Since TT Games’ very first LEGO title, their focus has mostly been recreating iconic movie moments with a LEGO twist. That continues in the Legacy of the Dark Knight, but the latest LEGO game is better described as a successor to the critically acclaimed Arkham games created by Rocksteady. So it’s no surprise that the studio has been helping TT Games develop what is essentially the ultimate celebration of Batman, as well as a way to mark 20 years since the LEGO Group partnered with DC to release sets featuring Batman and Gotham’s Rogues Gallery. I’ve been playing the game since launch, but LEGO Games really come into their own long after the story credits have rolled. So here are my thoughts on LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
Product Description
Game Title: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight | Publisher: Warner Bros. Games | Developer: TT Games
RRP: From £59.99/$69.99/69.99€ | Availability: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S & PC, Switch 2 from Sept 18th
After pioneering the formula for LEGO Games, developers TT Games had a rocky time with their last title, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. One of the reasons the development of The Skywalker Saga took so long was the use of a unique engine. But that was dropped in favour of using the Unreal Engine, and the difference that brings to the game is evident from the moment you boot up the game. A Batman minifigure perches atop a building, keeping watch over Gotham as droplets of rain run down his plastic body. The use of Unreal is evident throughout the game. I especially like how the capes have small threads on them, as the real ones would. The city of Gotham looks amazing, the best it’s looked since the Arkham games.
As with many of the recent LEGO titles from TT Games, there is a vast open world to explore, with the game’s story delivered through various levels. This takes moments from across Batman’s history, mostly the films and despite the eras and versions of Batman, the blending of the different stories actually works surprisingly well. Chapter one is largely inspired by The Batman but also mixes in moments from Batman Begins. But LEGO Games really come into their own long after the credits roll. Talking of which, having ‘Kiss from a Rose’ play of the credits was a surreal moment.
Unlike previous games, Legacy of the Dark Knight only includes seven characters. These each have their own abilities and upgrade path. There’s also a general skill three which can be used similarly to Red Bricks. Which brings us nicely onto the game’s magnitude of collectables. There is an overwhelming amount of things to find. These include Wayne Tech Caches, which allow you to purchase character skills. Then there are Riddler and Cluemaster challenges, which offer various puzzles to complete. These range from puzzles to complete across Gotham and Puzzle Rooms. Each district has Trophies to find inspired by Batman’s foe. Then there are several challenges to tackle. In Gotham, these include vehicle races, traversal runs and combat matches.
Additional gameplay challenges can be completed to unlock the Animated Series Display in the Batcave. These can be tracked via a terminal in the Batcave and include things such as climbing to the tallest building in Gotham and using all Focus Abilities of each character. They are a little tricky to complete. Even trickier to find are the Bat Symbols. These are 2×2 round tiles dotted around Gotham. They don’t appear on the map, nor do they ping when using your bat radar. To get them all will require plenty of exploration or using a guide. The reward for collecting them all is a giant T. rex for the Batcave. The collectables don’t end there; various levels have five Wayne Tech Caches and Trophies to collect, along with a Red Brick. Red Bricks are different from previous games; they no longer affect gameplay. Instead, they offer cosmetic changes to characters and vehicles,
The Batcave is almost like a secondary hub. As you play, you can unlock new sections of it, and it can be decorated with various objects. These range from the villain trophies you discover to items you can purchase from Bat-Mite. The Batcave is also home to your vehicle collection and all of the character outfits you collect. There may only be seven characters to play with, but they all have a multitude of costumes, many inspired by classic outfits from other Batman media. Finally, the Batcave is home to the Bat Computer, which is where you can replay any of the story missions and clean up on the collectables missed the first time around. It’s entirely possible to collect everything for the first time around as you replay levels with the same characters and abilities.
In addition to many collectables and unlockable content already found in the game, you can unlock unique Golden Batmobiles and a Batsuit via four 20th Anniversary LEGO Batman sets. Sets 76330, 76331, 76332 and 76333 provide a unique code to use in-game. This can be accessed via the LEGO Builder app.
As mentioned, TT Games has been aided in the development of the game with other WB Games studios, including Rocksteady. They helped refine superhero games with the Arkham games, and that DNA is woven into every brick in this game. It would be lazy to dub this a LEGO version of Arkham Asylum, but there again, that’s not a bad thing. The LEGO version of Gotham is as vast and fully explorable as it was in the Arkham games, and even some of the gameplay elements are similar, from stealth movements to combat.
The game’s content is the same across all versions, but the PlayStation 5 version does offer a little more. Firstly, the DualSense controller’s Adaptive Triggers are used so you can feel the difference when racing around Gotham in vehicles or using certain weapons. Haptic Feedback lets you feel the raindrops soaking the streets of Gotham. Finally, Gotham PD radio broadcasts and other sound effects play from the controller speaker.
Overall, the game is a fun celebration of not just LEGO Batman but the character and world around it in general. There are plenty of Easter Eggs to discover, some of which only diehard fans will notice. There are even some fun pop culture references. It’s genuinely hilarious to hear quotes inspired by Taken, CBBC’s Hacker T Dog, I Think You Should Leave, Resident Evil and many more. Making it truly one of TT Games’ best LEGO Games yet.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Switch 2 version launches on September 18th.
PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X|S | PC Stream | Nintendo Switch
The version played: PlayStation 5 (digital) Deluxe Edition. WB Games provided access to the game. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or TT Games. Providing a product for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the product.
