LEGO Dimensions is the best toys-to-life game so far, trumping the like of Skylanders and Disney Infinity thanks to its innovative toy portal, hilarious script and brilliantly diverse cast of characters.
A year after launching with the likes of Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, Batman and Wizard of Oz, LEGO Dimensions returns with a year's worth of classic franchises from the world of TV, film and gaming.
That's on top of brand new game modes that add a competitive edge to the traditional LEGO Dimensions co-operative experience, plus new puzzle types, building blocks and more.
So just in case you needed an excuse to go out and buy a ton of new LEGO toy packs, here's what Express Online loves most about LEGO Dimensions Year 2.
LEGO Dimensions Year 2 Fantastic Beasts Story PackWARNER
LEGO Dimensions Year 2 Fantastic Beasts Story Pack
1. More AMAZING TV and film franchises
It was always going to be hard to top the likes of Jurassic Park, Doctor Who and Ghostbusters, but LEGO Dimensions Year 2 has come close with Harry Potter, Mission Impossible, Adventure Time, Powerpuff Girls and, well, Ghostbusters - the new one that divided fans.
It's also great news for anybody grew up in the 1980s, because LEGO Dimensions Year 2 will feature levels and toys from the golden age of TV and film. There's the A-Team, Gremlins, Knight Rider, Goonies, Beetlejuice and E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial. All it needs is He-Man, Indiana Jones and Teenage Mutant Hero (or Ninja) Turtles, and it would be perfect.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the upcoming Sonic Level Pack, which has a November 18 release date. We can't wait to see more LEGO Sonic gameplay ahead of the big launch (you can watch the trailer below).
2. Competitive Battle Arenas
The LEGO games have always featured co-operative gameplay, as parents and children team up to collect bricks, solve puzzles and generally smash the scenery to bits.
But LEGO Dimensions Year 2 turns multiplayer on its head, introducing a brand new competitive mode that take place in themed Battle Arenas.
There are multiple game modes to enjoy, including Capture the Flag, Objective and Base Bash. They're all as fun as they sound - despite the perma-splitscreen camera.
But the best game of all is Tick Tag Boom, as players frantically try to get rid of an explosive LEGO block before the timer runs out. It's like that exploding water balloon game you played as a child.
3. New Stories and Puzzles
While fans of the franchise-hopping original LEGO Dimensions will be disappointed by the smaller scale of the new story packs, Year 2 will have more than just single level expansions.
The new Ghostbusters pack features six levels that closely follow the plot of the film, which is the same as the Fantastic Beasts Story Pack - handy if you can't get tickets for opening weekend.
There's also new dimension-hopping puzzles that make good use of your LEGO Portal, which remains a key part of the experience.
4. You don't need a new LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack
LEGO Dimensions gets the nod over some of the other toys-to-life games because the toy portal - the thing you put the figures on to make them appear in the game - is an integral part of the experience, and not just something the publisher can use to jack up the price.
And fortunately - given how much it will cost you to buy all the figures - Warner isn't forcing you to buy a new portal, as all the toys and figures from both seasons work with the original starter pack.
And if building that original toy portal was your favourite part of the original game, don't worry, Warner has got you covered...
5. New LEGO Dimensions Gateway Builds
Yes, perhaps the best news of all is that the brand new Ghostbusters and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Packs come with alternative Gateway builds.
Players can dismantle that boring old LEGO portal from Year 1 and build Zhu’s Chinese Restaurant from Ghostbusters in its place. Likewise, the Fantastic Beasts pack will feature the MACUSA gateway when it launches in November.
Hopefully even more packs will come with gateway builds over the course of the year, because, let's face it, nothing beats building actual LEGO.
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People around the UK have reported a series of sightings of people dressed as clowns frightening children, with six separate reports of “clown incidents” reported by Northumbria police in the past week.
One of the most dramatic occured on Friday morning when a masked man carrying a knife jumped out in front of a group of 11 and 12 year-olds and followed them to school in County Durham. The pupils were left distressed but unhurt by the clown, who was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, red shoes and a multicoloured top.
Neighbourhood sergeant Mel Sutherland said: “The children arrived at school understandably upset and distressed by this incident and we are currently trying to locate this man.
“We believe this to be part of a much larger prank which is currently sweeping across the USA and parts of the UK. It is very alarming [the man] was carrying a knife – however, we do not think he intended to harm the children and as far as we are aware, this is part of the prank.
Thames Valley Police say they've been called to 14 incidents across the region where people have reported being intimidated or frightened by others dressed as clowns.
It follows the report of other incidents across the country which have been widely reported in the national media.
No one has been injured in the Thames Valley, but officers say they've had reports from across the region, including Bracknell, Milton Keynes, Abingdon and Chesham.
Such is the concern that the force has issued a press release to deter others from following suit:
While we do not want to be accused of stopping people enjoying themselves we would also ask those same people to think of the impact of their behaviour on others and themselves.
“Their actions can cause fear and anxiety to other people, this could be perceived to be intimidating and threatening which could lead to public order offences, arrest and a criminal record.
“In addition, their behaviour is causing multiple reports to our call takers and is tying up police resources which could impact on calls to other incidents.
– CHIEF SUPT ANDY BOYD
He added that while such incidents aren't restricted to the Thames Valley, the issues of "intimidation, potential arrest and waste of public resources are the same across the country and we would urge people to refrain from such activity.”
Police in Scotland have warned that action may be taken against people who take part in the so-called "killer clown" craze.
The prank involves people dressing up as clowns to deliberately scare or intimidate members of the public.
Police Scotland said it had received a "few sporadic reports of individuals dressed as clowns" in some areas in Scotland.
The reports did not specifically involve threats or violence.
But police said anyone "seeking to cause distress and potential harm to anyone" should be aware that action would be taken.
The craze appears to have been inspired by clown-related pranks in the US and has seen a string of copycat incidents across the UK recently.
Last week a hoaxer admitted a "sighting" in Glasgow was faked.
A Facebook page called "Killer Clowns in and around Glasgow" said a clown had been spotted underneath a bridge.
The post was shared more than 1,000 times before the poster admitted the picture had been taken elsewhere.
In a statement, Supt David Duncan, from Police Scotland, said: "We have had a few sporadic reports of individuals dressed as clowns in some areas in Scotland.
"It is assessed that there is a current trend of similar incidents on social media, many of which have been confirmed as hoaxes and emanate from overseas.
"The reports which have been made to local police officers are being investigated and do not specifically involve threats or violence.
"However, any person seeking to cause distress and potential harm to anyone should be aware that police will take action.
"If anyone has any concerns they should report the matter to police."
LEGO Dimensions - Full Movie - All Cutscenes - Cinematic
16 new franchises coming to Lego Dimension including Harry Potter and Adventure Time along with a new four player co-operative battle mode.
Lego Dimensions impressed by launching with a wide array of franchises attracting interest from players young and old. The likes of Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings and The Simpsons have been really popular in my family. It has also been good at bringing surprise collaborations like Portal — which many had believed to be a rumour too good to be true.
Today Lego Dimensions Wave 6 swells its ranks with the addition of Adventure Time, Mission Impossible, The A-Team and Harry Potter. These will be followed by expansion packs for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The LEGO Batman Movie, The Goonies, Sonic The Hedgehog, Teen Titans Go!, LEGO City Undercover, Knight Rider, The Powerpuff Girls, Gremlins, Beetlejuice and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
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