Lego Batman

If you liked LEGO Star Wars and LEGO INDY, then LEGO BATMAN is already in your Xbox....'nuff said. If you didn't like them...you won't like BATMAN...if you didn't try them, you should.

The LEGO games are fun for the whole family, young and old, the animated LEGO movie links to the gaming threads are wild & wicked and worth the purchase on their merits alone. The format for Batman is much like the Lucasfilm game sets, just not directly connected to any particular movies...although (thankfully) the Danny Elfman music (circa 1989) runs throughout the game, the style is generic Batman via LEGO LAND. The villains have teamed up to escape Arkham Asylum and the Dynamic Duo must stop them...each villain has a story arc to unlock, before free play is possible in the related locations...so like the previous installments, replay value is high, you can return to the story setting later as several optional characters including the villians themselves in order to find hidden "trophies" to build in Wayne Manor (part of the Batcave hub, where menus, story progress and unlockables lie). This way the same tales have many variations for players to explore, collecting the coin-like "studs" as currency for upgrades and unlockables. There's roughly about 30 separate levels to play, 15 in the hero chapters and 15 levels i the villain chapters.

LEGO BATMAN characters have individual moves, Batman for example can put baddies in a choke hold and throw them. An exciting addition to LEGO combat is the BATARANG, which will lock on targets for distance attacks. Introduced also, are special suits for Batman and Robin, these make certain combinations of characters a necessity for passing stages or solving puzzles...For example, in true comic book fashion,Robin can get a Magnetized-suit to scale metal walls, I can't explain the pleasure that came from watching Robin lumbering and buzzing up surfaces (sound fx here are classic) Other moves are standard for the LEGO games: grappling hooks for platforms and punching and kicking.

The character design is great and Gotham looks good...there are lest characters to be unlocked here than in any other LEGO game so far and lest upgrades as well. But as for the characters there are so good choices from the Batman Universe....Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, Poison IVY, Mr. Freeze, Riddler, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, The Mad Hatter, even Bane.Like the heroes, each villain has their own special weapons and moves...I bet you can guess Banes.

Another LEGO staple is the mix and match at the hub, where you can customize a character for free play by swapping the pieces around.

No major complaints, it just seems smaller than previous efforts, maybe because no direct movie-tie-in was done...like the Trilogy format.
I do miss the "character quirks" introduced for LEGO INDY, like the fear of snakes and rats, effecting character behavior. Admittedly it doesn't work well with the superhero genre. Also, since this is a Traveler's Tales project with Warner Bros. and not Lucasfilm, don't expect to find any hidden Star Wars characters this time....sorry.

This game is destined to become a classic. The graphic are good, and it is fun to play for almost any age. The one problem is that it is difficult for young children without help. Yes, the controls are simple, but sometimes what you need to figure out to progress is simply to difficult for kids, between 4-10. They can still play it, but be warned that they will need your help.

As a father of two and a long time gamer, I'm a huge fan of the Lego games. Lego Indiana Jones was not quite as good as the Star Wars installments, IMO, however the Batman game reigns supreme! Yes, the quirky AI issues that have plagued the series still exist but they are easy to tolerate given the engaging game play and fun spirited humor that has become a trademark of Lego Video Games. The ability to play as the Villains in Story Mode is a great addition. I also appreciate that the game does not follow any particular movie script.

This game is fun for both adults and children and offers an excellent co-op experience. Even my non-gaming Wife enjoys playing this with the kids. The bottom line is, Lego Batman does not disappoint. Enjoy!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 80 reviews  4.4 out of 5 stars