LEGO Batman: The Videogame

This game, which continues the tradition of adapting well-known franchises such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones with LEGO visuals, takes on the Batman universe. The basic concept is the same, with characters and objects constructed from LEGO blocks, but this time set against a regular background. Most environments are side-scrolling with a fixed camera perspective, but they are in 3D with a lot of depth. It is not based on a specific film or comic book but on a whole franchise with a new story. The animations and sequences are odd and unfamiliar with recent Batman films’ darker atmosphere. A slew of villains has escaped from Arkham Asylum and is now wreaking havoc in Gotham City. During the first half of the game, players control Batman and his sidekick Robin as they battle all enemies in a typical brawler fashion. Enemies will frequently respawn indefinitely until the player figures out how to advance. Players can switch between the two characters anytime and explore the environments with gadgets such as the Batarang and grappling hook. They can both fight, and the computer AI controls inactive characters.