Reviewed: October 18, 2008
Reviewed by: Brian Wylie
Publisher
Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Released: September 23, 2008
Genre: Action
Players: 1-2
9
9
10
10
9.6
Supported Features:
Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
Once again Gotham City is falling to pieces!! Only this time it is not by just one of Batman’s arch nemeses, it’s all of them at the same time!! That’s right, in LEGO Batman: The Videogame you have to defeat every villain Batman and Robin have ever put behind bars. Throughout this game you will have to master unique super-hero suits which allow each character to do something incredible to solve problems or overcome obstacles, get behind the wheel of some of the legendary vehicles we all know and love, and if you are lucky enough to get through most of the game; you can indulge you evil side and take control as the villains and totally take control of Gotham City! So which side will you choose?
When you first get started with LEGO Batman you are thrown into the first mission where you see that you are up against Two Face and The Riddler. They are leading a charge with some other lesser-known villains at their disposal. Once you are thrown onto the streets, you have so many things you must do.
First, you have to defeat all the henchmen that are trying to derail your plans to save the day. Next, you have to collect all the studs you see on the ground and ones you get from destroying things throughout the level. These studs allow you to purchase extras. Your goal is to collect so many that you receive a Super Hero or Super Villain bonus. Then you are in charge of finding ten LEGO Batman Canisters. These canisters are tricky to find and even when you do find them, you can’t get to them. Another thing you must find is a Red Power Brick. One Red Power Brick is hidden in each level. This unlocks really cool features, which include bonus content and extras. After all of that you must then defeat the boss villain of that level.
Once you have defeated the boss villain you will have three choices; go to the Batcave, continue story, or free play. What I recommend is going to the Batcave to see what other levels you want to try out next and or purchase some extra characters. Once you are in the Batcave you have more studs that you can pick up to help you buy more things at your main computer. You will quickly notice that you have the Batmobile, the Batboat, and the Batwing. Each one of these will lead you to a different story mode in which you will have to fight different villains. As stated earlier you fight Two-Face and the Riddler in your Batmobile. You fight The Penguin in the Batboat. Then finally your Batwing takes you to fight The Joker.
Each mode has five levels of story mode in each of them. Once you have defeated each boss villain you will unlock the Free Play mode. This mode allows you to pick any of the characters you have beaten or have purchased and use them to go back and find the LEGO Batman Canisters that you couldn’t reach to get to before. After you pick the one you want to play with the computer with assign others that you can switch to in order to collect all of the missed items.
Each character has some sort of power that makes them unique. Some have super strength that allows them to throw things out of the way or just pull them aside. Some can jump really high to get to the extra higher platforms. Then finally some are immune to toxins. You will really have to look for some of the hidden items and really have to know what character can withstand or do what.
After you have completed on set of story mode (all five levels dealing with the story), you will unlock a special lever in the Batcave that allows you to go over to Arkham Asylum. It is the same principle as the Batcave but for the Villains. Here is where things get a little tricky though. You must fight everyone to stay alive. There are a lot of evil henchmen that are mad and take out their anger on you. For both levels you have three different rooms to go to. You have the trophy room, the missions’ room, and then the computer main stage room. Both headquarters have an unlockable level but how to unlock it and what it is; I will leave for you to find out.
You will notice that in the main computer area in the Batcave there are suit revelers that allow you to change into a suit that you deem. You collect power suits throughout your missions for Batman and Robin. These power suits will give you special powers to conquer the tasks at hand. You will unlock four suits for both Batman and Robin. While in Arkham you obviously don’t have suits for the villains so you get to create your own character from head to toe. After you create your character you can take them around and beat the crap out of all the bad guys.
Finally, you have a great drop in and drop out some game play system. I personally think this game would be more fun played as a single player game but you have the ability to play with two. At any time during game play you can have a second player jump into the game and play alongside of you and at any time that player can drop out of the game. One thing to point out is that the screen doesn’t expand too far in two-player mode so it is easier to do what you want when you want in single player mode. So go at it alone or with a friend it is up to you weather you want to save Gotham City or tear it apart.
Finally a PS3 game running at its full potential! This game looks glorious in its 1080p format. Granted, it isn’t too detailed but after looking at the PS2 version upconverting to 720p this format looks incredible. The colors are very vibrant and true to form with the characters. The only issue I have with the graphics is that in areas in the Batcave it is really dark and you can’t see where the ledges are and you tend to fall off. You don’t die or lose studs but it just gets a little annoying sometimes.
If you love all of your classic Batman music then you are going to feel the same as I do. Every level has the movie themed music that just gets you in that pumped up excited feeling that makes you really wish you were Batman. They slow the music down and speed it up just at the right times and just makes the game that more enjoyable. You each every grunt of getting punched and every blow delivered. You hear all the explosions and wind sound from gliding. The music and sounds were completed perfectly down to every last detail imaginable.
As you read earlier, you have 15 levels of story modes for both Batman and the Villains. Then you have all of those to play in Free Play mode as well. Right there is 60 levels that you can play. Then on top of that you have two unlockable levels as well. There is so much game playing here it is ridiculous. The best part about this is that you want to keep playing. You want to see what happens next. You want to see who you unlock. You are driven to find every LEGO Batman Canister and Red Power Brick. This is a game that you want to finish and not stop halfway through and go to the next game.
On top of all the levels to play, you have all the unlockable extra content, characters, and just getting all the prizes for your trophy rooms. The only thing that this game doesn’t give you which I would love to have seen, but is not a big issue, is online trophies for others to see how much of a hero or villain you truly are.
LEGO Batman is a great game to have not only for a diehard fan but for the casual fan as well. I am a huge Batman fan, and I absolutely loved seeing all the original villains and newer ones in this game like; Clayface, Dr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarecrow, and even Ras Au Gul.
This game brings together the old school Batman with the new age Batman Begins saga. It will be worth every penny you spent on it and much more. So indulge in your evil side but join Batman and save Gotham City before it’s too late.