Publisher: Feral Interactive
Price: $29.99 (£20.99)
Description: Classic LEGO Game with Open World Hub
Fullscreen Support |
Mouse Support |
File Size |
Launch Date |
Required Specifications |
Yes |
Xbox Controller Tested and Preferred |
4.2GB——- |
13th September 2012 |
Minimum System Requirements: Processor: 1.4 GHz, RAM: 2GB, Graphics: 128MB, Free Space: 5GB |
Rating
Pros: Huge open world environment, staggering replayability, still a LEGO game, well-told original story.
Cons: Some bugs here and there, flying is hard to control.
Review
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes promises much more than just another LEGO game. Batman 2 boasts some of the most major changes to the age-old formula since the franchise’s inception, and features an even bigger cast of characters; the Justice League.
LEGO games have always had a comical, carefree vibe, and part of that is down to characterisation. LEGO characters never talked, and conveyed a story through grunting, facial expression and motions which always resulted in some funny scenes and riffs off famous movie moments. But in LEGO Batman 2, Travellers Tales has screwed in those jaw muscles, meaning the LEGO world is full of chatter. This worried me somewhat. Maybe I thought it would make the game lose some of its special sense of humour or personality. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. The cut scenes still focus a lot on comical expressions and movement, whilst improving the storytelling ten-fold. In fact, it makes you wonder how previous games lived without it. You really get to know the characters a lot more, and of course, what is a Joker without his shrieking cackles and bad jokes?
The new fully-realised cast of characters play a large role in the game’s original story. You follow Batman and Robin as they try their best to fight off crime in Gotham with their gadgets, suits and vehicles. The Joker and Lux Luthor have made a deadly alliance, and are developing some super weapon, and have released all of the inmates from Arkham Asylum into Gotham. When things get a little too overwhelming for the duo, Superman makes a speedy appearance to help your heroes, much to Batman’s contempt.
Batman and Robin control much like any other LEGO character in the series. Their little special trait is that they can change costume to fit the challenges that lay before them. Robin has an acrobat suit fit with a pole and the ability to double jump, whereas one of Batman’s new outfits can conduct and contain electricity and send it into special sockets to power mechanisms. But Superman, the third character you play as, doesn’t have to rely on uniforms to perform his magic tricks. In fact, Superman is totally invincible (aside from his one weakness: kryptonite) and has the ability to fly anywhere in each level. I mean anywhere. What’s more, his breath is ice cold and lasers come out of his eyes. And you wonder why Batman dislikes him.
The rest of the Justice League don’t make much of an appearance in the campaign, but as the story makes up only around 25% of the whole game, you will have plenty of time to try out their tricks in the open world.
It’s refreshing to see that TT Games have embraced new approaches to the LEGO franchise, after what is years of games that follow the same rigid formula. Gotham City is now a fully explorable open world, which you can drive, run and fly around however you choose. But a sandbox environment is just an empty promise without things to do in it. Well, as you unlock more suits in the campaign, you are able to complete little platforming challenges across buildings in Gotham that reward you with gold bricks. Gold bricks and studs are the most common treasure in Batman 2. There are 250 bricks to find in all and they allow you to unlock special characters like Bruce Wane and Commissioner Gordon. The famous and less-famous Batman enemies can be apprehended and caught in the sandbox world, and require a price in studs to purchase them. All purchased characters can then be played in Free Play.
After all of Batman 2’s delight, there are some quite disruptive problems. Some level design quirks, bugs and AI issues can rudely thrust you out of the experience. One instance found both Robin and Batman stuck down a ladder – when Batman climbed the ladder, Robin would refuse to follow. Try to switch characters to make Robin climb up and Batman would jump back down and you were back to square one. Once a mission objective was set out at sea for no good reason. And 2 times the game crashed. The majority of issues are painless, but this makes it even worse when they aren’t.
I was mortified to read that after about 6 hefty levels, I was already 45% of the way through the game. That’s until I noticed the small decimal place between the two numbers, therefore reading 4.5%. That sounds more like a LEGO game. If you don’t know already LEGO games have bucket-loads of replayability, and remain as one of the few game selections that I willingly replay over and over to collect characters, unlock new challenges and much, much more. Batman 2 doesn’t change any of that, with unlockable vehicles, tons of side missions, Red Bricks and of course, the Batman characters.
I can’t deny that Batman 2: DC Super Heroes has its faults. But when compared the huge scope of the game, they are almost inconsiderable. Travellers Tales have pushed the boundaries of what is a LEGO game. The open-world aspect to Batman 2 sets this title far above anything seen before in the series, making it one seriously good deal, and worthy of a purchase. Warning: Side effects involve seeing studs in your sleep, imagining real-life objects being made of LEGO bricks, and considering whether you want to take the Batmobile or Batbike to work.
Trailer
