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As with prior LEGO titles, the emphasis on puzzle-solving (and tapping a button to reassemble disparate pieces into a useful tool) is very much intact. At times, there are some frustrating moments in which you won’t know what to do. But, as is the case in other games in the series, once you get the hang of the game’s logic things, it clicks.
One of the LEGO series’ trademarks is it emphasis on co-op play. The AI is a serviceable companion, but not always the sharpest option. There are moments when you’ll switch back to a character you think is in tow, to find out they’re a few puzzles behind. And no, a real human partner won’t solve all your sidekicking woes. The usual aggravation (for some, mischievous joy) associated with walloping your partner and costing them some bolts is still part of the experience. Also, the diagonally split-screen camera – introduced in LEGO Indiana Jones 2 – still creates some havoc as sometimes, it will throw off one partner’s projectile targeting. Given the system in place all the way back in the days of the old LEGO Star Wars games, we’ll take those quirks instead of being driven off-screen by the wonky camera.
Though this game is supposed to be about Batman and the Justice League, Superman steals a lot of screen time. You won’t see most of the other superheroes until the last few chapters. You get to play them as much as you want during post-campaign free play, but we would have liked to have a greater mix of heroes during the story, rather than a massive dose of The Man of Steel.
Superman is a powerhouse and can solve a lot of puzzles by himself that would take Batman a few super-suited ability swaps to tackle. But he can sometimes be awkward to fly, but he’s a very useful character for younger and casual gamers, since he’s invincible and won’t cost anyone any precious LEGO bolts. He can, however, break a few of the Sandbox puzzles. For example, Batman would need to overcome a few obstacles and puzzles to scale a building to get a golden brick. But Superman can just fly up and grab the brick without breaking a sweat. But Supes can’t solve every problem, and fortunately, will often need Batman’s help, which keeps the action from falling into total imbalance.
LEGO Batman 2’s greatest strength is not only in how it balances its difficulty and length, but also in how the sandbox world will give you way more playtime and challenges to solve afterwards. Also, players can choose to be Superman and solve problems easily or play with Batman to make them more challenging. LEGO Batman 2 is a great game for Batman fans, young and old. If you are looking to share a good gaming experience with a younger gamer, or want to indoctrinate your children in the ways of Batman, this game will be perfect. If you are a longtime Bat-o-phile looking for a deep gaming experience, LEGO Batman 2 has enough collectibles to keep you busy nearly as long as Arkham City.
