LEGO Batman: The Videogame | PlayStation 3 | PS3

About the Game

LEGO Batman: The Videogame blends action, adventure, and platforming gameplay that combines the characters and setting of the Batman universe, continuing with the humor and style of the LEGO tradition of adapting known franchises such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones with visuals based on LEGO. The basic concept is the same, with characters and objects built up using LEGO blocks, but here shown against surroundings drawn in a regular fashion. Most of the environments are side-scrolling with a fixed camera perspective, but in 3D with quite some depth. It is not based on a certain movie or comic, but on the franchise as a whole with a new story.

Story & Setting

After completing a mission in the story mode, it becomes available in a separate free play mode. They all have different powers and their section of the game always ends at the moment they are confronted by Batman and Robin.

Gameplay & Core Systems

The first half of the game, players control Batman and his sidekick Robin to take on all enemies with typical brawler gameplay. Enemies will often respawn endlessly until the player figures out how to progress. The environments can be explored using a number of gadgets such as the batarang and the grappling hook, and players can switch between the two characters at any time. They can both fight and the inactive character is always controlled by the computer AI. Many of the missions have small puzzle elements with buttons or passages that need to be cleared.

Objects and characters explode into smaller LEGO blocks and at certain sections the hero need to build structures with blocks to create new objects. In the second part of the game players take control of the different villains such as Poison Ivy, The Joker, Mr Freeze, The Riddler, Killer Moth, Hush, Clayface, Man-Bat and more. Multi player options vary between platforms. The PSP release fares worst of all and does not contain any kind of multiplayer option.

Standout Features

• Both characters have unique powers they can access by changing their suits.
• Batman can then glide through the air or plant bombs, while Robin has for instance a technology suit that allows his to walk on metal surfaces in any direction.
• Even though they can die, they immediately respawn.

Modes & Ways to Play

Home console and Windows versions allow drop in/drop out co-op.

Presentation & Atmosphere

The animations and sequences are rather quirky and share nothing with the darker atmosphere of the contemporary Batman movies.