I finished A Link Between Worlds last week, thereby effectively removing any barriers between me and seeing if The LEGO Movie Videogame for Vita is as bad as the handheld games for LEGO have been lately. And the verdict is…it’s not as terrible as I thought it would be.

It’s still not a typical LEGO game, which is the most heartbreaking aspect for me. Every level is still set up as a list of challenges and it is possible to get a Game Over screen when you lose all of your hearts. Since most of the levels require manipulating Emmet to avoid objects as he careens down tunnels (so many tunnels), this is facet is the most frustrating. I cannot play this game while feeding the baby at all, because the slightest bump from him will force me to send Emmet to his doom.

The few levels that don’t spin Emmet down a pit of despair have timers for one of the challenges, thereby killing all desire for exploration. Isn’t that half the fun of the LEGO games anyway? The point of it is to get you to replay these levels with different goals in mind. One time you’ll try to burn through it as quickly as possible. The next time you’ll try to hunt down the red bricks and mini-kits. But oh yeah, have fun trying to find those while flying through burning pits and not bumping into anything. The Fail State makes this game the most unbearable.

All that said, the game isn’t as Vita-throwingly frustrating as LEGO Marvel Super Heroes for the Vita was. Yes, I hate repeating this damn vehicle race level for the 10th time, but at least it feels beatable. In addition, the levels aren’t so despicable that I won’t try to conquer all of the challenges to get the gold bricks.

On the whole, it’s disappointing that this isn’t a traditional LEGO game, and I really, really hope this isn’t the format Traveller’s Tales is pushing for future console LEGO games. However, it isn’t as bad as it certainly could be. That’s the highest praise I can really give it.

One of these days, I’m going to learn that the handheld versions of the LEGO games (save for LEGO Star Wars III) are all God-awful. They often incorporate elements that are not fun, could not be considered fun, and people should be fired over. Okay, that last part was a bit too harsh, but I’ve made my point. I keep thinking that the next one will be as great as LEGO Star Wars III was. Surely they’ll go back to that formula. Then I pay my $20-30 and end up weeping in the fetal position.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 incorporated a wizard dueling feature with bosses that was great in theory but horrific and boring in application. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes removed most of the button controls in favor for touch controls, which is awkward to constantly use on anything other than a tablet, and then made it possible to die. If I wanted to actually die in a game, I wouldn’t play a friggin’ LEGO game.  LEGO Batman 2 was the least offensive so far, in that it kept virtually the same formula as the console games, just with different scenes, and added in a monotonous free-for-all battle you could play outside of the story. Outside of trying to get the last few Trophies, I didn’t see the point of playing it for very long.

While I’m mourning that I have no idea when or even if I’ll see The LEGO Movie, I decided to download The LEGO Movie Videogame on my Vita. Seconds after doing so, I wanted to slap myself. Haven’t I learned anything? Why don’t I just wait until I can get out to pick up the game on the PS4 like I know I’ll do anyway?

But then that one nagging thought entered my head…

Maybe this time it won’t be as bad as the others.

Now have I tried out the game to see how it is? Nope, I’ve been too afraid to. If I actually play it, that possibility that it is better is gone forever. So I’ve postponed the inevitable by pointing out I still have A Link Between Worlds to finish, those dungeons aren’t going to clear themselves, oh hey, I got a new accessory–time to go run around, etc. etc. etc.

If you hear some sad sobbing, you’ll know what it is and you can shake your head and tell me I never learn. I know I don’t. I’ll most likely buy the handheld version of LEGO Hobbitt when that releases later this year.