LEGO Batman Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 2 October, 2008

Bruce almighty.

Version tested: Xbox 360

I always used to wish that some enterprising developer would take the openworld template of Grand Theft Auto and apply it to Batman. Not just any Batman, but specifically the wonderful 1960s TV Batman, with his outrageous rogue's gallery of villains, slapstick humour and an appropriately titled gadget for every occasion. Roaming a virtual Gotham, you'd foil plots by villains both famous and infamous by land, sea and air. Heck, you could even get Adam West and Burt Ward to reprise their roles in voiceover.

Of course, Batman is all dour and gritty these days so the chances of that ever happening are lower than Joel Schumacher being asked to direct the sequel to The Dark Knight. I'm not so bothered though, since Traveller's Tales has pretty much given me the game I always dreamed of.

Okay, there's no Adam West voiceover - no voices at all, as is customary for the LEGO games - and the music is taken from the Tim Burton movies rather than Neal Hefti's iconic TV theme, but this is unmistakably a game that draws the majority of its inspiration from the knowingly camp superhero spoof that many Bat-fans have spent decades foolishly trying to live down. From the general tone to overt references, this is a game that remembers when superheroes were fun.

Unlike the previous LEGO titles, which suckled at the twin Lucas teats of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, this latest in the series isn't bound to any rigid movie mythology or pre-determined sequences of events. While it was always appealing to see how favourite scenes would play out in LEGO, the shift away from adaptation towards a broader licence has been most welcome. The story isn't going to keep you on the edge of your seat, but simply not knowing what's coming next makes a huge difference, especially given the fantastic cast of characters the game offers.

'LEGO Batman' Screenshot 1

Levels take place in a museum, a zoo, an ice-cream factory and - inevitably - a sinister funfair.

The nutshell version is that Batman's greatest villains have broken out of Arkham and formed three evil gangs, each with their own schemes to dominate Gotham. As well as the obvious choices - Joker, Riddler, Two-Face, Penguin, Catwoman - you also get to face the sort of daft foes that have been sidelined in the drive to make Batman more realistic. And so we get the shape-shifting Clayface, Killer Croc, the Mad Hatter and the brilliantly obscure Killer Moth. All it needs to complete the far out escapist tone is for Vincent Price to turn up as Egghead.

In a major shift from the established LEGO format, you'll get to both fight these characters and play as them in their own parallel storyline. After foiling their dastardly schemes with Batman and Robin, you can throw a switch to be transported to Arkham from where you can play the same storyline from the villain's perspective, helping them to build their cataclysmic contraptions and plot their vile schemes. The levels share some locations, but always from different angles, so not only do you get a fun double narrative, it really does feel like two games in one.

The hero side of the equation is obviously less well populated. You can unlock characters like Batgirl and Nightwing, but these are purely for use in the Free Play mode - they have no role in the stories. Instead, to expand the gameplay options for the dynamic duo, the game introduces a series of different costumes with varying abilities. Batman, for example, has a glide suit which lets him sail over larger gaps. His demolition suit lets him set remote charges, while the sonic suit has a gun which shatters glass. Robin can walk up metallic walls in his magnetic suit, as well as vacuum up spare LEGO pieces and deposit them in special machines to build new items.

Returning after an enforced absence in LEGO Indiana Jones, there are over twenty vehicles to unlock, many specific to different characters. As well as a full complement of Batplanes, boats, choppers, subs, tanks and motorbikes, you can also take the helm of outlandish villainous transports. And those are just the ones you can collect. LEGO Batman goes all out as far as one-off modes of in-game transport are concerned. Discovering them is part of the fun, so I won't list them all, but the chance to ride robot crocodiles, giant Venus Flytraps and even dinosaur skeletons comes as a real treat.

With its dual structure, LEGO Batman already offers at least twice as much gameplay as the rather slight LEGO Indy. It's still not quite as generous as Star Wars, with its additional gold brick currency for unlocking extra material, but as well as the traditional minikits and red "power bricks" there are also 25 civilian hostages scattered through the game, as well as hero and villain "superkits" which are awarded one piece at a time for filling the stud counter in each level. You also get two bonus stages, set in Wayne Manor and Arkham Asylum. When you consider that I'd only achieved 53 per cent completion after finishing the hero storyline and polishing off two thirds of the villain plot, you can see that this is a game with plenty to discover.

