‘Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight' review: A love letter to the Caped Crusader
Video game review
Formulas, over time, tend to become formulaic. That's not the case with "Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight," the fourth entry in the "Lego Batman" series that began in 2008. The formula is familiar: a licensed property set in a world built out of Legos. But instead of just repeating what's worked in the past, "Legacy" confidently builds on its tested formula, creating something familiar and fresh - and so very fun.
Developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Games, "Legacy" tells an original story of how Bruce Wayne becomes the superhero known as Batman and about his efforts to save Gotham from nefarious ne'er-do-wells. The story campaign, which lasts about 15 hours, dives deep into the Caped Crusader's mythos, remixing and melding other Batman tales - So. Many. References. - to form one entertaining, if slightly disjointed, narrative.
Functionally, the game comprises two main parts: the story and the open world. The first explores Bruce's evolution from a child who watches his parents being murdered to the Dark Knight of Gotham. We see him train with Ra's al Ghul's League of Shadows in Nanda Parbat, where he meets Ra's' daughter, Talia. We see him return to Gotham, determined to protect his hometown. We see him age and change through the decades, working with new (playable!) companions like Catwoman, Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing and Jim Gordon. And we see him contend with a rogues' gallery of popular (and some super obscure) villains from the Batman pantheon.
The story, full of gags and slapstick, is enjoyable for all ages: easy enough to follow along with for kids and non-Batman fans, and stuffed with references and sly jokes for adults and fans. (I was surprised by how often I found myself laughing.) The plot stutters a little as it transitions between chapters, at times feeling slightly stitched together rather than being seamlessly cohesive, but it's fine because of the second major element of "Legacy": the open-world setting.
Between story missions, "Legacy" wants you to explore its packed world, and there's plenty to do in this gorgeous, rain-soaked, neon-drenched environment. Feel like solving a brainteaser? Try one of Riddler's puzzles. How about testing your fighting skills? Take down one of the many criminals roaming around Gotham. Or you can just explore the city, driving one of the game's many vehicles or zipping along with your grappling hook amid the world's surprising verticality. You'll easily spend hours looking for all the game's collectibles (including its many suits for all playable characters) and completing its many side quests, of which there are probably a bit too many.
Combat-wise, "Legacy" takes major cues from the "Batman: Arkham" games, leaning into wanting you to counter enemy attacks and giving you access to a variety of weapons. Every character gets two weapons/gadgets/abilities, like Batman's Batarang and Batgirl's hacking device.
There's also a skill tree, which adds some depth to a combat system that sorely needs it; if it weren't for the skills, you'd mostly just be smashing the basic attack or dodge buttons all game. And, in a "Lego Batman" first, you have difficulty options, so you can play at whatever level suits you best.
While the combat is fairly simplistic, the stealth mechanics leave a lot to be desired. For a game about a superhero who uses the shadows to his advantage - and "Legacy" constantly reminds you that stealth is an option - rarely does it pay off. I often found myself just jumping into the fray because it was more fun than stealthily (and slowly) taking down enemies from ledges and perches.
Of note: The longer I played the game, the more bugs I found. Most were small things - Batman jittering up and down during a combat finisher, characters not appearing during dialogue moments - but some were more annoying, like the camera swinging wildly at random times or abilities not working properly. They didn't happen often, but they were noticeable when they did.
Those minor quibbles aside, there's so much to love about "Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight." It's clearly a love letter to Batman fans, full of tributes and hat tips to the Caped Crusader. It's not flawless - some of its execution was less than ideal - but it's a thoroughly enjoyable time, thanks to its worthwhile open world and a story that keeps you invested in the life of a man who just wants to protect others. That "Legacy" does all that and makes you laugh? All the better.
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