The Dark Knight Returns - With LEGOs

Title: LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Platform: PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 (review platform)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Traveller's Tales
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 or older

It's no small wonder that the LEGO franchise thrives as well as it does. With a seemingly infinite number of different designs and themes, there are enough variants to attract both children and the young at heart. Fans can literally build anything, from massive castles to the infamous Imperial Star Destroyer seen in Star Wars. But, beyond what the franchise offers physically, there's something quite unique and even lovable and inviting in the designs of its characters. In some ways, this charisma carries over into the video game line of LEGO products, but sometimes the child-like atmosphere surrounding these titles just doesn't digest well with gamers.

Fortunately, the latest entrant to LEGO's video game business, LEGO Batman: The Videogame, does rather well by offering a fun and amusing experience. However, the one thing to keep in mind is that, like all other LEGO video games, there's a level of violence not suitable for younger players. Despite the overall "kiddie" presentation, LEGO Batman earns its E 10+ rating honestly by depicting characters using guns, with the targeted LEGO enemy blown into pieces. Granted there's no blood or gore, but the act of shooting remains nonetheless, and parents looking for a cool new title for the kids might want to reconsider -- or perhaps rent the title first, before forking over the cash.

Violence concerns aside, LEGO Batman is still a surprisingly good game. The drawback is that the two single-player campaigns feel unusually short, and there are a few camera glitches that hinder gameplay in certain areas. Gamers looking for an in-depth storyline won't find one here -- in fact, there's not a lick of dialogue throughout the game. If anything, LEGO Batman is pure console gaming, offering plenty of "pows" and "whams" that should knock any action-platformer fan out of his or her seat, remaining light in story as well as in humor. But don't think that LEGO Batman is another LEGO-ized movie bundle. It's not. While borrowing certain themes from the pre-"Batman Begins" movies, this game offers an original tale told from both sides of the coin.

Unlike the previous LEGO games based on popular movie franchises (e.g. Star Wars and Indiana Jones), there's something warm and fuzzy about LEGO Batman. Anyone who is a fan of the earlier Tim Burton-Joel Shumacher Batman movies will recognize the "borrowed" scenes and situations: Gotham City's gothic Cathedral; Robin's infatuation with Poison Ivy; Riddler and Two-Face teaming up; and so on. Even Danny Elfman's famous score from the 1989 movie graces the game's soundtrack. Although LEGO Batman has a certain familiarity, there's plenty of originality to go around. As a result, old fans will get a kick out of the light references while newcomers discover iconic scenes set in place before the turn of the century.

Batman and Robin join the LEGO-ified ranks of Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones.

Players are presented with two single-player campaigns: Hero and Villain. The latter more or less serves as filler to the main storyline found in the Hero campaign. The overall story features a huge number of villains that have escaped from Arkham Asylum, plotting to take over the city, seize all of its money and kill off its citizens. The Joker, The Penguin and the Riddler form three diabolical groups. Each group serves as the campaign's "Act," which is broken down into five chapters.

Act I, "The Riddler's Revenge," depicts the questionable villain in green and purple as he schemes to steal the city's money from the national bank, rounding up fan-favorite comrades such as Clayface, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze and Two-Face to help carry out his plan. Act 2, "Power Crazed Penguin," centers on the Penguin's mission to seize control of the city by utilizing the diabolical powers of Man-Bat, Bane, Catwoman and Killer Croc. Finally, The Joker attempts to blow up the cathedral in Act III's "The Joker's Return," thus releasing his toxic gas and killing everyone in Gotham City. Killer Moth, the Scarecrow, the Mad Hatter and Harley Quinn join his murderous cause.

Naturally, it's up to Batman and Robin to thwart the evil deeds of each scheme using various power suits and transports. The outfit changes usually occur due to the present scenario. For example, Batman may need to cross a wide gap that is far too wide to jump, so the glide suit is necessary. The glide suit is also more than likely found nearby simply by destroying objects and reconstructing the pieces into a suit-changing platform. The oh-so-brilliant Boy Wonder's suits come in handy as well -- his Magnetic suit enables him to walk up metallic surfaces and his Technology suit allows him to access panels and control robots. But because of the game's linear design, it's really a no-brainer when the suit platforms actually appear and/or certain puzzles come into play, and the current suit just doesn't cut it.

Surprisingly, there are a few situational puzzles in LEGO Batman that are downright puzzling, thus provoking a peek online at an FAQ or walkthrough to see how other players accomplish the (seemingly) daunting task. Most of them are simple errands like placing one character on a platform and switching to the next in order to throw a switch. Some of them come across as simply daunting but embarrassingly obvious. In one instance, "Flight of the Batman," players reach what seems like the end of the path, only to discover that there's no way through the obstructing building. The solution is not immediately obvious; in fact, it's downright annoying, yet once resolved, is actually quite simple. "Duh" moments like this make LEGO Batman more than just a game geared towards younger players, but rather a slightly challenging thought provoker iced with LEGO cuteness.

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