Review : Lego Batman: The Videogame on PSP

Summary

Review

Preview

Lego Batman: The Videogame

Your verdict [1 vote] : 5.0 Add to my collection Discuss

Lego Batman

Holy lack of gameplay Batman!!!

By Brian Edey (Falelorn)
Posted on October the 23rd 2008 at 01:45:00 AM

Every bad guy who hates Batman and Robin has broken out of Arkham Asylum and are out causing destruction and mayhem. Yes, the dynamic duo is going to have a bad day. It turns out the big baddies have a master plan to cause some major mischief and it is up to Batman and Robin to save the day.

If there is one bad thing about LEGO Batman it has to be the fact the LEGO games have never changed since the first LEGO Star Wars game, you find blocks, you build items, you mash some buttons and repeat over and over and over again. It would be nice to see a new LEGO game which builds it self on a new gameplay premise. Does this gameplay cloning of the LEGO games make LEGO Batman a bad game? No, but it does not help it become a great game.

Unlike the other LEGO games, the LEGO Batman story is not based on a comic or movie like LEGO Starwars or LEGO Indiana Jones, it is an entirely new idea and it works. It has a good story with some fun ideas that are not limited to a movie or book. It is only limited by the actual gameplay.

Gameplay

Like all LEGO games your goal is to collect LEGO blocks, complete plenty of minor goals such as collect X number of items or destroy X number of objects and destroy everything that gets in your way. On your quest to beat the Joker and the rest of the Arkham Asylum bad guys, you will build objects, collect new suits with special powers and switch off between two different characters.

The first part of the game you play as Batman and Robin, but the second part you get to see how the bad guys live and see their master plans of Gotham City domination. It is a nice feature we have seen before and I had much more fun with the bad guys then Batman and Robin who bored me, but maybe that is because Lonestar… evil will always triumph because good is dumb.

The controls are solid and very straight forward for the entire game, but I did have one issue and that was with the camera killed me a couple of times in the Batcave as I was running around I would run off and many times the camera was pulled back very far so hitting a guy or three who were stuck behind a garbage can was difficult. But other then those problems the game is fun and has solid gameplay.

Graphics and Audio

I found the graphics to be fantastic for the game with great models, textures and a solid frame rate through out the game. Besides a few small minor level design choices which are questionable, like in the Batcave, the entire games graphics, animations, textures and movies are excellent and of the highest quality especially on the PSP widescreen.

The audio is very good for what audio is actually in the game, because beyond the music and sound effects we have no voice over work. Overall though, the music is on par with the console version and it is the same with the sound effects, both are of the highest quality on all fronts during the game. Because it is a LEGO game we expected no voice over work, but one day I would like to hear it. It would add to the story narrative on so many levels especially in situations like LEGO Batman which is not based on a movie.

Value

There is potential replay value if you want to find everything you can and experience the full experience, but that is a big if. One time was enough for me and hopefully if they do make a LEGO Batman part Deux it has new gameplay, because we need it.

Bottom Line

The game is a buy if you did not get the game on any of the big home consoles and you are a fan of the previous LEGO games, but other then that it is a solid rent.

Your verdict [1 vote] : 5.0 Add to my collection Discuss

Pros

+ Very good audio
+ Very good graphics and cut scenes
+ Good story
+ Presentation is high
+ Gameplay is good but also flawed at times

Cons

- Lousy camera at times
- LONG load times
- Basically the same game as Lego Star Wars and Lego Indy with no improvement in gameplay
- Characters are a bit small on the screen at times

Final Verdict

7.0

Breakdown :

Presentation :

8.0

Graphics :

8.0

Sound :

8.0

Gameplay :

6.0

Replay Value :

5.0

Our review : 7.0
Your verdict [1 vote] : 5.0
System :
Publisher :
Developer :
Category :
ESRB : E10 - [GameFocus' ESRB Guide]
Consult the complete file

Here's a small guide to help you understand our evaluation of games.

PRESENTATION GRADE
Can be from the game's box to the contents of the booklet, and even the game introduction. (Intro, menus, options, etc)

GRAPHIC GRADE
Up to what point the graphics have been worked on my the developper. The design type, the effort used for textures and environments, as well as animations and framerate.

AUDIO GRADE
Is the soundtrack a good match to the game's style, he ambient sounds keeping with the gameplay and the sound effects clear and convincing?

GAMEPLAY GRADE
Placement of the controls and the inferface that the player with be using during the game.

REPLAY VALUE GRADE
The most important factor in the evaluation of a game. It identifies the lifespan of the game and the fun of coming back again and again.

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