And discovery is what the LEGO games are all about. The gameplay hasn't really changed, which isn't a surprise and really isn't worth complaining about. The core elements are comfortably familiar - scurrying into corners to find minikits, smashing everything you can find to horde studs - but there are enough new features layered on top to make it feel reasonably fresh. Most notably, the different villains each offer their own particular powers. Mr Freeze's gun can solidify liquids into platforms and encase enemies in blocks of ice. The Riddler and Mad Hatter can control other LEGO people, and operate them like puppets. Penguin releases exploding robot penguin drones. Even a big stupid lug like Bane brings something fun to the proceedings, with his super strength allowing him to hurl enemies miles into the air.

'LEGO Batman' Screenshot 3

Clayface is the absolute comic superstar of the game. Every cutscene with him is a classic.

As with the previous games, wherever you look there's something funny or new to catch your eye. It's just a shame that persistent grumbles haven't been addressed. There is noticeable v-sync tearing on both PS3 and 360 versions, although it's nowhere near as bad as it's been in the past. Some leaps are made awkward thanks to quirky perspective, and the game will still occasionally respawn you in a position that leads to instant death over and over. The AI of your sidekick still needs work as well, as you'll sometimes have to backtrack and find them standing around, doing nothing.

While adult gamers will scowl with justifiable irritation at these glitches, they still don't seem to bother the game's true audience. As always, I playtested the game thoroughly with help from my six-year-old son and his school friends and they were as smitten as they were with LEGO Star Wars (which is still in heavy rotation, I might add). Traveller's Tales has the knack of knowing just how to build their games so that young players are drawn in, bit by bit, until they're tackling puzzles that they never would have solved before. It's undeniably educational, but in a fun way that favours lateral thinking and basic logic skills over anything too didactic.

With its smaller scale and samey levels, LEGO Indiana Jones felt like a step sideways, and even backwards, for the series. LEGO Batman addresses all those concerns and is even better than LEGO Star Wars in many respects. Grown-ups will find it cute enough for a single playthrough, but kids will be wearing the disc out for weeks to come. Another hugely entertaining, carefully constructed gem of kiddy gaming.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (92) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Triggerhappytel #1 3 years ago

    I've not actually played any of the Lego games yet, and I like Batsy so I might pick this up once it inevitably goes down in price a couple of months after release.

  • lambtron #2 3 years ago

    The picture viewer must die.

    Preferably horribly.

  • the_dudefather #3 3 years ago

    my love for lego and batman is quickly overcoming my love for cash :(

    maybe in a few weeks

  • Thunderbolt #4 3 years ago

    I'm getting this on launch day!

    Lego + Batman = Match made in heaven.

  • ChrisS #5 3 years ago

    Great review, Dan.

    One question: when the fuck do you sleep, fella? :)

  • xagarath #6 3 years ago

    So how does the Wii version compare?

  • mcmonkeyplc #7 3 years ago

    Where are the fifa and PES 09 reviews?

  • CasperCCC #8 3 years ago

    Goddamn my useless daughter. Surely the point of having kids is so that you can get even more fun out of the Lego games? She's now almost three weeks old and is showing absolutely no interest whatsoever in the 360.

    Dan - do you think that I should buy this now and wait till she's maybe a month old before starting her off on it?

  • Feanor #9 3 years ago

    Proper comic-book Bane is actually pretty smart.

  • mazzl #10 3 years ago

    release date?

  • Darren #11 3 years ago

    "There is noticeable v-sync tearing on both PS3 and 360 versions, although it's nowhere near as bad as it's been in the past."

    Why is this mentioned as a criticism... doesn't this game have an ingame V-Sync On option like the LEGO Indiana Jones game? :?

  • Thunderbolt #12 3 years ago

    Release date is 10th October as per Play.com

  • brokenkey #13 3 years ago

    yeah, what about the wii version?

  • Vanmunt #14 3 years ago

    well, this has been getting hammered on other sites... crap puzzles and annoying platform sections, bit of a case of somebody giving a personnal review instead of reviewing the game..

