LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Reviews
A step backwards, but still solid as a brick
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is another solid and humorous jump into the world of Lego and the DC universe. It has issues, such as sloppy AI and a sluggish start, but that aside, the game is packed with references pouring out of its ears.
While the game is by no means perfect and there are a few issues present that should have been sorted by now, Lego Batman 3 looks great, plays superb, and provides enough humour and action to keep players engaged.
Tons of characters, locations and replayability, with some minor flaws. I'm Batman.
These little extras and the impressive cast of characters (including excellent voice acting for each) makes LEGO Batman 3 worth recommending - for newcomers to the franchise and still those who enjoyed LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, or the previous Batman title. But there is a sense of franchise fatigue creeping in here, and it will be very interesting to see where Traveller's Tales venture to next. Go Aquaman Go!
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham struggles to maintain balance with its cast of characters constantly pushing one another from the spotlight, and suffers from many of the series' routine issues. On the other hand, it brings to the table an experience DC and Lego fans will not-soon forget: an action-packed adventure, plenty of charm and moments of bona fide hilarity.
Unlike some of the better previous titles like LEGO Batman 2 and LEGO Marvel, LEGO Batman 3 feels more claustrophobic, smaller in scale and lacks that open feel that the aforementioned titles gave us. There is a lot of content for your money, albeit nothing new and the little ones won't be disappointed but it just isn't as good as previous efforts. A handful of poor design decisions, the odd ropey celebrity cameo and a smattering of technical issues along with a small dose of LEGO game fatigue all add up to a slightly underwhelming experience. Good, but don't expect evolution.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is initially the same type of gameplay that you know from the previous LEGO titles, but with a little bit more freedom and flavor added in to separate it. If you loved previous LEGO titles, especially the most recent LEGO Batman titles, then you're going to enjoy this one.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham sweeps away any doubts we might have had about TT Games' well-established template growing tiresome. It might start a little slow, yet the game is nothing but an absolute pleasure to play throughout. Pow!
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham delivers exactly what you would expect from a Lego game: simple combat, light-hearted storytelling, and lots of smashing and collecting. Some rough edges sully the overall enjoyment, however.
Lego Batman 3 is much of the same, but so much of it. A slow start quickly gives way to an entire universe worth of content that borders on the obscene. It's tried and trusted gameplay, but it certainly is time for the studio to get working on a new Lego experience.
If you're a Batman fan of any age, you'll want to pick up this game. With couch co-op for two, LEGO Batman 3 is a picture-perfect game to play alongside children. It can be a bit slow going at the start, but power through the introductory missions, acquire some suits, and things really start rolling. With a mission count that numbers near 50, and over 150 characters to play as (gotta catch 'em all?), there is a ton of content to bask in. While a lot of the combat and puzzles might feel a bit repetitive, you'll hardly notice as you mete out justice as a tiny version of your favorite hero. LEGO Batman 3 comes highly recommended to kids young and old alike.
Lego Batman 3 may not be the greatest adventure — or even the greatest LEGO adventure — on the Wii U, but it's certainly still well worth a look for series fans. Repetitive gameplay elements and some occasionally awkward controls bring down the Dark Knight's latest, and the lack of an explorable open world feels like a step back from its predecessor, but fun writing, excellent co-op, and lots of LEGO charm are more than enough to seal the deal for DC devotees.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a prime example of TT Games' overuse of its basic formula. Bland stages, and a storyline that starts off slowly, hamper what could've been a much better game. That said, superhero fanatics will still appreciate the premise, locations and inside jokes.
Despite some technical shortcomings, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham does a fine job of continuing to build on what the series has established while also hitting all the right notes to keep pleasing Bat-fans of all ages.
Lego Batman 3 is dumb fun, just like every other Lego game released in the last 10 years, but fans should be expecting more by now.
There are more characters and locations than previous entries, but somehow Lego Batman 3 feels more constrictive than ever.
Lego Batman 3 justifies its existence by expanding massively on what made its forebears successful. It probably won't hold the attention of mum and dad, but it's a great title for the kids.
It seems like Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham played it safe, keeping in most of the familiar and liked aspects of the game, without venturing into anything too different. Being able to change Suits at will, and the space vehicles missions are good new steps, and hopefully will help fans forgive the lack of real free roam.
On many counts this is the best of the Lego super-hero games, with some fantastic missions and a feast of characters and costumes. Yet without an open world to tie it all together it feels like it's missing something at its core, and the pacing in the early missions could be better. It's still a must for fans of the Lego games and DC Comics, but it doesn't pack the super-powered punch of Lego Batman 2 and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.