The prospect of LEGO Batman 2 made all my geeky bits tingle. The Lego series has largely passed me by, I played the first Lego Star Wars, but that’s it.
Now, I don’t know if I approached this all wrong, or if this says something about what kind of geek I am, but the thing I found hardest to handle about this game is that the baddies explode into bits when you kill them. Normally I wouldn’t care, in-fact, in the Star Wars LEGO game, I rather enjoyed it. But there’s one fatal flaw which seems to have been skipped over in this game and the last one too. BATMAN DOESN’T KILL PEOPLE!
It’s his ONE rule damnit! I mean, if Batman starts killing people, he looses his morals, he becomes a villain.
That aside, and ignoring a few irritating plot flaws (which I will explain in detail later) I’ve enjoyed playing LBM2. Mainly, playing as superman, because let’s be honest, superman is pretty hardcore. He has abilities which Batman and Robin have to switch between suits to use, and he can fly!
So, there are a few things that need mentioning, I know it’s target audience are younger gamers, and the plot doesn’t NEED to flow amazingly, but when I had just spent 15 minutes rebuilding Robin’s helicopter to then almost instantly abandon it and call in the bat-plane instead, I did feel rather cheated.
There are more than a handful of moments like this. For example, a level which allows you use of Superman, Batman and Robin, can often leave you wishing superman was there on his own, because clearing a path for Batman and Boy-Wonder takes 50x longer than flying through would have.
Another thing is that despite Superman saving Batman’s life on several occasions, Batman is more than a bit cold to Superman, he’s probably jealous of his super-awesomeness, but at least say thanks. Jeeez.
On the opposite side of the scale, Robin is completely smitten with Superman, like, even more than you’d expect from possibly the least manly sidekick ever dreamed up. In one scene, as Superman carries Robin to safety, Robin is clearly running his fingers (O.K. not fingers, LEGO clippy hand) through Superman’s hair!
Now, I know I’ve been rather critical so far, so I do need to make clear that this game really is fun to play, if you can ignore all the geeky mistakes, but I can’t. The gameplay is smooth, although I’m not too keen on the camera angles, I’ve often found myself running around at random, hoping to pass through a gap in the wall I couldn’t see – and it works. Ah, I’m being negative again. Awkward.
So, let me summarise, LEGO Batman 2 is a fun, quirky, well-made addition to the LEGO series and the Batman franchise, but if you’re really into your comics, you might find it hard to enjoy without picking holes in it. However, if you have younger kids they won’t notice any of these things and will love every second of it.
Rating: 6/10 (for me), 9/10 (for kids)
Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 (PS3 Tested)
Developer: Traveller’s Tales
Rated: ESRB E10+, PEGI 7
Release Date: 22/6/2012