  • BravoGolf #15 3 years ago

    So does this have coop online?

  • Jellybob #16 3 years ago

    @CasperCCC: You win the thread - that's the first time in a while I've actually loled at a comment.

  • Pastici #17 3 years ago

    This will be my first full price purchase since FFXII! Can't wait.

  • Daymare #18 3 years ago

    No online co-op. Which should get a grumble or two in the review.

  • Zander #19 3 years ago

    "Where are the fifa and PES 09 reviews?"

    I was just about to say the same thing! Get a shift on EG!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #20 3 years ago

    This is out already? I still haven't bought Lego Indy.

  • rotmm #21 3 years ago

    @CasperCCC,

    I think you're out of luck for a while at least. My 8 month old son is still disappointing me. Surely, I though, being a "boy" he would already be interested in killing aliens in Gears and racing around London in PGR4, but no. Not the case at all.

    Every time I put the 360 controller in his hands, he covers it in saliva and then hands it back.

    I'm starting to worry that he may actually be retarded :(

  • muscleblade #22 3 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    Reviews are personal opinions. A review is one mans/womans opinion it cant be anything else really.

  • miiiguel #23 3 years ago

    @ rott and casper: omg!, I'm getting real depressed now..., I "pre-ordered" one of those...

  • the_dudefather #24 3 years ago

    If you don't have a baby monitor, just let your baby play Gears of war multiplayer and use the voice chat to keep an eye on them

    they might grow up a -little- racist though

  • ZuluHero #25 3 years ago

    @CasperCCC

    Don't give up hope! My 11 month old daughter won her first bout of Soul Calibur 4 recently.

    I'm convinced that she thinks the buttons look like smarties though :/

  • Vanmunt #26 3 years ago

    @muscle

    I understand that, but reviewing a series you like is a bit pointless.... casing point 'sorry and don't shoot me down' MGS4 reviewed by somebody who admitted they don't like the game..

    and also 'opinions are like assholes'............ everyone's got one and they usually stink.

  • chrisjm #27 3 years ago

    the buttons could look like old smarties but not the new washed out albino ones

  • Darren #28 3 years ago

    8/10 does seem a little generous for a game that still has noticeable A.I. flaws that makes solo play annoying. Sure these kinds of games are best played in co-op for double the fun (so where's the online mode, eh?) but even so I'd imagine most people will end up playing it mostly on their tod. I've enjoyed all the LEGO games so far but I'd be pushed to give them more than 7/10... at the end of the day, it's the same game from years back with the same issues albeit with a different "skin" each time.

  • ZuluHero #29 3 years ago

    @chrisjm

    wait... there are new smarties? :o

  • captain_parabola #30 3 years ago

    how do these games get such great reviews they get a makeover and no new gameplay yet there somehow praised for it

  • rotmm #31 3 years ago

    @miiiguel, If you're not 100% happy when it arrives, eBay it.

  • DanWhitehead #32 3 years ago

    Why is this mentioned as a criticism... doesn't this game have an ingame V-Sync On option like the LEGO Indiana Jones game? :?

    There is a v-sync option, though I find that the frame rate suffers when its activated. It's a criticism because after three titles using much the same game engine, technical wrinkles like this should have been eliminated.

  • DanWhitehead #33 3 years ago

    well, this has been getting hammered on other sites...

    Honestly, most sites have no idea how to review children's games. There's not much point reviewing LEGO Batman from the perspective of an adult. What looks like a crap puzzle to a 25-year-old reviewer is often just right for primary school kids.

    8/10 does seem a little generous for a game that still has noticeable A.I. flaws that makes solo play annoying.

    I always score children's games according to how well they entertain their target audience, not just how they appease my adult critical faculties. Watch some kids playing the LEGO games. It's like crack cocaine to them. All the flaws don't seem to bother them, and they keep playing them for months. That's value and entertainment for both parent and child alike.

  • Darren #34 3 years ago

    @DanWhitehead - Fair enough. I guess I agree with you that such a graphically simple game really should be running without *any* tearing on the current gen systems and without having to force V-Sync on manually. That said, I didn't mind the lower framerate in LEGO Indy with V-Sync on though as it was far more prefereable to the horrendous tearing which spoilt the LEGO Star Wars games for me (I'm sure it was me and others complaining about it to Traveller's Tales via email that made them add it as an option to their games in the first place). These games don't really need a high framerate IMO but I guess everyone has their own views.

