Review by: Brandon "Protobot" Cackowski-Schnell

With its easier difficulty and simple controls, Batman: Brave and the Bold is the perfect game for the grizzled beat 'em up veteran to use to teach the gaming upstart their uppercuts from their leg sweeps. Whether or not the vet is younger than the upstart doesn't matter as the combat in the game is simple enough for anyone to pick up and the goofy humor, taken directly from the show of the same name, is enough to get the nine year old in everyone laughing. The game is marred by some poor design choices and the occasional technical glitch, but manages to overcome them and provide a funny and enjoyable romp through decades of DC heroes and villains.

Unlike the DS version of the same name, when playing the game you'll have to choose to either be Batman or one of his helping heroes. The lack of an ability to switch between characters on the fly is made up for a generous co-op system that allows players to drop in and take over for the AI whenever they decide. Each episode, presented like the TV show, complete with opening credits, has a generous number of breaks to allow players to switch characters if anyone tires of their current hero.

As you progress through the game you rack up Bat currency to spend on upgrading gadgets, however all of the money goes into a shared pool, a pool presided over by Player 1. It's an odd choice, giving one person sole responsibility for divvying up the spoils, especially when the game is targeted towards children, a group of people notorious for being challenged in the sharing arena. Still, it's nice to see that the gadgets of each side character can be upgraded along with Batman's stuff but given that each episode will see the side character start from scratch with underpowered weaponry, whoever chooses to play as Batman will have a distinct advantage as time wears on.

Regardless of the character you choose to play, the combat is simple yet satisfying. Batman et al utilizes strings of A button presses, c-stick pointing and the occasional Wiimote swipe to pull off strings of moves that help push that combo meter and the accompanying payout even higher. Best of all, every move is available from the beginning, allowing you to get a handle on the combat early on. Long time brawler fans may be put off by the simplistic combat however it still hits that sweet spot between varied enough to let you change up your moves as needed but easy for youngsters to pick up. Plus, you can uppercut juggle a sentient gorilla and that goes a long way.

One of the hallmarks of the tv show is the sheer diversity of DC characters on both sides of the fight and the game does a great job of reflecting the show's love of classic characters. Each level starts off with Batman and his chum beating up on a boss before getting to the meat of the conflict and whoever is behind the crime du jour. Every cut scene is voice acted with the actors from the tv show and feature some hilarious writing. It's a nice mix of heroes from the past and present, switching from the new technological focused Blue Beetle to the classic "let me tell you how it was in my day" egotism of Hawkman. The only real shame is having Guy Gardner in the game as this universe's Green Lantern as Guy Gardner is a massive jerk on a good day and him and that stupid bowl haircut only bring down the game's final chapter.

Unfortunately the same variety doesn't come through with the game's lesser enemies. You'll fight the same tommy gun wielding enemy in the employ of Gentelman Ghost in London as you did when chasing Catman through the streets of Gotham. I know it's a slow economy and guys have to find work wherever they can but still. That's not to say that every stage's villains are identical but at the same time, the floating, grinning cat face explosive may look different than the floating, explosive clock, but it's only superficial.