Tech News on G4 'Batman 2', best LEGO game ever June 26, 2012 By John Powell - G4 Canada

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Holy Catfish, Batman. Think you know the LEGO video games? You ain't seen nothing yet. 'LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes' will change everything you thought you knew about the series. Ranking up there with the best of the 'Star Wars' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' instalments, 'LEGO Batman 2' represents a long-awaited shift in gameplay and by far, is the most polished entry put out by those ingenious minds and jovial hearts across the pond at Traveller's Tales. For 'Batman 2', Traveller's Tales has thoroughly toned down the tricky platforming and vexing puzzles putting the emphasis on really fun action scenes and the exploring, collecting part of the LEGO games that fans enjoy so much. Most of the puzzles are solved with a touch of common sense, once you have figured out what the special suits and different characters do. Of course, the big draw here is the DC super heroes and characters. Vying for the presidency, the always conniving and follically challenged Lex Luthor teams with the always outlandish and sanity challenged Joker to put the hurt on Batman, Robin, Superman and Gotham City. Not only have Luthor and Joker hired other baddies like The Riddler, Penguin and Two-Face to do their bidding but Gotham City has suddenly become the home of a menagerie of evil doers including Sinestro, General Zod, Captain Boomerang and Ra's al Ghul, who are hidden around the city as 'Batman 2' is the first LEGO game to include a free roaming adventure. When not engaged in the story campaign, you can travel around Gotham City and the surrounding areas helping out citizens in distress, collecting hidden studs and blocks, uncovering, defeating and unlocking hidden villains. All told, there are 50 DC characters to collect. Be warned though. In the story campaign, you will play as Batman, Robin and Superman for 90% of the adventure. Green Lantern, The Flash, Cyborg and Wonder Woman only appear during the final portion of the game. A free roaming Gotham City is not the only "first" to be found in 'Batman 2'. Gone is the garbled gibberish of previous LEGO games. The characters here actually speak…words!?!?! Imagine that? Many of the familiar voices of the DC animated universe lend their talents to the game making the cutscenes even more entertaining. Among the notable personalities are Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor, Kevin Michael Richardson as The Joker and Canadian Tara Strong as Harley Quinn. Vicki Vale's breaking news bits are also hysterical. Don't forget to read the scrolling text underneath her though or you will miss even more laughs. Like the scrolling news text, the charm of this title is in the little details. Superman intermittently glows green after coming into contact with Kryptonite. His movie theme song plays if you fly around Gotham City. The speed at which he and The Flash build objects out of LEGO bricks evokes lots of chuckles. These little flashes of character and humour could only come from the folks at Traveller's Tales and will be appreciated by fans. Another timely addition is the frequent checkpoints and the ability to save your game. No longer do you have to play through an entire level in one go. The appropriately placed checkpoints will save your kids from huffing and puffing and you from pulling out what little hair you have left on your head. Like any LEGO game, the story campaign is only the start. 'Batman 2' is all about collecting. Collecting red bricks, gold bricks, characters, vehicles and anything else you can lay your hands on. With an entire city at the ready, devoted fans will spend hours and hour unlocking and pocketing everything there is to be had in 'Batman 2'. Whether you are a super hero fan, a LEGO fan, an adult who is young at heart or a button mashing kid, 'Batman 2' is the most enjoyable and amusing games to come out in long time. If you have reluctantly stepped away from the franchise due the familiar formula, this is the perfect point to jump back in. 'Batman 2' is the best LEGO game yet.   LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Format: Xbox 360 Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Developer: TT Games ESRB Rating: E10+ Official Site: http://bit.ly/MI5w5g Rating: 9.5 / 10

 

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About G4 in Canada
G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.