GENRE
	Action Adventure
	DEVELOPER
	Traveller's Tales
	PUBLISHER
	Warner Bros. Interactive
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
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Building houses, assembling robots, putting together cars -- it seems like LEGO blocks are good for just about anything. Add “fighting crime” that that list, because everyone’s favorite plastic bricks have become Batman’s newest weapon in his never-ending fight against crime. LEGO Batman combines the creativity of LEGO with the sheer awesomeness of Batman to create the ultimate in chunky plastic superhero adventuring. But do the pieces all fit together?

visuals

LEGO Batman is the rare multiplatform game where you don’t lose out on visual quality for choosing the Wii version. LEGO blocks are by their very nature blocky and simplistic, so a game based on them doesn’t really need to be all that detailed. Fortunately, Traveller’s Tales did not take this as an excuse to slack, instead creating a surprisingly atmospheric and detailed game. In fact, you would have a decent looking normal Batman game if you replaced all the LEGO folk with more realistic characters, but where’s the fun in that?

A wide variety of environments are on display, from grimy back alleys to sinister carnivals, each sporting that trademark Gotham gloom. From Mr. Freeze’s ice-encrusted hideout to the Joker’s sinister bell tower, every level is unique and atmospheric.

Each level is punctuated with some very humorous cutscenes that are light on story but heavy on creativity. Look no further than Batman being caught off guard while browsing “awesomecapes.com” on the Bat Computer to see just how clever these little interludes are. They lend the game a lot of color and character and are almost worth playing for on their own.

audio

The standard LEGO clicks and clacks are supplemented by an excellent score that features Danny Elfman’s classic Batman fanfare. It adds a lot to the mood and authenticity of LEGO Batman, giving it a more epic and exciting feel than one would expect from a game focused around plastic blocks. And as is standard with LEGO titles, there is no voice acting to be heard aside from grunts and. This is perfectly fine, as it adds to the cute and cartoony vibe the game has got going for it.

gameplay

LEGO Batman is an action-platformer. That basically means that there are equal parts beating up baddies and ledge-hopping. Combat amounts to little more than mindless button mashing and remote waggling, with the occasional fun gimmick like judo throws or batarangs, aimed with the Wii remote’s IR pointer. Get surrounded by a swarm of enemies, hammer the attack button, repeat. It’s fun in an entirely mindless way, and different characters have different methods of attack, so it’s fun to experiment.

Fortunately, there is more to LEGO Batman than mindless brawling. There are two characters running through the level at a time, the second of which is controlled by the AI if you are playing on your own. Half the battle is figuring out how to advance through the level, a goal that will take full advantage of both character’s abilities. It’s clear this game was designed as a co-op experience first and foremost (see the multiplayer section for a more thorough examination) but single players are accommodated with the ability to switch between the two characters at will. Is there a shiny metal surface impeding your progress? Switch to Robin with his magnet suit and climb on up. Is a button or switch out of reach? Switch to Batman and glide across the gap. Puzzles are often complex with multiple parts to solve, and they’re easily the most fun part of the entire game.

And where would the good guys be without a little evil? If LEGO Batman ended at letting you play as Batman and Robin it would be a solid diversion, but the ability to play as Batman’s most fearsome villains takes it above and beyond. The villain gameplay is fundamentally the same as the hero version, but the levels and abilities are more varied and interesting. The Joker, for example, can control the minds of Gotham citizens and have them do his dirty work for him. Mr. Freeze has his trademark ice ray and super strength. Each villain brings something new and unique to the table and half the fun is finding new ways and places to use their abilities.

Despite the excellent puzzle-oriented gameplay, the game is full of minor frustrations. Thanks to the camera angle, depth perception is all but impossible in areas requiring a lot of platform hopping. In some cases this results in death, in others you have to climb back up whatever you fell off of and try again. In either case, an otherwise fun and well crafted game suddenly becomes an exercise in tedium. Thankfully the penalty for dying is limited to losing some of your money, but in areas where repeated deaths occur you will find your cash swiftly draining.

Fans of replayability will find a lot to love here. Aside from collectables and money goals scattered across the game’s 30 levels, there are upwards or 20 or 30 characters and vehicles to unlock. Attaining 100 percent completion is certainly possible, but you’ll need to work hard for it. The main story only takes under 10 hours to complete, but getting every last character and collectable could take weeks. LEGO Batman is packed to the brim with secrets and unlockables.

multiplayer

LEGO Batman features some of the best co-op you will find on the Wii or any other system. Two players can work together as Batman and Robin or a team of villains and tackle the puzzles and enemies facing them as a dynamic duo. Working together isn’t just encouraged, it’s required. As was mentioned before, each character can do things the other can’t.

Like the single player mode, co-op has a few flaws. Some platforming sections can be frustrating thanks to the camera’s inability to move past where the other character is standing, leading to a huge amount of accidental deaths. Players can also harm each other, which is a bad idea when combat is focused on mindlessly spamming attacks.

overall

Anyone searching for the ultimate co-op experience on the Wii should look no further than LEGO Batman. Solo players will find a lot to like as well, even if the game does shine its brightest with two players. Despite some frustrating flaws, LEGO Batman is a fun and often clever experience with an absolutely massive amount of extra content. So grab a friend, get suited up, and clean the mean streets of Gotham... brick by brick.

7.5/10