Feature: LEGO Batman Takes Flight (page 2 of 4)
Mr. Freeze and Scarecrow are just two of dozens of Batman characters that are playable in LEGO Batman.
Fan-favorite Harley Quinn was also recently announced as the right-hand woman to her boyfriend, Mistah Jay (aka The Joker). Of course, all of the characters are represented with mini figures, or "minifigs," which are LEGO recreations of their iconic appearances. "It's the little touches that give the minifigs their character," explains Doyle, who will have his hands full with this sprawling roster of villains. Each of the enemies has a unique attack, such as The Joker's electrified hand buzzer. Many of them also have special abilities: The Penguin can take flight with his high-tech umbrella, and also traverse confined spaces thanks to his squat stature. Catwoman wields her trademark whip and a very appropriate super jump, Scarecrow emits fear gas, and Two-Face flips a LEGO coin before making decisions. Doyle also promises that some of the lesser-known characters will be the most fun to play. "I love Killer Croc," he says. "As a mini figure, he looks amazing, he's a chucking-people-around kind of bad guy. He even picks up busses."
This epic trial for Batman and Robin will unfold in a linear story that encompasses eighteen unique locations, each with two distinct playable areas. We checked out a very early build of the game for Xbox 360, and the set design seemed heavily inspired by the visuals of early-90's Batman, including Batman: The Animated Series and the Tim Burton films. Batfans won't be disappointed by the familiar, yet wholly original Gotham City as represented here, which offers a far more gritty and lifelike verisimilitude than in LEGO Star Wars. The wet, grimy streets of Gotham have been faithfully created with excellent details, like reflections in puddles and gritty, bumpmapped textures, while the tone nimbly merges the pantomime humor of the LEGO series with the gothic action of the comic and the creepy, sadistic humor famously employed by Batman's most iconic villains.
ROCK OUT WITH YOUR BLOCKS OUT
The gameplay structure of LEGO Star Wars has been overhauled for Batman as well. The best element of the LEGO games is the opportunity to play as a wide variety of characters. But Traveler's Tales is, of course, beset with just two heroes -- Batman and Robin. They've tackled this problem in two ways. First, our heroes play up their James Bond side with a wide variety of costume upgrades that grant special abilities. Batman's demo suit, for example, includes explosive charges that can destroy certain obstacles, while his glider suit facilitates travel across long distances. Robin's tech suit allows him to access computer terminals, and his magnet boots let you clomp your way up and over metal obstacles. Not bad, not bad. But it gets better.
![Screen Update: Velvet Assassin [Xbox 360]](/screens/112821/206795-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Heavy Rain [PS3]](/screens/116621/206765-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: The Wheelman [Xbox 360]](/screens/129321/206774-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Fracture [Xbox 360]](/screens/133461/206788-1-1.jpg)
