Buttonmashers

At heart Lego Batman is a kid’s game, but that doesn’t stop countless comic and animated series references. Obviously, the younger players won’t know a lot about the rich history of Batman, but hey! what a perfect time to learn. So grab your bat-a-rang and grappling hook and swing alongside me in this review of Lego Batman for Xbox 360.

If you’ve played any Lego games then you know they’re all about hidden items, characters, and unlockables. Smashing up all the items in the fore and background will nab you lego stud’s which count as the currency of the game. Find enough of these and you’ll be able to purchase characters, vehicles, and even random tidbits of information about the world of Batman. That’s hint number one into getting all the extra’s. Hint number two is going to a site like GameFAQ’s and typing in the codes, which interestingly enough doesn’t deactivate unlocking achievements.

So you know how to unlock things… So what? Let’s ask a fundamental question, since this is an adaptation of sorts.

Does this game give you that Batman feel, or is it just kids game with Batman characters put in place? Well, staples like Batman’s infamous rogue’s gallery, his gadgets, vehicles, and locales all make an appearance in the game. And not to mention playing throughout the game is the theme song from not only the Animated Series but from the first Batman Film as well – essentially the same song, but you can tell when which is which. It’s a bit cutesy at times, but remember it’s a children’s game. With that being said, it’s a bit reminiscent of the old campy 60’s Batman series, but with a much more Bale-ish sounding Batman.

The BatCave will be your main HQ – it will serve as your level select screen, as well as who you’ll choose to play as. Just like in other Lego games, you’ll be able to take the reigns as the villains, once you’ve finished the Heroes side of things. As with the BatCave, Arkham Asylum will also play a similar role with the villains. Going back to the unlockables and hidden items – once you have the chance to play over the levels of a chapter you’ve already completed, you will unlock FreePlay for that stage. FreePlay allows you to choose a set number of characters, Good & Bad, to locate and go through areas once blocked off in your first playthrough. And without saying, it’ll be a lot easier once you’ve unlocked all the villains sinc each character has their own special and unique abilities.

There are a few charming and recognizable moments from the comics, or Batman lore, in the game – like seeing Robin act as the character you love to hate, Bane getting a back breaking achievement, and not to mention the final bosses of each Act are the main villains of the live action films; i.e. Two Face and Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman, and finally the Joker (Spoiler: at the top of a towering Church). Nightwing, Batgirl, and even some minor villains like Killer Moth and Hush made their way into the game too. Look’s like Traveller’s Tales, the dev team behind this whimsical game, really did their homework – making you feel as if this game was made by the fans themselves.

It is a fun, yet very simple game, that may take a good week or two to beat if you want to unlock all the hidden stuff. The pacing feels steady, but if you play for long periods of time it can feel very repetitive. Difficulty isn’t much of a problem, but like mentioned prior, you may want to take it a couple of levels at a time, or you might get a bit bored. If you’re playing with a friend in Co-Op then the game is a lot of fun. And once you’ve finished the game it’s quite a treat to see Batman and the Joker teaming up to liberate/take down Gotham City together in FreePlay mode, since that’s where the game really comes to life.

When you break it down, it’s a great play for kids, and they’ll even be a bit of a whiz when it comes to trivia exclusive to the Batman world. Nothing is ever too violent; nothing you haven’t already seen while playing with the Lego toys themselves. If you are into Batman yourself, but aren’t all that into the cutesy kid stuff, then maybe you should skip it since it’s nothing at all like the upcoming Arkham Asylum Game, which in my opinion looks phenomenal.

Ricardo Trejo Uncategorized