    As for your score, again fair enough if that's your approach to reviewing these games. I guess we adults can be overcritical and I know from my own young nephew that kids are not so easily annoyed as we are!

  • Kilroy #35 3 years ago

    @ Feanor: I thought the exact same thing. Poor ol' Bane. Reduced to being a stupid muscleman:(

  • muscleblade #36 3 years ago

    So 8/10 if you have kids in the right age ( guessing 6-12) and 5/10 for everybody else? My oldest daughter is 7 but she loves the Feeding Frenzy games and wont play anything else.

  • Unclebenny #37 3 years ago

    Kids my arse, I want this game now. Which is good because unlike most other people I have very few games I actually want coming out over the next few months. Those that I do (Fable 2 and fallout 3 mostly) I am worried they won't be as good as they promise.

    I think this is the best place to mention the orignal batman movie with Adam West and Burt Ward from 1966. One of the funniest 90 mins you'll ever see. I'm assuming you've seen it Dan? If you like the look of this game check out the film, it only costs about 3 quid now.

  • Progguitarist #38 3 years ago

    Shameless admission:

    I am completely hooked on Lego Star Wars. Bought it for my son and I play it more than him. If this plays anything like it Im confident it fully deserves its 8/10.

  • kinky_mong #39 3 years ago

    I think this is the best place to mention the orignal batman movie with Adam West and Burt Ward from 1966. One of the funniest 90 mins you'll ever see. I'm assuming you've seen it Dan? If you like the look of this game check out the film, it only costs about 3 quid now.

    Funny but also painful to watch. "A ballpoint banana!"

  • Vanmunt #40 3 years ago

    Honestly, most sites have no idea how to review children's games. There's not much point reviewing LEGO Batman from the perspective of an adult. What looks like a crap puzzle to a 25-year-old reviewer is often just right for primary school kids.

    sorry Dan but being an adult myself, I don't really give a rats ass how a 8 year old would perceive this game.

  • DanWhitehead #41 3 years ago

    I think this is the best place to mention the orignal batman movie with Adam West and Burt Ward from 1966. One of the funniest 90 mins you'll ever see. I'm assuming you've seen it Dan? If you like the look of this game check out the film, it only costs about 3 quid now.

    It's actually my favourite Batman movie by a considerable margin.

  • DanWhitehead #42 3 years ago

    sorry Dan but being an adult myself, I don't really give a rats ass how a 8 year old would perceive this game.

    But that's who the game was made for.

  • Coughthulu #43 3 years ago

    Don't have kids, still buying it.

    Kids would only get in the way anyway, they'd keep wanting a go.

  • Garulon #44 3 years ago

    "Don't give up hope! My 11 month old daughter won her first bout of Soul Calibur 4 recently."

    So she's playing as Taki then?

  • ZuluHero #45 3 years ago

    "sorry Dan but being an adult myself, I don't really give a rats ass how a 8 year old would perceive this game."

    I'm speechless...

  • Krelle #46 3 years ago

    @Dan:

    ""sorry Dan but being an adult myself, I don't really give a rats ass how a 8 year old would perceive this game. "

    But that's who the game was made for."

    Are you saying that ALL reviews on eurogamer take note of WHO the game is made for?
    Its not always as clear groups as kiddy/adult you know.

  • space_ace #47 3 years ago

    yes, adam west's batman looks increasingly gorgeous after the walk in the graveyard by poor chris nolan

  • DanWhitehead #48 3 years ago

    Are you saying that ALL reviews on eurogamer take note of WHO the game is made for?

    I speak only for myself. I think it goes without saying that any good review should take into account the intended audience, as well as other factors. Like I said above, the puzzles in a LEGO game may seem simple and predictable to an adult, but they're pitched just right for kids. Therefore marking the game down for having simple puzzles would be a mistake.

