Games for Lunch: LEGO Batman: The Videogame
In a nutshell: BAM! POWER THWOCK! LEGO!
12/15/2008 7:16 PM | 1 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Developer: Travelers' Tales
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2008
Systems: PS3 (reviewed), PS2, PSP, Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PC
ESRB Rating: E10+
Official Web site
0:00 I enjoyed the little I've played of
LEGO Star Wars and
LEGO Indiana Jones, and I'm expecting largely the same carefree run-and-jump-and-punch experience out of this one. I wish I had a second player to putter around with, but I'll make do solo.
0:01 The preview screen is all kinds of awesome, with the Batman movie theme and scenes of all sorts of LEGO destruction. There's a mini-figure version of the Riddler! And Harley Quinn! And Poison Ivy! And Bane! And the Joker! And Robin! Oh man, this is gonna be fun.
0:02 Two LEGO robbers run across a rooftop, stopping cold when seeing LEGO Batman, who sends some LEGO batarangs to knock away their LEGO guns. Then LEGO Batman leaps in for some PUNCHING ACTION! AWESOME!
0:03 LEGO Batman looks grim and serious and, most of all, CUTE on the title screen, looking down over the city he is sworn to protect. LEGO versions of Joker, Penguin and Riddler are in a jail cell. The LEGO clock strikes midnight, there's a LEGO explosion, and they bust out of LEGO Arkham Asylum, along with LEGO Croc, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Two-Face, Clayface, Man-bat ... good god, it's every Batman villain ever! They hijack a couple of LEGO vans and drive through the LEGO streets, unleashing LEGO laughing gas, whipping LEGO whips, floating on LEGO umbrellas, drawing "?" graffiti with LEGO spray paint, etc. LEGO Commissioner Gordon hits the LEGO bright red button to activate the LEGO bat signal, prompting triumphant cries from the LEGO cops. Oh, there's LEGO Mr. Freeze too! He's with LEGO Clayface, Riddler and Poison Ivy now in an underground lair. They're silently planning to rob a LEGO bank.
0:06 Some loading then another cut scene showing LEGO Riddler and Clayface blowing a hole in the side of the LEGO bank. LEGO Batman and Robin view the action from a LEGO rooftop. LEGO Robin jumps down with a CRASH while LEGO Batman traipses gently down to the ground. Then I'm in control. "You Can Bank on Batman," is the level title. You sure can!
0:07 I just used my LEGO fist to send a LEGO henchman flying the equivalent of 10 or 20 LEGO feet! Awesome! The computer is doing a pretty decent job helping out with Robin, surprisingly.
0:08 You can tell these are gritty LEGO streets because of the presence of brown LEGO rats. Eminently punchable LEGO rats, I should say.
0:11 I could run around collecting these little LEGO studs all day. It really appeals to my anal-retentive side.
0:12 Pardon me for saying so, but LEGO Batman's jumping punch looks kind of lame. Where's the awesome drop kick?
0:13 Introducing the suit swapper, which lets me switch from the boring grey Batman outfit to an all-black "Demolition Suit," giving me the ability to lay LEGO explosives. I accidentally blow up LEGO Robin with my first set. Yeah ... accidentally ... that's it.
0:15 OK, LEGO Robin is an idiot. He seems to consistently stand right next to the bombs right before they explode. It's funny but also a little depressing.
