E3 2008: LEGO Batman: The Video Game Preview
LEGO Batman: The Videogame looks and plays a whole lot like its LEGO predecessors, which is its greatest strength and weakness.
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Author: Toni Dimayuga

  • Game: LEGO Batman: The Video Game
  • Platform: Everything
  • Publisher: Warner Bros.
  • Developer: Travellers Tales
  • Genre: Action Adventure
  • Release Date: September 26th 2008
  • Why You Should Care: You can play villians’ storyline; same gameplay as past Lego games
  • Why You Should Worry: Same gameplay as past Lego games

  • Join the Blocked Crusader and his sidekick, the Blocky Wonder as they clean up the streets of Gotham City from its most dangerous villains in the upcoming LEGO Batman: The Videogame. Due out September 26th, LEGO Batman will be available on every console, including the DS and PSP. However, the DS version is a vastly different game from its big brother console versions. Even some of the cutscenes are different, as the DS version uses comic book-style panels for some of their cutscenes in addition to cinematics.

    The storyline in LEGO Batman is very simple: the colorful inmates of Arkham Asylum have escaped, and it’s up to Batman and Robin to round them up and return them to the pen. The kicker is that you can also play as the members of the infamous Rogues’ Gallery and see the story unfold from their perspective. For example, in the hero storyline, Batman and Robin have to rescue Commissioner Gordon. However, in the villains’ storyline, Catwoman and the Joker have to kidnap him. There are 15 hero levels and 15 villain levels.

    LEGO Batman: The Videogame is very similar to its predecessors. There is still Story Mode, where you follow the story line and play as specific characters. Free Play is when you can play as any characters you choose after you’ve passed the levels in Story Mode. And once again you have to collect gold and silver LEGO studs and bricks to use in unlocking certain features such as minigames, bonus levels, and characters. Speaking of which, the fine folks at Warner Bros. kept their mouths firmly shut when I asked them to reveal any new characters.

    While past LEGO titles allowed characters to pick up random weapons either dropped by enemies or simply laying around, in LEGO Batman the Dynamic Duo only have their Batarangs (yes, even Robin’s is called that) and their fists. However, Robin’s circus background allows him to be a little creative in beating up thugs, such as laying on his back and flipping enemies over with his feet.

    Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath Review
    Another middling real-time strategy port, Kane's Wrath is still best left to the PC.
    The Immortals of Terra: A Perry Rhodan Adventure Review
    Perry Rhodan hits the small screen...with a thud.
    Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
    EA Sports releases a deep, engaging, and utterly addictive coaching simulation. Head Coach isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s an important step for sports games.
    A hardcore 16-bit style shooter from the masters of the genre, Bangai-O Spirits exceeds all expectations with manic action and a metric ton of stages
    Demo features 4 songs from various artists.
    Behind the scenes of Guitar Hero 4 with Sting.
    Rock Band tracks can be added to Rock Band 2, for a fee.
    Medieval action RPG gone gold.
    The Lord of the Rings Online: The Mines of Moria Preview
    The Lord of the Rings goes deeper and darker...
    LittleBigPlanet PAX Preview
    The adorable platformer is nearing completion! We get one last look this year at PAX.
    Get your SimCity on with the upcoming Wii version.
    Spore is almost upon us, and we get one last hands on spin at PAX.
    We get a brief glimpse of StarCraft 2 in action.