    And I should reiterate that I'm not saying LEGO Batman is great for kids but crap for adults. I'm loving it regardless. It just happens to be brilliantly structured for younger gamers. Traveller's Tales understands how and why kids play games, there's a very precise cycle of encouragement and reward written into every level, and that's incredibly rare in an industry where most kids games are lazy shovelware.

  • Doctor_What #49 3 years ago

    I'm probably closer than I'd like to think to being four times the intended age of the target audience, but I love the Lego Star Wars because I can play it with my girlfriend. Lego Indy didn't do it for us, for some reason, but your review has given me hope for this one. Cheers Dan!

    Older gamers can enjoy good, well-designed fun too. The 'adults' on here should stop whinging and go and play all the games aimed at them. If a game is good fun for people in the right mindset then it should get a good review score. I think the Gran Tourismo games couldn't be more boring if they tried, but I can see how some people like them so I don't complain about their generally high scores, and it's pretty similar with Lego Batman.

  • Unclebenny #50 3 years ago

    "Pass me.... the shark......repellent"
    Why do people get so bent out of shape by games review? If you don't agree with a review thats fine! If you do, thats equally fine.
    Why the need to complain and bitch and argue? I really don't understand why people spend so much time on the internet when they seem to hate all the websites they visit.

    On another note is there really no two player co- op? That could be a deal breaker.

    Also do kids really play this much more than the other liscenced rubbish thats thrown at them? I know my younger brother used to play all the rubbish games and get bored of them quite quickly. Has anyone ever sta their kids down with both? I mean why aren't we experimenting on our kids more?

  • DanWhitehead #51 3 years ago

    On another note is there really no two player co- op? That could be a deal breaker.

    The co-op gameplay is still there, it's just not online. They tried that for Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga but I'm guessing it wasn't that popular since they've not used it since.

    Also do kids really play this much more than the other liscenced rubbish thats thrown at them? I know my younger brother used to play all the rubbish games and get bored of them quite quickly. Has anyone ever sta their kids down with both? I mean why aren't we experimenting on our kids more?

    I'm always fascinated to watch my son playing games. He and his friends are absolutely obsessed with the Lego series. They can spend ages just walking around, finding all the different character animations. He played games like Wall-E and Spiderwick Chronicles when I reviewed those, and he just lost interest after a few hours.

  • ZuluHero #52 3 years ago

    Sounds to me like all those "other sites" already reviewed the game from an adult's perspective, if that's all Vanmunt wanted...

    While I admire his crusade to bring about some sort of consistency amongst reviews, I applaud Dan for his more objective opinions :)

  • Rodafowa #53 3 years ago

    It's actually my favourite Batman movie by a considerable margin.

    Close second to Batman Begins, personally.

    "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"

  • DanWhitehead #54 3 years ago

    It seems to be something of a tradition for the Lego games to feature a bit where you have to build a dancefloor to trigger a disco version of the theme music, and I was hoping in this game it'd be the Batusi. It's not. But you do get to control a breakdancing robot.

  • Mr_Dodger #55 3 years ago

    They can spend ages just walking around, finding all the different character animations.

    Heh - I do that too. Love the 'sneaky' animations :)

    /totally in touch with inner child

  • Vanmunt #56 3 years ago

    MED

    Check out recent reviews... Infinate Undiscovery got hammered, 5 out of 10 in the opinion of the reviewer who probably does not enjoy that genre it was a fair score. Myself who likes JRPG's would of gave it a 7, because I like those type of games... hense my comment on a personnal review, I don't like TT games and would not review them because my opinion would be biased..

  • eleven63 #57 3 years ago

    Dan, I'm with you on this - my son, 8, is on his 5th(!) play through of Indy lego, Star Wars got the same treatment, even my 3 year old will watch his brother play these games.

    As you can imagine my eldest is slightly excited about Batman Lego and has started counting down the days until release date (8 days to go dad, where his first words to me this morning!).
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/08 @ 16:38

  • Thunderbolt #58 3 years ago

    Vanmunt,

    'I don't like TT games and would not review them because my opinion would be biased.. '

    So what you are saying is that you are just trolling?

  • DanWhitehead #59 3 years ago

    Check out recent reviews... Infinate Undiscovery got hammered, 5 out of 10 in the opinion of the reviewer who probably does not enjoy that genre it was a fair score. Myself who likes JRPG's would of gave it a 7, because I like those type of games...

