I’ve spent more money than I’d like to admit on LEGO sets throughout my life, and among my favorites, the Batman sets have stood out. And, as someone who’s also followed most LEGO games, even those that have felt a bit rough around the edges, the truth is that as soon as I learned of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, it became my most anticipated game of the year. Well, after finally playing it and going through this homage to the iconic Caped Crusader, I must admit that it is, hands down, the best LEGO game ever made, and one of the best Batman titles we’ve seen since the Arkham days.
The Dark Knight Through the Ages
As many might have deduced from the trailers and the game’s name, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight follows the story of Gotham’s most iconic hero over many decades.
The game places you first in the shoes of young Bruce Wayne, transitioning quickly to his days training with the League of Assassins, and then in his journey as Batman up to the point that he goes from rookie vigilante to seasoned hero, training others to help him put Gotham’s villainous scum in place.
In terms of the narrative, I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. It was thanks to how cleverly it uses references from popular movies and games, on top of the iconic LEGO humor, which is at a whole new level here, and, of course, to how it also respects the source material that made Batman the icon he is today.
One thing I truly appreciated about Legacy of the Dark Knight is how it managed to weave an original story into all of the plots we’ve seen in films. For instance, after completing your training with the League, the story transitions perfectly into the plot of The Batman (2022), then throws in something that fans of The Killing Joke will appreciate, and then moves on to Batman Returns, eventually reaching The Dark Knight era.
Every single part of this narrative is truly a love letter to this legacy, and one that I was extremely happy to experience, especially with the top-notch humor TT Games always brings to the fray.
A LEGO Game for All
Now, since LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a game for everyone, don’t go in expecting the most challenging combat, despite it being heavily inspired by the Arkham trilogy. And well, it makes sense now that we know Rocksteady worked on this installment.
When you start the game, you get to pick between three difficulty modes, and naturally, I went with the most challenging one, as I wanted to see just how difficult it’d be. Unfortunately, it wasn’t, as I never really lost a life or had to restart a mission.
Combat, as I said earlier, brings the staples from the Arkham trilogy, leaning heavily into the counter-centric loop with the option to use tools to stun enemies and then deliver a punch rush to your blocky foes.
My one disappointment is that boss battles are way too simple. Yes, I understand this installment is meant for all ages, but I wish some encounters had more mechanics or something to make them more memorable, especially with the cast of villains Batman faces in the game.
On the other hand, I really liked the companion system. Each chapter will give you a new companion, which lines up with the story you’re experiencing at that moment, from Jim Gordon to Catwoman, and some of the Caped Crusader’s best sidekicks. All of them have different skills that help a bit during combat but shine more in this installment’s puzzles, which are also among the best I’ve seen in a LEGO game.
Gordon, for example, begins with a gum launcher capable of blocking pipes and stunning enemies, and then gets a bouncy grenade launcher of sorts that is easily the best weapon to raise that combo counter as fast as possible. Batman, of course, is the one who has the most gadgets, and it makes sense as the world’s best detective.
All in all, combat isn’t bad at all, and I was happy to see my Arkham memory reflexes kick in. On top of that, it is perfectly designed to be accessible yet a bit challenging for younger audiences, or even those who aren’t experts in gaming. Still, I wish boss fights had been better, as some fall flat.
Gotham Like Never Before
One thing that blew my mind as soon as I stepped out of a mission was Gotham City. Between major objectives, you’ll have the chance to cruise or glide around this city full of criminals, corrupt donut-eating police officers, and all sorts of side objectives and collectibles.
While not necessary to progress through the story, I liked how the open-world portion of the game offered several mysteries, such as Riddler’s challenges, Waynetech Caches, and more. And of course, you can also find Bat-Mite’s store around the city if you want to buy a new suit or some props for your Batcave.
Speaking of Batcave, this is another place you’ll be visiting often, especially to upgrade your skills or unlock new gadgets. In terms of progression, I liked how the game handled them, as they aren’t too daunting and encourage you to look for the abovementioned collectibles to increase your combat or exploration capabilities.
You can also customize parts of your Batcave, a welcome addition that lets you personalize this vigilante’s hideout. Plus, it is always great to return and see all the suits and Batmobiles you’ve collected, of which there are dozens of them—a true paradise for hoarders and fans of collectibles like myself.
My only minor complaint is that exploring can sometimes feel janky, especially when using the grappling hook. I often tried to shoot the hook at a ledge to move toward it, and Batman, or whoever I was playing as at the moment, would get stuck in some structures, sending the camera into haywire mode. Yet, whenever this happened, it was far apart, so I didn’t see it as a game-breaking issue.
Honoring a Legacy
Given how rocky some recent Batman games have felt, I’m glad that TT Games took on the monumental task of honoring one of the biggest and most iconic hero legacies in comics and movies. While I would’ve loved more challenging fights or bosses with better mechanics, I still felt satisfied as I watched the credits roll.
In the end, this is among the best Batman titles ever made, and it shows how TT Games continues to excel at making LEGO games featuring famous franchises. I only hope the formula we saw in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight returns because there are many LEGO installments I’d love to see getting this treatment.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (PC Reviewed)
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a beautiful and memorable homage to one of the most iconic comic book heroes, as well as one of the best Batman games ever made.
