Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham sends you to space in a batrocket

Exploring Gotham and fighting crime is fun and all, but for TT Games it was time to change things up and add a little variety in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham by sending players… into space. That's right, strap into your very own batrocket with the dutiful Robin at your side, as you launch into space with your Justice League friends to confront the nefarious Legion of Doom.

The story picks up from where Lego Batman 2 left off, but you don't need to have played it to get a sense of what's going on. Just know that Braniac is up to no good and it's your job to stop him and his crew as you explore the different Lantern worlds. The demo focuses primarily on Batman's Batcave and the Justice League Watchtower, where Batman and Robin get to blast enemies to bits in space. TT Games want to add some new experiences to the series, so the space combat looks like a shoot 'em up, where you weave and dodge things from all directions and fire at anything that moves while picking up items to upgrade your weapons.

When it comes to the traditional platforming and ground combat stuff, the gadget wheel provides easy access to the super heroes' many suits and abilities. Cyborg, for example, turns into a washing machine. Not only is it hilarious, it's stealthy too, allowing him to get past security. I've always enjoyed the series' sense of humor and look forward to the full game when it's released later this fall.

Click for additional screenshots and more information about the game.