    I reviewed Infinite Undiscovery and I like JRPGs. I gave it 5/10 because Infinite Undiscovery is an average JRPG.

  • Vanmunt #60 3 years ago

    @Thunder

    Nope, just interested too see how lego Batman got an 8 that was all...

    @Dan

    well, thats probably 2 games we can disagree on then... :p

  • Thunderbolt #61 3 years ago

    Hi Dan,

    Because you've been so helpful answering queries, could I ask how this plays on the PSP?

    As that is my intended platform for this game. I played through SW: Lego on the PSP and it played fine but is it it better on the 360/PS3?

    Thanks :)

  • DanWhitehead #62 3 years ago

    No idea about the PSP version. I played it on PS3 and 360 for the review, and it also plays pretty well on the DS, so I'm guessing it'll be similar to that version.

  • BOFH_UK #63 3 years ago

    @ Vanmutt: Umm, you're not making any sense here I'm afraid.

    "I understand that, but reviewing a series you like is a bit pointless.... casing point 'sorry and don't shoot me down' MGS4 reviewed by somebody who admitted they don't like the game.."

    So games shouldn't be reviewed by anyone who likes the genre OR by people who DON'T like the genre... interesting approach but might leave the number of reviews looking a wee bit low...

    Fact is, ANY review is a personal opinion, there's no such thing as a totally objective review. What Eurogamer does very well is explain how they got to that big ol' score at the bottom of the page. This allows you, me and every other reader to - and take a deep breath at this radical concept - understand the approach taken by the reviwer, judge its relative merits against our own criteria and decide how close to our opinions it's likely to be. If you think a game is given too high a score based on your own preferences then simply discard it and look for a review closer to those preferences.

    Personally I'm always grateful when I see reviews that don't follow the average pattern for a game. I may not agree with the reasons for that revew but I'm bloody glad someone's taken the time, and often been brave enough to risk the ire of the fanboys, to take a different view.

  • Unclebenny #64 3 years ago

    @Vanmunt- The point of any good review is to look at the game from a totally unbiased standpoint and evaluate how well it stands up to its premise. I'm not saying every reviewer keeps this level of professionalisim.
    Your point about infinite undiscovery- 5 is an average score because when you read the reviews of it it sounds like a standard RPG. It doesn't mean the reviewer doesn't enjoy JRPG's just that this one offers nothing new and what it does offer is not that exciting. However if you are an experienced reviewer even if you do not like the game series you can recognise why it is a good game. Music is a good comparison, for example Bowie is recognised a classic artist but I can take him or leave him. I recognise his talent and can see why people like him but it doesn't match my taste.

    Comparisons aren't my strong point but I hope you consider my point.

  • Rodafowa #65 3 years ago

    Fact is, ANY review is a personal opinion, there's no such thing as a totally objective review. What Eurogamer does very well is explain how they got to that big ol' score at the bottom of the page. This allows you, me and every other reader to - and take a deep breath at this radical concept - understand the approach taken by the reviwer, judge its relative merits against our own criteria and decide how close to our opinions it's likely to be. If you think a game is given too high a score based on your own preferences then simply discard it and look for a review closer to those preferences.

    We have a winner.

  • secombe #66 3 years ago

    Do kids care about all this v-sync and tearing stuff, then? :) I'm 26 and have no idea what it is, or have ever noticed anything odd or 'tear' like about a game I'm playing.

  • Chufty #67 3 years ago

    There's absolutely no mention of what the game actually IS. Not all of us have played Lego games before. Please bear this in mind when reviewing!

  • darc #68 3 years ago

    "I'm probably closer than I'd like to think to being four times the intended age of the target audience, but I love the Lego Star Wars because I can play it with my girlfriend. Lego Indy didn't do it for us, for some reason, but your review has given me hope for this one. Cheers Dan!"
    Same here except sub "wife" for "girlfriend". That and we actually liked Indy too.

