I’ve been running a bit short on toy-related topics recently (the oft-mentioned backlog of posts that I have require a significant amount of writing and photo-taking, and so I’ve been a bit lazy about getting to them), so instead, today you get a review of a toy-related videogame.
Like most kids for decades now, I grew up with Lego, though all I ever had were the basic blocks. Since then, Lego has made a fortune licensing all sorts of brands, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones to Batman. In another brilliant move, someone came up with the idea of creating videogames based on the Lego sets, and lo and behold, they were lots of fun.
Some of the reviews for Lego Batman have been tepid, lamenting that the game offered nothing really new from the earlier Lego Star Wars and Indiana Jones games. Having only played one of the Star Wars games, I guess I’m not as burned-out on the concept as others might be. (I think IGN may just have felt obligated not to break Batman’s epic run of mediocre-to-terrible videogames.)
I think the game is a blast. I bought it on Thursday and have already spent a good six or seven hours beating the first half of it. Like the other Lego videogames, it’s broken down into “episodes”; there are three superhero episodes and three supervillain episodes.
While the earlier Lego games had enough characters that each could have a specialty–R2D2 unlocked doors, Luke could use the Force–in Lego Batman you can only choose from Batman and Robin. To provide variety, each member of the dynamic duo has a number of specialized suits to choose from. My favorite is what I call Mad Bomber Batman (coming soon from Mattel! –j/k), which allows Bats to place bombs and detonate them from a distance. Robin’s suits are weirder, including one with electromagnetic boots for walking up vertical metal surfaces and a vaccuum-machine for sucking up extra Lego parts and dumping them into a processor that turns them into something useful.
Perhaps the best endorsement I can offer of the game is the fact that Dr. Mrs. Ghostal played it for hours over the weekend–almost as much as I did. (It helped that we’ve got the Xbox 360 plugged into our brand-new 40″ HDTV, too.) Seriously, she’s addicted. I bet she can’t wait to get home tonight and play it again.
The game is full of great humor, and the gameplay is just fun. If you love Batman and enjoyed the previous Lego videogames, or are just looking for a fun family game, check out Lego Batman.
Having finished off my pending PGPoA assignments Friday night and early Saturday, I went and grabbed this game Saturday afternoon. I have only played thru the first chapter and I have to agree that it is an enjoyable, and like the others in the series, humorous game.
Too much like Star Wars or Indy? Maybe, but there's only so much you can do. I think that the two Robin suits you mention are something totally new (I haven't acquired his fifth suit yet). The batarang-type tasks are also something that don't exist in the others. If I had to make a call on it, I'd say more like Indy than Star Wars, probably for obvious reasons.
Anyway, so far it stands well on its own and I am looking forward to finishing it off 100%.
Oh, and just because, I wish they'd actually do the Lego Halo that one of the game pubs/sites played up for last April Fools. That would be super fun too.
In case anyone out there is both interested in and unaware of this: As a promo tie-in for the game, McDonald's has some pretty nice Lego Batman Happy Meal toys out now.
clicking that wikipedia article made me aware of the TDK game, which i didnt know was being developed, seeing as most movie-based video games comes out around (usually the same exact day as) the time the movie debuts. itll be interesting to see what can be done with a bit of extra time.
@Poe – Have Mr. and Mrs. Ghostal played co-op yet? That’s one of the big selling points to these games.
Incidentally, I highly reccomend Lego Indy. If you like the movies, you’ll have a great time with the game.
Regarding reviews, these titles (ever since the first Star Wars one) have always received short shrift – usually rating somewhere in the high 7′s. Honestly, I think Travlers’s Tales grabbed the concept and executed it perfectly – making games that are well developed and carry universal appear – much like the Mario games. They are not on the same plane as Mario but they do share that rare ability that anyone can pick-them-up, play and have fun. That’s not to say they are kids games – far from it. They’re just good for anyone and make a nice tonic after marathon FPS carnage and mayhem. I’d say that each of these titles deserve high 8′s.
Finally – here are my predictions for the next Lego games. I bet there will be two next year and if I had to pick a property it would be from two of the following:
Lego James Bond
Lego Harry Potter
Lego Spider-Man (after seeing that Lego recreation of the Doc Ock-elevated train scene from Spider-Man 2, this needs to happen ASAP).
That’s based on universal appear. Lego Halo will never happen for a variety of reasons but the number one is cross-over appeal. Sure – hardcore gamers get Halo and know all the nunances, but you need large crossover appeal for a title like this – which Batman, Star Wars, Indy and those above carry. Basically, this is the Lego Household Name series.
@MP – I wonder whether the games have to be based on a license Lego has? If so, Harry Potter is definitely possible, though apparently Lego has stopped making HP sets. Still, given Lego Batman‘s great sales, I suspect there will be more Lego games (at least a sequel to LB). And don’t forget the Lego MMO.
I’m kind of surprised there haven’t been any Lego Marvel sets, particularly Iron Man, since he’s a natural.
@Poe: I think you are correct that Lego probably has to be making Lego sets with that property in order for TellTale to make a game. And out of the ones that Plow listed, Potter does have sets and it actually could be a cool game.
Can you play as Gordon?