..LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes..

..Game Keywords / Tags: LEGO, Batman, 2, DC, Super Heroes, Superheroes, TT Games, Traveller's Tales, Warner Bros. Interactive, PlayStation 3, PS3, video game, games, juego, juegos, videojuegos..

"The Batman Returns of LEGO Games"

REVIEW |

Author: Neil Kapit

By now, it's been thoroughly established that the LEGO games stick to a formula. Take a popular franchise, render its dramatic moments with goofy brick figure pantomimes, and build a platform game around them with thousands of collectibles and little direct challenge. TT Games' formula has worked for Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and once again, Batman. LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes departs further from the formula than other LEGO games, but unfortunately, the innovations aren't implemented very well, and they lead to an experience more frustrating than fun.

Like the previous Batman / brick game, LEGO Batman 2 builds an original story around various stories from the character's 70+ year history. In addition to Batman, Robin, Alfred, and the infamous Rogue's Gallery, LEGO Batman 2 brings in characters from other corners of the DC Comics universe. Most notable is Superman, who has to intervene because his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor has formed an alliance with Batman's enemy Joker, but the rest of the Justice League make appearances.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Nintendo Wii, PS3, Xbox 360) Review Screenshots

In a first for the LEGO series, the characters in LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes are fully-voiced, offering ridiculous speeches rather than mere grunts. It actually works very well, since it's clear that nobody in the production staff is taking the project too seriously and everyone's having a ball with the overwhelming silliness. When it's explicitly mentioned that Luthor's secret weapon destroys shiny black bricks (the kind which make up all of Batman's vehicles), it's hard not to chuckle.

Unfortunately, the "improvements" to the actual gameplay don't work as well. First of all, the standard hub world with various side-levels has been replaced in LEGO Batman 2 by a sprawling open-world Gotham. In theory, this makes the game deeper and more engrossing; in practice, it makes navigating the overworld from level to level a frustrating chore. Worse yet, the camera angles remain fixed, and don't move fluidly enough to correspond to the expanded levels. Several vehicles are also included for the overworld, and they would be welcome if they could be easily controlled. Unfortunately, the Grand Theft Auto open-world influence seems to extend to the shopping-cart maneuverability of the machines.

Some of the additions are more successful. Using the Wii Pointer or right stick on PS3 and Xbox 360 to aim the Batarang is a welcome improvement over simply throwing the thing forward. The various DC Superheroes add several unique twists to gameplay, especially the more powerful ones like Superman and the Flash.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Nintendo Wii, PS3, Xbox 360) Review Screenshots

Ultimately, the changes that didn't work outweigh the changes that did. Since the LEGO formula is still at the heart of the experience, LEGO Batman 2 is less enjoyable than other games featuring the iconic bricks. LEGO games are beloved for their simplicity and gentle pacing, and when the interface doesn't work, that simplicity is lost.

GameDynamo's Score for LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3)

Graphics

An impressively large and busy world populated by simplistic figures, though given the subject matter, that's to be expected. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions definitely look better than the Wii version, as the figures are sleeker and shinier.

Sound

The music includes familiar tunes from various Batman adaptations, but the new voices are hilarious and welcome.

Gameplay

The basic LEGO gameplay is intact, but the new mechanics don't control very well, so they're more detrimental than welcome.

Play Value

Like most LEGO video games, there's a lot to do here, especially if you're trying to collect every last stud and brick.

Final Score 66

TT Games should be lauded for trying to shake up the LEGO formula, but LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes wasn't the right way to implement those changes. It's still a decent game, but it could've been much better.

Posted on 07/11/2012 | Game Played on: N/A

Neil Kapit

Neil Kapit is a freelance writer, cartoonist, and "La Li Lu Le Lo" agent based in Los Angeles. His work can be seen on www.therubynation.com.

The views of GameDynamo's writers are not necessarily the views of the website as a whole. However, we support freedom of speech and enjoy diverse opinions about video games. Hopefully you do too!

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..LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes..

"The Batman Returns of LEGO Games"

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GameDynamo's Score for LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3)

REVIEW |