S&S; Reviews Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Title: Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Format: 360, PS3, Wii, PC, DS, 3DS, Vita
Release Date: June 19, 202
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Publisher: Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment
Price: $49.99 (260, PS3, PC), $39.99 (Wii, DS, 3DS, Vita)
ESRB Rating: E10+
Batman is back, and he is joined by the DC Universe characters in this brilliant sequel to the original Lego Batman.
Story/Presentation
Lego Batman 2: DC Super heroes takes place in the open world of Arkham City. Joker and Lex Luther have teamed up to bring down Batman and Robin via a weapon of mass destruction (of Lego pieces, that is). The bat and bird team up with Superman, Wonder Woman, and the entire Justice League in this first voice-acted Lego game to help take down Catwoman, Two-Face, and many, many other familiar enemies. The voice-acting does add more depth to the game, although I don't think it was necessary. The upcoming Lego Lord of the Rings may do well with the addition, but the normal grunting and hand signals would have been just fine, and probably more humorous.

Core Gameplay
Lego Batman 2 consists of 15 levels, each with a decent length and extensive story. The whole game can take anywhere from 10-15 hours, and 20-30 if you go back to collect everything and fully complete the game. The new addition of a fully open-world hub area is one of the best new features, especially considering the massive amount of secrets, collectibles, and overall attention to graphic detail. With any open world game, however, the problem of transportation becomes apparent....which is why you can now use Batman's vehicles to get around. The Batmobile will be your main mode of transportation, and you'll have a ton of fun smashing through the streets of Arkham City. Collectibles are also now highlighted on a map in the Batcave, making your collecting much easier. A final, and much needed, addition is the ability to save mid-level. Several levels are very lengthy, and being able to save after each section of level makes playing much easier. One unfortunate drawback is the repetitiveness of the puzzles. After 12 Lego games, I'm not surprised that the creativity is starting to die. Several puzzles were so obscure that I had to look up their solutions, and the answers were often obvious but poorly demonstrated and strangely hidden. The Justice League characters were also poorly utilized, and I felt myself wanting to experience their powers in levels rather than to obtain the 1 or 2 gold bricks that were only collectible via their skills.

Final Thoughts
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is a success on many levels, and the changes made to the core gameplay were not only wanted, but necessary. Minor glitches and tweeks still exist, but the overall risks taken were smartly executed and a blast to experience. 
S&S Rating: 8.75/10