
Lego Batman: The Videogame
"Build the hero, play the villain."
Score
80.0/10
Overview
Lego Batman: The Videogame brings the Dark Knight to life in brick form, offering a playful take on Gotham City's hero and his rogues gallery. Developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, this action-adventure game hit shelves in September 2008 for a wide range of platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC. It follows the familiar Lego game formula established in the Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones titles, where characters, vehicles, and environments are all constructed from plastic bricks. However, Lego Batman breaks new ground by featuring an original story rather than adapting a specific movie or comic arc. Players can switch between Batman and Robin, each with unique gadgets like the Batarang and grapple gun, to solve puzzles and fight through levels. The game also introduces a villain campaign, letting players control iconic baddies such as the Joker, Catwoman, and the Riddler. With its family-friendly humor and cooperative gameplay, it earned positive reviews and later inspired a successful series of sequels, including Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes and Lego DC Super-Villains.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around exploring brick-built environments, smashing objects for studs, and solving environmental puzzles. Batman and Robin each carry distinct gadgets: Batman's Batarang can trigger distant switches, while Robin's grapple gun reaches high ledges. The game includes vehicle sections where players pilot the Batmobile, Batboat, and other craft through chase sequences. A local co-op mode lets a second player drop in at any time, working together to combine abilities. The villain campaign offers similar mechanics but with enemy-specific powers, such as the Joker's joy buzzer or Catwoman's whip.
Story
Gotham's worst criminals break out of Arkham Asylum in a coordinated riot, led by the Joker, Penguin, and Catwoman. Batman and Robin must recapture each villain across the city, from the Iceberg Lounge to the Batcave. The narrative splits into two perspectives: the hero campaign follows the duo's pursuit, while the villain campaign shows the criminals executing their schemes, culminating in a final showdown where players choose sides.
Awards & Acclaim
BAFTA Children's Award: Best Videogame: (2008)
Keywords
Sources
Game Info
- Developer
- Traveller's Tales
- Publisher
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Nu2
- Release Date
- 2008-09-23
- Age Rating
- E10+
- Modes
- single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Nintendo DS, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable
- Number of Levels
- 30
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