.
Almost immediately, the game presented cause for concern. The character movement felt sluggish and unresponsive, the camera perspective felt restrictive, and the overall visual presentation lacked polish. This proved to be indicative of the experience to come, characterized by uninspired level design, rudimentary third-person shooting mechanics, and simplistic puzzles. While the inclusion of characters from mature and often violent franchises might suggest a more sophisticated experience, the resulting gameplay felt less challenging and engaging than many titles aimed at younger audiences.
The game is also plagued by a multitude of glitches and bugs. Despite the game’s recommendation to utilize a controller, navigation through in-game menus using the d-pad or joystick proved to be non-functional. Online research confirmed that this was a widespread issue. Switching to a keyboard and mouse offered a temporary workaround, but the game subsequently crashed after a short period. These crashes occurred repeatedly throughout the evaluation of Funko Fusion. On two occasions, progress was lost due to a failure to properly save the game state, forcing a complete replay of levels despite having saved mid-session.
Considering the wealth of recognizable characters and universes at its disposal, the overall result is profoundly disappointing. The inclusion of properties like Nope may represent a unique opportunity unlikely to be replicated in other games, and similarly, the prospect of playing within the world of Hot Fuzz may remain a fleeting possibility. This is particularly disheartening for enthusiasts of both film and video games, as the game presented a compelling premise of uniting beloved cinematic characters within a single interactive experience.
Ultimately, the game’s current state does not justify its price point, even at a significantly reduced cost.
10:10 games provided review copies for this assessment. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence; our reviews are conducted with an unbiased perspective, prioritizing the interests of our readers and consumers.