  • kentmonkey #69 3 years ago

    Vanmunt wrote"@muscle

    I understand that, but reviewing a series you like is a bit pointless.... casing point 'sorry and don't shoot me down' MGS4 reviewed by somebody who admitted they don't like the game..

    and also 'opinions are like assholes'............ everyone's got one and they usually stink. "

    You totally confuse me. So a person who likes a series of games can't review them. And a person who dislikes a series can't review them. So what you're saying is only people that have never played a series before can review them? Or alternatively someone that has played them before but couldn't form an opinion on the first attempt? What about if that person was asked whether they liked them or not and gave a nonchalant shrug with a "s'alright, spose" response? Would that mean that they qualify?

    I'm also confused about the opinions analogy. Firstly you were concerned that this hadn't been as well met as reviews on other sites. Yet you then said that this was just an opinion, and that opinions usually stink. So, and I'm going out on a limb here, why read an opinion and even comment on an opinion that contradicts another opinion. In my opinion.

    My head hurts.
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/08 @ 18:15

  • Derblington #70 3 years ago

    Chufty - you could also read the Lego reviews that came before it to reinforce your knowledge of the high and low points the review points to (all are available on this site). Also, read more than one review to influence your buying decision.

    I get your point but the info is available to you.

  • spidermanalf #71 3 years ago

    Do the sidekicks actually kill people on this version?

  • makeamazing #72 3 years ago

    Lets be honest, it is a LEGO game, lego is for kids... now dont get all mad at me, i play lego with my kids and the games are also fun... but I think games sites and reviewers DO need to take into account the target audience. Reviewing "My first baby dragon" or something which is aimed at say a 6 year old and then saying it doesnt have enough depth for a 30 something is stupid.

    Games sites SHOULD always take into account the age of the player.. of course less so the type of game, but still no good getting someone who hates FPS games to review them.

    Back to the game, the kids are very excited about this (but they cant have it as Santa is getting it for them ;) they have Indy and Star wars (Star wars was better from what ive seen)... and 8 seems like the right type of score for this type of game. I applaud EG for getting a good review of the game based on the type of people who would buy/enjoy it. After all thats what matters.

    Edited by 1 at 02/10/08 @ 19:16

  • kentmonkey #73 3 years ago

    I'm over 30. I still think it's worth an 8.

  • farazaraf #74 3 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    That wasn't the most eloquent comment I've read, but you've got a valid point. Shouldn't the reviewer be writing for his typical reader? I understand that there are parents on this website who are looking at the review for their children, but surely most are looking to purchase the game for themselves. I don't think it's particularly important either way, particularly if the reviewer is upfront about it as Dan seems to be.

  • Chufty #75 3 years ago

    Derblington - Yes the information is available, but it would be useful if the review at least touched on the, you know, gameplay elements of the game. I shouldn't have to trawl through the review archives to find the first lego game so I can read about what I actually do in this game.

    Just constructive criticism really, I'm not having a hissy fit or anything :p

  • makeamazing #76 3 years ago

    @kentMonkey hehe yep, but to make it clear i wasnt suggesting that adults couldnt enjoy or play the game :)

  • stodgypudding #77 3 years ago

    I have now racked up over 30 hours of Lego Star Wars with my 3 yr old son, and we have a right good laugh playing it. I was going to get BAt Man but understand it's a 7 plus game. Can anyone tell me why it's rated above the Star Wars games?

  • DanWhitehead #78 3 years ago

    Do the sidekicks actually kill people on this version?

    Yes, they do. Not to the extent that you can sit back and let them do the work, but they are actually helpful in a fight now.

    I was going to get BAt Man but understand it's a 7 plus game. Can anyone tell me why it's rated above the Star Wars games?

    Perhaps because they use "real" guns, not lasers? I know that's why most cartoons in the 80s and 90s had cops who fired ray guns for no apparent reason. Some of the villains might actually be a bit scary to a 3-year-old, I suppose, but there's nothing overtly violent or unpleasant.

    There's absolutely no mention of what the game actually IS. Not all of us have played Lego games before. Please bear this in mind when reviewing!

    Fair point. It just seems that by the time you're reviewing the third game in a series (or fifth, if you count the first two Star Wars game as well as The Complete Saga) you have to assume that most people reading a review are interested enough to have basic knowledge of the previous games.

  • Gearskin #79 3 years ago

    ... Oh c'mon. The good cop, bad cop routine?

