Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Not quite super
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Format reviewed: Xbox One Also available on: Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, iOS, PC Publisher: Warner Bros
Lego Marvel
Super Heroes is, so far, the pinnacle of the Lego videogame series, mainly because it wielded the originality and references that a huge comic- book kingdom deserves. Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, though, awkwardly shines the DC universe through the prism of Batman. All the powers that make superheroes unique are shared between characters by way of suit upgrades, which robs them of their individuality and adds a tiring and fiddly mechanic. Thanks to the speed of upgrade unlocks, this quickly makes Batman himself all but redundant. So we’re looking at a Batman game which, somehow, makes you not really want to play as Batman. Not a great success there.
It looks as polished as Lego games always do, there are hints of that unique Lego thought process – at one point, the problem of big tentacles flailing around a base is solved by a giant knife which cuts them up into sashimi – and the dialogue certainly has plenty of personality. The trouble is those personalities just don’t reach the effortless levels we’ve seen before. Constant reference is made to how unfunny the jokes are and Batman is a massive jerk, acting as if he might storm off to his Batroom at any moment.
People who love Lego games will still find the ludicrous amount of value you expect from these worlds, but we’d be surprised if anyone loved Lego Batman 3. Kate Gray The season pass, available for £ 11.99, grants access to six DLC packs with new missions and free play modes.