Developer: Traveler’s Tales
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Traveler’s Tales has been releasing their unique brand of license-based Lego games for seven years now, leading to an impressive 10 different games in that time. Since 2005’s Lego Star Wars, though, the games have been met with less enthusiasm, with many gamers feeling that the series has fallen into a rut.
With Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes, the developer has stepped the series up a notch. Featuring a large variety of powers, voice work for the characters, and a full and open world to explore, Lego Batman 2 gives longtime fans and newcomers a lot to explore.
The original Lego Batman benefited from an original story as opposed to an adaption of a film, a tradition that Lego Batman 2 continues. When the Joker interrupts a Man of the Year award ceremony in Gotham City, he comes to the attention of the villainous Lex Luthor . Luthor decides that the Joker is just the partner he needs to defeat Batman and Superman.
Though the plot is simple, the story nevertheless provides a compelling reason to keep playing. The comedic cutscenes that come up during levels maintain the same level of humor fans of the series would expect, while also remaining true to the Batman canon.
The story is given a boost by the addition of voice acting, a first for the Lego series. Troy Baker does a wonderful job as Batman, bringing a lighter take on the character into the . Clancy Brown also reprises his role from Superman: The Animated Series as Lex Luthor .
Of course, the story isn’t the only area getting a makeover. The gameplay in Lego Batman 2 will be familiar to fans, but a large number of new powers and characters makes the whole experience feel fresh.
Magnetism, super strength, freeze rays and heat vision are just a few of the powers at the player’s disposal, and the way these different powers combine make for some fun puzzles throughout the levels.
In fact, while the puzzles are never too taxing, their sheer variety makes each level of the campaign a joy to play. Combined with the simple combat system and a plethora of things for players to discover, the story mode in Lego Batman 2 provides plenty to do.
There’s even more to do outside of story missions, with hundreds of hidden gold bricks to be found throughout Gotham. Carnival games, new puzzles and unlockable vehicles and characters all add to the experience, meaning plenty of post-game content for those looking to do everything in the game.
There’s so much to like in Lego Batman 2 that its flaws come down to trifling problems with the game’s structure.
The first is that for a game subtitled DC Superheroes, there’s not a lot of the Justice League to be found in the plot. Outside of Robin, most other heroes don’t become playable until the last two missions of the game.
Further, the one hero who does show up early, Superman, steals the show from Batman. Though it’s fun to play as the flying, invulnerable Man of Steel, it seems a bit wrong for the title character to be overshadowed so fully.
Still, these are minor problems in an otherwise amazing game. If you’ve never been a big fan of Batman or this particular series of games, then odds are you won’t enjoy Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes. However, those who try it out will find themselves playing the best Lego game Traveler’s Tales has ever made.