Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

How to even start a review for such a mystical character who has been portrayed in various media for over 100 years? Loved worldwide, adapted many times, everyone has their favorite version and everyone is right about why that version is better than the others. This game is a true love letter to Batman fans and the character itself. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will take you through all the eras of this hero, perhaps in the best way yet.

We all played with Lego as kids, so when the first video games on this theme started coming out, I eagerly played them. Those beginnings with Lego Batman, Indiana Jones, and others were magical. Combining different characters, controlling villains, and unlocking a colorful spectrum of everything was excellently done back in 2008. The simplicity of that formula kept me engaged like a curious child, but as the years went by, I drifted away from those games. Due to so many similarities to past titles, especially that formula. Out of love for this character, but mostly for the formula they changed in this title, my interest was rekindled. Ever since it was announced at Gamescom last year, I knew it would be something special, both for Batman and for the Lego formula that, to be honest, needed it.

Let’s be clear, the game is still at its core the same recognizable formula. Although it is primarily made for a younger audience and constantly reminds you of that, this is a title that absolutely everyone can enjoy. The developers have introduced some significant changes for our hero this time, such as difficulty settings, which is a home run. If they continue in this direction for future titles, they are on a dangerously good path.

At every moment, you have a companion by your side, whether it's Detective Gordon, Robin, or Batgirl.

Batman, as we all know, has so many stories told through comics, movies, series, and of course, our beloved games. Traveller's Tales decided to create one that mixes everything, and I must say that the final product is fantastic; the balance is hit just right. From the introduction with Batman Begins, to Arkham gadgets, to the nostalgic Mr. Freeze and the rest of the 90s, the game tells Batman's story from start to finish, but mixes all eras and media. There is something for everyone here. At every moment, you have a companion by your side, whether it's Detective Gordon, Robin, or Batgirl. They all have their special moves and gadgets that are needed in story missions or ultimately in free roam around the city to unlock something you couldn't before. In this way, the game constantly "pushes" you to return to locations you've already been to, in order to find something new, and a full ocean of Batman things awaits you. The characters are worthy of their original interpretations, with a touch of something new thrown in here and there. I particularly enjoyed the easter eggs that are everywhere; for example, you will see the character of Batman from American Psycho (played by Christian Bale, of course) intently looking at Bruce Wayne's ID while you visit Lucius Fox. Such things give the game the necessary soul that makes this title somewhat different from the others.

The entire Gotham City is available for play, and you can see that they had an eye for detail. The city is vast, many locations are accessible, and there are many details that fans will appreciate. While flying through the city, Batman has a police frequency connected through which he monitors crimes in the city, and it's up to you whether you want to stop to prevent one before continuing the story. These things make the city feel alive. Not to mention iconic locations like Ace Chemicals, Iceberg Lounge, etc. You will traverse the city inspired by Arkham with your (various) Batmobiles or grappling hook and glider. The driving is executed superbly, and at any moment you can spawn or respawn a vehicle depending on the situation you find yourself in. This is not one of those open-world games that will overwhelm you with things to collect and locations to discover. Of course, it might bore some, but in my opinion, they did a nice job of making it not boring, but rhythmic. The interactions with NPC characters are also interesting; if they want to talk to Gordon when you approach them as Batman, they might throw you a line like, "I don't buy albums from weirdos on the street."

When you get tired, you can go to your Batcave, where various adventures from this world await you. You have a bunch of cars to choose from, not to mention various suits, both for Batman and all his companions. You can customize certain parts of the cave. I was surprised by the amount of detail they put into Batman's hidden home. Literally every corner can be rearranged, and you can view the trophies you've collected during the game.

With fists and feet, Batman dances with the bandits while slapping them. A complete inspiration from the combat style of the Arkham series.

One of my top things is the fluidity of combat and the difficulty settings I mentioned earlier. For the youngest (or anyone who just wants the story), there is the easiest setting, then medium and hardest. I started the game on medium but quickly switched to the hardest, and I'm not bragging (this isn't a soulslike game), I'm just highlighting that it was that sweet spot for me to continue at my own pace. With fists and feet, Batman dances with the bandits while slapping them. A complete inspiration from the combat style of the Arkham series. Then we have easier opponents, to the bigger brutes, and of course, boss fights that are various and presented in an original Lego way. The gallery of Batman's villains doesn't need much introduction, and I like the way they juggle various characters from different media.

Whatever mission you are solving or villain you are beating up, your companion is always with you. If you play solo, the AI controls them, but at any moment you can jump into couch co-op with a friend. The game does not support online multiplayer, but the offline version is, in my opinion, quite sufficient; personally, I prefer to play such titles on the same couch with someone. In the good old Lego way, the screen dynamically splits in half so each player gets their side. While one is browsing the menu and choosing upgrades, the other can seamlessly tackle their part of the job on the other side of the map.

As for performance, the game runs smoothly, without stuttering or crashing, but it hasn't been without bugs.

For a Lego game, the developers really put effort into the graphics and presentation. Gotham is harsh, rainy, and dark, just the way fans love it. For a children's game, there is no shortage of detail on the characters. You will literally feel like the figures have come to life in front of you. As for performance, the game runs smoothly, without stuttering or crashing, but it hasn't been without bugs. Occasionally, I would encounter a small bug where the game simply wouldn't offer me the build button during missions, so the only salvation was a restart (fortunately, the checkpoints are forgiving, so not much progress is lost). A stranger bug happened to me a couple of times after finishing a cutscene; the game would start, enemies would already begin to beat me, and I was still "locked" in the animation with no way to defend myself. On a brighter note, the music maintains a sick atmosphere. If you're a true Batman fan, I don't need to explain much to you; you'll recognize every piece and every note from all the possible movies and games featuring this character. Although I would add that I missed background music on some levels; I don't know if it's a bug or a design decision. If it's the latter, I don't like it. I would also add a photo mode, which I usually don't use much in games, but here it wouldn't let me be. I had to take pictures of the whole crew from every angle.

I can't help myself; I love this character. Even though I entered the game with a skeptical mind because the last Lego titles lost me a bit, this one completely won me over. The smile on my face when you unlock Robin and various easter eggs from movies and series is proof that they hit the total bullseye for Batman fans. On the other hand, the game can also be a great introduction for someone who has never encountered this hero before. I leave you here, as I still have to hunt for Riddler's trophies and unlock all the suits in Gotham. The love and effort of the developers can be seen in every little and big detail.

A copy of the PlayStation 5 version for review purposes was provided by the publisher Warner Bros. Games