Review LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne's Epic in 'Bricks'

LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight

LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight represents one of the most ambitious projects ever created by TT Games, a LEGO reinterpretation of Batman's story that spans decades of comics, films, TV series, and video games.

The result is an action-adventure open world that tries to narrate the entire journey of Bruce Wayne, from his origins to his transformation into the legendary Dark Knight of Gotham City. This operation is clearly designed as a celebration of the DC icon, rich in nostalgia and references, but also approaches the story with a modern touch, structured around a much wider game world compared to previous LEGO chapters.

An Omnibus of the Dark Knight

Narratively, the game follows the growth of Bruce Wayne, starting from his training with the League of Shadows to the construction of his identity as Batman. The campaign blends iconic moments from various incarnations of the character, creating a sort of "definitive story", a genuine omnibus of the bat-man that does not limit itself to a single interpretation but embraces the entire imagination of the Dark Knight.

The tone remains that typical of LEGO, with a light and recognizable humor that balances the more serious component of the story. In our opinion, although some purists of Batman’s avarice may not appreciate it, this humor melds perfectly with the entire narrative segment.

Gotham City in Bricks

One of the most successful aspects is undoubtedly the world-building. Gotham City is a true LEGO open world, divided into four islands and characterized by significant vertical development. Players can explore iconic places such as Arkham Asylum, Ace Chemicals, the botanical gardens, and Wayne Tower, with a freedom of movement that includes grappling, gliding, and historic vehicles like Batmobiles and Batbikes from various cinematic eras. The attention to detail and environmental variety make exploration enjoyable and full of surprises.

The Batcave functions as a central hub that is expandable and customizable, where players can upgrade gear, consult the Batcomputer, and collect trophies. This addition reinforces progression and offers a continuous sense of growth. A small downside, in our opinion, lies in exploration via vehicles. While we cited the available vehicles, they do not shine in smooth, comfortable, and immediate arcade-style driving, sometimes feeling a bit clunky to manage.

The Return of FreeFlow

The combat system is one of the most evolved elements of the LEGO series. Batman has a dynamic moveset with combos, spectacular KOs, and gadgets like the Batarang, Bat-Claw, and explosive gel. Other playable characters, including Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul, have distinctive and well-differentiated gear, such as Foam Spray, Grappling Launcher, or Whip. This contributes to a variety of gameplay sections, especially in cooperative phases.

The FreeFlow system returns after establishing a true style in the Batman Arkham series, later adopted in other titles like those from the Spider-Man series and Middle-earth. However, stealth mechanics are rather superficial and not always well integrated into the main gameplay. Stealth sections, while present, do not offer the depth one might expect from a game featuring the bat-man.

Visually Exceptional

From a technical and visual standpoint, LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight achieves heights that other LEGO brand titles have never reached. Both in terms of performance and pure graphics, we are likely facing one of the best products of the brand, which also adds a top-tier artistic component in lighting management and overall design. The sound design is also of excellent quality.

The customization options for costumes (over 100 variants) add a degree of depth to user choices. Some flaws can be identified in the control system and physics, which do not always excel, especially in platform sections that, while guided, can sometimes feel a bit clumsy.

In Conclusion...

In conclusion, LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight is an ambitious and content-rich title that manages to celebrate the myth of Batman through the LEGO language. The exploration of Gotham City, the improved combat system, and the technical aspects represent its main strengths. However, the superficiality of stealth mechanics, the limitation of the playable roster, and some imperfections in the control system prevent the game from reaching absolute perfection. Nonetheless, it remains a solid and enjoyable experience, especially for fans of the Dark Knight, the LEGO universe, and those looking for a great video game to spend about 15-20 gratifying and fun hours.

Pros

Gotham in LEGO form is a spectacle to see and explore.
The FreeFlow combat system works great.
LEGO humor blends perfectly with the narrative.

Cons

Stealth mechanics are not too deep.
Control (and driving) systems can feel clunky at times.