GENRE
	Action Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	Traveller's Tales
	PUBLISHER
	Warner Bros.
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	Yes
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

With Star Wars and Indiana Jones already under its belt, developer Traveller’s Tales has activated the Bat-Signal. LEGO Batman: The Video Game follows the same template as previous LEGO titles, offering puzzle-like stages, some slapstick humor and accessible gameplay. But we’ve done this song-and-dance before, so is another go around -- this time in the Batmobile -- really worth it?

visuals

The classic LEGO blocks fit well on DS. From the start, players will witness an impressive swoop around a skyscraper with the Dark Knight perched on top. Diving in, players will venture into the Penguin’s icy white fortress and take a surreal, trippy voyage into Joker’s amusement park. The diverse locale is complemented by pleasant cel-shaded effects, like smoke and gas, along with the ability to demolish any LEGO object in sight. The art direction is similar to the previous LEGO adventures, more or less squeezed into Batman’s suit, but it’s still nice to see such an interactive 3D world on DS.

audio

Nothing in the sound department really stands out. Yes, music is taken from the first Batman films, so Danny Elfman’s haunting, memorable tunes are here. The transition to DS, however, compresses the quality and the tunes become space-fillers. Saving grace swoops in with the dynamic up-tempo beats that ignite with any baddie or boss battle confrontation, but such is the exception.

gameplay

LEGO Batman: The Video Game delivers the puzzles, LEGO studs, easy combat, collectibles, replayability and humor that you’ve come to expect from the series. Batman is the headliner, but, as with other LEGO titles, players will control two characters. In this case, you'll be switching back and forth with Robin. Both characters have their virtues; Batman packs the grapple gun and can glide through the air while Robin sports the acrobatics and can throw on the biochemical ventilation suit. These qualities keep the pacing quick and present clever environmental brainteasers.

As for difficulty and combat, the title is, like other LEGO titles, rather rudimentary. Once again, dying will only take away about 1,000 studs. Combat is basic, boiling down to smashing the Y button to destroy criminals. This sounds like a huge flaw in the design, but it really doesn’t hinder the experience. The LEGO series is about experiencing the adventures of your favorite heroes and goofing around, not worrying about death or finger-twitching combos allows you to sit back and enjoy yourself. And even if you beat the main storyline, you’ve only actually “beat” about 20 percent of the game. Unlockable secrets and characters, replayability and smashing LEGOs are the name of this game. Fortunately, this formula proves addictive and fun. Going back, for example, and controlling the pumpkin-tossing Scarecrow is a blast.

Sadly, the humor doesn’t quite transfer to DS. The amusing cut scenes from the consoles are replaced with cartoon panels. The still images are well-done, but they lack the witty live-action bits of its bigger-console brethren.

multiplayer

Do yourself a favor and buy LEGO Batman: The Video Game with a friend. The title contains a co-op mode for local multi-cartridge multiplayer, and it's a great way to play the game.

overall

All in all, the game handles pretty well. There are a few bumps in the road as combat is shallow, the challenge level is low, and the amusing cut scenes fail to make the DS version. Still, the package comes through. There is a ton of replayability, excellent pacing, and an impressive 3D graphic engine, and that’s not even including the co-op or mini-games. This is great buy for any DS owner.

7.3/10