The Lego Group has made toys since the 1940s. What started off as simple wooden blocks soon evolved to plastic interlocking bricks.
More recently, Lego introduced the public to Lego Mindstorms, which could be used to make fully-functioning Lego robots. Then of course, there was Lego Island, the PC video game based on lego people. They then realized something ground breaking: incorporating movies with legos and video games.
The first attempt at this was a series of "Star Wars" games that faired reasonably well. The next was a game based on the original three "Indiana Jones" films, which while it was enjoyable enough to play, was lacking in certain aspects of gameplay. On Sept. 23, they released their latest game in the series, "Lego Batman."
"Batman" takes a different approach than the last two movie-turned Lego-based video game series. Unlike "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," the "Batman" movies were made in three pairs under three different directors. There's nothing that officially says whether the game is based on the movies, comics, animated series or another source, but judging by the character design, it seems that they are based closest to the animated series.
The game play is similar to "Star Wars" and "Indy," but brings a handful of fresh and interesting features to the table. The levels are relatively short, and are preceded and concluded by a brief animated story. There are three main stories, with five sub-levels in each, just like the others.
The first story is based on the Riddler, the second revolves around the Penguin and the final is based on none other than Batman's most notorious enemy, the Joker. Along the way, you encounter almost every single villain Batman ever faced in the comics, which includes Clayface, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Man-Bat, Scarecrow and Catwoman, just to name a few.
You trek through each level as a pair of heroes, which are almost always Batman and Robin. Eventually you can choose from other heroes such as a Night Wing, Batgirl, Alfred or Commissioner Gordon. As they go through the levels, they require different suits to wear that allow them to achieve different goals and parts of the levels. For example, one of these suits gives Batman a hang-glider, which allows him to jump much further horizontally.
The objectives of the game are pretty much the same as its predecessors. As the heroes, you go through a level, fight the boss at the end and then replay the game later on to complete all the achievements and unlock everything.
One criticism of the Lego video games of old is that they are too quick and easy to beat and lose their appeal too quickly. This latest one separates itself from the past games with its replay value.
Once you finish playing the levels as Batman and Robin, you can play as the villains trying to defeat them. In villain adventure mode, the levels are different, but are based on the same story line from the hero mode. This effectively doubles the game play. Further adding to that, the villain levels have their own unique unlockables and achievements.
Even on top of that, you can go back to the hero adventure mode and play as the villains, which is necessary to unlock everything in the game. Each villain has a unique ability that allows them to achieve things other characters can't. The Riddler can manipulate others' minds, and Poison Ivy can walk through toxic waste and kill with a kiss. Clayface and Mr. Freeze possess super strength that allows them to pick up and throw large objects.
Overall, there is something special about this game. The combination of the nostalgia of legos and Batman create a game that is hard to put down until every last bit of it is beaten. "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" attempted to create a game that everyone could play, but was directed toward children. "Batman" is truly made for all ages.
It is somewhat more difficult than the other games but still not tough. The main two features of the game that really make it a success are the inclusion of almost all of Batman's villains and its strong replay value. If you are a huge Batman nerd, this game was made for you. If you're not lucky enough to have a friend you can mooch the game off of after they beat it, definitely go out and get it for yourself.
Justin Gagnon can be reached at jegagnon@student.umass.edu.
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