  • WinterSnowblind #80 3 years ago

    I love playing through these games with a friend, and I'm 21. They aren't particularly thought provoking or challenging, but the core gameplay is just fun and like the review said, there's a lot to discover and unlock. Yes, there's a few bugs that can be annoying but I don't think any of them really ruin the enjoyability of the game. When I died and respawned off the side of a cliff constantly, I never got angry and threw my controller across the room, most of the time I just found it amusing. There's no death penalty and you will eventually get back on the platform. It's just all good fun.

    I think the main issue is that this is the third or fourth Lego game now, and it's basically just a reskinned version of Lego Star Wars, for those of us who still enjoy playing through them it's fine, but I think for their next game they should really spice things up a little.

  • creepylizard #81 3 years ago

    I don't know how but I've got a probem with almost all of these comments.
    The game seems rubbish too, for any adult.

  • Ninja_Tino #82 3 years ago

    Not quite.

  • BigE0n #83 3 years ago

    Well that was a really helpful review cheers!

    I can now safely get my 3 and 1 year old sons this & the complete lego starwars for crimbo, and not feel guilty for them getting me gears of war 2 and left 4 dead :-)

    My 3 year old son plays castle crashers all the time (although he only melee attacks at the mo as he doesnt understand the principle of the magic button!) and has got his knight upto level 17 (im only on 29 my self!)

    MY one year old can hold the pad ok but his thumbs are too short to reach the sticks or buttons so hes resorted to pressing them various parts of his face (maybe thats why they call em face buttons!), just gotta teach him to not keep pausing the game with his nose on the guide button now! Oh and I have to dry the pad out but he has 16 of his 20 teath through and im quite supprised how reisistant the 360 pad is to teeth marking!

    Edited by 2 at 03/10/08 @ 11:44

  • Meho #84 3 years ago

    The PSP game is nigh identical to the PS2 one (no camera control in any of them) and that one is identical to the Xbox 360 one save for the graphics. It is the DS version that surprised me with the different set of levels but basically the same mechanics. So, worth getting both versions, at least for me.

  • Doctor_What #85 3 years ago

    @ BigE0n: I think your kids should do hardware reviews: "Personally, I found the buttons too small to mash reliably with my nose, but dimple on the sticks collected my saliva very efficiently." :)

  • Thunderbolt #86 3 years ago

    Meho,

    Thanks for the info. Gotta get something for my PSP it hasnt been fed in a while.

  • muscleblade #87 3 years ago

    "Those that I do (Fable 2 and fallout 3 mostly) I am worried they won't be as good as they promise"

    How good do they promise to be? Im guessing 84-88% metacritic average wich is good, but not exactly as good as Gears 2 or Left4Dead (90-95% average probably). Fable 2 and Fallout 3 will be great but i dont believe they will be GOTY candidates though.

  • DanWhitehead #88 3 years ago

    My 3 year old son plays castle crashers all the time (although he only melee attacks at the mo as he doesnt understand the principle of the magic button!) and has got his knight upto level 17 (im only on 29 my self!)

    My son actually managed to beat the final boss in Castle Crashers twice. Once you've started a game with a pooping owl, you've pretty much guaranteed the young boy audience is on board.

  • mikeck #89 3 years ago

    Ummmm-Uhhhhh Mr. Whitehead - letting your son play a 7+ game, tsk tsk :p

  • singhcoventry #90 3 years ago

    The lego games are ok. However be warned ; they are easy and get very very very repetitive. I might give it a miss.

  • Unclebenny #91 3 years ago

    @muscleblade- I'm not sure where you getting these scores from. Just based on how good you think thwey are going to be? I admit I forget left for dead but it would not be pushing the boat out too far to suggest i tire of shooters (hence my interest in batman).
    Gears 2 I'm sure will be good but from what I've seen up to now wont be much of anything new and although I enjoyed the first one I despise the online matches. Worse than halo for stupid people and very few people play it as its meant. So I don't want to pay 40 smackers for a 10 hour single player campaign and I'm hardly going to be buying it for its riveting story now am I? Sorry Cliffy B.

  • Gearskin #92 3 years ago

    I been playing this. It's great!